RoadVitals

2001 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.
8
Latest Jul 20, 2017
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.
0
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.
0
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.
0
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 8 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2001 Saturn LW200, most frequently naming the engine, electrical and exterior lighting categories. 213 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

  • Engine763.6%
  • Electrical19.1%
  • Exterior lighting19.1%
  • Steering19.1%
  • Suspension19.1%

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

EngineSteeringSuspension
Filed Jul 20, 2017
2 injuries reported

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR WITH 2 SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN IN IT MY STEERING WHEEL WENT CRAZY. IT WENT FROM BEING CENTER TO VERTICAL. I DROVE AS CLOSE TO HOME AS I COULD GET AND THEN MY CAR CAME TO A GRINDING HAULT. I THOUGHT I UAD A FLAT TIRE BUT THATS NOT WHAT IT WAS. AFTER TOWING IT HOME WE LOOKED UNDER IT AND THE ENGINE CRADLE HAD BROKE!! WHEN THIS HAPPENED IT BROKE THE CONTROL ARM ON MY CAR CAUSING MY TIRE TO ROTATE INWARD AND BACK INTO THE FENDER WELL. WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT AND WE HAVE NO OTHER CAR. THE ONLY WAY THE CHILDREN WERE HURT WAS PSYCHOLOGICAL, SINCETHEY ARE AUTISTIC. NOONE WAS INJURED BUT IF THE CRADLE BROKE CAUSING THE CONTROL ARM TO BREAK WHILE DRIVING I VERY WELL COULD HAVE LOST CONTROL. WE WERE STRANDED IN THE DARK, WITH 2 SPECIAL NEEDS KIDS AND NOWAY HOME. IF WE WERE ON THE HIGHWAY IT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL!!

NHTSA ID
11006653
Incident
Jan 25, 2017
Mileage
100,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 29, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN LW200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATOR FUNCTION AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE OWNERS RESIDENCE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

NHTSA ID
10816763
Incident
Dec 19, 2015
Mileage
124,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 13, 2015

2001 SATURN L200. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALL BULLETIN 05052. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE LEFT REAR BRAKE LIGHT WORKED SPORDICALLY AND THE PROBLEM WENT ON FOR YEARS. RELACING THE BULB WOULD ONLY CORRECT THE PROBLEM FOR A SHORT TIME. *JB

NHTSA ID
10703682
Incident
Jan 10, 2015
Engine
Filed Jul 26, 2014

WHEN DRIVING MY VEHICLE DOWN THE ROAD WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR , IT DIED. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THE TIMING CHAIN FOR THE SATURN L SERIES FOR THE YEAR OF MY VEHICLE. YET, MINE IS 2 MONTHS SHY OF THE RECALL DATE. MY MECHANIC SAYS THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THESE VEHICLES OF THIS YEAR. TELL ME WHY THE ENTIRE PRODUCTION TIME OF THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED? SEEING HOW THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE HAVING THIS ISSUE. I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT THERE WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT INVOLVED IN THIS SITUATION, BUT I AM SURE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN. I AM ASKING THAT MY ENGINE BE REPLACED BY GM. I AM ASKING THAT THE THE RECALL BE EXTENDED FOR THE UNFORTUNATE PEOPLE WHO NOW HAVE VEHICLES THAT CANNOT BE DRIVEN DUE TO A FAULTY MANUFACTURING ISSUE. THE NHTSA NEEDS TO EXTEND THE RECALL! *TR

NHTSA ID
10616592
Incident
May 23, 2014
Mileage
116,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 4, 2014

AFTER STARTING CAR AND ROLLING BACK TO LEAVE PARKING SPACE AT 5MPH THERE WAS A MUFFLED POP AND THE CAR STOPPED MOVING.I TRIED TO CRANK ENGINE AGAIN AND IT WOULD NOT START. I HAD TO PUSH IT INTO A NEARBY PARKING SPOT. LOCAL REPAIR PERSON DIAGNOSED THE CAR NEEDS A NEW TIMING CHAIN. SAID SAME YEAR AND MODEL WAS INVOLVED IN GM SAFETY RECALL 06074 ISSUED DECEMBER 2007 ACCORDING TO HIS DATABASE. GM SAYS MY CAR ISN'T INVOLVED IN THAT RECALL. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN BREWING FOR YEARS AS THE CHAIN SEEMS NOT TO BE GETTING PROPER OILING AND WOULD RATTLE MAKING A DREADFUL NOISE WHICH WOULD SUBSIDE AFTER A FEW MILES NORMALLY. IT HAS OCCURRED PERIODICALLY SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR USED WITH 32K MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10596097
Incident
May 31, 2014
Mileage
117,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Mar 13, 2014

2001 SATURN L200. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION CONTROL MODULE FAILURE RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED IN DECEMBER 2013, THE VEHICLE STARTED RUNNING REALLY BAD, RUNNING ROUGH AND WOULD SHUT OFF. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HIS MECHANIC, WHERE HE DISCOVERED A RECALL. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS NEVER INFORMED ABOUT THE RECALL. THE MECHANIC FIXED THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, IT CONTINUED TO RUN ROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HIS MECHANIC, AND HE INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE.

NHTSA ID
10568462
Incident
Dec 1, 2013
Engine
Filed Oct 9, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN LW200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE WARNING INDICATOR. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS FRACTURED AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO OTHER COMPONENTS IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED FOR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.

NHTSA ID
10547397
Incident
Sep 28, 2013
Mileage
34,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 23, 2013

DRIVING IN PARKING LOT AND CAR SUDDENLY STALLS. WOULDN'T RESTART AND FOUND OUT LATER THAT TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN. ENGINE NOW ALSO HAS INTERNAL DAMAGE AS A RESULT. IT IS A 2.2L ENGINE BUT APPARENTLY NOT ON THE RECALL LIST EVEN THOUGHT THE CHAIN AND OILING NOZZLE ARE THE SAME AS THE OTHER 2001 RECALLED ENGINES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10499794
Incident
Nov 23, 2012
Mileage
157,082 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

PIP5601C

This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.

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.

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
2001Viewing800
2000400

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.