Saturn L-series 2002 - Electrical system - car safety information, failing parts, recalls, bulletins, complaints

Saturn L-series 2002

Recalls
Technical Service Bulletins
Defect investigations
Consumer Complaints

Recalls

Campaign	Manufacturer	Manufacturing date	Type	# of units affected	Date Owner notified Mfg	Recall Initiated by	Manufacturers of recalled vehicles/products	Report Recieved Date	Record Creation Date
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - MODULE
03V231000	GENERAL MOTORS CORP.	from 07/31/2000 to 06/11/2001	V (Vehicle)	239993	07/01/2003	MFR	GENERAL MOTORS CORP.	06/23/2003	06/23/2003
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
Consequence Summary	Failure of the resonator will cause increased exhaust noise. prolonged operation of the vehicle following a resonator failure may lead to a fire.
Corrective Summary	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.
Notes	Gm recall no. 03033/saturn recall no. 03-c-06.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration

Bulletins

Bulletin	Bulletin date	Item no.	Summary	Added
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
030856002	09/01/2003	10003597	Intermittent security telltale illumination and/or diagnostic trouble code b2960. *tt	10/24/2003
02C07	04/01/2002	633352	Subject regarding inaccurate odometer reading after loss of battery power. *jg	09/23/2002
02T18	04/01/2002	631290	Subject regarding onstar system unable to send or receive cellular phone calls.*jb	05/22/2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY - CABLES
02T26	05/01/2002	632277	The purpose of this bulletin is to provide new positive and negative battery cable replacement procedures. *tt	07/12/2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION
3419		10014805	Ignition key will not rotate back to off position or shift lever will not move out of park. *tt	05/10/2005
01T57	11/01/2001	627017	Subject pertaining to incorrect part number and repositioning instruction stamped on sir roll coil connector.*jb	02/04/2002
01T51	10/01/2001	626078	Subject regarding new ignition lock cylinder design and new key codes for ignition lock cylinder and key cuts. *jg	12/12/2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - FRONT UNDERHOOD
3648		10018915	Hesitation on acceleration after internal engine repairs - check injector harness orientation. *tt	01/24/2006

Investigations

NHTSA ID	Manufacturer	Date open	Date close	Subject	Recall campaign
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PE05010	GENERAL MOTORS CORP.	02/15/2005	06/03/2005	INOPERATIVE TAIL LAMPS	05V245000
	General motors has decided that a safety related defect exists on certain model saturn 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 or tail lamps (including the center high-mounted stop lamp).gm will conduct a safety recall on an expanded scope of saturn vehicles to install a reinforcing socket adapter (and corresponding nw socket) to the back of the existing lamp assembly.general motors will recall 291,652 my 2000-2002 saturn ls sedans and my 2000-2004 saturn lw wagons.the recall is identified by nhtsa number 05v-245.

