2003 Saturn L300 Owner Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 (NA) SATURN L300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-FREEZE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT FAILED, AND THE WIPER MOTOR DID NOT OPERATE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ANTI-FREEZE HOSE AND CONNECTOR WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RESONATOR BEING DAMAGED BY ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ALSO JERKED AFTER BEING OPERATED FROM A STOP. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 112,000. UPDATED 09/20/17*LJ *CN

NHTSA ID

10885944

Incident

Jul 19, 2015

Mileage

112,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO TURN INTO ANY DIRECTION AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT BOTH RED PLASTIC TAIL LIGHT COVERS FADED INTO A PINKISH COLOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ID

10749843

Incident

Jul 1, 2015

Mileage

98,000 mi

IGNITION SWITCH WILL NOT START THE CAR. IT IS IN THE OFF POSITION. I AM HAVING A NEW SWITCH INSTALLED. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS CAR PART IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. ALL OTHER 2003 SATURNS ARE BEING RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10627094

Incident

Aug 20, 2014

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,800.

NHTSA ID

10621457

Incident

Aug 9, 2014

Mileage

160,800 mi

THE CLUSTER LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, AND PARKING LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT. IT SHOWS FOR OTHER MODELS; BUT MINE THAT IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10606478

Incident

Jun 18, 2014

Mileage

102,000 mi

COMPUTER WHICH RECORDS AND DISPLAYS SPEED, ENGINE RPM, MILEAGE, AND VEHICLE WARNINGS FAILED COMPLETELY. THIS FAILURE MEANT THE DASH NO LONGER RECORDS MILEAGE, AND WILL NOT DISPLAY SPEED OR RPM. DANGEROUS FAILURE FOR UNTRAINED DRIVER. UNKNOWN SPEED COULD LEAD TO UNSAFE DRIVING OR CRASH, HAVING POTENTIAL TO CAUSE DEADLY ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10597092

Incident

Aug 15, 2012

Mileage

137,346 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A TREE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10596634

Incident

Jun 5, 2014

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L300. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

NHTSA ID

10592355

Incident

Dec 23, 2011

Mileage

93,000 mi

LEFT FRONT SPRING IN MACPHERSON STRUT SNAPPED AT THE BOTTOM. THE POINT OF THE BREAK WAS HEAVILY RUSTED. REPAIR HAD TO BE MADE WITH USED PARTS, COSTING ABOUT $800, AS AFTERMARKET PARTS FOR THIS VEHICLE ARE NOT AVAILABLE, AND DEALER PARTS ARE OVERPRICED TO ALMOST BEING AT VEHICLE BLUE BOOK VALUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10588754

Incident

Mar 15, 2013

Mileage

61,500 mi

ON A RAINY NIGHT, JAN 10, 2014, I CAME OUT OF WORK AND STARTED MY CAR. I THANKED GOD IT STARTED BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT WOULDN'T START AT ALL. EVEN AFTER REPLACING ALMOST EVERY ENGINE PART INCLUDING THE COMPUTER. I STARTED DRIVING OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT AND I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING INSIDE THE CAR. THE ENGINE STARTED REVVING WILDLY UP AND DOWN. I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE CAR. WHITE THICK SMOKE FILLED THE CAR FAST. FLAMES STARTED SHOOTING OUT AT ME FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD. I WAS SO PANICKED THAT I COULD HARDLY GET OUT OF THE CAR. THE INSURANCE CO TOTALED IT AND I STILL OWE 500.00! I'VE SPENT MORE MONEY TRYING TO GET THE CAR TO START WHEN I WANT IT TO AND TO STOP SHUTTING OFF WHILE IM DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY CHILDREN AND OR INFANT GRANDDAUGHTER. THIS 2003 SATURN L300 HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A FINANCIAL AND MENTAL NIGHTMARE ONLY TO GO UP IN SMOKE, RUIN MY CREDIT, AND LEAVE ME STRANDED WITH NO VEHICLE ONCE AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10577366

Incident

Feb 18, 2011

Mileage

12,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THERE WAS A LEAK WHICH ALLOWED WATER TO DRIP INTO THE CABIN. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO TURN WHILE IN THE IGNITION AND WAS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE. THE CONTACT THEN MENTIONED THAT SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE IGNITION AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ERRONEOUSLY DIMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF WHAT EXACT REPAIRS WERE DONE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATELY FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,112.

