Saturn L200 Complaints

138 consumer complaints on file.

#10078574June 21, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SEVERE LIGHT DIMMING; ALL LIGHTS DIM SEVERELY (ENOUGH TO CAUSE A TRACTOR TRAILER DRIVER TO THINK I GAVE HIM THE FLASH TO PASS SIGNAL, CAUSING HIM TO MOVE OVER INTO MY LANE) AT RANDOM, SOMETIMES 2 TO 3 TIMES PER MILE DRIVEN. SATURN HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN, 04-08-42-001, STATING LIGHT DIMMING IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE L-SERIES, YET THEY HAVE NOT DRIVEN MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT TO SEE THE EXTREMITY OF THE DIMMING IN MY VEHICLE. SOMETIMES IT OCCURS RIGHT AWAY, OTHER TIMES IT TAKES A WHILE. SATURDAY NIGHT, 04/24/04 I TOOK THE CAR TO ATLANTA, GA. BETWEEN MOBILE, AND MONTGOMERY, THE LIGHTS DIMMED SEVERELY FOR DOZENS OF MILES. SATURDAY NIGHT, 06/19/04 I TOOK THE CAR ON A TRIP TO BIRMINGHAM, AL TO TRY TO RE-CREATE THE PROBLEM AND DOCUMENT IT. IT DIDN'T OCCUR UNTIL AFTER DRIVING IT 220 MILES. IT THEN DIMMED SEVERELY MANY TIMES FOR AROUND 10 TO 15 MILES (AS MANY AS 2 - 3 TIMES PER MILE). AFTER THAT POINT, IT STOPPED DOING IT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073181May 26, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, INTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
THIS IS THE THIRD INCIDENT, SECOND IN SAME DAY, WHERE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. AUDIBLE CLICKING SOUND UNDER DASH AND LIGHTS REPEATEDLY TURNING ON & OFF, LOCKS ON AND OFF AND HORN SOUNDING. ON 1 PRIOR OCCASIONS, AUDIBLE CLICKING HEARD AND LOCKS REPEATEDLY TURNING ON AND OFF. CLEARLY NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, AS I CAN SEE FROM OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MODEL ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. CONSEQUENCES OF THE PROBLEM --- NEIGHBORS CALLED POLICE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT NOISE. UNABLE TO KEEP ALARM ON DUE TO CONTINUING PROBLEM, LEADING TO INSECURE CAR. ALSO, SAFETY ISSUE WITH LIGHTS AND LOCKS REPEATEDLY TURNING ON AND OFF WITH THE ELECTRICAL FAILURE. DEALER WILL SERVICE IN TWO DAYS (FIRST AVAILABLE APPT!!) AND WILL UPDATE THEN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062229March 15, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, INTERIOR LIGHTING, EQUIPMENT
2003 L-200 PURCHASED FEB 03. SOON FOUND NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH CAR, TO THIS DAY HAVE NOT BEEN FIXED. TRIED SATURN 800 # TO NO AVAIL. REP WAS RUDE. FLAT OUT TOLD ME NOTHING TO BE DONE BY SATURN IF LOCAL DEALER CAN'T FIX. TOLD BY LOCAL SVC MGR SUPV I WAS MAKING PROBS UP & NO ONE ELSE HAD THESE PROBLEMS. HE TOLD SVC REPS HALT CORRECTING OR REVIEWING WARRANTY WORK ON OUR CAR. ESCALATED & WRKD W/ DIR OF OPRTNS. HE WASN'T ABLE TO FIX PROBS DUE TO RESISTANCE FRM SATURN. WAS TOLD NO MORE WORK ON PROBS BECZ SATURN INTERVENED IN DOING MORE WARRANTY WORK. IN "ALL" INSTANCES WERE GIVEN FINAL RESOLUTION PER SATURN ALL PROBLEMS ARE "WORKING AS DESIGNED", HAVE NO INTENTION TO FIX THEM. SAID NOT GOING TO INVEST MONEY TO FIX IN '03 BUT USE COMPLAINTS LOOK AT POSSIBLE CHANGES FUTURE CARS. WE HAVE HAD AND CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH 1) "SAFETY ISSUE": EXTERIOR LIGHTS FLASHING ON/OFF 2) "SAFETY ISSUE": EXTERIOR AUTO ON/OFF FOR DAY RUNNING AND HEADLIGHTS DOESN'T REGISTER PROPERLY WHICH ONE TO USE & WHEN 3) INTERIOR LIGHTS DIM HIGHER & LOWER INTERMITTENTLY 4) AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. DOES NOT PROPERLY REGULATE THE HEAT & A/C. TEMP MUST BE SET A MIN. 84 DEGREES FOR HEAT THEN WILL ONLY STAY FOR AWHILE WHEN SUDDENLY IT GOES AWAY &THE A/C COMES ON. ONLY 1/2 WAY FIX FOR ISSUE IS TO USE THIS UNIT IN A MANUAL MODE SET TO A MIN. 84 DEGREES & BURN UP THE INSIDE THEN TURN OFF, TURN BACK ON TO WARM, KEEP REPEATING. IN MANUAL MODE YOU ALSO EXPERIENCE COLD AIR WHEN IT RUNS OUT OF HOT AIR. 5) SIX DISC CD/CASSETTE PHILIPS SYSTEM: VOLUME GOES FROM VERY SOFT TO VERY LOUD IN 1 CLICK WITH NO INBETWEEN. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED SYSTEM WITH LIKE ONE TO FIND IT DOES SAME THING. TOLD AN OUTSIDE VENDOR PIECE OF EQUIPMENT & CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. FIGURE OUT WAY TO BALANCE IT, PUSH ALL SOUND TO BACK OF CAR, LISTEN TO IT LOW OR NOT AT ALL. AS YOU MIGHT WELL IMAGINE I WOULD "NOT" RECOMMEND TO ANYONE TO PURCHASE A SATURN VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10059321February 19, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
