Saturn L300 Complaints

128 consumer complaints on file.

#10477108September 26, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10466854July 21, 2012
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10439123December 9, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN
PROBLEM SYNOPSIS: WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS (65 MILES PER HOUR) THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, CAUSING THE "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" (REP) AND "SERVICE VEHICLE SOON" (SVS) LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE. UPON PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, IT WOULD IDLE ROUGHLY UNTIL SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF. VEHICLE WOULD START IMMEDIATELY AFTER, WITH HIGH RPM AT IDLE AND HARD SHIFTS INTO GEAR. VEHICLE WOULD ONLY EXHIBIT THESE PROBLEMS WHEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT GEARS, USUALLY BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. /// REPAIR HISTORY: A REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAILED ENGINE CONTROL MODULE, AND A NEW ONE WAS INSTALLED INTO THE VEHICLE. COST OF REPAIR WAS APPROXIMATELY $1,100. THREE MONTHS LATER (OCT. 2011), THE VEHICLE STARTED EXHIBITING THE SAME PROBLEMS. RETURNED TO THE SAME SHOP, AND REPAIRMEN COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM, SIMPLY CLEARING THE OBD-II CODES IN THE COMPUTER. VEHICLE EXHIBITED SAME SYMPTOMS ONCE IN NOVEMBER 2011 AFTER A RAIN STORM; NO ACTION WAS TAKEN AS VEHICLE DID IT ONLY ONCE. IN DECEMBER 2011, VEHICLE EXHIBITED SAME PROBLEMS FOUR TIME DURING A 25-MILE DRIVE. CODES REVEALED P0606, P0700, P1811. VEHICLE TO BE TAKEN FOR A THIRD TIME TO REPAIR SHOP TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10361564October 21, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357847September 27, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10328137April 29, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
GAS FILLER PIPE NECK RUSTY AND FLAKING. COULD START LEAKING CAUSING A FIRE AND LEAKING ON THE GROUND IF NOT FIXED. WANT TO KNOW WHERE , HOW AND HOW MUCH TO GET THE PART. SATURN DEALERSHIP SAID SATURN HAS STOPPED MAKING MANY PARTS AND THIS IS ONE. IF STARTS LEAKING WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET STICKER. TRYING TO TALK WITH GM AND AT FIRST SAID THEY COULD HELP BUT NOW JUST ASK IF IT'S FIXED. CAN NOT FIX UNTIL I CAN GET THE PART. TALKING WITH RUBY AT GM 866-790-5700 EXT 42627 CASE # [XXX] . THANKS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318995March 11, 2010
STEERING, EQUIPMENT
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10316014March 3, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN L300. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND DEPRESSED THE BRAKES VERY GENTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE MOTORED ROARED AFTER ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TRAILER THAT WAS IN FRONT OF IT. THE CONTACT THEN PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IN REVERSE AFTER THE CRASH OCCURRED. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MECHANIC REPAIRED THE VEHICLE BUT NEVER INFORMED HER WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 23000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315338March 2, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
MY WIFE AND I OWN A 2004 SATURN L300. MY WIFE IS THE PRIMARY DRIVER AND SHE REPORTED SEEING A WISP OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. WE TOOK IT TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER MY WIFE REPORTED THE SAME WISP OF SMOKE. WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM REPAIR IT AGAIN. THE SECOND TIME THEY REPAIRED IT, THE TURN SIGNAL WOULD NOT TURN OFF WHEN THE WHEEL WAS TURNED. ALSO, THE WISP OF SMOKE IS BACK AGAIN. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD TIME INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE I DON'T WANT IT TO START A FIRE WHILE IT IS BEING DRIVEN. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE OTHER ISSUES INCLUDING THE POWER STEERING RACK FAILING, THE WATER PUMP FAILING, AND THE PLENUM FAILING. THE CAR ONLY HAS 46,000 MILES ON IT AND MY WIFE HAS PUT ABOUT 13,000 IN 27 MONTHS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315665March 2, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAVE A 2004 SATURN L300.1 SEDAN WITH CRUISE CONTROL. A COUPLE OF TIMES OVER THE PAST YEARS WHEN USING THE CRUISE CONTROL AND PRESSING THE CRUISE CONTROL ACCELERATE BUTTON, THE BUTTON STUCK IN THE ACCELERATE POSITION CAUSING THE CAR TO ACCELERATE UNTIL THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS TURNED OFF BY BRAKE OR SWITCH. KNOWING THIS CAN HAPPEN, I AM CAREFUL USING CRUISE CONTROL AND HAVE NOT REPORTED IT. WITH THE CURRENT PUBLICITY ABOUT ACCELERATION PROBLEMS, I THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE REPORTED. BETTER LATE THAN NEVER. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10314965February 28, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 SATURN L300 AT 55 MPH. THE CAR SUDDENLY CUT OFF. I WAS ABLE TO DRIFT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT START. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME IN A PARKING LOT APPROXIMATELY 3 OTHER TIMES. I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC AND HE SAID IT MAY BE THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10302708January 22, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10297623December 30, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10290673November 2, 2009
TIRES
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283911September 14, 2009
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN L300. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, BENT THE FRAME AND DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FRONTAL AND SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY AN AMBULANCE. A POLICE REPORT IS AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10259771February 24, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259424February 20, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A SATURN L300 AND WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE LEFT LANE ONE DAY AND THE CAR JUST SHUT DOWN AND STOPPED RUNNING. WHEN MY MECHANIC READ THE ELECTRICAL CODE ON THE CAR IT WAS THE BCM THAT HAD FAILED. I HAD READ THAT THIS IS A KNOWN COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES AND WANTED TO KNOW WHY THIS IS NOT A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE SINCE IT COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE AS IN MY CASE. I DID AVOID AND ACCIDENT AND GOT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT GETTING HIT OR HITTING SOMEONE ELSE BUT IT WAS DEFINITELY COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE AND I HAD MY 4 YEAR OLD IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME AT THE TIME. SINCE THAT HAPPENED I HAVE NOTICES OTHER THINGS GOING WRONG ON THE VEHICLE THAT ARE ATTACHED THE BCM, RADIO STOPPED WORKING, KEYLESS REMOTE STOPPED WORKING, DEFROST ON SIDE MIRRORS DON'T WORK...WHICH ARE NOT SAFETY ISSUES BUT WHAT CAUSE IT TO SHUT MY CAR DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I WAS DRIVING WAS SCARY AND UNSAFE!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252332December 20, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL, EQUIPMENT
I CAN NOT GET A REPLACEMENT PART FOR MY 2004 SATURN WAGON. THE TAIL LIGHT IS BROKEN, GM SAID THE SUPPLIER QUITE MAKING THE PART. THE CAR IS NOT LEGAL TO DRIVE WITH A BROKEN TAIL LIGHT. *TR THANK YOU ROBERT EMANUEL
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248739November 13, 2008
STRUCTURE
MY TRUNK FILLS WITH WATER IF I GO THROUGH A CAR WASH. I DIDN'T NOTICE FOR A WHILE BECAUSE I RARELY USE THE TRUNK. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS DUE TO BROKEN SEALS, IT WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY AND WOULD COST ABOUT 300.00 DOLLARS. I DON'T HAVE 300.00 DOLLARS. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN A ACCIDENT SO THERE SHOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM WITH THE SEALS UNDER IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236336July 29, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TROUBLE WITH ABS SYSTEM. LIGHT CAME ON, CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHO FINALLY DETERMINED IT WAS THE ABS CONTROL UNIT. REPAIR EST. OVER $1200. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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