2003 Saturn L200 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
138 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
62,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 118 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 35 of 138 complaints (25.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 23 | 16.7% |
| Steering behavior | 23 | 16.7% |
| Braking behavior | 13 | 9.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 12 | 8.7% |
| Engine operation | 11 | 8.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 2.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 35 |
| Exterior Lighting | 11 |
| Engine | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 9 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 8 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 8 |
| Steering | 7 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
Electrical System: 35; Exterior Lighting: 11; Engine: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling: 9; Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 8; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 8; Steering: 7; Air Bags: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 22 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 20 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 31 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 23 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 15 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 22; 25,000 to 49,999: 20; 50,000 to 74,999: 31; 75,000 to 99,999: 23; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 7
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (31). 20 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 13 |
| 2004 | 10 |
| 2005 | 16 |
| 2006 | 11 |
| 2007 | 18 |
| 2008 | 15 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2015 | 11 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2003: 13; 2004: 10; 2005: 16; 2006: 11; 2007: 18; 2008: 15; 2009: 5; 2010: 4; 2011: 3; 2012: 7; 2013: 5; 2014: 10; 2015: 11; 2016: 4; 2017: 2; 2018: 2; 2019: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 23 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 23 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10033054 · 2003-08-18 (August 18, 2003)
SUDDEN ELECTRICAL FAILURE RELATED (ACCORDING TO DEALER) TO FAILURE OF BCM (COMPUTER MODULE. RESULTED IN LOSS OF GAGES IN DASHBOARD, LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS, LOSS OF WINDSHIELD WIPERS, ELECTRIC DOORLOCKS FAILING, CAR COULD NOT BE TAKEN OUT OF GEAR (PARK) WHEN STOPPED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033054 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10045054 · 2003-10-30 (October 30, 2003)
CONSTANT ELECTRICAL FAILURE WITH 2003 SATURN L SERIES SEDAN..LIGHTS DON T WORK PROPERLY(DAYTIME RUNNING REGULAR LIGHTS)..CONSTANT SHORTING ..HORN BLASTS..CRUISE CONTRLL GOES ON.. MAP LIGHT.. ALARM ACTIVATES WHILE DRIVING..SENDING UNIT FAILURE..HEATER CORE FAILURE..*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045054 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10041432 · 2003-10-08 (October 8, 2003)
A TRACTOR TRAILER WAS PASSING ME ON THE INTERSTATE. JUST AS HIS TRAILER WAS APPROXIMATELY 2/3 PAST ME, MY LIGHTS DIMMED OUT ON MY CAR BY THEMSELVES. THE DRIVER OF THE TRACTOR TRAILER THOUGHT I HAD FLASHED MY HEADLIGHTS AT HIM, TO LET HIM KNOW HE HAD CLEARED MY CAR AND WAS SAFE TO COME INTO MY LANE, WHICH WAS NOT THE CASE. THIS MADE THE DRIVERS BEHIND ME AND THE TRACTOR TRAILER IN ALL 3 LANES, TO SLAM ON THEIR BRAKES. THE TRUCK DRIVER ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF HIS RIG TRYING TO KEEP FROM HITTING ME WHEN HE REALIZED THAT HE DID NOT HAVE CLEARANCE …
Owner-reported narrative. 70 miles reported. Look up ODI 10041432 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10041433 · 2003-10-08 (October 8, 2003)
