FaultScore

Saturn L300 engine problems

27 of the 170 complaints filed about the Saturn L300 are about the engine — 16% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2004.

27

Complaints

16%

Share of all complaints

0

Crashes

1

Fires

Engine & Cooling complaints by model year

2003 L300 10 37.0%

Median failure at 93,000 miles

2004 L300 12 44.4%

Median failure at 84,000 miles

2005 L300 5 18.5%

Median failure at 16,000 miles

What owners said

2005 Saturn L300 at 129,472 miles Midwest City, OK

ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #11020936 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Saturn L300 at 112,000 miles Calumet Park, IL

ENGINE

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.

2004 Saturn L300 at 125,000 miles Toms River, NJ

ENGINE

CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND WOULD NOT RESTART. CAR ALSO FAILED TO START ON SOME MORNINGS AND ALSO AFTER FILLING AT GAS STATION. ITS SEEMS THAT THIS ISSUE CAN GO ON FOR SOMETIME BETWEEN THE TIMES IT HAPPENS.

NHTSA complaint #10692792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Saturn L300 at 150,000 miles Angola, NY

ENGINE

I WAS DRIVING UP A SMALL INCLINE, PREPARING TO STOP FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT, ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE, I COULD NOT STOP, BRAKES WERE FINE BUT ENGINE WAS RACING. I HAD TO PUT CAR IN PARK, CHECKED FOR BLOCKAGE WITH FLOOR MAT, THERE WAS NOT ANY. PUT 4 -WAY BLINKERS ON, SHUT CAR OFF. RESTARTED CAR AND IT WAS FINE. HAPPENED AGAIN ON FEB. 22ND THIS TIME TRIED 4 TIMES SHUTTING DOWN AND STILL RACED. HAD TO PARK CAR, UPON RETURNING 2 HOURS LATER CAR WAS FINE. I HAVE ALSO HAD TROUBLE STARTING CAR, STARTED IN JUNE 2014, IF IGNITION DID NOT ENGAGE WHEN KEY WAS TURNED CAR HAD TO SIT FOR 1/2 HOUR BEFORE STARTING.

NHTSA complaint #10690661 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Saturn L300 at 74,000 miles Belleville, NJ

ENGINE

2004 SATURN L 300, 6 CYLINDER . MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON AND THE ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF, LOOSING ALL POWER AND ALL SERVICE LIGHTS APPEARED. HAD IT TOWED TO MY HOUSE. HOOKED UP A OBD SCANNER TO CAR. 8 CODES APPEARED. BCM/ECM MALFUNCTION.(4 CODES OF THIS), CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR (2 CODES OF THIS), ENGINE RUNNING TOO RICH (2 CODES OF THIS). I HAVE READ MANY CASES ONLINE THROUGH FORUMS, AND THIS SEEMS TOO BE A BIG PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10678617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Saturn L300 at 140,000 miles Livonia, MI

ENGINE

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.

2003 Saturn L300 at 93,000 miles Orlando, FL

ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10592355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Saturn L300 at 86,112 miles Baton Rouge, LA Fire

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.

NHTSA complaint #10573351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Saturn L300 at 84,500 miles Escondido, CA

ENGINE

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.

2004 Saturn L300 at 91,000 miles Nottingham, MD

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

PROBLEM SYNOPSIS: WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS (65 MILES PER HOUR) THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, CAUSING THE "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" (REP) AND "SERVICE VEHICLE SOON" (SVS) LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE. UPON PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, IT WOULD IDLE ROUGHLY UNTIL SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF. VEHICLE WOULD START IMMEDIATELY AFTER, WITH HIGH RPM AT IDLE AND HARD SHIFTS INTO GEAR. VEHICLE WOULD ONLY EXHIBIT THESE PROBLEMS WHEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT GEARS, USUALLY BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. /// REPAIR HISTORY: A REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAILED ENGINE CONTROL MODULE, AND A NEW ONE WAS INSTALLED INTO THE VEHICLE. COST OF REPAIR WAS APPROXIMATELY $1,100. THREE MONTHS LATER (OCT. 2011), THE VEHICLE STARTED EXHIBITING THE SAME PROBLEMS. RETURNED TO THE SAME SHOP, AND REPAIRMEN COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM, SIMPLY CLEARING THE OBD-II CODES IN THE COMPUTER. VEHICLE EXHIBITED SAME SYMPTOMS ONCE IN NOVEMBER 2011 AFTER A RAIN STORM; NO ACTION WAS TAKEN AS VEHICLE DID IT ONLY ONCE. IN DECEMBER 2011, VEHICLE EXHIBITED SAME PROBLEMS FOUR TIME DURING A 25-MILE DRIVE. CODES REVEALED P0606, P0700, P1811. VEHICLE TO BE TAKEN FOR A THIRD TIME TO REPAIR SHOP TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED.

