IllustrationBOTTOM ENGINE 2 CELLS GONE DEALERSHIP M676 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR BLEW EENGINE
2003 Saturn L200
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Other model years Selected year
Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
220–25K
2025–50K
3150–75K
2375–100K
15100–150K
7150K+
118 reports with mileage · 20 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports7 fire reports8 injury reports
Power Train complaints
8 reportsI 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
I WAS DRIVING MY KIDS TO SCHOOL DOWN THE LEFT HAND LANE OF INTERSTATE 290-IN CHICAGO,WHILE IN THE FLOW OF THE MORNING RUSH HOUR, WHEN SUDDENLY, WITHOUT ALERT OR WARNING LIGHT, MY CAR LOST ALL IT'S POWER, CAUSING NUMEROUS CARS THAT WERE DIRECTLY BEHIND AND NEXT TO ME, TO SWERVE OFF THEIR DESTINED LANES-AVOIDING A CHAIN REACTION …
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I WAS DRIVING MY KIDS TO SCHOOL DOWN THE LEFT HAND LANE OF INTERSTATE 290-IN CHICAGO,WHILE IN THE FLOW OF THE MORNING RUSH HOUR, WHEN SUDDENLY, WITHOUT ALERT OR WARNING LIGHT, MY CAR LOST ALL IT'S POWER, CAUSING NUMEROUS CARS THAT WERE DIRECTLY BEHIND AND NEXT TO ME, TO SWERVE OFF THEIR DESTINED LANES-AVOIDING A CHAIN REACTION PILE UP. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET MY KIDS SAFELY OUT OF THE CAR AND ON TO THE SIDE OF THE EXPRESSWAY, IF IT WERE THE WAY AROUND I DON'T THINK I WOULD BE ALIVE RIGHT NOW. IN TOTAL, THERE WERE 7 CARS INVOLVED IN THE ENTIRE ORDEAL. LUCKILY NONE CRASHED INTO EACH OTHER BUT THEIR OCCUPANTS WHERE SEVERELY SHAKEN UP BY THE INCIDENT. ALL PULLED OVER TO AWAIT A PATROL MAN WHO WAS VERY CONCERNED AND UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE ENTIRE SITUATION. MY VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MY MECHANIC, WHO COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED. HE HAD SERVICED AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE A FEW DAYS BEFORE. ALLEGING THAT THE VEHICLE INDEED HAS BEEN SERVICED, MAINTAINED AND INSPECTED REGULARLY. A FEW DAYS LOOKING INTO THE CAR HE FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS INDEED A TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. AS HE LOOKED FURTHER IN TO THE CAR HE SAW THAT OIL WAS ENCRUSTED ALONG THE WALLS UNDER THE MANIFOLD AND THAT THE INDICATION OF THAT WAS POOR LUBRICATION TO THE CHAIN AND TENSIONER. THE REPAIR WILL COST ME AN ESTIMATED 900-1200 DOLLARS. NOT TO MENTION THE POSSIBILITY OF REPLACING THE ENTIRE ENGINE WHICH WOULD COST ABOUT 3500 IN TOTAL. MY CAR HAS ONLY 83,000 MILES, IT WAS BOUGHT USED WHEN IT HAD 17,000 MILES ON IT. WHEN I BOUGHT MY SATURN L200 IN 03', I WAS BOUGHT OFF BY IT'S STRIKING EFFICIENCY AND SAFETY FEATURES, TO THE POINT WHERE SAFETY WAS NEVER AN ISSUE UP UNTIL NOW. AS A HIGHLY RESPONSIBLE AND EXPERIENCED DRIVER, I WAS CAUGHT OFF GUARD WITH THIS INCIDENT. I SINCERELY HOPE THAT THIS ISSUE WITH THE TIMING BELT ON THIS CAR IS CAREFULLY CONSIDERED AND CORRECTED BEFORE IT CAUSES DEATH. I WOULD BE MORE THAN WILLING TO PROVIDE YOU WITH AN "IN DEPTH DIAGNOSIS" AND PARTS IF NEEDED. *TR
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... *TR
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, WHEN HIT THE SPEED OF ABOUT 40-45 MPH THE WHOLE FRONT END WOULD START SHAKING AND RATTLING. BROUGHT TO DEALER, NEEDLESS TO SAY AFTER THREE VISITS THEY SUPPOSEDLY "FIXED" THE PROBLEM BY REPLACING ONE SIDE OF THE AXLE SHAFT BUT THEY WERE WRONG THEY PROBLEM WAS STILL THERE! SO AFTER 8 WEEK OF WAITING FOR…
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WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, WHEN HIT THE SPEED OF ABOUT 40-45 MPH THE WHOLE FRONT END WOULD START SHAKING AND RATTLING. BROUGHT TO DEALER, NEEDLESS TO SAY AFTER THREE VISITS THEY SUPPOSEDLY "FIXED" THE PROBLEM BY REPLACING ONE SIDE OF THE AXLE SHAFT BUT THEY WERE WRONG THEY PROBLEM WAS STILL THERE! SO AFTER 8 WEEK OF WAITING FOR THE DEALER TO GO 1 BLOCK DOWN THE STREET TO GET THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AXLE SHAFT THE CAR WAS THEN FIXED. *TR
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 ACCELERAT…
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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
PROBLEMS WITH START ENGINE LIGHT. HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSON. READING P1887 CODE. ALSO WHEN DRIVING, WHEN I TURN TO THE LEFT THE WHEEL MAKES NOISES. THE TRANSMISSON COULD EVENTALLY CAUSE A FIRE. IT IS NOT PROPERLY RELEASING.
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING SYSTEM.*MR 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 CON…
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PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING SYSTEM.*MR 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 LEARNED THE STEERING PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. AFTER PICKING UP THE VEHICLE ON THIS DATE, CONSUMER HEARD MORE NOISES. THIS TIME IT WAS A AIR POCKET IN THE STEERING FLUID. IN ADDITION, THE AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM FAILS TO WORK AS DESIGNED. IT'S PROGRAMMED AT 87 DEGREES WHEN ITS COLD OUTSIDE. INSTEAD OF HEAT, IT WOULD BLOW WARM THEN COLD AIR. THE COMPUTER WAS REPROGRAMMED AND THE PROBLEM BECAME WORST THAN AT FIRST. THERE WERE COUNTLESS OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. *PH
Official recalls
405V245000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights
Jun 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.
05V158000 · Seat Belts
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.
03V231000 · Electrical System:ignition:module
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.
02V283000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
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.