RoadVitals

2000 Saturn LW200

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
4
Latest Aug 26, 2016
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
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InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
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Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
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Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2000 Saturn LW200, most frequently naming the electrical, engine and steering categories. 183 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical233.3%
  • Engine233.3%
  • Steering116.7%
  • Suspension116.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Electrical
Filed Aug 26, 2016

2 WEEKS AGO THE ODOMETER READ 42,000 MILES AFTER A BATTERY CHANGE IT NOW READS 692,208 MILES! EVEN THOUGH THIS APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE BCM COMPUTER GM SAYS I AM NOT COVERED FOR REPAIR . NO ONE IN BARA'S OFFICE AT GM OR SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE (GM) OFFICE CAN TELL US IF THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE. THEY ONLY WANT TO SELL A NEW CAR TO US! THIS IS A LOW MILEAGE CAR IN EXCELLENT CONDITION WE DONT WANT TO SELL IT AND WE FEAR SELLING IT TO SOMEONE ELSE AS IT MAY NOT BE SAFE

NHTSA ID
10898893
Incident
Aug 5, 2016
Mileage
42,000 mi
EngineSteeringSuspension
Filed Aug 31, 2015

WHILE DRIVING ABOUR 30 MILES,CAR STARTED TO GO CROOKED. AS I PICKED UP SPEED 2 ABOUT 50, IT KEPT GOING TO RIGHT AND AS IF I WAS NOT CONTROLLING IT. HAPPENED VARIOUS TIMES WITH SPEED COMING TO 45-50. WOULD HAVE TO GET OFF FREEWAY, FELT IN DANGER, GO DOWN STREETS OR TURN AROUND . ALIGNMENT. BALANCE, TIRES NOT LAST LONG.CONTROLING STEERING WAS OFF BASE.WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC TO LOOK AT RECALLS FOR THAT TYPE OF CAR. HE HEARD OF SOMETHING WHILE BACK. CAR FINALLY CUT OF WHILE IN DRIVING AND PARKED. FINALLY AFTER 3-4 MONTHS WITH THIS, IT WOULD NOT START ANYMORE, STRANDED AND TOWED HOME.

NHTSA ID
10760239
Incident
Aug 21, 2013
Mileage
168,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 16, 2014

THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING A TAPPING SOUND @ THE VALVE COVER PASSENGER SIDE WHEN ENGINE WAS RUNNING. OVER A PERIOD OF TIME THE TAPPING GOT LOUDER. TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP THEY SAID IT DEFINITELY WAS THE TIMING CHAIN AND CAUTIONED ME NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR ANY MORE TILL I GOT THE CHAIN REPLACED. THE CHAIN COULD BRAKE AND CAUSE THE VALVES TO HIT THE PISTONS MAKING MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEMS $$$$.THE SHOP I TOOK IT TO WOULD NOT WORK ON SATURN TIMING CHAINS ANY MORE THEY HAD TO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS ISSUE. { 2000 L-SERIES 2.2L 4 CYL TWIN CAM 16 VALVE }. *TR

NHTSA ID
10610956
Incident
Jun 6, 2014
Mileage
96,695 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 24, 2014

CAR WON'T START, SECURITY LIGHT FLASHES DUE TO ISSUES WITH THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM THROUGHOUT GM'S CARS, YET THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE BEING LED IN CIRCLES BY ANY VEHICLE WITH A PASSLOCK II SYSTEM AND IT IS AN UNSAFE PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. IT PREVENTS VEHICLES FROM RESTARTING IN POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AREAS WHILE THE VEHICLE RESETS AND CAN PERMANENTLY DISABLE THE CAR IF NOT ADDRESSED. THE PROBLEM LIES IN A DESIGN OVERSIGHT AND CUTTING A MATERIAL COST BY PUTTING IN A CHEAP COMPONENT THAT ANY BASIC CHEMIST COULD TELL YOU WOULD GO BAD WITHIN A YEAR OR TWO. CHANGE YOUR IGNITION SWITCH CONTACT FROM NICKEL TO GOLD PLATED CONNECTORS AND OXIDATION WILL NOT CAUSE FAULTY READINGS TO TRICK YOUR VEHICLES INTO THINKING THAT THEY ARE BEING STOLEN AND SHUTTING OFF THE FUEL PUMPS. REMUNERATION FOR INDIVIDUALS IMPACTED BY THIS FINANCIAL BURDEN FOR THE PURCHASE OF YOUR VEHICLES IS ALSO A REQUEST AS THIS PROBLEM IS A GOLD MINE FOR CAR MECHANICS, BOTH GM CERTIFIED AND FREELANCE, TO TROUBLESHOOT NUMEROUS SYSTEMS BEFORE IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM PROPER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10605671
Incident
May 15, 2013
Mileage
150,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

General Communication

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles. It provides the ability via a single selection within Techline Connect to first identify which modules need updating and then proceed to updating affected modules (with some exceptions). The updating of modules is completed in parallel instead of the technician needing to update one module at a time. This allows a more streamlined approach for dealers and customers.

18-NA-099

This bulletin provides information for use on a Product Assistance Claim (PAC), which is formerly known as a Product Allegation Resolution (PAR) claim.

24-NA-098

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Service Programming System (SPS) Error Codes E4398, E4399, E4401, E4403, M4404, M4413, M6954, M6955, E4414, E4423, E4491, E4492, or E6961 and resolution information.

16-NA-383

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

This technical bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves to correct conditions of rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up.

22-NA-074

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

This service bulletin provides service information to technicians on guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system.

PI1394B

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; POWER TRAIN

This PI bulletin advises the technician on the proper way to install the pistons in an engine.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Saturn LW200 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2005000
2004000
2003100
2002800
2001800
2000Viewing400

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.