Saturn L300 Complaints

128 consumer complaints on file.

#11719339February 20, 2026
SEATS
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11515990April 7, 2023
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
My vehicle is leaking fuel from the fuel pump. I can see the fuel collecting on the side of the fuel tank from the top of the tank where the fuel pump is located. This issue has been releasing gas fumes around my car and occasionally in the cabin. This not only makes my car invalid for emissions testing in many states across the country, it also poses a risk to the overall safety of the vehicle. This issue is extremely common on these cars, I have seen many reports on Saturn forums talking about the issue and just how dangerous / expensive it has been for them to deal with. Due to the way GM has made this car, you cannot replace this part without dropping the exhaust and fuel tank.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11447698January 16, 2022
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Our 2004 Saturn L300 developed a fuel leak at the fuel pump (cracked) which is not normal. There is a strong fuel smell while driving and after the vehicle is parked. We are afraid that the fuel leak could cause a fire. The fuel pump has been inspected by an independent mechanic. There’s an error code that says that there’s a leak in the fuel system. I looked online and it seems that a lot of people are experiencing the same problem with this car. Other cars of the same manufacturer (General Motors) have been recalled for the same problem.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11377541December 2, 2020
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
LEAKING FUEL PUMP
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11327720June 8, 2020
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN L300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN REVERSE THE GEAR SHIFTER CEASED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START-UP. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SHIFTER CABLE WAS DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11282504November 26, 2019
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY BRAKE LIGHTS AND MY 3RD BRAKE LIGHT THAT IS ON THE INSIDE OF THE REAR WINDOW IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY AND AT TIMES MY FRONT INSIDE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WILL GO DIM AND NOW HAVE COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING AND ALSO MY INSIDE INTERIOR LIGHTS HAVE STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY (EXAMPLE) WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOORS NO INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON AT ALL AND ALSO WILL NOT EVEN COME ON WHEN YOU TRY TO TURN THEM ON BY HAND AND MY MAP LIGHTS ON THE UNDER SIDE OF MY INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR OR MAP LITES HAVE STOPPED WORKING AND THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHTS LOCATED INSIDE THE CENTER OF THE REAR WINDSHIELD NOW HAVE 2 LITES THAT ARE COMPLETELY STOPPED COMING ON AND MY TAG LIGHTS DO NOT WORK ANY MORE AND ALL THIS STARTED APPX. 4 MONTHS AGO WHEN A POLICE OFFICER PULLED ME OVER AFTER DARK AND TOLD ME ABOUT MY BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY AND NO TAG LITE AND 3 WEEKS PRIOR IS WHEN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INSIDE STARTED ACTING UP AND NOW NO LIGHTS WORK AT ALL INSIDE AND THIS HAPPENS WHETHER THE CAR IS MOVING OR NOT AND WITH IT SITTING IN PARK AL THIS HAPPENS AND ALSO NO TRUNK LITE OR GLOVE BOX LITES UP !
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11234433July 24, 2019
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL PUMP ON A 2004 SATURN L300 CRACKED AND RELEASE FUEL AND HEAVY GAS SMELL INTO CAR MAKING CAR UN DRIVEABLE. THERE IS ALREADY A RECALL ON ANOTHER MAKE OF SATURN FOR THE SAME INCIDENT. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11233264July 19, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THIRD BREAK LIGHT OR OVER HEAD BREAK LIGHT HAVNT WORKED SINCE I'VE BOUGHT THE CAR OUT SO BEEN OUT B4 I BOUGHT IT AND DASH LIGHTS DIMMER SWITCH FLICKERS IN AND OUT UNLESS WEDGE THE DIMMING SWITCH UP BEEN LIKE THAT SINCE BOUGHT THE CAR DON'T KNOW WHEN OR HOW IT HAPPENED BUT IT'S GOT MINOR SHORT AND EVERYTHING WORKS AS SHOULD DIMMER SWITCH MOVES AS IT SHOULD
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11196504April 15, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11141749October 22, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WIPER SWITCH HEATS UP ON IGNITION AND ALSO RANDOMLY WHILE RUNNING - CAUSING SMOKE AND BURNING SMELLFROM STEERING COLUMN AND WIPERS TO TURN ON BY THEMSELVES. FIRST REPLACEMENT DONE BY CERTIFIED MECHANIC WITH CERTIFIED GM PART COST $365. 3 YEARS LATER, IT'S THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN!
