The defect
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.
The risk
FAILURE OF THE RESONATOR WILL CAUSE INCREASED EXHAUST NOISE. PROLONGED OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE FOLLOWING A RESONATOR FAILURE MAY LEAD TO A FIRE.
The 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.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Saturn L200 | 2003 |
| Saturn LS | 2000, 2001, 2002 |
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturn L200 | 2003 | 138 | 4 |
| Saturn LS | 2000 | 382 | 6 |
| Saturn LS | 2001 | 582 | 7 |
| Saturn LS | 2002 | 493 | 3 |
Other electrical system recalls in 2003
42 of the 527 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2003 concerned the electrical system; GENERAL MOTORS CORP. filed 1,195 campaigns in all.
| 03V528000 12 Dec 2003 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 03V532000 12 Dec 2003 | GULF STREAM COACH, INC. |
| 03V494000 2 Dec 2003 | BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO. |
| 03V495000 2 Dec 2003 | AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORP. |
| 03V490000 1 Dec 2003 | AUTOCAR, LLC |
| 03V489000 1 Dec 2003 | TRAILEX, LES REMORQUES DE RIMOUSKI INC |
| 03V483000 25 Nov 2003 | BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE |
| 03V484000 19 Nov 2003 | SUPERIOR MANUFACTURING, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2003