2005 Saturn L300 Owner Complaints

Drivers seat suspension separated under the seat. Sudden drop caused temporary loss of full visibility, poor driver controls contact, distraction and potential collision. Problem is permanent and therefore unrepeatable and not presented to dealer or service center. Managed somewhat poorly afterwards with a pillow atop the seat. Problem has not been inspected by manufacturer, police, insurance representative or others. No warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to failure. None after failure.

NHTSA ID

11719339

Incident

Feb 5, 2025

LEAKING FUEL PUMP

NHTSA ID

11377541

Incident

Dec 2, 2020

MY 2005 SATURN HAS A GAS LEAK ,JUST LIKE MY 2009 CHEVROLET EQUINOX . MY CHEVROLET EQUINOX PROBLEM WAS CREATED BECAUSE OF THE HOT ARIZONA SUMMERS. DRIED OUT GASKETS ETC. WHY WAS THE EQUINOX COVERED AND NOT THE SATURN? WHATS GIVES?

NHTSA ID

11196504

Incident

Nov 10, 2010

Mileage

187,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN L300. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT HAD FRACTURED AND ENTERED INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IN ADDITION, THE MECHANIC NOTICED A LARGE HOLE IN THE ENGINE COVER, WHICH ALLOWED THE DRIVE BELT TO ENTER INTO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO HUDIBURG CHEVROLET IN MIDWEST CITY, OKLAHOMA. PER THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATION, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED BECAUSE THE ENGINE HAD BEEN DISASSEMBLED BY THE CONTACT'S MECHANIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,472.

NHTSA ID

11020936

Incident

Nov 5, 2016

Mileage

129,472 mi

THE CAR SMELLS OF GAS ON THE INSIDE AS WELL AS THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR WHILE DRIVING ANYWHERE. EVEN WHEN ITS PARKED THE CAR SMELL OF GAS. THIS STARTED ABOUT 3 MOS AGO.

NHTSA ID

10821224

Incident

Oct 1, 2015

Mileage

2 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN L300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE, THE KEY WAS OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH BUT THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,247 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,953. UPDATED 09/05/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE DID NOT START UP UNTIL THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROAR AND REV UP WHILE IN THE OFF POSITION. THE VEHICLE STOPPED ON IT'S OWN. UPDATED 09/11/2014 *JS

NHTSA ID

10608565

Incident

Jul 16, 2009

Mileage

38,247 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AROUND 55MPH THE CAR WOULD SUDDENLY LOSE THROTTLE RESPONSE. ALL THE ENGINE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON AND THE CAR WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY UNTIL I TURN IT OFF AND THEN BACK ON. ONCE I DO THAT THE CAR DRIVES BUT SHIFTS VIOLENTLY. WAS TOLD IT WAS A PCM FAILURE. OCCURS MORE OFTEN IN COLD WEATHER. IT HAPPENS SO OFTEN THAT WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY I QUICKLY PUT IT IN NEUTRAL SHUT IT OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON WHILE STILL ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10593927

Incident

Oct 16, 2013

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN L300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED VIOLENTLY AND JERKED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY IN WARM WEATHER TEMPERATURES. IN ADDITION, THE AIR CONDITIONER/HEATER FAILED TO OPERATE TO THE DESIRED SELECTION AND DID NOT CIRCULATE THE APPROPRIATE FLOW OF AIR THROUGH THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID

10506053

Incident

Jul 7, 2010

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION L3. THE CONTACT STATED THE KEY FAILED TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION WHICH CAUSED THE BATTERY AND THE COMPUTER SYSTEM TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHOM INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

