KnownCarProblems2003 Saturn L200 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 138 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Saturn L200, most often about the electrical (36% of complaints, typically around 56,000 miles). It is the most complained-about L200 model year since 2000 and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2003 Saturn L200 problems
Electrical
50 complaints · 36%Half of these problems showed up before 56,000 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, wiring, horn, instrument cluster/panel.
03 L200 faulty body control module. Which is what make the car run. Car would turn over but would not continue to run. Towed to and serviced at a Saturn dealer. Very pricey repair of $500.
Body-control module failure: within 3 months of each other, the body-control module (BCM) and engine coolant thermostat had to be replaced. Saturn dealer, on 3/28/2009 told me that the BCM, if not replaced, could lead to serious failures, such as failure to start, overheating and other problems. Over prior several…
Engine
27 complaints · 20%Half of these problems showed up before 78,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system.
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…
Tl contact owns a 2003 Saturn L200. The vehicle was parked and the contact could not get it to start. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic and they stated that the timing chain failed for the second time in seven months. The VIN was unknown. The current mileage was 93,800 and failure mileage was 81,000.
Fuel system
18 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 54,000 miles. Parts named most often: delivery, storage.
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…
2003 Saturn L200 with 48,000 miles died while driving. We had to quickly swerve to opposite side of road where there was a shoulder in order to get out of the traffic lane(no shoulder on the lane we were in). Car was towed, and was diagnosed with a broken timing chain, probable engine damage, and possible fuel pump…
Lights
16 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 16,500 miles. Parts named most often: headlights, turn signal, brake lights.
Problems with vehicle's power steering system. 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…
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…
Visibility and wipers
13 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 47,000 miles. Parts named most often: defroster/defogger/hvac system, power window devices and controls, windshield, windshield wiper/washer.
Sometimes would have a hard time starting the car or the car would not start at all. After about a week,the check engine light and passenger seat airbag light would come on. When these lights were on, the speedometer and tachometer did not work. Shortly after that the engine lock light came on and then nothing worked.…
Preceeding the two electrical fires in my vehicle, I had intermittent issues with shorts in the electrical system (the locks unlocking/locking at random; lights going on and off and the alarm system triggering even when not set). There was also leakage from somewhere in the car (either through the windshield or…
Steering
11 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 106,000 miles. Parts named most often: rack and pinion, hydraulic power assist, column locking, column.
The contact owns a 2003 Saturn L200. While driving at low speeds, the steering wheel seized without warning. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic five times. The technician diagnosed that the power steering pump failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was…
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…
Air bags
8 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 47,000 miles. Parts named most often: side/window, frontal.
Sometimes would have a hard time starting the car or the car would not start at all. After about a week,the check engine light and passenger seat airbag light would come on. When these lights were on, the speedometer and tachometer did not work. Shortly after that the engine lock light came on and then nothing worked.…
: the contact stated the airbags did not deploy in a head on collision. While making a left hand turn at 40 MPH a vehicle pulled out in front of the contact's vehicle. The entire front end of the vehicle was damaged. Although the contact was wearing a seat belt injuries were sustained to the contact's back and right…
Transmission
8 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 55,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, axle assembly, driveline.
- the contact stated that while sitting at a stop on 12/30/06 the contact tried to accelerate to merge into traffic on a 50 MPH highway and the vehicle lost power and would not accelerate, but the engine was still running. The contact stated that vehicle would not travel at an accelerated speed. While trying to…
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...
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2003 Saturn L200 recalls
Lights: brake lights
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Seat belts
Risk: If a separation occurred in crash, the right and center rear seat occupants may not be properly restrained, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Electrical: module
Risk: Failure of the resonator will cause increased exhaust noise. Prolonged operation of the vehicle following a resonator failure may lead to a fire.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Visibility and wipers: motor
Risk: If this were to occur in severe weather, driver visibility could be reduced, which could result in a vehicle crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
Certain sport utility and passenger vehicles exhibit a condition in which the windshield wiper motor could fail during use because of improper manufacture.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Timing chain failure
Summary
On december 12, 2005, odi received a defect petition (dp05-008) requesting the investigation of timing chain failures that could cause stalling in saturn vehicles equipped with the 2.2l (l61) engine. Odi opened pe06-006 on january 24, 2006, with 24 vehicle owner complaints that alleged a broken timing chain caused the vehicle to stop operating.on april 12, 2006, odi received information from general motors (gm) concerning timing chain failures in approximately 412,000 model year (my) 2000 through 2003 saturn l-series and ion vehicles with 2.2l engines. Gm's response included 1,020 owner complaints and field reports concerning timing chain failure, including 228 that alleged the failure cause
Timing chain failure
Summary
Analysis undertaken in response to the petition identified 26 complaints alleging timing chain failures in my 2000-2003 saturn l-series vehicle equipped with the 2.2l l4 engine.most complaints of timing chain failure reportedly resulted in a sudden loss of engine power and stalling.odi also noted that certain my 2002-2003 saturn vue and my 2003 saturn ion model vehicles with the 2.2l engine vehiclescovered by a technical service bulletin (03-06-01-017) that addressed timing chain design and service procedure changes, exhibited no complaints of timing chain failure.odi will grant the petition and open a preliminary evaluation to assess the frequency, trend, scope and safety consequences assoc
Questions about the 2003 Saturn L200
- What are the most common problems with the 2003 Saturn L200?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (50 complaints, typically around 56,000 miles); engine (27 complaints, typically around 78,000 miles); fuel system (18 complaints, typically around 54,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2003 Saturn L200 have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 2, 2005 (lights). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2003 a bad year for the Saturn L200?
- It is the most complained-about L200 model year since 2000, with 138 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.
Other Saturn L200 years
- 2003