Saturn L200 Complaints (2003)

138 consumer complaints on file.

#10676913January 21, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L200. WHILE PARKED, THE KEY FAILED TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. AFTER REMOVING THE KEY, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS BENT AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10649211October 22, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY/WIPER, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VISIBILITY
I PURCHASED A 2003 SATURN L200 IN JANUARY 2014. ABOUT 4 MONTHS LATER I NOTICED THAT THE LIGHTS WERE FLASHING ON AND OFF IN THE CAR. THE LIGHTS WOULD DIM AND COME BACK ON. THE WIPERS WOULD STOP WORKING OR SOMETIMES THEY WOULD JUST SLOW DOWN. ONE EVENING I WENT TO THE STORE AND WHEN I RETURNED TO THE CAR THE HEADLIGHTS WERE STILL ON I CONTINUED ON HOME AND AS I STARTED THE VEHICLE THE STEERING COLUMN STARTED SMOKING. WHEN I ARRIVED BACK INTO THE PARKING LOT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT GO OFF. I CALLED THE SATURN DEALERSHIP AND ALSO THE SATURN HEADQUARTERS WHO BOTH STATED THERE ARE NO OPENED RECALLS ON THE CAR. SO I ASKED THEM IF I COULD GET A COPY OF THE SERVICE REPAIRS FOR THE RECALLS DONE ON THE CAR. THEY SAID THERE ARE NO SUCH RECORDS BUT I HAVE A PRINTOUT OF RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. NHTSA REFERENCE #05V245000 FOR THE BREAK LIGHTS #03V231000 FOR THE IGNITION MODULE AND #02V283000 FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THE PROBLEMS I HAVE EXPERIENCED ARE THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE RECALLS. THEY INFORMED ME THAT I SHOULD FILE A COMPLAINT WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION AND MAYBE YOU WOULD INITIATE A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE LADY AT THE DEALERSHIP WANTED ME TO BRING IT TO HER SO THEY COULD TAKE A LOOK AT IT. BUT ACCORDING TO THE ARTICLES I READ ON THE IGNITION MODULE IF YOU CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT IN THAT CONDITION IT MAY CAUSE A FIRE, SO I DID NOT WANT TO DO THAT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10643421October 8, 2014
STEERING:COLUMN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HOT AND STARTED SMOKING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED AND THE STEERING WHEEL CONTINUED TO SMOKE. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,274.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10640554October 1, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT GASOLINE FUEL FUMES WERE EMITTED IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10639335September 26, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE KEY FAILED TO TURN IN THE IGNITION WITHOUT WARNING. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WENT TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE AND REPLACED THE IGNITION CONTROL SWITCH. IN ADDITION, A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10626051August 18, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
MY IGNITION SWITCH FROZE WHILE WE WERE IN LINE WAITING FOR THE FERRY. WE COULD NOT START OUR CAR, OR GET IT OUT OF PARK, OR TURN THE WHEEL, OR CLOSE THE WINDOWS. WE HAD TO GET IT TOWED OFF THE ISLAND TO THE NEAREST DEALER ($423.76). WE TALKED WITH SATURN'S IGNITION HOTLINE AND WERE TOLD OUR CAR IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL ALTHOUGH THE SWITCH AND ITS FAILURE APPEAR TO BE THE SAME AS RECALLED VEHICLES. WE PAID $735.80 TO GET A NEW SWITCH INSTALLED (LOSING USE OF THE VEHICLE FOR TWO WEEKS WHILE THE WORK WAS DONE). DURING THE TIME THE SATURN WAS WAITING FOR REPAIRS ON THE DEALER'S LOT, IT RAINED HARD AND THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR WAS SOAKED. I HAD REQUESTED THAT THE WINDOWS (FROZEN OPEN) BE SECURED AND HAD BEEN ASSURED THEY WOULD BE DEALT WITH. THE SEAT AND FLOOR MATS WERE SOAKED. THE SEAT CONTROL ELECTRONICS SHORTED OUT AND MAY HAVE TO BE REPLACED. WE'LL ALSO HAVE TO HAVE THE DOOR PANELS PULLED TO SEE IF THERE IS HIDDEN DAMAGE INSIDE THE DOORS. WE WOULD LIKE OUR COSTS REIMBURSED. EVEN MORE IMPORTANT, WE WOULD LIKE THE RECALL EXTENDED TO OUR MODEL AND ANY OTHER GM CARS WITH THIS DEFECT. WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE OUR SWITCH FAILED WHEN THE CAR WAS STOPPED IN A SAFE PLACE! OTHERS HAVE NOT BEEN AS FORTUNATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10620855August 8, 2014
ENGINE, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED TO BLOW COOL AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED A CONDENSER AND A CLUTCH WAS NEEDED IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT IF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PROPERLY REPAIRED THE BELT WOULD SEIZE CAUSING AN ENGINE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10583150April 16, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT TOOK MANY ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578469April 9, 2014
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
PARKED CAR AND NEXT MORNING WENT TO START AND CAR WOULD NOT START. IT WOULD ONLY TURN N NOT START. WENT TO WHERE BOUGHT IT N THEY DIAGNOSIS TIMING CHAIN WAS BROKE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573345March 19, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THEN RESTARTED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10564901February 19, 2014
ENGINE, WHEELS
THE CAR STARTED MAKING A FUNNY NOISE AS I WAS DRIVING HOME. THANKFULLY I MADE IT HOME BUT AFTER I SHUT THE CAR OFF IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. ALSO MY REAR WHEELS WEAR ON THE INSIDE DUE TO THE POSITION OF THEM I AM GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE SHIMS PUT IN TO KEEP THE REAR WHEELS FROM ANGLING IN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10548137October 16, 2013
ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL IS LEAKING AT THE NIPPLE FROM FUEL PUMP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10538078August 30, 2013
VISIBILITY/WIPER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V283000 (VISIBILITY). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10537190August 26, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
PARKED CAR AND LOCKED WITH REMOTE. UPON RETURN TO VEHICLE SMELLED GAS AND WAS LOCKED OUT OF 2003 SATURN LS200 AFTER ONLY 17,500 MILES DRIVEN. PURCHASED NEW IN 2003. STRANDED UNTIL AAA TOW TO LAS VEGAS FINDLAY GM DEALERSHIP. OPENED MANUALLY WITH KEY INSTEAD OF REMOTE. ATTEMPTED TO START CAR ENGINE. TURNED OVER FOR A FEW SECONDS AND DIED. ALL DASHBOARD GAUGES NOT WORKING. PROBLEM PER GM DEALER WAS TWOFOLD: (1) FAULTY BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) THAT CONTROLS VEHICLE'S ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED AND REQUIRED COSTLY REPLACEMENT PART AT $614 PLUS LABOR; ALSO (2) FUEL PUMP FAILED AND REQUIRED COSTLY PART REPLACEMENT AT $498 PLUS LABOR AND CLEANING OF FUEL SYSTEM. AFTER BRIEF INTERNET SEARCH I FOUND THESE TWO PARTS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR FAILURES IN SATURN VEHICLES. HAVE BEEN FAILING SINCE 2003 AND CONTINUE TO FAIL. COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE BY SATURN OWNERS TO GM AND THE NTSB. GAUGES AND LIGHTS HAVE REPORTEDLY FAILED EVEN WHEN DRIVING BECAUSE OF FAULTY BCM. AN INITIAL BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) RECALL (SATURN RECALL #03C06) IS NOTED BY OTHER OWNERS, BUT I NEVER RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION. THE BCM AND FUEL PUMP SHOULD NOT FAIL AT 17,500 MILES!! THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE BCM AND FUEL PUMP ARE VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10523346July 5, 2013
ENGINE
AS I WAS TURNING INTO THE GAS STATION THE TIMING CHAIN AND BOTH TENSIONERS BUSTED THE PISTON SMASHED ALL OF THE VALVES THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART AND THE VEHICLE WAS ALMOST SIDESWIPED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10521799June 25, 2013
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR IGNITION DOES NOT WANT TO TURN TO "OFF" WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF AND IN PARK, REFUSES TO RELEASE KEY UNTIL WE PRY IT OUT OR MOVE STEERING WHEEL INTO LOCKED POSITION. HAS EATEN A KEY ALMOST COMPLETELY THROUGH IN THE PAST YEAR. MANY SATURNS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10488643December 12, 2012
ENGINE
I AM MORTIFIED BY ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS OF ENGINE FAILURE OF THE L200 SERIES DUE TO THE TIMING CHAIN AND AM EVEN MORE DEVASTATED THAT THERE IS NO RECALL INFORMATION ON IT. MY CAR HAD 78K MILES ON IT AND DID NOT START TODAY. IT WAS TOWED TO A SHOP AND THEY CALLED ME TO INFORM ME THAT IT WAS MY ENGINE DUE TO THE TIMING CHAIN. THE REPAIR SHOP ALSO SAID THAT IT WAS THE 4TH SATURN WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM THAT THEY HAD SEEN THIS MONTH. I AM A COLLEGE STUDENT WITHOUT A CAR THAT IS STILL MAKING CAR PAYMENTS LIVING ON MY OWN. SATURN BETTER BE HAPPY THAT IT NO LONGER EXISTS, BUT GM BETTER HAVE SOME ANSWERS FOR ME. THERE ARE RECALLS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM FOR 2001 MODELS, THERE ARE EVEN MORE REPORTED ISSUES WITH LATER MODELS. HOW HAS GM GOTTEN AWAY WITH THIS? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10479762October 11, 2012
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE SHUT OFF WHICH CAUSED THE GAUGES TO MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE TO STALL AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10478357October 2, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I DETECTED THE SMELL OF GASOLINE WHEN GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE. LATER DURING THAT WEEK THE SMELL OF GASOLINE BECAME PRESENT WHILE DRIVING AS WELL AS WHEN THE CAR WAS STATIONARY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LICENSED REPAIR FACILITY TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THEY PUT IT ON A LIFT AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS STAINED AND IT LOOKED TO BE LEAKING FROM THE AREA AT THE TOP OF THE TANK. ON SEPT 27, 2012 THE CAR WENT IN FOR SERVICE. UPON REMOVING THE FUEL TANK THE TECHNICIAN FOUND THE FUEL PUMP TO HAVE BROKEN BRITTLE PLASTIC AT THE TOP WHERE THE FUEL LINES COME OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON 9/29/12. SINCE THEN I LEARNED THAT GM IS RECALLING SOME VEHICLES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, YET THIS VEHICLE ISN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10477882October 1, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
2003 SATURN L200. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE RUNS ROUGH AND HAS LOW POWER AND SOMETIMES ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED A FEW WEEKS AGO, THE VEHICLE MADE A HORRENDOUS NOISE AND STARTED TO RUN ROUGH. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP, BUT A CODE DID NOT SHOW ON THE COMPUTER. HOWEVER, WHEN THEY LOOKED ON THE INTERNET, THEY FOUND A RECALL REGARDING THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE, WHICH DESCRIBED WHAT THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP STATED ACCORDING TO THEIR RECORDS, THE RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED. ALSO, THE IGNITION TOWER HAD SINCE FAILED. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF A RECALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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