NHTSA ID

10573351

Incident

Nov 7, 2008

Mileage

86,112 mi

IN FEBRUARY, 2007 AND IN APRIL OF 2008 I WAS INVOLVED SEPARATE FRONT END CRASHES WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 SATURN L300. IN BOTH INSTANCES SEATBELT RESTRAINTS WERE USED (AS ALWAYS), BUT THE AIR-BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS INJURED. IN BOTH INSTANCES, I BELIEVED THAT I WAS FORTUNATE THE AIR-BAGS DIDN'T OPEN BECAUSE OF THE EXPENSE INVOLVED REPAIRING A DEPLOYED AIR-BAG. IN LATE FEBRUARY-2014, GENERAL MOTORS ANNOUNCED A LARGE RECALL OF NUMEROUS VEHICLES (SATURN ION, SATURN VUE, CHEVY COBALT AND OTHER VEHICLES WHICH ARE SIMILAR TO MY 2003 SATURN L300) SITTING A DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH DISABLES THE ACTIVATION OF THE VEHICLES AIRBAGS WHEN IT IS INVOLVED AN ACCIDENT! 13 DEATHS HAVE BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO THE DEFECTIVE SWITCH, THUSFAR. ALTHOUGH THE 2003 SATURN L300 IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE INCLUDED BECAUSE OF THE AIR-BAG ISSUE THAT I EXPERIENCED TWICE WITH MY L300. IN ADDITION, THERE IS A STARTING PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH, WHICH HAS ARISEN SINCE I'VE OWNED THIS CAR THAT HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES DURING THE LAST 4-5 YEARS. EACH DAY THE L300 STARTS FINE THE FIRST TIME . HOWEVER, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SHUT OFF, (TO GET GASOLINE OR TO GO INTO A STORE) THE VEHICLE WILL FAIL TO RE-START. AFTER WAITING ANYWHERE FORM 15 MINUTES TO 1-1/2 HOURS, THE CAR WILL START LIKE NOTHING IS WRONG. ALTHOUGH THIS HAPPENS MOSTLY IN THE COLD WEATHER IT HAS ALSO HAPPENED DURING THE SUMMER TIME AS WELL. I BELIEVE THIS IS DUE TO THE SAME DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH/PASS-LOCK SENSOR ISSUE AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10566458

Incident

Apr 20, 2008

Mileage

45,000 mi

WHILE ENGAGING THE HIGH BEAMS, SMOKE BEGAN TO APPEAR OUT OF THE TURN SIGNAL STALK ON THE STEERING COLUMN. ALSO, THE HIGH BEAMS COULD NO LONGER BE TURNED OFF. I HAD TO ENGAGE THE SWITCH SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT WOULD TURN OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY, AND THE FIX WAS TO REPLACE THE TURN STALK. THIS IS NOW THE SECOND TURN SIGNAL STALK THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. I AM QUESTIONING THE DESIGN OF THE TURN SIGNAL STALK. THERE APPEARS TO BE SOME SORT OF SHORT IN THE WIRING OR CONTACTS FOR THE HIGH BEAMS THAT CAUSES THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD, AND THEREFORE A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10554959

Incident

Jan 30, 2013

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L300. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED NOR WAS THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

NHTSA ID

10535084

Incident

Aug 8, 2013

Mileage

114,000 mi

EXTERNAL FUEL TANK LEAKAGE DUE TO BROKEN PLASTIC PART ON FUEL PUMP MODULE. THIS SAFETY HAZARD COMPLAINT IS IDENTICAL TO THE JUST PUBLISHED 9/30/12 RECALL OF 2007-2009 SATURN IONS IN FLORIDA FOR THE EXACT SAME MECHANICAL FAULT - BROKEN PLASTIC PART ON FUEL MODULE CAUSING EXTERNAL FUEL LEAKAGE. GM/CHEVY WILL NOT HONOR RECALL ON MY 2003 SATURN L-300 FOR THE SAME DEFICIENCY AND SAFETY HAZARD. INFACT MY VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP FOR THAT REPAIR AT THE SAME TIME A RECALL WAS PUBLISHED FOR THAT PROBLEM. I REQUEST THAT MY VIN BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10479924

Incident

Sep 27, 2012

Mileage

67,770 mi

ENGINE STALLS AFTER 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING. WON'T START AGAIN FOR 2 OR 3 HOURS ONLY TO RUN FOR 10 MINUTES AND STALL AGAIN. SOMETIMES ENGINE WILL STALL WHILE IDLING. SOMETIMES THE ENGINE LIGHT WITH THE WRENCH IN IT COMES ON AND THE VEHICLE STARTS TO SHIFT ROUGHLY. IF I TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND START IT AGAIN, THIS LIGHT GOES OFF AND THE VEHICLE SHIFTS NORMALLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10466854

Incident

May 5, 2012

Mileage

84,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING A RECURRING FAILURE IN WHICH IT WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WOULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO COOL OFF BEFORE HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL AUTHORIZED DEALERS AS WELL AS INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITIES WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL INTERMITTENTLY AT ANY SPEED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

