NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
18 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Sep 7, 2022
Engine And Engine Cooling
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 shoul…
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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.
NHTSA ODI #11483230
91,200 miles · Apr 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
NHTSA ODI #10578469
Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 SATURN AND WHEN I STOP IT MADE A NOISE IN THE ENGINE. WHEN I WENT TO START IT,IT TURNED OVER REAL FAST AND WOULD NOT START. IT HAS SPARK AND FUEL BUT NO NOT THINK IT HAS COMPRESSOR. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS CAR IS UNDER A RECALL FOR THE TIMING CHAIN. IT HAS 107,000 MILES ON IT. IT SEEM LIKE IT WOULD BE VE…
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I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 SATURN AND WHEN I STOP IT MADE A NOISE IN THE ENGINE. WHEN I WENT TO START IT,IT TURNED OVER REAL FAST AND WOULD NOT START. IT HAS SPARK AND FUEL BUT NO NOT THINK IT HAS COMPRESSOR. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS CAR IS UNDER A RECALL FOR THE TIMING CHAIN. IT HAS 107,000 MILES ON IT. IT SEEM LIKE IT WOULD BE VERY COSTLY TO FIX. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10453015
69,400 miles · Feb 10, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
PREMATURE FAILURE OF TIMING CHAIN ON 2003 SATURN L200 AT 69,400 MILES. THIS CAR HAS THE SAME TIMING CHAIN COMPONENTS AS INVOLVED IN THE 2000 MODEL YEAR RECALL. THE PARTS WERE NOT REVISED UNTIL AFTER THIS CAR WAS BUILT. THE CAR WAS MAINTAINED WITH RECOMMENDED OIL CHANGE INTERVALS, BUT THE CHAIN STILL FAILED PREMATURELY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10308410
63,000 miles · Sep 11, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE TIMING BELT AND ENGINE VALVES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING INCREASED THE RISK FOR A VEHICLE CRASH. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEA…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE TIMING BELT AND ENGINE VALVES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING INCREASED THE RISK FOR A VEHICLE CRASH. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 63000.
NHTSA ODI #10283650
56,000 miles · Mar 28, 2009
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
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 WEEKS, THE…
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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 WEEKS, THERE WERE INTERMITTENT READINGS ON DASHBOARD, INCLUDING CHECK ENGINE, SERVICE ENGINE, AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT AND ABS WARNING LIGHT. APPARENTLY NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ENGINE, AIRBAG OR BRAKES THEMSELVES, BUT THE BCM WAS GOING BAD, CAUSING THE READINGS ON DASHBOARD. BCM REPLACEMENT APPROX. $450 AND ENGINE COOLANT THERMOSTAT REPLACEMENT COST APPROX $300. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10263332
105,000 miles · Aug 28, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE TIMING CHAIN ON MY 2003 SATURN L200 WITH 108,000 MILES IS ABOUT TO FAIL AND APPARENTLY THERE IS A KNOWN (NHTSA INVESTIGATED EVEN) PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. $1300 I DON'T HAVE TO FIX IT. THIS IS ALONG WITH A SERIES OF AIR CONDITIONER PROBLEMS (IMPROPER TUBE MOUNTING SUCH THAT IT WORE THROUGH) COSTING OVER $1000 DOLLARS SIN…
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THE TIMING CHAIN ON MY 2003 SATURN L200 WITH 108,000 MILES IS ABOUT TO FAIL AND APPARENTLY THERE IS A KNOWN (NHTSA INVESTIGATED EVEN) PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. $1300 I DON'T HAVE TO FIX IT. THIS IS ALONG WITH A SERIES OF AIR CONDITIONER PROBLEMS (IMPROPER TUBE MOUNTING SUCH THAT IT WORE THROUGH) COSTING OVER $1000 DOLLARS SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10240092
67,000 miles · Aug 8, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling
I WAS DRIVING MY SATURN L200 ON A COUNTRY ROAD AT ABOUT 35 MPH. THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED RUNNING, AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE CAR BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER AND STOP WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. I CAME CLOSE TO RUNNING INTO A DITCH AS A RESULT OF THE DIFFICULTY IN CONTROLLING THE CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10237437
81,000 miles · Jul 25, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL*THE 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.