Consumer Complaints

Fail date	miles	occurences	Purchase date
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
12/04/2006	79900	80	02/29/2004
	I have a 2002 saturn l-100. when the light switch is in the automatic position the headlights, instrument panel lights, interior lights and tail lights flash intermittently but quite frequently. when they flash the fuel and temperature gauges go back and forth as if they lose power and re-gain it. when the gauges lose power and continue to lay down, the shift lever cannot be moved from the park position until they receive power again. when the light switch is manually turned on the headlights and taillights do not flicker, however the gauge, interior and dash lights continue to flicker. have had it looked at several times. no one has a clue of what the cause can be. can hear clicking from underhood fuse box when it does that. can also feel the clicking in the release button on the gear shift. i cannot believe this is normal as saturn claims. *nm
08/06/2006	71000	1	02/09/2002
	I own a 2002 saturn l100. about a month ago the automobile experienced difficulty in starting. it turns out, after taking the vehicle to saturn the problem was determined to be the body control module(bcm). replacement cost approx. $550.00. i have two issues. 1. because the car would start after making a number of attempts, it was drivable. unfortunately, the airbag sensor was tripped which could cause the airbags to deploy(according to the owner's manual) causing an extremely dangerous situation. 2. my research on various on-line sites seems to indicate that a vast number of saturn customers have had this same problem,i.e. bcm failure. consequently, i believe that this bcm has been poorly manufactured and should be recalled and replaced at no charge to the consumer. *jb
03/01/2005	37000		08/01/2003
	Electronic controle computer shorted out working sortly after warenty expierd. alarm did not work, key fob did not work, transmision inter lock would not disegage, fule gage did not work, temp gage did not work, radio did not work, no instrument lights.
04/24/2003		1	06/10/2002
	My car has a sporadic problem that causes the headlights and instrument panel lights to dim up to seven times in one second intervals. this condition only happens in over drive while coasting or braking. this dimming could be misunderstood by other drivers as flashing and could cause a distraction. it also could lead to a preoccupation as to why as this guy keeps flashing me. during braking in traffic condition this could cause a distraction for the car ahead being flashed causing him to look in the rear view mirror instead of a head. as for the all these lights dimming in about one-second intervals this causes me to become distracted as well. i have contacted saturn and they are aware of the problem and no repair can be made at this time. *jb
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY
07/26/2005	58800	1	07/01/2002
	Dt: contact stated the positive battery terminal separated from the battery. he did not think a lot about it; but a friend of his had a gm truck that had the same problem with the battery post separating from the battery. this happened on 7-26-05. he replaced the battery. it was the original battery that came with the car when he purchased the car new. *ak
06/25/2005	26000	9	09/21/2002
	This car has been nothing but trouble. i have had to have the drive shaft replaced, the motor mounts replaced, the tail light assembly replaced, the steering assembly replaced and i too have a problem with the dash lights dimming. the technicians at the local saturn dealership are nothing but rude. they dont fix the problems you bring the car in for and you end up having to take it back the next day or even sometimes that same evening for a repair that wasnt done properly. i thought this was going to be a good car but it has been constant trouble and is constantly in the repair shop.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - MODULE
01/01/1901		1
	Problems with vehicle's steering and air bag equipment.mr the consumer ignition control module failed prior to recall notice. the consumer was told that there were not parts available to fix the problem. the check engine light also illuminated. nm
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING
06/25/2005	26000	9	09/21/2002
	This car has been nothing but trouble. i have had to have the drive shaft replaced, the motor mounts replaced, the tail light assembly replaced, the steering assembly replaced and i too have a problem with the dash lights dimming. the technicians at the local saturn dealership are nothing but rude. they dont fix the problems you bring the car in for and you end up having to take it back the next day or even sometimes that same evening for a repair that wasnt done properly. i thought this was going to be a good car but it has been constant trouble and is constantly in the repair shop.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
11/02/2004		40
	I have a 2002 saturn l100. the headlights and dashlights flicker on a consistent basis. the dealer and the manufacturer have advised that this is a normal operating characteristic of the vehicle. saturn service bulleting 04-08-42-011a applies. i believe that this is an unsafe characteristic and that the government should require a recall and repair of vehicles suffering from this problem.*ak
12/09/2003		2	10/31/2001
	Vehicle has been in for service on multiple occasions to correct intermittment problem which causes headlights and dashlights to flicker repeated while driving. to date problem has not been isolated or corrected.*ak
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK
06/25/2005	26000	9	09/21/2002
	This car has been nothing but trouble. i have had to have the drive shaft replaced, the motor mounts replaced, the tail light assembly replaced, the steering assembly replaced and i too have a problem with the dash lights dimming. the technicians at the local saturn dealership are nothing but rude. they dont fix the problems you bring the car in for and you end up having to take it back the next day or even sometimes that same evening for a repair that wasnt done properly. i thought this was going to be a good car but it has been constant trouble and is constantly in the repair shop.