Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | |||
| 11/08/2010 | 88000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2002 saturn l200. while driving 65 mph the vehicle suddenly lost power on the freeway. no warning light illuminated. she moved to the side of the road but did not try the engine to check if it would restart. she called roadside assistance who informed her the timing chain broke. the vehicle was towed to a mechanic shop who stated it was the timing chain and the valves are bent. the mechanic will repair the vehicle after contacting the manufacturer who stated there are no recalls or warranty. the failure mileage was 88,000....mw | |||
| 08/18/2008 | 84650 | 3 | |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2002 saturn l200. every time the security lights flash, the vehicle will turn over, but fail to start. the failure has occurred on three occasions. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, but they could not determine the cause of the failure. the manufacturer stated that they had never heard of this type of failure. the contact does not feel safe driving the vehicle. the current mileage was 84,700 and failure mileage was 84,650.updated 09/17/08.*lj updated 09/25/08. *jb | |||
| 10/01/2006 | 100 | 06/05/2002 | |
| Security light flashes on and off and when that happens the headlights flash, gas gauge moves up and down, mileage reset back numbers. *jb | |||
| 02/01/2002 | 0 | 1 | 01/02/2002 |
| Headlights flicker when break and clutch are applied. they also flicker when just normal driving. this is an intermittent problem. *nm | |||
| 06/23/2004 | 19443 | 7 | |
| 2002 saturn l200 when driving at night the lights flicker as well as the vehicle engine stalled out on expressway and the air conditioner became inoperative. *mr saturn suggested that the flickering was normal. in very hot/humid weather, the engine would run hot ad the air conditioner would stop running. on two occasions the vehicle refused to start. the service dealer suggested that the catalytic converter was plugged and the oxygen sensor was replaced due to the stalling. all four tires were replaced because of an alignment, toe and camber problem. *sc | |||
| 07/15/2005 | 46787 | 10 | |
| Security system is failing. while driving, security light will flash on and off. when this happens, lose headlights, dash lights. also causes fuel gauge and temperature gauge to fail. had auto part store access on board computer. no errors found. problem happened again. was unable to car into gear. had to let car sit for awhile. tried to disable alarm system per handbook. no success. another result of this is my odometer reset to 000000 miles and now loses miles when it does work. | |||
| 01/01/1901 | 1 | ||
| 2002 saturn l200 headlights blink off frequently.***no answer required***. *mr headlights and all other lights blink on/off frequently. manufacturer is aware of problem. vehicle out of warranty. *tt *nm | |||
| 11/01/2002 | 20 | ||
| The headlights flickered intermittently which caused the headlights to dim. consumer contacted the dealer. and was told this was standard, also, this could not be fixed. however, saturn knew it was an electrical problem. *ak | |||
| 10/31/2001 | 1 | ||
| Flickering lights , inside and out, whenever foot is taken off the gas soon after starting. usually once or twice a night. ocasionally every time foot is taken off the gas. dealer is aware of problem ,but says nothing can be done. *ak | |||
| 12/18/2002 | 06/18/2002 | ||
| Since the car was new i have had times when the head lights & dash lights flicker or flash. it happens when you take your foot off the gas pedal (my car is a 4 cyl 5 speed). the flickering is enough that other vehicles that i am following slow down or pull over. my car lights will dim when electric motors are used such as power windows or the engine fan come on, also when the rear window deicer is turned on. dealer response has basically been that saturn acknowledges the condition as a normal condition of the car. incident not only time | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY | |||
| 06/15/2008 | 60000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2002 saturn l200. while driving approximately 25 mph, the vehicle lost power and the battery warning light illuminated on the instrument control panel. the vehicle was inspected by a local service shop and they stated that the timing chain failed, which caused the valve in the engine to fail also. the dealer stated that the repair would cost $2,300. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure and current mileages were 60,000. | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | |||
| 08/05/2002 | |||
| While traveling on highway took foot of gas pedal and dashboard light/ headlights will go dim. dealership is aware of problem.*ak | |||
| 02/21/2002 | 4 | 09/01/2001 | |
| Headlights and dashboard lights flicker at speeds of 65-70 mph. other electronics components do not seem to be effected | |||
| 12/29/2001 | 100 | 12/01/2001 | |
| While driving at any speed the headlights and dashboard lights dim 40-50% when the cooling fan kicks on. my drive to work in the morning is 16 miles and the lights flash sometimes 10- 15 times. this morning was around 30 times. i've had this problem with this car since i got it. i have taken it to saturn 4 times but all they tell me is that's the way it is designed i wrote to the corporate office made such a complaint, they replaced my car with another at a cost to me of $675.00. both the first car and the replacement car do the same thing. i could not believe any car manufacturer would design a vehicle like this. my wife has a 2002 l200 also and hers does not do that. i will gladly video tape this and send you a copy of the tape. it is a hazard when your lights are flashing at the car in front of you. | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION | |||
| 12/22/2006 | 1 | 10/01/2001 | |
| Ignition key housing would not work (i.e. key switch worn out). required replacement of housing. *tr | |||
| 03/10/2003 | 25000 | 2 | 10/04/2001 |
