GM Recalls Saturns After Engine Fires

General Motors Corp. said Tuesday that it is recalling about 254,000 Saturn L-Series cars to correct an engine problem that has led to fires. The model years affected are 2000 to 2003.

About 240,000 of the cars, which are equipped with 2.2-liter engines, are in the United States and the rest are in Canada, the world’s No. 1 automaker said.

The company plans to begin notifying owners next month and instructing them to take the cars to Saturn dealers.

GM will replace the ignition module and spark plugs.

Also, GM said, mechanics will reprogram the powertrain control module. The repairs will be done at no charge to the customer.

Some of these vehicles may misfire, which could lead to failures in the exhaust system. If the initial condition is not fixed and the vehicle continues to be driven, there could be further damage to the brakes, fuel system or other components.

Continued driving could result in a car fire, GM said. There have been seven reports of fires related to the problem, but no crashes, serious injuries or fatalities.

GM said early warning signs of the problem are difficulty starting the vehicle, reduced engine power and a change in engine idle. The “service engine soon” light also would be flashing and there could be noticeable exhaust noise.

Owners should contact their Saturn dealers if they notice these problems, GM said.