NHTSA ID

10477108

Incident

Sep 1, 2010

Mileage

54,000 mi

2005 SATURN L300. S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING - LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT FROM MICHAEL CERVINE ENCLOSING A LETTER WRITTEN TO GM RE SATURN VEHICLES. *NJ THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST DEALER BY HIS HOME. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONSUMER THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE FUEL FILLER PIPE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR ABOUT $400.00. THE CONSUMER GAVE THE DEALER PERMISSION TO MAKE THE REPAIR, HOWEVER WHEN TESTING THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS A SHIMMY IN THE FRONT WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A BENT WHEEL ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE CONSUMER HAD NEVER NOTICED IT, BUT STATED HE DID HAVE TO ROUTINELY PUT AIR IN THE TIRE. THE REPLACEMENT WHEEL WAS OVER $500.00. THREE WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HIS LOCAL MECHANIC INSTEAD OF THE DEALER. THE PROBLEM WAS SAME AS BEFORE WITH THE FUEL FILLER PIPE. THE MECHANIC NOTED THE FILLER CAP WAS NOT SEALING CORRECTLY. HE SHOWED THE CONSUMER HOW IT CONTINUED TO SPIN AROUND IF IT DIDN'T CATCH RIGHT. A NEW GAS CAP WAS ORDERED. 3 OR 4 WEEKS LATER, THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE MECHANIC STATED THE FILLER PIPE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM STORY. THE DEALER RESET THE LIGHT AND STATED THAT THE GAS CAP WAS PROBABLY NOT TIGHT ENOUGH WHICH CAUSED THE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. FOR THE NEXT 3-4 WEEKS THE CONSUMER CHECKED EACH TIME TO MAKE SURE THE GAS CAP WAS PROPERLY SECURED. WITHIN 3-4 WEEKS THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE FILLER PIPE WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10302708

Incident

Jan 27, 2009

INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER STOPPED WORKING. HOWEVER, AT THIS TIME, IT IS OPERABLE. DEALERSHIP CHECKED AND GOT CODE: U1000 CLASS 2 DATA LINK MALFUNCTION, BUT WOULD NOT REPLACE PANEL CLUSTER. WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP, AND CORPORATE OFFICE, THAT PANEL CLUSTER MUST BE COMPLETELY INOPERABLE BEFORE REPLACEMENT. THIS MEANS THERE WOULD BE NO SPEEDOMETER, ETC., WHICH IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10259771

Incident

Feb 21, 2009

MY 2005 SATURN L300, HAD AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS AND REMOTE START INCLUDED WITH THE PACKAGE UPON BUYING. AFTER APPRX 1 YEAR, AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS (NOT THE RUNNING LIGHTS) WOULD FAIL TO TURN ON AT NIGHT, TURN OFF DURING DAY. COULD NOT OVERRIDE PROBLEM BY MANUALLY TURNING ON LIGHTS. ISSUE WAS INTERMITTENT. SATURN COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM AND SUGGESTED THAT IT WAS THE REMOTE START CAUSING THE PROBLEMS. REMOTE START WAS REPLACED. SEPTEMBER 2006, HEADLIGHT ISSUE RETURNED. ONCE AGAIN, SATURN SUGGESTED IT WAS THE REMOTE START. BCM MODULE OF REMOTE START WAS REPLACED. JULY - AUGUST 2007, NO HEADLIGHT ISSUES. HOWEVER CAR HAS STARTED ON IT'S OWN ACCORD. KEY FABS WERE SITTING ON TOP OF CAR, SO THE BUTTONS WERE NOT ACCIDENTALLY PUSHED. TAILLIGHTS WOULD PERIODICALLY FLASH FOR APPRX A MINUTE. GAS GAUGE WOULD REGISTER AT EMPTY BUT UPON TURNING CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN GAS GAUGE WORKED FINE. SATURN SUGGESTED THE REMOVAL OF THE REMOTE START. REMOTE START WAS REMOVED, NO REIMBURSEMENT WAS MADE, I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF TWO COMPANIES (SATURN AND SUNROOF, ETC) BICKERING ABOUT WHO WAS AT FAULT. SOLUTION, AFTER HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE OVER A SPAN OF THREE YEARS, CAR WAS TRADED IN FOR A VOLKSWAGEN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10201622

Incident

Feb 1, 2006

Mileage

8,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO NOT BE ABLE TO TURN AND CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED, AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE TOTALED.

