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.
2005 Saturn L300
Owners filed 25 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. No safety recall has been issued.
| Component | Reports | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Steering | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Power Train | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Wheels › Rim | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Tires › Pressure Monitoring and Regulating Systems | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Suspension › Rear | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
What owners reported
Newest filingsLEAKING FUEL PUMP
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?
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE 3RD TIME. OIL COOLER SEALS WERE LEAKING. ALSO HAVING ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS. *NM
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
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
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
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
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 $
20 of 25 complaints, reproduced as filed.
Reading this record
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.