2003 SATURN L200 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
207
Owner Complaints
4
Recalls
23
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2003 SATURN L200
The 2003 SATURN L200 has received a total of 207 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 4 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS, SEAT BELTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE. 23 technical service bulletins have been issued by General Motors, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Electrical System (35 complaints), Exterior Lighting (11 complaints), and Engine (9 complaints).
Recalls for the 2003 SATURN L200
NHTSA has recorded 4 recalls for the 2003 SATURN L200, potentially affecting up to 553,794 vehicles.
Recall 05V245000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
| 291,652 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
View full details →Recall 05V158000 — SEAT BELTS
| 20,701 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
View full details →Recall 03V231000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
| 239,993 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
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....
View full details →Recall 02V283000 — VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
| 1,448 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2003 SATURN L200
207 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 SATURN L200. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
The contact owns a 2003 Saturn L200. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 45 MPH, an abnormal whirling sound was coming from the vehicle and the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact's wife was unable to restart the vehicle and with the assistance of a police officer, she coasted the vehicle off to the shoulder of the roadway. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed with a defective timing chain which resulted in engine failure. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
PASSENGER SIDE WIPER BLADE STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN.
THE FRONT BUMPER PLASTIC FASTENERS THAT HOLD THE BUMPER TO THE CHASSIS DEGRADE AND BREAK OVER TIME AND THE FRONT BUMPER WILL FALL OFF WITHOUT NOTICE. THIS HAPPENED TO ME AS MY CAR WAS SLOWLY MOVING FORWARD IN A PARKING LOT AND I HAD TO GET OUT AND PICK UP THE BUMPER AND PUT IT IN MY BACK SEAT TO GET IT HOME. WHEN I GOT HOME UPON INSPECTION I NOTICED THE PLASTIC FASTENERS HAD BROKEN AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO PUT THE BUMPER BACK ON. I HAD TO USE WIRE TO ATTACH IT TO THE CHASSIS BECAUSE THE PLASTIC FASTENERS WERE ALL BROKEN AND BRITTLE.
BRAKELIGHTS HAVE QUIT WORKING TWICE. ALSO MULTIPLE ELECTRICLE PROBLEMS. ON 1 OCCASION, ABS LIGHT WAS OUT, CAME ON AGAIN WITH RESTART. ANOTHER TIME FUEL GAGUE SHOWED EMPTY, SHOWED FULL ON RESTART. ANOTHER TIME TURNED KEY AND NO ELECRIC AT ALL, UNPLUGGED BATTERY AND ALL WAS WELL.
BRAKELIGHTS HAVE QUIT WORKING TWICE. ALSO MULTIPLE ELECTRICLE PROBLEMS. ON 1 OCCASION, ABS LIGHT WAS OUT, CAME ON AGAIN WITH RESTART. ANOTHER TIME FUEL GAGUE SHOWED EMPTY, SHOWED FULL ON RESTART. ANOTHER TIME TURNED KEY AND NO ELECRIC AT ALL, UNPLUGGED BATTERY AND ALL WAS WELL.
Safety Rating for the 2003 SATURN L200
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2003 SATURN L200 in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2003 SATURN L200
General Motors, LLC has issued 23 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2003 SATURN L200. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
PIT5484 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
This Preliminary Information communication advises the technician that if OnStar is unable to configure the vehicle after the OnStar 15-08-44-001 upgrade and Onstar receives a 118 error code when attempting to configure the vehicle. Dealers should receive a sheet with the kit that provides steps to assist with handling this...
020232009 — STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
POWER STEERING SYSTEM NOISE AND/OR LEAK DIAGNOSIS. *TT
040842001 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
INFORMATION ON INTERMITTENT DIMMING (FLICKERING) OF HEADLAMPS AND/OR INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING-NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC. THIS MAY OCCUR BECAUSE OF TRANSIENT CURRENT LOADS ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DURING NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION. *MN
040235008 — STEERING
CLUNK NOISE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE DURING TURNING MANEUVER/STEERING WHEEL ROTATION. *TT
040842007 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
SERVICE MANUAL UPDATE REGARDING HEADLAMP ALIGNMENT. *TT
040139001 — EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL OVERCOMPENSATION. *MR
3037 — TIRES
THUMP NOISE/VIBRATION/FLAT SPOTTED TIRES ON VEHICLE. *TT
030843005 — VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
LITTLE OR NO WINDSHIELD SOLVENT COMING FROM WASHER NOZZLES. *TT
030730046 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SERVICE ENGINE SOON (SES) ENGINE LIGHT ON, TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH (TCC) STUCK ON, DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) P0742. *TT
030941004 — AIR BAGS
RATTLE OR BUZZ NOISE FROM REAR OF PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. CURTAIN INFLATOR (SIDE AIRBAG) MODULE CONTACTING THE VEHICLE FRAME. *TT
Showing 10 of 23 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2003 SATURN L200
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the SATURN L200
- 2003 SATURN L200 (current)
- 2004 SATURN L200 — 0 complaints
Other SATURN Models
- SATURN ION — 5,467 total complaints
- SATURN VUE — 3,269 total complaints
- SATURN SL — 2,891 total complaints
- SATURN AURA — 2,222 total complaints
- SATURN OUTLOOK — 1,939 total complaints
- SATURN LS — 1,885 total complaints
- SATURN SKY — 623 total complaints
- SATURN SC1 — 554 total complaints