THE DRIVER HAS TO APPLY EXCESSIVE EFFORT TO ACTIVATE THE HORN AND ONCE IT WAS PRESSED THERE WAS A 4 TO 5 SECOND DELAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054959January 27, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
MY CAR HAS A 1/4 TANK OF GAS & IT WILL NOT START. I HAD TO PUT MY CAR IN NEUTRAL & COAST IT SLIGHTLY DOWN A HILL WITH THE FRONT END FACING DOWN THE HILL. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE & THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR.... ON TOP OF THAT, THEY ASKED ME WHAT BRAND OF GAS I WAS USING... I TOLD THEM SUNOCO. SILLY ME WAS SUPPOSED TO BE USING AMOCO!?!?!? BUT THIS PROBLEM PERSISTS! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050082December 3, 2003
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR, INTERIOR LIGHTING, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM), SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING SYSTEM.*MR CONSUMER NOTICED THE FAILURE WHEN DRIVING OFF THE LOT BUT THOUGHT I WAS DUE TO COLD WEATHER. LATER SHE LEARNED THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO FLUID LEAKING. AFTER THE REPAIR, CONSUMER STARTED HEARING GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING. ON 10/08/03, THE CONSUMER LEARNED THE STEERING PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. AFTER PICKING UP THE VEHICLE ON THIS DATE, CONSUMER HEARD MORE NOISES. THIS TIME IT WAS A AIR POCKET IN THE STEERING FLUID. IN ADDITION, THE AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM FAILS TO WORK AS DESIGNED. IT'S PROGRAMMED AT 87 DEGREES WHEN ITS COLD OUTSIDE. INSTEAD OF HEAT, IT WOULD BLOW WARM THEN COLD AIR. THE COMPUTER WAS REPROGRAMMED AND THE PROBLEM BECAME WORST THAN AT FIRST. THERE WERE COUNTLESS OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. *PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10045229October 31, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
THE SATURN L200 I OWN WILL NOT START ON AN INCLINE WHEN THERE IS 1/4 TANK OF GAS IN IT. IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE I MUST PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND ROLL DOWN THE INCLINE TO A LEVEL STREET. THIS IS DANGEROUS. I HAVE CALLED BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND SATURN THE MANUFACTURER. THEY HAVE STATED IT IS AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM. IT MUST BE FIXED. THERE IS A GENUINE DANGER HERE. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10045054October 30, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10044954October 29, 2003
STEERING:RACK AND PINION, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL FEELS REAL LOOSE, AND MAKES A LOUD NOISE. DEALER REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION AND STEERING PUMP ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043064October 16, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY. A FAINT CLICKING SOUND WAS HEARD FROM UNDER THE DAS,H AND THE HEADLIGHTS MOMENTARILY FLASHED OFF. HAPPENED ABOUT ONCE A WEEK. WHEN IT OCCURRED, LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER FOR A SECOND OR TWO ABOUT ONCE A MINUTE AS MANY AS A DOZEN TO 20 TIMES AFTER STARTING THE CAR FROM A COLD START. DEALER DENIED THER WAS ANY PROBLEM, AND KNEW OF NO SOLUTION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10041731October 13, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