NHTSA ODI #10235731
84,000 miles · Jul 21, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AND WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AND WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 84,000.
NHTSA ODI #10235124
Official recalls
4Jun 2, 2005
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 & remedy
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.
Apr 20, 2005
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 & remedy
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.
Jun 23, 2003
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.
Consequence & remedy
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. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-553-6000, PROMPT 3.
Oct 29, 2002
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR COULD FAIL DURING USE BECAUSE OF IMPROPER MANUFACTURE.
Consequence & remedy
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 A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-553-6000, PROMPT #3 OR HUMMER AT 1-866-486-6376.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2PE06006 · Timing Chain Failure
Opened Jan 24, 2006 · Closed Jun 6, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
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 CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING.GM ALSO PROVIDED WARRANTY CLAIM DATA THAT SHOWED 1,902 SUBJECT VEHICLES RECEIVING TIMING CHAIN REPAIRS, INCLUDING 261 WHICH INDICATED THAT A STALL WHILE DRIVING RESULTED FROM THE FAILURE.THE GM COMPLAINTS, FIELD REPORTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS THAT DID NOT CONTAIN SUFFICIENT INFORMATION TO DETERMINE THAT A STALL WHILE DRIVING OCCURRED WERE PROVIDED IN THE CATEGORY OTHER.GM STATED THAT THE MAJORITY OF THESE INCIDENTS PROBABLY OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLES WERE PARKED SINCE THE TIMING CHAIN IS MORE LIKELY TO BREAK DURING HIGH CHAIN LOAD SITUATIONS, SUCH AS ENGINE STARTUP.GM'S DATA SHOWED ELEVATED FAILURE RATES IN APPROXIMATELY 20,500 MY 2001 L-SERIES VEHICLES PRODUCED DURING A FOUR MONTH PERIOD FROM NOVEMBER 2000 THROUGH FEBRUARY 2001.OVER ONE-THIRD OF GM'S TOTAL COMPLAINTS AND FIELD REPORTS (34.3%) AND WARRANTY CLAIMS (38.2%) INVOLVED L-SERIES VEHICLES BUILT DURING THE 4-MONTH PERIOD, WHICH ARE ONLY ABOUT 5% OF SUBJECT VEHICLE PRODUCTION.THE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE RATE IN THE VEHICLES BUILT DURING THIS RANGE IS OVER 10 TIMES GREATER THAN THE REMAINING SUBJECT VEHICLE POPULATION. FOR THE MY 2001 L-SERIES VEHICLES BUILT DURING THE 4-MONTH PERIOD, THE 36-MONTH FAILURE RATE FOR REPAIRS INVOLVING STALL WHILE DRIVING IS SLIGHTLY UNDER ONE PERCENT.HOWEVER, IF THE INCIDENTS CODED AS OTHER ARE ADDED, THE 36-MONTH FAILURE RATE RISES TO NEARLY FIVE PERCENT FOR THOSE VEHICLES.ODI AND GM ARE CONTINUING TO ASSESS THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS CODED BY GM AS OTHER THAT INVOLVE INCIDENTS OF STALL WHILE DRIVING.GM'S STATISTICAL MODELING OF THE FAILURE DATA INITIALLY CONCLUDED THAT THE FAILURE RATES WERE DECLINING WITH AGE AND MILEAGE FOR ANY SET OF WARRANTY DATA ANALYZED (E.G., STALL WHILE DRIVING, OTHER OR COMBINED).HOWEVER, SUBSEQUENT ANALYSIS SHOWED THAT THE FAILURE RATES ARE INCREASING. BASED ON THE HIGH COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY RATES FOR TIMING CHAIN FAILURE IN THE 4-MONTH PRODUCTION PERIOD FOR THE MY 2001 L-SERIES VEHICLES, THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO FURTHER ASSESS THE FREQUENCY OF STALL INCIDENTS DUE TO TIMING CHAIN FAILURES IN THOSE VEHICLES (EA06-009).
DP05008 · Timing Chain Failure
Opened Dec 20, 2005 · Closed Feb 6, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
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 ASSOCIATED WITH THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.REFER TO PE06-006.
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