NHTSA complaint #10439123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Saturn L300 at 60,000 miles ST. Genevieve, MO

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING A RECURRING FAILURE IN WHICH IT WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WOULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO COOL OFF BEFORE HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL AUTHORIZED DEALERS AS WELL AS INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITIES WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL INTERMITTENTLY AT ANY SPEED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

NHTSA complaint #10361564 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Saturn L300 at 133,000 miles Tuscaloosa, AL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

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.

2003 Saturn L300 at 133,000 miles Tuscaloosa, AL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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.

2004 Saturn L300 Henderson, NV

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

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.

2004 Saturn L300 at 99,700 miles Star Tannery, VA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 SATURN L300 AT 55 MPH. THE CAR SUDDENLY CUT OFF. I WAS ABLE TO DRIFT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT START. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME IN A PARKING LOT APPROXIMATELY 3 OTHER TIMES. I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC AND HE SAID IT MAY BE THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10314965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Saturn L300 at 77,000 miles Oxford, PA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN L300. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE LOW POWER AND ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ECM, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW AIR SENSOR AND THEY MADE THE REPLACEMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

NHTSA complaint #10217968 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Saturn L300 Birmingham, AL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT BLINKED ON MY 2004 L300 SATURN IN LATE JUNE 2007. I TOOK IT TO THE SERVICE STATION TO HAVE THE COOLANT LEVEL CHECKED. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT WAS A LITTLE LOW BUT NOT BY MUCH. AFTER HE PUT MORE COOLANT IN, THE SIGNAL CLEARED FOR OVER A MONTH BEFORE IT CAME BACK ON AGAIN IN EARLY AUGUST. I TOOK IT BACK AGAIN AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SUGGESTED THAT THERE MIGHT BE A LEAK. THE SIGNAL CAME ON SHORTLY AFTER THIS VISIT AND REMAINED ON FOR A DURATION OF 30 MINUTES, WHICH PROMPTED ME TO MAKE A DETOUR AND HEAD TO SATURN TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. I TOOK IT TO SATURN AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT I HAD AN OIL COOLER LEAK. IT COST ME $802 TO REPAIR. THE CAR ONLY HAS 33,000+ MILES ON IT, AND I GET IT SERVICED ACCORDING TO SATURN'S MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE FOR THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10199583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Saturn L300 at 44,000 miles Reno, NV

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RECENTLY RAN OUT OF WARRANTY AT 45,000 MILES. THREE SEPARATE FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT AS ELECTRICAL FAILURE. FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED MASTER ENGINE FLOW FAILURE. THREE MONTHS LATER THE ENGINE FAILED AGAIN. THE CONTACT HAS SPENT ALMOST $1,200 ON REPAIRS. HE HAS CONTACTED THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND THEY REFEREED HIM TO NHTSA. THE DEALER OFFERED TO PROVIDE A WARRANTY FOR THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE NUMBER OF FAILURES. HOWEVER, THE DEALER DOES NOT KNOW WHY THE FAILURE RATE IS SO HIGH. THE CONTACT CALLED SATURN WHO STATED THAT HIS DESCRIPTION OF THE FAILURES LACKED MECHANICAL KNOWLEDGE. SATURN WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN EXPLANATION, BUT RESPONDED BY STATING, "DIDN'T WE HELP YOU OUT BY EXTENDING THE WARRANTY TO FIX THE ISSUE?" THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER BOTH REFERRED THE CONTACT TO ONE ANOTHER. HE STATED THAT SATURN DOES NOT WHAT ANY PART IN THE MATTER AND HIS VEHICLE DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE LEMON LAW FOR HIS STATE. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 44,000.

NHTSA complaint #10192028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Saturn L300 Dola, OH

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

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.

2005 Saturn L300 at 35,500 miles Wautoma, WI

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE 3RD TIME. OIL COOLER SEALS WERE LEAKING. ALSO HAVING ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #10163629 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Saturn L300 problems