*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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10041748October 13, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10041432October 8, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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 AS MY LIGHTS "SUGGESTED" TO HIM THAT HE HAD. ALL OF US WERE FORTUNATE AT THIS TIME NOT TO HAVE WRECKED. (YET I RECEIVED A LOT OF JERKING OF MY NECK AND HEAD WHEN BRAKING AND STEERING TO GET OUT OF THE WAY). NEXT TIME MY LIGHTS DO THIS IT COULD MAKE ANOTHER TRUCKER OR PERSON PULLING AN RV OR A SCHOOL BUS FULL OF KIDS OR TOUR BUS FULL OF TOURISTS THINK I HAVE GIVEN THE "CLEARANCE" TO MOVE INTO MY LANE; WHEN I HAVE NOT. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED IF THIS ISSUE WON?T FORCE TO BE REPAIRED BY GM/SATURN. I REPORTED TO SATURN, WHAT CAUSED THIS SEVERE POWER DRAIN ON MY CAR. WHEN THE AUXILIARY COOLING FAN NEAR THE COMPRESSOR KICKS IN, IT PUTS A SEVERE POWER DRAIN ON THE CARS LIGHTS, WHICH WAS USING THE HEAT OR A/C THAT COULD BE DOZENS OF TIMES IN A MATTER OF MINUTES IF IT APPEARS THAT I AM FLASHING MY HEADLIGHTS TO THOSE IN FRONT OF ME AND TAPPING MY BRAKES TO THOSE BEHIND ME. LAST WEEK, MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP WAS TRYING TO FIX MY CAR. ON THE 2ND DAY OF WORKING ON MY CAR THE SERVICE DEPT. CALLED SATURN INC FOR HELP. MY DEALERSHIP WAS FORCED BY SATURN CORPORATION TO STOP WORKING ON MY CAR. THEY WERE TOLD NOT TO FIX MY CAR CLAIMING ALL SATURNS ARE DESIGNED THIS WAY. THEY SAID IT IS NOT A SAFETY OR WARRANTY ISSUE BECAUSE MY LIGHTS DON'T GO ALL THE WAY OFF. MY LIGHTS MIGHT NOT GO ALL THE WAY OUT BUT THEY GO OUT TOO MUCH TO BE CONSIDERED SAFE. NOTE:(THE 2004 L-300 LOANER THEY HAD SUPPLIED ME DOES IT TOO) *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10041433October 8, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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 AS MY LIGHTS "SUGGESTED" TO HIM THAT HE HAD. ALL OF US WERE FORTUNATE AT THIS TIME NOT TO HAVE WRECKED. (YET I RECEIVED A LOT OF JERKING OF MY NECK AND HEAD WHEN BRAKING AND STEERING TO GET OUT OF THE WAY). NEXT TIME MY LIGHTS DO THIS IT COULD MAKE ANOTHER TRUCKER OR PERSON PULLING AN RV OR A SCHOOL BUS FULL OF KIDS OR TOUR BUS FULL OF TOURISTS THINK I HAVE GIVEN THE "CLEARANCE" TO MOVE INTO MY LANE; WHEN I HAVE NOT. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED IF THIS ISSUE WON?T FORCE TO BE REPAIRED BY GM/SATURN. I REPORTED TO SATURN, WHAT CAUSED THIS SEVERE POWER DRAIN ON MY CAR. WHEN THE AUXILIARY COOLING FAN NEAR THE COMPRESSOR KICKS IN, IT PUTS A SEVERE POWER DRAIN ON THE CARS LIGHTS, WHICH WAS USING THE HEAT OR A/C THAT COULD BE DOZENS OF TIMES IN A MATTER OF MINUTES IF IT APPEARS THAT I AM FLASHING MY HEADLIGHTS TO THOSE IN FRONT OF ME AND TAPPING MY BRAKES TO THOSE BEHIND ME. LAST WEEK, MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP WAS TRYING TO FIX MY CAR. ON THE 2ND DAY OF WORKING ON MY CAR THE SERVICE DEPT. CALLED SATURN INCORPORATED FOR HELP. MY DEALERSHIP WAS FORCED BY SATURN CORPORATION TO STOP WORKING ON MY CAR. THEY WERE TOLD NOT TO FIX MY CAR CLAIMING ALL SATURNS ARE DESIGNED THIS WAY. THEY SAID IT IS NOT A SAFETY OR WARRANTY ISSUE BECAUSE MY LIGHTS DON'T GO ALL THE WAY OFF. MY LIGHTS MIGHT NOT GO ALL THE WAY OUT BUT THEY GO OUT TOO MUCH TO BE CONSIDERED SAFE. NOTE:(THE 2004 L-300 LOANER THEY HAD SUPPLIED ME DOES IT TOO) *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10034577August 25, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10033054August 18, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10034010August 13, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
2003 SATURN L200 DOES NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS OF ADVERTISED FUEL EFFICIENCY.*MR TRANSFERRED TO OVSC. 08/13/2003.*CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10023627June 23, 2003
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
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
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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