A TRACTOR TRAILER WAS PASSING ME ON THE INTERSTATE. JUST AS HIS TRAILER WAS APPROXIMATELY 2/3 PAST ME, MY LIGHTS DIMMED OUT ON MY CAR BY THEMSELVES. THE DRIVER OF THE TRACTOR TRAILER THOUGHT I HAD FLASHED MY HEADLIGHTS AT HIM, TO LET HIM KNOW HE HAD CLEARED MY CAR AND WAS SAFE TO COME INTO MY LANE, WHICH WAS NOT THE CASE. THIS MADE THE DRIVERS BEHIND ME AND THE TRACTOR TRAILER IN ALL 3 LANES, TO SLAM ON THEIR BRAKES. THE TRUCK DRIVER ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF HIS RIG TRYING TO KEEP FROM HITTING ME WHEN HE REALIZED THAT HE DID NOT HAVE CLEARANCE …
Owner-reported narrative. 70 miles reported. Look up ODI 10041433 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10034577 · 2003-08-25 (August 25, 2003)
BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED AT LEAST FOUR TIMES SINCE CONSUMER OWNED THE VEHICLE. BRAKES WERE WEARING OUT PREMATURELY. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BOOSTER/ ROTORS/ MASTER CYLINDER AND THE BRAKE PADS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10034577 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10127771 · 2005-07-07 (July 7, 2005)
MY 2003 SATURN L200 REQUIRED A FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT AFTER ONLY 39,000 MILES. THIS IS A $560 REPAIR INCLUDING THE $326 FUEL PUMP ITSELF. CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW AND IS ONLY 2 YEARS AND 3 MONTHS OLD. SINCERELY, GARY SANDERS
Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10127771 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10130606 · 2005-07-29 (July 29, 2005)
MY 2003 SATURN L200 FUEL PUMP FAILED AT 54K MILES THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN MY POSSESSION FOR 1 1/2 YEARS (PURCHASED USED) APPROX 30K OF THE TOTAL MILES WAS PLACES ON VEHICLE SINCE MY OWNERSHIP, REGARDLESS THE FUEL PUMP SHOULD NOT FAIL. IT COST ME $800.00 TO HAVE REPAIRED (PARTS AND LABOR). WHY IS THIS NOT AN UNDER LYING CAUSE FOR THE INITIAL CONTROL MODULE SATURN RECALL # 03C06. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 54,104 miles reported. Look up ODI 10130606 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10130504 · 2005-07-28 (July 28, 2005)
TIMING CHAIN BREAKS PREMATURELY RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER CREATING A POTENTIAL ROAD HAZARD. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10130504 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10150872 · 2006-02-22 (February 22, 2006)
IN THE YEAR 2003 AFTER HAVING MY L200 FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS 1000 MILES MY FUEL PUMP WENT IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY BUT I TOOK IT TO SATURN OF CLEARANCE THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG SO I WAS ALMOST HOME AND BLACK SMOKE WAS FLOWING OUT OF MY TAIL PIPE AND WHEN I STOPPED TO GET SOME GAS AFTER I GOT GAS I WENT TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULDN'T START THEN IT WOULD AND IT WOULD STALL SO I TOOK IT BACK UP THERE THE SECOND TIME AND THEY SAID OH ITS YOUR FUEL PUMP WELL WHY DIDN'T THEY LISTEN THE FIRST TIME . *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10150872 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10208823 · 2007-11-13 (November 13, 2007)
2003 SATURN VUE AUTO TRANSMISSION WENT OUT THREE TIMES WITHIN 8,000 MILES, LEAVING OUT FAMILY STRANDED IN 3 DIFF STATES, OUT OUR LIVES IN RISK, RUIN OUR VACATIONS, COST EXTRA MONEY ON CAR RENTAL ,INSURANCE,GAS, HOTEL! COST ME SEVERAL PANIC ATTACKS AND HORRIBLE ANXIETY, STRESS ETC... *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10208823 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10224208 · 2008-04-11 (April 11, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER SON'S VEHICLE FAILED AND COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN TWICE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A LOOSE, RATTLING NOISE WHILE MAKING A TURN. SHE STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE INVOLVING THE STEERING MODULE. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK AND HER SON COULD NOT RETURN IT TO THE PROPER POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY PROCEEDED TO SELL HER SON A WARRANTY, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS ALREADY UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LO…
Owner-reported narrative. 42,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10224208 at NHTSA ↗