2003 Saturn L200: complaints, problems and recalls

MY 2003 SATURN L200 WAS STRUCK IN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND NEITHER THE SIDE CURTAIN NOR FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AT ALL. THE IMPACT WAS SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE THE CAR TO BE DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. I SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AND WAS RENDERED UNCONSCIOUS UPON IMPACT. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023627 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

2003 SATURN L200 DOES NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS OF ADVERTISED FUEL EFFICIENCY.*MR TRANSFERRED TO OVSC. 08/13/2003.*CB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034010 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

*SATURN BUYERS BEWARE* I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW L200 IN MARCH 03. TO DATE I HAVE HAD THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: -CAR DOES NOT START ALL THE TIME -TEMPERATURE CONTROLS DOES NOT WORK -REMOTE ENTRY SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR INTO SATURN 4 TIMES, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY CAN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE IS TERRIBLE AS WELL. *LA

Owner-reported narrative. 2,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10041731 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY LIGHTS FLICKERING TO THE POINT WHERE THEY GO ALMOST COMPLETELY OUT. THE DATE THAT I LISTED BELOW IT WAS THE WORST OCCURRENCE THUS FAR. THERE WERE NO APPLIANCES RUNNING ( AIR OR HEAT ) TO CAUSE THIS. I HAVE HAD PEOPLE TRY TO RUN ME OFF THE ROAD AND TURN THEIR HI BEAM LIGHTS ON ME THINKING THAT I WAS FLASHING THEM WHEN MY LIGHTS WERE ACTUALLY FLICKERING. I FEEL THAT WITH ROAD RAGE INCIDENTS OF THIS TYPE AND THE POSSIBILITY OF A VEHICLE FIRE THAT THIS POSSES A SIGNIFICANT TRAFFIC SAFETY ISSUE. *LA

Owner-reported narrative. 21 miles reported. Look up ODI 10041748 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2002-10-29 (October 29, 2002)

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR COULD FAIL DURING USE BECAUSE OF IMPROPER MANUFACTURE.

Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR IN SEVERE WEATHER, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 6, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-553-6000, PROMPT #3 OR HUMMER AT 1-866-486-6376.

Reported: 2003-06-23 (June 23, 2003)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.2L L4 (L61) ENGINES, A FAILURE OF THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE MAY CAUSE DETERIORATION IN IDLE QUALITY, REDUCTION IN OVERALL ENGINE POWER, AND THE VEHICLE MAY BE HARD TO START. CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE AFTER SUCH AN IGNITION MODULE FAILURE WILL RESULT IN THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT FLASHING, AND MAY LEAD TO SECONDARY FAILURES OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, OXYGEN SENSOR, AND EXHAUST RESONATOR.

Consequence: FAILURE OF THE RESONATOR WILL CAUSE INCREASED EXHAUST NOISE. PROLONGED OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE FOLLOWING A RESONATOR FAILURE MAY LEAD TO A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL (1) REPLACE THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE, (2) REPLACE THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE AND SPARK PLUGS, OR (3) REPLACE THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE, SPARK PLUGS, AND UPDATE THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE CALIBRATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-553-6000, PROMPT 3.

Reported: 2005-04-20 (April 20, 2005)

CERTAIN WAGONS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES." THE SEAT BELT ANCHOR MAY SEPARATE FROM THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE BEFORE HOLDING THE REQUIRED TEST LOAD FOR THE REQUIRED TIME.

Consequence: IF A SEPARATION OCCURRED IN CRASH, THE RIGHT AND CENTER REAR SEAT OCCUPANTS MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REAR SEAT CENTER BELT ANCHOR REINFORCEMENT PLATE TO THE FLOOR PAN OF THE VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 25, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876.

Reported: 2005-06-02 (June 2, 2005)

ON CERTAIN SEDANS AND WAGONS, THE PLASTIC HOUSING IN THE REAR TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY CAN BECOME DISTORTED IF THE BRAKE LAMPS REMAIN ON FOR AN EXTENDED TIME.

Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE (1) AN INTERMITTENTLY INOPERATIVE BRAKE/TAIL LAMP BULB OR (2) A SHORT CIRCUIT THAT OPENS A FUSE CAUSING INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMPS (INCLUDING THE CENTER HIGH-MOUNTED STOP LAMP) OR TAIL LAMPS. A FOLLOWING DRIVER MAY NOT KNOW WHEN THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN APPLIED, AND A REAR-END CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL TWO NEW TAIL LAMP REINFORCING SOCKET ADAPTERS AND SOCKETS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 17, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876.