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NHTSA recalls & complaints · 2003

Saturn L200 recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 138 owner complaints for the Saturn L200, covering model year 2003. Electrical System is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your Saturn L200 VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

  • 4 recall campaigns on file
  • 138 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
  • 1 model year with data (2003)
  • top component: Electrical System (50 complaints)
  • latest recall 05V245000 (reported Jun 2, 2005)
  • 7 complaints reporting a crash (5.1%)
  • 7 complaints reporting a fire (5.1%)
  • 8 complaints reporting an injury (5.8%)
  • 0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

Saturn L200 complaints by model year

1 model year · NHTSA complaints

All 138 complaints are for the 2003 model year.

Saturn L200 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Saturn L200 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model yearComplaintsReporting a crashReporting a fireReporting an injuryReporting a death
20031387780

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported Saturn L200 components

top 15 · NHTSA categories

Electrical System is the component named most often, in 50 complaints (36.2% of all 138), followed by Engine and Engine Cooling (18) and Exterior Lighting (16).

Components named most often in Saturn L200 complaints (top 15)
Components named most often in Saturn L200 complaints (top 15)
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints
Electrical System5036.2%
Engine and Engine Cooling1813.0%
Exterior Lighting1611.6%
Fuel System, Gasoline1410.1%
Steering118.0%
Visibility107.2%
Engine96.5%
Air Bags85.8%
Power Train85.8%
Suspension75.1%
Interior Lighting53.6%
Structure53.6%
Seat Belts42.9%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic42.9%
Vehicle Speed Control42.9%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

  • They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
  • Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
  • Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
  • One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
  • Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

Saturn L200 recalls

4 campaigns · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name L200, newest first. The 4 campaigns cover model year 2003.

  • 4 recall campaigns
Saturn L200 recall campaigns covering each model year
2003: 4 campaigns

  1. NHTSA campaign 05V245000

    Reported

    Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights

    Model year 2003

    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:
    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.

    Filed by General Motors, LLC

  2. NHTSA campaign 05V158000

    Reported

    Seat Belts

    Model year 2003

    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:
    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.

    Filed by General Motors, LLC

  3. NHTSA campaign 03V231000

    Reported

    Electrical System › Ignition › Module

    Model year 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:
    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.

    Filed by General Motors, LLC

  4. NHTSA campaign 02V283000

    Reported

    Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor

    Model year 2003

    Certain sport utility and passenger vehicles exhibit a condition in which the windshield wiper motor could fail during use because of improper manufacture.

    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.

    Filed by General Motors, LLC

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it; older campaigns, which NHTSA stores in capital letters, are shown in sentence case. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means
What each recall field means
FieldWhat it tells you
Campaign numberNHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
ComponentThe system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
SummaryWhat the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
ConsequenceThe safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
RemedyWhat the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.
  • Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
  • A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
  • Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

Saturn L200 questions

4 questions

How many recalls does the Saturn L200 have?

NHTSA lists 4 vehicle recall campaigns for the Saturn L200, covering model year 2003. The most recent, 05V245000, was reported on June 2, 2005 and is filed under “Exterior lighting”.

What is the most common Saturn L200 complaint?

Electrical System is the component named most often: 50 complaints, or 36.2% of all 138. Engine and Engine Cooling (18) and Exterior Lighting (16) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my Saturn L200?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a Saturn dealer.

How many Saturn L200 complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 138 complaints, 7 report a crash, 7 a fire, 8 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

Other Saturn models

8 models · most complaints first

The Saturn models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the Saturn VIN decoder with every Saturn model page, WMI code and VIN note.

  • Saturn Ion 2003–2008 · 10 recalls · 4,343 complaints
  • Saturn Vue 2002–2010 · 7 recalls · 2,351 complaints
  • Saturn SL 1995–2002 · 12 recalls · 1,605 complaints
  • Saturn LS 2000–2004 · 12 recalls · 1,458 complaints
  • Saturn Aura 2000–2010 · 5 recalls · 1,439 complaints
  • Saturn Outlook 2007–2010 · 10 recalls · 1,352 complaints
  • Saturn Sky 2007–2010 · 5 recalls · 516 complaints
  • Saturn SC1 1995–2001 · 6 recalls · 252 complaints

All Saturn models and WMI codesLook up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.