Saturn L300 Complaints
128 consumer complaints on file.
- #10627094August 21, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, STEERING
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10621457August 11, 2014EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
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.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10608565July 7, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10606478June 27, 2014EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10597092June 9, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10596634June 6, 2014VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10593927May 25, 2014POWER TRAIN
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10592355May 19, 2014ENGINE
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.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10588754May 15, 2014SUSPENSION
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10577366April 4, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10577673April 3, 2014UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE STALLING ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING, THE LAST BEING ON APRIL 1, 2014, WHEN I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THIS PARTICULAR MAKE AND MODEL, BEING THE L300, SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE RECALL LIST, AS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE BY OTHER DRIVERS AND STILL NOTHING IS BEING DONE TO ALLEVIATE ANY OF THE ISSUES RAISED. I CANNOT COMPREHEND WHY OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME MAKE, BEING A SATURN, ARE BEING RECALLED, YET INDIVIDUALS OWNING THE L300 EXPERIENCING THESES SAME ISSUES ARE BEING IGNORED. IT IS CLEARLY APPARENT THAT NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN AND ARE BEING BY INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCE THESE PROBLEMS WHICH ARE BLATANTLY BEING IGNORED. I STRONGLY URGE THAT THIS MODEL, THE L300 BE ADDED TO THE RECALL LIST. IT SHOULD NOT BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OWNER FOR SOMETHING THAT IS SO EGREGIOUSLY DEFECTIVE THAT WAS CLEARLY KNOWN ABOUT FOR OVER 10 YEARS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10573351March 19, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
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.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10566680March 2, 2014FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I OWN A 2004 SATURN L300 AND MY DAD OWNS A 2002 SATURN LW300 (WAGON). WE BOTH HAD TROUBLES WITH A LEAKING FUEL PUMP WHICH IS A TERRIBLE FIRE HAZARD. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY RECALLS ON THE SATURN IONS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT THE L300 HAVE NOT BEEN RECALLED. 2004 SATURN - I HAD MY FUEL PUMP REPLACED ON 5/23/2012 WITH 62,129 MILES. I WOULD PARKED THE CAR AND SMELL FUEL SO I DECIDED TO BRING MY CAR TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC. THE FUEL WAS COMING FROM THE FUEL PUMP TOWARDS THE TOP OF THE PUMP. IT COST ME $881.01. AT THAT TIME I THOUGHT I SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH A FUEL PUMP FOR ANOTHER 75 TO 100K MILES. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DOING ABOUT 55 TO 60 MPH AND MY CAR STALLED OUT. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS A COMPUTER GLITCH OR JUST A BAD SENSOR. NEXT DAY SAME PROBLEM. MY CAR STALLED OUT ON THE HIGHWAY. SO I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC. AT THE END RESULT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP AGAIN. MY CAR WAS NOT GETTING ENOUGH FUEL PRESSURE WHEN THE CAR REACHED 50+ MPH. THE MECHANIC WAS VERY NICE AND DIDN'T CHARGE ME FOR THE PART, BUT IT COST ME ANOTHER $283.78 JUST FOR LABOR. BETWEEN THE FIRST PUMP / SECOND PUMP IT HAPPENED WITHIN 22 MONTHS AND 24,143 MILES. I HAVE SPEND $1165 BETWEEN THE FIRST / SECOND FUEL PUMPS NOT COUNTING MY FATHER. I DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND PARTS WEARS OUT AS CAR AGES. REPLACING TWO FUEL PUMPS WITHIN 86K MILES IS UNACCEPTABLE. I SHOULD BE REIMBURSE FOR GM NEGLIGENCE AND I HOPING YOU LOOK INTO THIS SO OTHER DRIVERS AND CARS DO NOT CATCH FIRE AND CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS ON THE HIGHWAY. IT IS VERY SCARY WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND YOUR CAR STALLS OUT. IT IS NOT FAIR AND CAR MANUFACTURES DO NOT WANT TO HELP CONSUMERS LIKE ME UNTIL PEOPLE GETS KILLED AND LOVE ONES LOOSE FAMILIES. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR NEED ME TO CLARIFY ANYTHING UP, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT ME. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10566458February 28, 2014AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10554959December 5, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10535084August 13, 2013EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10509633April 26, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I OWN A 2004 SATURN L300; ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS I HAVE SEEN WISPS OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, FOLLOWED BY A STRONG SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC. THE AREA BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL IS EXTREMELY HOT TO THE TOUCH, AND I AM TOLD IT IS A FIRE HAZARD AND THAT THE HEADLAMP STALKS NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR OVERHEATING, WHICH MAY RUN UP TO $600 WITH LABOR. I HAVE BEEN FORCED TO PULL MY CAR OVER ON BUSY ROADS, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC TO LET IT COOL BEFORE RESTARTING, AND AM WORRIED THAT THE FAULTY WIRES WILL CAUSE A FIRE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10506053April 12, 2013POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10489661December 13, 2012FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
CPSC#20121128. 2004 SATURN L300. CONSUMER STATED THE FUEL PUMP CRACKED, RELEASE FUEL AND HEAVY GAS SMELL INTO CAR MAKING CAR UNDRIVEABLE. *LN THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $ 350.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10479924October 12, 2012FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0