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11020936August 31, 2017
ENGINE
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10885944July 19, 2016
ENGINE, VISIBILITY/WIPER, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10865261May 16, 2016
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING AND PARKED THERE IS A BAD ODOR OF GAS THAT MAKES YOU FEEL SICK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10821224January 20, 2016
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10749843August 19, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10692792March 8, 2015
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, SERVICE BRAKES
CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND WOULD NOT RESTART. CAR ALSO FAILED TO START ON SOME MORNINGS AND ALSO AFTER FILLING AT GAS STATION. ITS SEEMS THAT THIS ISSUE CAN GO ON FOR SOMETIME BETWEEN THE TIMES IT HAPPENS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10690661February 25, 2015
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING UP A SMALL INCLINE, PREPARING TO STOP FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT, ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE, I COULD NOT STOP, BRAKES WERE FINE BUT ENGINE WAS RACING. I HAD TO PUT CAR IN PARK, CHECKED FOR BLOCKAGE WITH FLOOR MAT, THERE WAS NOT ANY. PUT 4 -WAY BLINKERS ON, SHUT CAR OFF. RESTARTED CAR AND IT WAS FINE. HAPPENED AGAIN ON FEB. 22ND THIS TIME TRIED 4 TIMES SHUTTING DOWN AND STILL RACED. HAD TO PARK CAR, UPON RETURNING 2 HOURS LATER CAR WAS FINE. I HAVE ALSO HAD TROUBLE STARTING CAR, STARTED IN JUNE 2014, IF IGNITION DID NOT ENGAGE WHEN KEY WAS TURNED CAR HAD TO SIT FOR 1/2 HOUR BEFORE STARTING. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10678617January 23, 2015
ENGINE, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
2004 SATURN L 300, 6 CYLINDER . MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON AND THE ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF, LOOSING ALL POWER AND ALL SERVICE LIGHTS APPEARED. HAD IT TOWED TO MY HOUSE. HOOKED UP A OBD SCANNER TO CAR. 8 CODES APPEARED. BCM/ECM MALFUNCTION.(4 CODES OF THIS), CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR (2 CODES OF THIS), ENGINE RUNNING TOO RICH (2 CODES OF THIS). I HAVE READ MANY CASES ONLINE THROUGH FORUMS, AND THIS SEEMS TOO BE A BIG PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10660232November 22, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CAR JUST SHUTS DOWN WHILE IN MOTION. MOST OF THE TIME IT SHUTS OFF WHEN TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IT WILL EVENTUALLY CRANK UP IN ABOUT AN HOUR ONLY TO SHUT DOWN AGAIN. THE CAR SHUT DOWN AS I WAS WITH MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER ON I-95 GOING 65 MPH. WE WERE STRANDED FOR ABOUT 3 HRS. ON THE INTERSTATE BEFORE THE CAR CRANKED BACK UP. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THROUGH DRIVE TIME AND HAS A WARRANTY ON IT . AFTER COMPLAINING TO THE COMPANY ABOUT THE VEHICLE THEY INSTRUCTED ME TO HAVE A DIAGNOSIS DONE ON IT TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT A RECALL WAS OUT FOR SATURN CARS FROM THE NEWS. I CONTACTED GM AND EXPLAINED WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND THEY GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER BUT ALSO STATED THAT THE MODEL CAR I HAVE WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST AND FOR ME TO TAKE IT TO A GM DEALERSHIP NEAR ME TO HAVE ANOTHER DIAGNOSIS DONE ON THE CAR WHICH WAS AN EXTRA $125. U.S.A AUTO SERVICE PERFORMED A DIAGNOSIS ON THE CAR THE TO SEE IF IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT WAS CAUSING THE CAR TO SHUT COMPLETELY OFF WHILE THE CAR WAS MOVING. THEY COULD NOT GET A DIAGNOSIS FROM THE IGNITION. I CONTACTED THE WARRANTY COMPANY FOR DRIVE TIME AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT NOTHING WAS COVERED BECAUSE IT WAS ELECTRICAL. THEN I CALLED GM BACK AND TOLD THEM THE CAR WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND WHAT THE DIAGNOSIS REPORT SAID AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO UNLESS I PAID THE $125 WITH THEM TO HAVE ANOTHER ONE DONE. THEN THEY WOULD DETERMINE IF IT WAS THE IGNITION. I AM AT MY WITS END BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THAT WILL COST CLOSE TO $1,000 TO HAVE FIX. I AM CURRENTLY MAKING PAYMENTS ON THIS CAR AND CAN'T AFFORD ALL THIS MONEY. I HAD THE CAR SERVICED WITH U.S.A AUTO SERVICE BECAUSE DRIVE TIME REQUIRES YOU TO KEEP UP WITH THE MAINTENANCE OF THE CAR WHICH I FAITHFULLY DID. NOW THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS FAILED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10659646November 20, 2014
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN L300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PROCEEDING THROUGH TRAFFIC LIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, ANOTHER DRIVER FAILED TO SEE THE CONTACT IN THE INTERSECTION AND CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE PASSENGER SIDE. THE DRIVER'S FRONTAL AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED A BRUISE LEFT ARM AND PAIN TO THE NECK AND LOWER BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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