13 of the
62 complaints about the 2003 Saturn L300 are about the
lighting — 21% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
112,000 miles.
D
13
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Exterior Lighting
538.5%
Headlights
323.1%
Interior Lighting
215.4%
Tail Lights
17.7%
Turn Signal
17.7%
Brake Lights
17.7%
What owners said
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
at 112,000 milesCalumet Park, IL
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
NHTSA complaint #10885944 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 98,000 milesCoolidge, AZ
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.
NHTSA complaint #10749843 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 160,800 milesKokomo, IN
EXTERIOR 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.
NHTSA complaint #10621457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 102,000 milesGermantown, MD
EXTERIOR 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.
NHTSA complaint #10606478 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 130,000 milesO'fallon, IL
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.
NHTSA complaint #10554959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 114,000 milesIrvine, CA
EXTERIOR 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.
NHTSA complaint #10535084 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 69,950 milesCovington, GAFire
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
AFTER TURNING ON MY LEFT BLINKER, SMOKE STARTING COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD IT REPAIRED THIS MORNING AT THE SATURN DEALERSHIP. I OVERHEARD TWO OTHER CALLS OF THE SAME PROBLEM. IN FACT, ONE OF THE SERVICE ADVISORS TOLD THE CUSTOMER NOT TO USE THEIR BLINKERS.
NHTSA complaint #10200111 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dola, OH
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
PURCHASED 2003 SATURN L 300 ON MARCH 24, 2007 AND HAD IT IN THE SHOP ON APRIL 2, 2007 AND APRIL 9, 2007 WITH SAME PROBLEM. INTERIOR LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, AND FAN PULSATE WHICH COULD CAUSE A SAFETY HAZARD ON THE HIGHWAY. THE LONGER YOU DRIVE IT THE MORE IT HAPPENS. THEY SAY IT IS NORMAL.
NHTSA complaint #10187493 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dola, OH
INTERIOR LIGHTING
PURCHASED 2003 SATURN L 300 ON MARCH 24, 2007 AND HAD IT IN THE SHOP ON APRIL 2, 2007 AND APRIL 9, 2007 WITH SAME PROBLEM. INTERIOR LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, AND FAN PULSATE WHICH COULD CAUSE A SAFETY HAZARD ON THE HIGHWAY. THE LONGER YOU DRIVE IT THE MORE IT HAPPENS. THEY SAY IT IS NORMAL.
NHTSA complaint #10187493 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Taylor, MI
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING HEAD LIGHTS /DASH LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS WOULD DIM WHILE AIR CONDITION WAS RUNNING.
NHTSA complaint #10027322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Taylor, MI
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING HEAD LIGHTS /DASH LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS WOULD DIM WHILE AIR CONDITION WAS RUNNING.
NHTSA complaint #10027322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Taylor, MI
INTERIOR LIGHTING
CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING HEAD LIGHTS /DASH LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS WOULD DIM WHILE AIR CONDITION WAS RUNNING.
NHTSA complaint #10027322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cusseta, GA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
PURCHASED NEW 2003 SATURN L300 AND THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT REFLECTS LOWER THAN THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WHICH CREATES A STEP EFFECT WHEN LOOKING OUT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO RECREATE THIS SCENARIO IN THE GARAGE AND THEREFORE CONCLUDED THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP MUST BE WILLING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT TO VIEW THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10005721 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.