NHTSA ID

10361564

Incident

Apr 30, 2010

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT A SHARP AND ABNORMAL INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO EXHIBIT AN UNUSUALLY LOUD ROARING BUT WOULD NOT RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT THEY COULD OFFER NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 133,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKER ALONG WITH THE HEATER, WHICH SEEMS TO COME INTERMITTENTLY. THE WATER PUMP AND TIMING BELT WERE REPLACED. ALSO, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER MOTOR AND BATTERY WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 04/15/11

NHTSA ID

10357847

Incident

Mar 27, 2010

Mileage

133,000 mi

STEERING COLUMN CLUNKING. HAD INTERMEDIATE SHAFT REPAIRED WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 12/2007 WHICH I INCLUDED THE LUBRICATION OF THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND REPLACING THE SWAY BAR LINKS. IN 3/2008, PROBLEM OF CLUNKING NOISE RESURFACED. STEERING GEAR WAS FAILING AND LEAKING AND REPAIRS WERE MADE. IN 12/2008, CLUNKING NOISE RESURFACED. FIND TIE ROD WAS LOOSE AND THAT THE STRUT MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CLUNKING NOISE HAS RESURFACED IN LATE 2009, EARLY 2010. SATURN IS INVESTIGATING REPAIR NEEDS BASED ON PREVIOUS WORK PERFORMED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10318995

Incident

Dec 26, 2007

Mileage

69,346 mi

I JUST PUT GAS IN THE CAR AND ABOUT 20 MINS LATER I ASKED MY 11 YR OLD DO YOU SMELL GAS AND HE SAID YES AND WITHIN SECONDS WE HAD SMOKE EVERYWHERE THIS COULD HAVE KIILED US. *TR

NHTSA ID

10297623

Incident

Dec 28, 2009

2003 SATURN L300 HAS FIRESTONE TIRES THAT ARE DRY ROTTED. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE CAME EQUIPPED WITH 5 TUBELESS RADIAL FIRESTONE TIRES WHICH CARRIED A MANUFACTURER'S DATE OF 2002. YESTERDAY, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD A GAP AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE FACE OF THE TIRE WHERE IT JOINED THE TREADS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10290673

Incident

Sep 11, 2009

Mileage

12,818 mi

SATURN 2003 L300, PURCHASED NEW, MULTIPLE ISSUES. INTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKER. CAR WILL NOT START WHEN GAS IS UNDER 1/4 TANK, DEALERSHIP SAYS OPERATING PER DESIGN. IGNITION, KEY FROZE, WOULD NOT TURN, KEY STUCK, CAR HAD TO BE TOWED, IGNITION REPLACED. MAJOR ISSUE: STEERING. INTERMEDIATE SHAFT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. IN ADDITION TO GEAR BOX. PROBLEM MAKES STEERING LOOSE, CLUNKING FEEL AND NOISE WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10215728

Incident

Jan 22, 2008

Mileage

45,000 mi

FUEL PUMP FAILURE -- DISINTEGRATED. HAVE OVER $1,000 OF REPAIRS. THIS IS ON TOP OF $400 REPAIRS LAST MONTH TO REPLACE THE HEATER CORE AND A RECOMMENDED $600+ TO REPLACE THE OIL COOLER HOUSING. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 80,000 MILES ON IT AND IS NOT PAID OFF FOR 2 MORE MONTHS. I'VE GONE TO THE WEBSITE WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG AND MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS WITH THIS AS WELL. LUCKILY, THE PUMP DIDN'T DISINTEGRATE WHILE WE WERE DRIVING, UNLIKE SOME OTHER OWNERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10215441

Incident

Jan 19, 2008

Mileage

80,000 mi

AFTER TURNING ON MY LEFT BLINKER, SMOKE STARTING COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD IT REPAIRED THIS MORNING AT THE SATURN DEALERSHIP. I OVERHEARD TWO OTHER CALLS OF THE SAME PROBLEM. IN FACT, ONE OF THE SERVICE ADVISORS TOLD THE CUSTOMER NOT TO USE THEIR BLINKERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10200111

Incident

Aug 19, 2007

Mileage

69,950 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 SATURN L300. THE CONTACT'S ATTORNEY STATED THAT A FORD VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND STRUCK THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE CONTACT'S WIFE STRUCK HER HEAD ON THE LEFT SIDE AND HER HAIR WAS CAUGHT IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN HER AND SHE DIED DUE TO HER HEAD INJURY. HER SON, SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, WAS PROPERLY RESTRAINED AND SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. A SAFETY RESTRAINT EXPERT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT SHOWED WITNESS MARKS OF PROPER RESTRAIN, BUT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT SHOW ANY WITNESS MARKS. PARKER HEIGHTS POLICE FILED REPORT NUMBER 05-00081. THE DEALER AND SPEED INFORMATION WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 40,000.

NHTSA ID

10199511

Incident

Mar 17, 2005

Mileage

40,000 mi