10 of the
207 complaints about the 2003 Saturn L200 are about the
braking system — 5% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
15,758 miles.
D
10
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
330.0%
Linkage AND Cable
220.0%
Master Cylinder
110.0%
Foundation Components
110.0%
Rotor
110.0%
Pads
110.0%
Service Brakes
110.0%
What owners said
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
at 122,900 milesColorado Springs, CO
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS STOPPING TO TURN RIGHT AT A RED LIGHT AND MY CARS BREAKS STOPPED WORKING. MY CAR RAN THROUGH THE INTERSECTION, STARTED VIOLENTLY SHAKING AND THEN STOPPED. THE CAR WAS STILL ON BUT IT WOULD NOT DRIVE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TRIED TO START IT UP 6 TIMES AND IT WOULDN'T WORK. THEN FINALLY IT STARTED AND I DROVE HOME. I WENT TO START MY CAR LATER THAT DAY AND NOW IT REFUSES TO START. THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON, THE CAR SHAKES, THERE'S A VERY LOUD TAPPING/RATTLING SOUND, THE ABS LIGHT FLASHES, THE 'SERVICE ENGINE SOON' LIGHT IS ON. IN THE VEHICLE INFORMATION SECTION OF THIS FORM, IT ASKING ME TO ENTER THE VEHICLES MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR. IT'S A SATURN L200 2002 BUT IT'S NOT GIVING ME AN OPTION FOR THE 2002. ONLY THE 2003.
NHTSA complaint #10809713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 71,000 milesFresno, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L200 WITH AFTER MARKET AUTO ZONE BRAKE SHOE PADS, PART NUMBER 405K5. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN HE ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND IT WOULD RESPOND. HE THEN DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND THERE WAS LIMITED BRAKING POWER BY FIFTY PERCENT. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT FOUND THAT THE AFTERMARKET BRAKES WERE ONE INCH LONGER THAN THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT BRAKES AND ONLY THE EXTREME OUTER EDGES WERE MAKING CONTACT WITH THE BRAKE DRUM, WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WOULD PERFORM AN INVESTIGATION OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,100.
NHTSA complaint #10381622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 31,000 milesSouth Bend, IN
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE
THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE WOULD REMAIN ENGAGED AFTER I RELEASED THE BRAKE. ORIGINALLY OCCURRED DURING COOL WEATHER, SO I THOUGHT MAYBE RELATED TO THAT, AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT UNSTUCK BY SEVERAL HARD BRAKING EVENTS IN FORWARD OR REVERSE. WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN, I RESOLVED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A CORRODED CABLE AND THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE IT. LUCKILY, I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY (CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED) AND IT WAS STILL COVERED. I'M GUESSING THAT THIS COULD BECOME A PROBLEM IN THE FUTURE, AS LONG AS I LIVE IN THE RUST BELT, EVEN THOUGH I KEEP MY CAR CLEAN.
NHTSA complaint #10193321 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 57,600 milesFlanders, NJFire
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE
I LEFT MY HOUSE (RELEASED MY PARKING BRAKE) AND WENT FOR A SHORT DRIVE 3-4 MILES. MY BRAKES FAILED AND THE REAR BRAKE OVERHEATED AND SMOKE BEGAN BILLOWING OUT FROM THE WHEEL. MY MECHANIC AND I CHECKED THE CAR AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE SHOWED A COMPLETE CORROSION BREAKDOWN OF THE CABLE SHEATHING. THE CAR IS RELATIVELY NEW 2003, I HAVE OWNED THE ENTIRE TIME, NO ACCIDENTS OR ANY SERVICE WHICH HAS NOT BEEN DONE BY THE DEALER. THERE IS NO CORROSION ON ANYTHING ELSE ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THE CABLE SEEMED TO BE INSTALLED WITH A LOOP WHICH POOLED MOISTURE AT A LOW POINT IN THE SHEATHING CASE OF THE CABLE. THE SHEATHING COMPLETELY CORRODED AT THAT POINT. THE SATURN DEALERSHIP WAS NOT INTERESTED IN INVESTIGATING MY PROBLEM AND I WENT TO A PRIVATE SERVICE STATION. THE CABLES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND POSSIBLY DOWN THE ROAD THE CAR WILL NEED A NEW DRUM DUE TO THE OVERHEATING.
NHTSA complaint #10168227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Conway, ARCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
SINCE PURCHASING MY SIX MONTH OLD CAR IN 2003 I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. I'VE HAD A SEAT BELT BUCKLE REPLACED, I'VE HAD MY RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING REPLACED, I'VE HAD THEM LOOKING THE BACK END OF MY CAR FOR A VIBRATION THAT WONT GO AWAY WHEN EVER I TURN THE AIR OR HEATER ON, WHICH THEY SAY THEY CAN'T FIND AND DON'T HEAR. MY REAR WINDSHIELD LEAKS BADLY. AND TODAY ONLY TWO AND A HALF YEARS AFTER I GOT MY CAR, MY BRAKES FAILED ME TWICE, THE SECOND TIME HAVING ME DIVE IN TO A CURB TOTALLY DAMAGING MY TIRE AND THE STEERING IN MY CAR, AND THE AIR BAGS NEVER WENT OFF. GOING TO FILE WITH INSURANCE AND TAKE TO REPAIR SHOP.
NHTSA complaint #10158506 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 15,758 milesBayonne, NJ
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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.
NHTSA complaint #10050082 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 4,000 milesBreckenridge, TX
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED AT LEAST FOUR TIMES SINCE CONSUMER OWNED THE VEHICLE. BRAKES WERE WEARING OUT PREMATURELY. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BOOSTER/ ROTORS/ MASTER CYLINDER AND THE BRAKE PADS.
NHTSA complaint #10034577 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 4,000 milesBreckenridge, TX
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED AT LEAST FOUR TIMES SINCE CONSUMER OWNED THE VEHICLE. BRAKES WERE WEARING OUT PREMATURELY. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BOOSTER/ ROTORS/ MASTER CYLINDER AND THE BRAKE PADS.
NHTSA complaint #10034577 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 4,000 milesBreckenridge, TX
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED AT LEAST FOUR TIMES SINCE CONSUMER OWNED THE VEHICLE. BRAKES WERE WEARING OUT PREMATURELY. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BOOSTER/ ROTORS/ MASTER CYLINDER AND THE BRAKE PADS.
NHTSA complaint #10034577 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 4,000 milesBreckenridge, TX
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED AT LEAST FOUR TIMES SINCE CONSUMER OWNED THE VEHICLE. BRAKES WERE WEARING OUT PREMATURELY. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BOOSTER/ ROTORS/ MASTER CYLINDER AND THE BRAKE PADS.
NHTSA complaint #10034577 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.