NHTSA ID

10173588

Incident

Nov 13, 2006

Mileage

19,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR OR BRAKE PEDAL AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, BOTH WERE PRESSED DUE TO THE CLOSE PLACEMENT OF THE TWO. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THIS WAS THE WAY THE PEDALS WERE DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

NHTSA ID

10170681

Incident

Oct 12, 2006

Mileage

11,000 mi

LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE 3RD TIME. OIL COOLER SEALS WERE LEAKING. ALSO HAVING ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10163629

Incident

Jul 6, 2006

Mileage

35,500 mi

4/1/06-LOUD THUMPING WHILE DRIVING. REAR 2 TIRES CUPPING. SATURN STATED IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW AND SAID IT NEEDED A BOLT SHIM KIT AND 2 NEW TIRES. 4/11/06-SATURN PUT ON BOLT SHIM KIT, 2 NEW TIRES AND ALIGNED THE CAR. 7/8/06-LOUD THUMPING WHILE DRIVING. REAR 2 TIRES CUPPING. SATURN STATED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE TIRES. SATURN REPLACED 1 OF THE NEW TIRES FROM 4/11/06 BECAUSE IT WAS WEARING BAD. 7/11/06-SATURN STATED THE ALIGNMENT WAS WAY OFF. SATURN ALIGNED THE VEHICLE AND PUT ON 2 NEW TIRES. ALSO LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE THIRD TIME AND SATURN REPLACED THE OIL COOLER SEALS. 7/25/06 - VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. *NM

NHTSA ID

10163627

Incident

Apr 1, 2006

Mileage

27,000 mi

THE CAR ROUTINELY WOULD NOT START OR WOULD START AND STALL OUT ON THE FIRST START OF THE DAY OR AFTER SITTING FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THE VEHICLE WOULD APPEAR TO RUN NORMALLY AFTER THE VEHICLE STARTED ON THE SECOND OR THIRD ATTEMPT. THE VEHICLE COULD THEN BE STARTED AND TURNED OFF NORMALLY. IF THE VEHICLE SAT AGAIN THEN THE PROBLEM WOULD APPEAR AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SATURN OF LAKESIDE WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE STALL IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THEY RETURNED THE VEHICLE AND SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN AGAIN A WEEK LATER WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS AND SATURN KEPT THE VEHICLE OVERNIGHT. THEY WERE FINALLY ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. THEY CURRENTLY HAVE RULED OUT FUEL PROBLEMS, COMPUTERS, AND THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. SATURN IS CURRENTLY AWAITING HELP FROM THE SATURN ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT AND CURRENTLY HAVE NO SOLUTION AND ARE WORKING TO RESOLVE IT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10162065

Incident

Jun 30, 2006

Mileage

16,000 mi

MY NEW 2005 L300 HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES FOR THE SHAKING IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION, IT THUMPS AND SHAKES THROUGHOUT THE FRONT BODY, PEDALS AND STEERING MAKING HANDLING DIFFICULT AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND ESPECIALLY IN SLUSH AND SNOW. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWO TIMES AND BALANCED 5 TIMES. EVEN THOUGH CHANGING TIRES NEVER STOPS THE SHAKING. I'VE LOST CONTROL ON THE HIGHWAY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE FROM SIDE TO SIDE DUE TO THE CONTROL LOSS DUE TO SHAKING. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER CORRECTED SOME OF THE STEERING ISSUES ON THE LAST VISIT THE VEHICLE STILL SHAKES AND THUMPS AND IS HARD TO CONTROL IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10152484

Incident

Dec 1, 2005

Mileage

36 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BRAKING THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DETACHMENT OCCURRED WHERE THE SHOULDER HARNESS WAS ATTACHES TO THE PILLAR. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY WERE GOING TO CALL HIM BACK. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS MADE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10145120

