14.2% of complaints about the 2003 Saturn L200 came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2003 vehicle — around the middle of the 228 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 5.0 yr in service. The most-reported system is electrical system (54 complaints), typically at 5.0 yr or about 55,689 miles.
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.
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.
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.
IF A SEPARATION OCCURRED IN CRASH, THE RIGHT AND CENTER REAR SEAT OCCUPANTS MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
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.
FAILURE OF THE RESONATOR WILL CAUSE INCREASED EXHAUST NOISE. PROLONGED OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE FOLLOWING A RESONATOR FAILURE MAY LEAD TO A FIRE.
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR COULD FAIL DURING USE BECAUSE OF IMPROPER MANUFACTURE.
IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR IN SEVERE WEATHER, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
SUDDEN ELECTRICAL FAILURE RELATED (ACCORDING TO DEALER) TO FAILURE OF BCM (COMPUTER MODULE. RESULTED IN LOSS OF GAGES IN DASHBOARD, LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS, LOSS OF WINDSHIELD WIPERS, ELECTRIC DOORLOCKS FAILING, CAR COULD NOT BE TAKEN OUT OF GEAR (PARK) WHEN STOPPED.*AK
*SATURN BUYERS BEWARE* I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW L200 IN MARCH 03. TO DATE I HAVE HAD THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: -CAR DOES NOT START ALL THE TIME -TEMPERATURE CONTROLS DOES NOT WORK -REMOTE ENTRY SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR INTO SATURN 4 TIMES, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY CAN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE IS TERRIBLE AS WELL. *LA
CONSTANT ELECTRICAL FAILURE WITH 2003 SATURN L SERIES SEDAN..LIGHTS DON T WORK PROPERLY(DAYTIME RUNNING REGULAR LIGHTS)..CONSTANT SHORTING ..HORN BLASTS..CRUISE CONTRLL GOES ON.. MAP LIGHT.. ALARM ACTIVATES WHILE DRIVING..SENDING UNIT FAILURE..HEATER CORE FAILURE..*AK
I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY LIGHTS FLICKERING TO THE POINT WHERE THEY GO ALMOST COMPLETELY OUT. THE DATE THAT I LISTED BELOW IT WAS THE WORST OCCURRENCE THUS FAR. THERE WERE NO APPLIANCES RUNNING ( AIR OR HEAT ) TO CAUSE THIS. I HAVE HAD PEOPLE TRY TO RUN ME OFF THE ROAD AND TURN THEIR HI BEAM LIGHTS ON ME THINKING THAT I WAS FLASHING THEM WHEN MY LIGHTS WERE ACTUALLY FLICKERING. I FEEL THAT WITH ROAD RAGE INCIDENTS OF THIS TYPE AND THE POSSIBILITY OF A VEHICLE FIRE THAT THIS POSSES A SIGNIFICANT TRAFFIC SAFETY ISSUE. *LA