| I have a saturn l-series vehicle. received a letter about a defect relating to motor vehicle safety-failure of ignition control module that may cause deterioration in idle quality, reduction in overall engine power and the vehicle may be hard to start.continued operation after such failure may lead to secondary failures of the catalytic converter, oxygen sensor and exhaust resonator. failure of resonator failure may lead to an undercar fire without prior warning. the company states in the july 2003 letter, that parts availability is not sufficient to perform replacements at this time. problem: i have had the above situation take place twice since i had the car. it starts out with a rough idle especially during damp and/or cold days. the power of the vehicle is extreme. it either seems to be gasping for fuel etc. or the opposite has occurred, where the vehicle seems to have bursts of unusual power while on the highway.when the vehicle finally failed on the two occasions, it was hard to start, lost power, the fuel didn't seem to get through and the vehicle shook violently.trevose of saturn took care of the repairs at that time. i was told that there is no guarantee it won't happen again. i was told to think about extending my current extended warranty, as it won't be covered if it happens after the current warrsanty runs out. since those two times, i returned the vehicle to saturn in trevose again. i stated that the initial symtoms of lost power, rough idle in damp and/or cold weather was taking place. both times i was told that it was checked out and nothing is wrong. i do not feel comfotrtable driving this vehicle. it happened twice without warning. even though certain symptoms were present the times the failures took place, saturn did not take them seriously when mentioned to them. since those two times, i have presented the symptoms to them, and they once again take them lightly. i no longer feel safe driving this vehicle. *ak | |||
| 06/18/2003 | 62000 | 1 | 09/03/2001 |
| Parked car in shopping center parking lot and upon return the key would not turn in the ignition. had to tow the vehicle to the dealer and have the ignition cylinder housing destroyed to get the cylinder out. $584.00 later plus the $62.00 for the tow and we were back on the road. (2000 miles out of warranty) gm ignition??? *nlm | |||
| 03/30/2003 | 39500 | 1 | 12/31/2001 |
| The ignition coil failed. mr. *ak *jb *ts | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - ANTI-THEFT CONTROLLER | |||
| 06/12/2007 | 92116 | 1 | 04/15/2003 |
| Electronic controle computer shorted out. stopped working at 92000mi. alarm did not work, key fob did not work, transmission inter lock would not disengage, fuel gauge did not work, temp gauge did not work, no instrument lights, high beam lamp on pass. side inop., flickering headlights and dash lights reported multiple times to saturn of abilene, tx. told it's a known problem, but saturn doesn't know the fix. saturn of temple reported there was a short under the fuse box on the driver's side which shorted out the bcm, horn, high beam and turn signal switch. cost: $600 for issues brought to their attention multiple times while under warranty. | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - MODULE | |||
| 03/07/2005 | 40000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2002 saturn l200. the contact attempted to start the vehicle and was unable to do so. the vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer who replaced the ignition cylinder according to recall 03v231000 (electrical system:ignition:module). the brake lights were inoperable and the timing chain failed without warning on a separate occasion. the dealer repaired the timing chain and the contact paid half of the repair cost. most recently, the powertrain control module and body control module suddenly failed. the vehicle had not been repaired. the vin was unavailable when the complaint was filed. the failure mileage was approximately 40,000. | |||
| 10/14/2003 | 2 | 10/01/2001 | |
| Ignition control module and catalytic converter failure. car would not run. *tr | |||
| 09/30/2004 | 2 | ||
| Electronic ignition and catalytic converter went out. car would not operate. *tr | |||
| 1 | |||
| Consumer continued to experience problems with the ignition control module after the recall work was performed. *ph *mr | |||
| 07/17/2003 | |||
| The vehicle was taken to the dealer for recall# 03v231000 subject: ignition control module. the dealer performed the recall repair and the vehicle is still experiencing high idle. for safety reasons the consumer does not want the vehicle. | |||
| 11/29/2002 | 22000 | 2 | 10/04/2001 |
| Odi number is 10025456 already submitted complaint form. i want to clarify dates: faulty ignition module on 11/29/02 and 3/10/03. on 4/15/03 and 5/10/03 told by saturn of trevose that the rough idle that i feel and the loss of power that i feel cannot be duplicated. these were the exact symptoms that i felt before the ignition modules failed both times.told that this problem can reoccur at anytime, in particular in cold or damp weather. please refer to first complaint form submitted earlier on 6/5/03.*ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - SWITCH | |||
| 12/22/2006 | 1 | 10/01/2001 | |
| Ignition key housing would not work (i.e. key switch worn out). required replacement of housing. *tr | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - SOFTWARE | |||
| 06/12/2007 | 92116 | 1 | 04/15/2003 |
| Electronic controle computer shorted out. stopped working at 92000mi. alarm did not work, key fob did not work, transmission inter lock would not disengage, fuel gauge did not work, temp gauge did not work, no instrument lights, high beam lamp on pass. side inop., flickering headlights and dash lights reported multiple times to saturn of abilene, tx. told it's a known problem, but saturn doesn't know the fix. saturn of temple reported there was a short under the fuse box on the driver's side which shorted out the bcm, horn, high beam and turn signal switch. cost: $600 for issues brought to their attention multiple times while under warranty. | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING | |||
| 10/10/2003 | 78000 | 1 | |
| Electrical system failed without warning, causing the ignition relay to ignite the vehicle. as a result, the vehicle was consumed totally by fire. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | |||
| 01/04/2008 | 76000 | 1 | 10/01/2001 |
| The body control module is defective. the air bag light, check engine light remain on and maybe inoperable. also, the odometer is registering about 300 miles per second. lat known mileage was around 76,000 miles. the odometer has sailed past the million mile mark several times. *tr | |||
| 06/12/2007 | 92116 | 1 | 04/15/2003 |
| Electronic controle computer shorted out. stopped working at 92000mi. alarm did not work, key fob did not work, transmission inter lock would not disengage, fuel gauge did not work, temp gauge did not work, no instrument lights, high beam lamp on pass. side inop., flickering headlights and dash lights reported multiple times to saturn of abilene, tx. told it's a known problem, but saturn doesn't know the fix. saturn of temple reported there was a short under the fuse box on the driver's side which shorted out the bcm, horn, high beam and turn signal switch. cost: $600 for issues brought to their attention multiple times while under warranty. | |||