2003 Saturn L200

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L200. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IDLING, THE ENGINE STALLS AND SHUTS OFF. THE VEHICLE IS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE REPAIR WAS PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED UNDER NHTSA RECALL # 03V231000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE). THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60,000.

2003 SATURN L200 WOULD NOT START & THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS FLASHING.. AAA TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST REPAIR FACILITY. ON 7/14/07 THAT FACILITY ADVISED US THAT THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE WAS FAULTY & THAT IT HAD BEEN THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL. THE SHOP CONTACTED SATURN OF BEAVERTON SERVICE DEPARTMENT, AND WERE TOLD THAT SINCE OUR VEHICLE HAD ALREADY HAD THE RECALL WORK DONE THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THIS FAULTY PART AGAIN UNDER THE RECALL. WE CONTACTED SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE ON 7/14/07 #800-553-6000 , WHO ADVISED US THAT SATURN OF BEAVERTON WAS INCORRECT AND THAT IF THE SAME PART WAS AGAIN FAILING, IT WOULD BE REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL. WE ASKED THEM IF WE SHOULD HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO SATURN OF BEAVERTON AND WAS TOLD THAT WE DID NOT NEED TO AS IT WAS AN HOUR AWAY FROM THE SHOP. WE COULD HAVE THE AAA SHOP DO THE REPAIR AND WE COULD SUBMIT FOR REIMBURSEMENT AS SATURN OF BEAVERTON WOULD NOT DO THE REPAIR FOR US. BUT, ADVISED OUR SHOP OF THIS AND THEY DID THE REPAIRS USING THE CORRECT PARTS SUPPLIED DIRECTLY FROM THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. WE PAID $431.79 FOR THE REPAIR AND PICKED UP THE VEHICLE 7/15/07. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM SATURN (CASE #1-24000059) CALLED US AFTER WE PICKED UP THE CAR AND ASKED US WHAT WE PAID AND WHAT WAS DONE. REFERENCE RECALL BULLETIN 6/23/2003.WE HAVE THE FAULTY IGNITION MODULE IN A BOX FROM THE SHOP. THEY CALLED ME BACK A FEW HOURS LATER AND ADVISED ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT REIMBURSE US THE REPAIR COST BECAUSE IT WAS NOT DONE AT A SATURN SHOP. SATURN DENIED THAT IT TOLD US TO HAVE THE REPAIRS COMPLETED AT THE AAA SHOP AND SUBMIT BILL FOR REIMBURSEMENT TOLD HER THAT WE STILL HAVE THE FAULTY PART, SO WE COULD TAKE IT TO THE SATURN SHOP & THEY COULD TEST IT IF NECESSARY. ALSO, WE OFFERED TO HAVE THE SHOP PUT THE FAULTY PART BACK ON &AND HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A SATURN SHOP SO THEY COULD DO THE REPAIR. SATURN TOLD US THAT NONE OF THIS MADE A DIFFERENCE AND THAT WE WILL NOT BE REIMBURSED. *AK

THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE WOULD REMAIN ENGAGED AFTER I RELEASED THE BRAKE. ORIGINALLY OCCURRED DURING COOL WEATHER, SO I THOUGHT MAYBE RELATED TO THAT, AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT UNSTUCK BY SEVERAL HARD BRAKING EVENTS IN FORWARD OR REVERSE. WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN, I RESOLVED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A CORRODED CABLE AND THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE IT. LUCKILY, I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY (CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED) AND IT WAS STILL COVERED. I'M GUESSING THAT THIS COULD BECOME A PROBLEM IN THE FUTURE, AS LONG AS I LIVE IN THE RUST BELT, EVEN THOUGH I KEEP MY CAR CLEAN. *TR

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L SERIES. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH THE ELECTRICAL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ,AND THE FRONT END BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AFTER WAITING ABOUT TEN MINUTES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED, WHITE SMOKE STARTED EXITING THE EXHAUST PIPE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THIS OCCURRED ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE DEALER HAD REPLACED THE PUMP AND/OR GAS COOLANT, INSULATOR ASSEMBLY FRONT SUSPENSION SUPPORT, OXYGEN SENSOR AND EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000. *AK

MY 2003 SATURN L200 HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE GENERAL MOTORS PASSLOCK ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF AFTER BEING STARTED AND THE PASSLOCK LIGHT BLINKS ON AND OFF. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE, I FOUND A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR GM VEHICLES. SINCE IT APPEARS THAT THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM, I WAS HOPING SOMEONE WOULD LOOK INTO SIMILAR COMPLAINTS TO SEE IF A RECALL WAS NECESSARY. *JB

TL*- WHILE DRIVING A 2003 SATURN L 200 AT A SPEED OF 25 MPH THE WIRING HARNESS FROM THE STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL VEHICLE OVER AND TURN THE POWER COMPLETELY OFF. WHEN CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF THE WIRING HARNESS STOPPED BURNING. BEFORE INCIDENT THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS. *AK

TL* - 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 ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE LIKE METAL GRINDING ON METAL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GET VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND SHE TRIED AGAIN TO GET VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE, BUT IT WOULD NOT. THE CONTACT CALLED FOR ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE, AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO SATURN OF HOLLAND. THE CONTACT DID CALL EDSATURN, AND FILED A COMPLIANT ,AND WAS GIVEN FILE# 1-22553734 FROM CUSTOMER SERVICE.*AK THE AXLE CV JOINT FAILED. THE INNER SPLINES STRIPPED AND THE OUTER AXLE CRACKED. UPDATED 01/29/07. *JB

TL* - THE CONTACT'S 2003 L SERIES SATURN WAGON STALLED. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER IN GREENSBORO, NC. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR NOISES WERE EXPERIENCED. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 72 MILES AN HOUR AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, THE CAR DRIFTED AFTER IT LOSS POWER AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE WARRANTY ENDED 3 TO 4 MONTHS AGO AND SHE INCURRED THE COST FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT REVIEWED A NOTICE ON NHTSA WEBSITE DEFECT PETITION DATED JANUARY 23, 2006 STATES NUMBER PE06006 WHICH STATES THAT THE TIMING CHAIN CAN CAUSE FAILURE AND STALLING.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BOLT THAT HELD THE REAR LEFT SEAT BELT TO THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE DETACHED FROM THE FRAME, RENDERING THE SEAT BELT USELESS. 5 MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, THE SAME SITUATION OCCURRED WITH THE REAR RIGHT SEAT BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT BOTH SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ENTIRELY. THERE WERE NO IMMEDIATE REPAIRS MADE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED, WHO OFFERED A REBATE OF 100 DOLLARS TOWARD THE REPAIR OF THE ASSEMBLIES. UPDATED 12/15/2006 - *NM