NHTSA — Steering Problems

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
99,018 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2003 Saturn L200 steering problems

steering problem

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2003 Saturn L200 Owner Comments

problem #7

Sep 042016

L200

  • 160,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2003 Saturn L200. While driving 50 mph, the steering wheel caught fire. A police report was not filed. The contact extinguished the fire. There were no injuries. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

- Tacoma, WA, USA

problem #6

Apr 092015

L200 4-cyl

  • 106,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Saturn L200. While driving at low speeds, the steering wheel seized without warning. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic five times. The technician diagnosed that the power steering pump failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was later taken back to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the rack and pinion failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000. MA 10/19/2015 updated 11/28/2017

- Florence , OR, USA

problem #5

Mar 312015

L200 4-cyl

  • 141,207 miles
Smoke is intermittently coming out of the steering column while driving or starting the vehicle.

- Spanaway, WA, USA

problem #4

Aug 012014

L200 4-cyl

  • 75,670 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My ignition switch froze while we were in line waiting for the ferry. We could not start our car, or get it out of park, or turn the wheel, or close the windows. We had to get it towed off the island to the nearest dealer ($423.76). We talked with Saturn's ignition hotline and were told our car is not covered by the recall although the switch and its failure appear to be the same as recalled vehicles. We paid $735.80 to get a new switch installed (losing use of the vehicle for two weeks while the work was done). During the time the Saturn was waiting for repairs on the dealer's lot, it rained hard and the interior of the car was soaked. I had requested that the windows (frozen open) be secured and had been assured they would be dealt with. The seat and floor mats were soaked. The seat control electronics shorted out and may have to be replaced. We'll also have to have the door panels pulled to see if there is hidden damage inside the doors. We would like our costs reimbursed. Even more important, we would like the recall extended to our model and any other GM cars with this defect. We are very fortunate our switch failed when the car was stopped in a safe place! others have not been as fortunate.

- Bellingham, WA, USA

problem #3

Jan 022012

L200

  • 137,000 miles
Car ignition does not want to turn to "off" when car is turned off and in park, refuses to release key until we pry it out or move steering wheel into locked position. Has eaten a key almost completely through in the past year. Many Saturn are having this problem with the ignition.

- Madison, WI, USA

problem #2

May 012006

L200

  • 35,000 miles
Purchased a used Saturn L-22 in March of 2003, shortly thereafter I went into the college parking ;lot to return home from school and the steering wheel would not unlock, could not get the car to go into gear, so it sat all night, and the next day I had to have it towed back to the dealership. They fixed it "so they said" and again approximately 3 months later my mother who was grocery shopping had the same problem. Later that night as the car sat on the supermarket lot we had to get it towed again. My mother, and I went to carfax on our computer, and found out that the mocel that we were driving had been recalled back in 2003 due to steering wheel module problems. We went back to the dealership to retrieve the car 5 days later and told the owner of the dealership what we had located on carfax, he appeared very nervous and refused to look on carfax to verify what we had told him. This same owner sold us a warranty on the vehicle but little did we know that the car was still under warranty by the manufacturer. The warranty he sold me cost $1,995 dollars, and I have been so upset over this dealerships unscrupulous practice. Can someone please investigate why my life, and that of my dear mothers was put in jeopardy by this man being less then honest when this car was sold to me by his dealership, along with a bought warranty while the car was still under the manufacturers warranty. Thank you for your help.

- Chester, PA, USA

problem #1

Jul 152005

L200 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 38,252 miles
Problems with start engine light. Having problems with transmisson. Reading P1887 code. Also when driving, when I turn to the left the wheel makes noises. The transmisson could eventally cause a fire. It is not properly releasing.

- Lynchburg, VA, USA

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