Incident

Dec 12, 2005

Mileage

4 mi

OUR 2005 L300 HAS 17,000 MILES ON IT - ONLY DRIVEN 8 MONTHS, WITH NO ACCIDENTS, NOT EVEN A BUMPER-TO-BUMPER INCIDENT. WE ALREADY HAVE TO REPLACE TWO WHEELS (AT $417 EACH - OUT OF OUR OWN POCKET) BECAUSE THE RIMS BENT SO BADLY THEY ARE USELESS (THEY ARE BOTH SAVED AT OUR HOME). WE BELIEVE, SINCE THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR INCIDENT TO CAUSE THIS PROBLEM, THE RIMS MUST HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE, AND WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR REPLACEMENT. WE ALSO HAVE TO REPLACE A STRUT, WHICH SATURN OF BLUE SPRINGS, MO SERVICE TELLS ME IS "SO RARE WE HAVE HARDLY EVER KNOWN IT TO BE THE CASE". I AM NOT GETTING THE SERVICE FROM SATURN THAT THEY ADVERTISE, AND I AM VERY DISSATISFIED. THIS IS OUR SECOND, AND LAST, SATURN. WE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE FIRST (2002 L200) SATURN WE HAD, AND WE TRADED IT IN ON THIS ONE, BEFORE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY RAN OUT, BECAUSE WE WERE AFRAID ALL THE PROBLEMS WOULD CONTINUE. NOW WE ARE HAVING MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS ONE. THE DEALERSHIP IN BLUE SPRINGS MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE NEXT DAY TO FIX THE STRUT, AND WHEN I CAME IN, THEY ADMITTED THEY HAD NOT EVEN ORDERED THE PART. THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T THINK IT WAS REALLY GOING TO BE A STRUT PROBLEM (SATURN OF OLATHE SAID THE SAME THING OVER THE PHONE - THEY ADMITTED THEY WOULDN'T EVEN ORDER THE PART UNTIL THEY HAD THE CAR TO VERIFY IT, AND I'D BE THERE ALL DAY). I DROVE OVER 100 MILES FOR NOTHING. AND IT TOOK ALMOST TWO HOURS FOR THEM TO GET ME A RENTAL CAR, SO I CAN COME BACK TOMORROW, ANOTHER 100 MILES OF GASOLINE AT $2.75 A GALLON, OUT OF MY POCKET AGAIN, TO GET MY CAR - ALL BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T THINK I KNEW WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10137790

Incident

Sep 26, 2005

Mileage

17,000 mi

THIS COMPLAINT COMES AFTER 4 OTHER PREVIOUS ONES WITH THIS SAME VEHICLE. 1ST - CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, 2ND - TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT, 3RD AND 4TH - LOW COOLANT LIGHT. PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED FOR THESE ALREADY. NOW THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS DIM DOWN AND THEN COME BACK ON TO FULL POWER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. SATURN OF FOND DU LAC SAYS THIS IS NORMAL. I HAVE NEVER OWNED A VEHICLE OR TALKED TO ANYONE WHO EVER HAS HAD THIS HAPPEN. THIS IS NOT NORMAL. IF THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS "NORMAL" DIMMING OF THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS HAPPENED BEFORE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE; I WOULD HAVE NOT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND I DON'T KNOW OF ANYONE WHO WOULD. *NM

NHTSA ID

10136767

Incident

May 29, 2005

Mileage

5,000 mi

LOW COOLANT LIGHT WOULD GO ON AND OFF . HOSE AND CLAMP WAS LEAKING. DEALER FIXED ONCE. 1 MONTH LATER THE SAME HOSE AND CLAMP WAS LEAKING AGAIN. DEALER FIXED AGAIN. THIS IS AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON (OXYGEN SENSOR) AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT DID NOT WORK. OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THESE ITEM WERE SUBMITTED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10136765

Incident

Feb 3, 2005

Mileage

75 mi

TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10136763

Incident

Feb 1, 2005

Mileage

50 mi

JANUARY 28TH, 2005 - PURCHASED 2005 SATURN L-300. 10 MINUTES AFTER THE CAR LEFT THE LOT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS BAD. THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS REPLACED BY SATURN OF FOND DU LAC, WI. *JB

NHTSA ID

10136761

Incident

Jan 28, 2005

Mileage

27 mi

I BOUGHT A 2004 SATURN ION LEVEL 2, WITHIN 6 MONTHS THE STARTER WENT OUT, I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET TO WORK, SO I TRADE IT IN HOPING NOT TO HAVE THAT PROBLEM AGAIN...AND I GET THE BEST ONE A L 300 TOP OF THE LINE,,25,000...3 MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD THE FRONT TIRES SQUEAK AND THERE IS BLACK SOOT STUFF ALL OVER THE RIMS, YOU CANNOT EVEN SEE THE RIMS THAT WERE SILVER AND NOW BLACK...I DO NOT RIDE MY BREAKS, SO I AM THINKING PERHAPS I NEED TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE AND PURCHASE A CAR WITH LESS PROBLEMS...AS I FEEL THIS COMPANY HAS NOT GOT A GOOD PRODUCT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10116337

Incident

Apr 3, 2005