32 of the
170 complaints filed about the Saturn L300
are about the electrical system —
19% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2004.
MY BRAKE LIGHTS AND MY 3RD BRAKE LIGHT THAT IS ON THE INSIDE OF THE REAR WINDOW IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY AND AT TIMES MY FRONT INSIDE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WILL GO DIM AND NOW HAVE COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING AND ALSO MY INSIDE INTERIOR LIGHTS HAVE STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY (EXAMPLE) WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOORS NO INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON AT ALL AND ALSO WILL NOT EVEN COME ON WHEN YOU TRY TO TURN THEM ON BY HAND AND MY MAP LIGHTS ON THE UNDER SIDE OF MY INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR OR MAP LITES HAVE STOPPED WORKING AND THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHTS LOCATED INSIDE THE CENTER OF THE REAR WINDSHIELD NOW HAVE 2 LITES THAT ARE COMPLETELY STOPPED COMING ON AND MY TAG LIGHTS DO NOT WORK ANY MORE AND ALL THIS STARTED APPX. 4 MONTHS AGO WHEN A POLICE OFFICER PULLED ME OVER AFTER DARK AND TOLD ME ABOUT MY BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY AND NO TAG LITE AND 3 WEEKS PRIOR IS WHEN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INSIDE STARTED ACTING UP AND NOW NO LIGHTS WORK AT ALL INSIDE AND THIS HAPPENS WHETHER THE CAR IS MOVING OR NOT AND WITH IT SITTING IN PARK AL THIS HAPPENS AND ALSO NO TRUNK LITE OR GLOVE BOX LITES UP !
NHTSA complaint #11282504 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WIPER SWITCH HEATS UP ON IGNITION AND ALSO RANDOMLY WHILE RUNNING - CAUSING SMOKE AND BURNING SMELLFROM STEERING COLUMN AND WIPERS TO TURN ON BY THEMSELVES. FIRST REPLACEMENT DONE BY CERTIFIED MECHANIC WITH CERTIFIED GM PART COST $365. 3 YEARS LATER, IT'S THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN!
NHTSA complaint #11141749 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE CAR JUST SHUTS DOWN WHILE IN MOTION. MOST OF THE TIME IT SHUTS OFF WHEN TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IT WILL EVENTUALLY CRANK UP IN ABOUT AN HOUR ONLY TO SHUT DOWN AGAIN. THE CAR SHUT DOWN AS I WAS WITH MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER ON I-95 GOING 65 MPH. WE WERE STRANDED FOR ABOUT 3 HRS. ON THE INTERSTATE BEFORE THE CAR CRANKED BACK UP. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THROUGH DRIVE TIME AND HAS A WARRANTY ON IT . AFTER COMPLAINING TO THE COMPANY ABOUT THE VEHICLE THEY INSTRUCTED ME TO HAVE A DIAGNOSIS DONE ON IT TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT A RECALL WAS OUT FOR SATURN CARS FROM THE NEWS. I CONTACTED GM AND EXPLAINED WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND THEY GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER BUT ALSO STATED THAT THE MODEL CAR I HAVE WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST AND FOR ME TO TAKE IT TO A GM DEALERSHIP NEAR ME TO HAVE ANOTHER DIAGNOSIS DONE ON THE CAR WHICH WAS AN EXTRA $125. U.S.A AUTO SERVICE PERFORMED A DIAGNOSIS ON THE CAR THE TO SEE IF IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT WAS CAUSING THE CAR TO SHUT COMPLETELY OFF WHILE THE CAR WAS MOVING. THEY COULD NOT GET A DIAGNOSIS FROM THE IGNITION. I CONTACTED THE WARRANTY COMPANY FOR DRIVE TIME AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT NOTHING WAS COVERED BECAUSE IT WAS ELECTRICAL. THEN I CALLED GM BACK AND TOLD THEM THE CAR WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND WHAT THE DIAGNOSIS REPORT SAID AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO UNLESS I PAID THE $125 WITH THEM TO HAVE ANOTHER ONE DONE. THEN THEY WOULD DETERMINE IF IT WAS THE IGNITION. I AM AT MY WITS END BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THAT WILL COST CLOSE TO $1,000 TO HAVE FIX. I AM CURRENTLY MAKING PAYMENTS ON THIS CAR AND CAN'T AFFORD ALL THIS MONEY. I HAD THE CAR SERVICED WITH U.S.A AUTO SERVICE BECAUSE DRIVE TIME REQUIRES YOU TO KEEP UP WITH THE MAINTENANCE OF THE CAR WHICH I FAITHFULLY DID. NOW THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #10660232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10627094 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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
NHTSA complaint #10608565 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10597092 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10577366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10573351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10566458 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10509633 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10506053 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10477108 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10466854 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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
NHTSA complaint #10357847 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10315338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10259771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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!!!
NHTSA complaint #10259424 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE BATTERY WARNING AND EMERGENCY SERVICE LIGHTS (I.E., "THE CAR WITH THE WRENCH" SIGNAL) FLASHED ON MY 2004 SATURN L300 IN MID-MAY 2008. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE TIME. AS I SLOWED DOWN TO EXIT THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED. I MADE IT HOME AND PARKED IT IN THE CAR PORT. I HAD IT TOWED TO SATURN OF BIRMINGHAM (SOB) THE NEXT MORNING. SOB HAS HAD IT FOR 4 DAYS NOW. THE SERVICE TECH'S (AT LEAST THREE HAVE LOOKED AT IT) HAVE HAD A DIFFICULT TIME DETERMINING WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. FOR NOW, THE POWER TRAIN (PCM) HAS BEEN REPLACED. BUT THE SERVICE REP INFORMED ME THAT THE ALTERNATOR IS OVERCHARGING SO THEY WILL HAVE TO REPLACE IT AS WELL. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN DRAINED, WHICH WILL MAKE THIS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY ON THIS CAR (THE FIRST TIME WAS AFTER ONLY 2.5 YEARS). THE SERVICE REP INDICATED THAT THE TECH WILL HAVE TO DO A THOROUGH CHECK ON THE VEHICLE TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO OTHER PROBLEMS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN TRIGGERED BY THE PCM/ALTERNATOR/BATTERY FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10229004 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2004 SATURN ION - WILL NOT START IF OUTSIDE TEMP IS BELOW FREEZING. SERVICE VEHICLE LIGHT COMES ON. IF YOU WAIT 5-10 MINUTES THEN THE CAR WILL START. THIS HAS HAPPENED 15+ TIMES TO ME IN THE LAST MONTH.
NHTSA complaint #10211288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.