What is the worst year for a Saturn L300?

The 2003 Saturn L300 has the worst FaultScore of any year of this model, with 62 complaints filed with NHTSA, most of them about the lights.

What is the best year for a Saturn L300?

The 2005 Saturn L300 has the cleanest record of the graded years, with 30 complaints on file.

What breaks most often on a Saturn L300?

Electrical System accounts for more complaints than any other part on the Saturn L300.

Worst years for a Saturn L300

Owners have filed 170 complaints about the Saturn L300 with NHTSA across model years 2003 to 2005. More of them are about the electrical system than anything else.

Avoid

2003 Saturn L300

62 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly lights.

Cleanest on record

2005 Saturn L300

30 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Saturn L300 year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

62 78 30

03 04 05

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

Year	Grade	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Median miles	Most reported
2005	B	30	1	0	17,000	Electrical System
2004	C	78	4	1	68,000	Electrical System
2003	D	62	6	7	69,950	Lights

What breaks on a Saturn L300

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Electrical System 32 18.8%

Worst in 2004

Engine & Cooling 27 15.9%

Worst in 2004

Lights 26 15.3%

Worst in 2003

Fuel & Propulsion 14 8.2%

Worst in 2004

Transmission & Drivetrain 10 5.9%

Worst in 2004

Acceleration & Cruise Control 9 5.3%

Worst in 2003

Steering 7 4.1%

Worst in 2004

Brakes 7 4.1%

Worst in 2004

Tires 7 4.1%

Worst in 2003

Airbags 6 3.5%

Worst in 2003

Suspension 6 3.5%

Worst in 2005

Body & Structure 4 2.4%

Worst in 2004

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 3 1.8%

Worst in 2003

Other & Unspecified 3 1.8%

Worst in 2005

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Saturn L300, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Feb 2003 peak 8 Feb 2026

Compare the Saturn L300

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.

Saturn L300 vs Lexus LS400 Saturn L300 vs Hyundai Excel Saturn L300 vs Ford E-250 Saturn L300 vs Audi TT Saturn L300 vs Oldsmobile 98 Saturn L300 vs Eagle Premier

At a glance

Complaints: 170
Model years: 3
Crashes reported: 11
Fires reported: 8
Deaths reported: 1

Saturn L300 recalls →

Jump to a year

2005 2004 2003