2004 Saturn L300: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
61 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
64,070 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data updated: . 40 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
Owner-reported patterns
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 61 complaints (16.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic
Matching reports
Share of complaints
Engine operation
7
11.5%
Braking behavior
6
9.8%
Steering behavior
6
9.8%
Electrical and battery issues
5
8.2%
Fuel system concerns
5
8.2%
Transmission and shifting
2
3.3%
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
Electrical System
10
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
7
Exterior Lighting
4
Power Train
4
Air Bags
3
Engine
3
Engine And Engine Cooling
3
Fuel System, Gasoline
3
Component breakdown data
Category
Count
Electrical System
10
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
7
Exterior Lighting
4
Power Train
4
Air Bags
3
Engine
3
Engine And Engine Cooling
3
Fuel System, Gasoline
3
Electrical System: 10; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 7; Exterior Lighting: 4; Power Train: 4; Air Bags: 3; Engine: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
Under 25,000
12
25,000 to 49,999
2
50,000 to 74,999
9
75,000 to 99,999
8
100,000 to 149,999
5
150,000 and above
4
Reported problems by failure mileage data
Category
Count
Under 25,000
12
25,000 to 49,999
2
50,000 to 74,999
9
75,000 to 99,999
8
100,000 to 149,999
5
150,000 and above
4
Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 4
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 21 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
Electrical System leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
THE HEADLIGHTS CREATED A SHADOW ON THE ROAD WHICH CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE DEALER INDICATED TO THE CONSUMER THAT THE HEADLIGHTS COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED TO REMOVE THE SHADOW. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NLM
THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS DIM ALMOST ALL THE WAY OUT UNPREDICTABLY. THE DASH LIGHT DIMMING DRAWS THE DRIVER'S ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE ROAD, WHILE THE HEADLIGHTS DIMMING DRAWS THE ATTENTION OF OTHER DRIVERS AND THE POLICE. MANY DRIVERS THINK THAT YOU ARE SIGNALING THEM AND THIS CAN LEAD TO ROAD RAGE INCIDENTS. ALSO, IN MANY STATES SIGNALING OTHER DRIVERS OF A POLICE PRESENCE IS AGAINST THE LAW. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS ON MANY OCCASIONS I HAVE LOST SIGHT OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING. IT IS ONLY BLIND LUCK THAT PREVENTED ME FROM BEING INV…
WE JUST RECENTLY PURCHASHED OUR NEW CAR. WE WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT. THE LIGHTS (HEAD LIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS) KEPT GETTING DIM ALMOST AS IF THEY WERE GOING TO GO OUT. WE THOUGHT MAYBE WE HAD A WIRE THAT HAD NOT BEEN TIGHTENED OR THAT HAD COME LOSE. OTHER CARS THINK WE ARE BLINKING OUR LIGHTS AT THEM. WHAT HAPPENS IF A BIG TRUCK THINKS WE ARE GIVING HIM THE "ALL CLEAR TO COME OVER IN FRONT OF ME"? THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN TO THE SERVICE DEPT AND WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS "INTERMITTENT DIMMING (FLICKERING) OF HEADLAMPS AND/OR INST…
INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASHBOARD LIGHTSBLINK ON AND OFF. THE LIGHTS WOULD STAY OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN COME BACK ON AGAIN. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THIS WAS PERFECTLY NORMAL. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED FOUR TIMES IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. *AK THE CONSUMER INDICATED THA THE VEHICLKE ALSO LOST POWER WHILE DRIVNG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *NM
WE HAVE RECENTLY PURCHASED AN 04 L300 AND HAVE STATED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS HAVE GONE OFF AND COME BACK ON. ON ONE SUCH OCCASSION, A TRACTOR TRAILER PULLED OVER ON US THINKING WE HAD NOTIFIED HIM TO DO SO. IT WAS JUST BY THE GRACE OF GOD WE WERE NOT CRUSHED. LATER THAT SAME NIGHT, A POLICE OFFICER PULLED US OVER WANTING TO KNOW WHY WE WERE BLINKING OUR HEAD LIGHTS AT HIM. WE EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM AND WERE TOLD THAT HE COULD RIGHT US A TICKET BUT WOULD NOT…
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT TIME BOTH HEADLIGHTS GLAZED OVER, ALMOST OPAQUE, RESULTING IN EXTREMELY REDUCED HEADLIGHT VISIBILITY DURING THE NIGHT. THUS, OBSTRUCTING CONSUMER'S VIEW. DEALERSHIP INDICATED TO THE CONSUMER THAT HEADLIGHTS OPERATED AS DESIGNED BY THE MANUFACTURER, NOTHING THEY COULD DO.*AK
THE CAR HAS CONTINUED TO FAIL TO START. IT DOES NOT CATCH ON THE FIRST TRY. TODAY IT TOOK FOUR ATTEMPTS TO START. THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE AND THEY KEEP TELLING US THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING. THE LAST TIME, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED FOR OVER 2 HOURS. CAR TAKEN TO DEALER THEY KEPT SEVERAL DAYS AND FOUND NOTHING. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS CAR. I'M HOPING IT WILL NOT TAKE MY DEATH OR THE DEATH OF SOMEONE ELSE TO FIND THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM . *JB
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
05V158000 · Seat Belts
Reported: 2005-04-20 (April 20, 2005)
CERTAIN WAGONS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES." THE SEAT BELT ANCHOR MAY SEPARATE FROM THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE BEFORE HOLDING THE REQUIRED TEST LOAD FOR THE REQUIRED TIME.
Consequence: IF A SEPARATION OCCURRED IN CRASH, THE RIGHT AND CENTER REAR SEAT OCCUPANTS MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REAR SEAT CENTER BELT ANCHOR REINFORCEMENT PLATE TO THE FLOOR PAN OF THE VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 25, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876.
ON CERTAIN SEDANS AND WAGONS, THE PLASTIC HOUSING IN THE REAR TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY CAN BECOME DISTORTED IF THE BRAKE LAMPS REMAIN ON FOR AN EXTENDED TIME.
Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE (1) AN INTERMITTENTLY INOPERATIVE BRAKE/TAIL LAMP BULB OR (2) A SHORT CIRCUIT THAT OPENS A FUSE CAUSING INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMPS (INCLUDING THE CENTER HIGH-MOUNTED STOP LAMP) OR TAIL LAMPS. A FOLLOWING DRIVER MAY NOT KNOW WHEN THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN APPLIED, AND A REAR-END CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL TWO NEW TAIL LAMP REINFORCING SOCKET ADAPTERS AND SOCKETS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 17, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876.
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
61 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
65.6%Usable mileage40 / 61 records
98.4%Valid incident date60 / 61 records
100.0%Valid filing date61 / 61 records
96.7%Ordered incident and filing dates59 / 61 records
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
Component complaint heatmap
Component
2003
2004
2005
Electrical System
921.4%ODI 10159352 · 28,500 mi
DT*: THE CONTACTS STATED AFTER DRIVING LONG ENOUGH FOR THE MOTOR TO GET WARM THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKER FROM DIM TO BRIGHT. THIS IS A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM. IF THE HEATER OR AIR CONDITIONER FAN IS TURNED ON, THE FLICKERING BECOMES MORE RAPID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FOR THIS PROBLEM. BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER DETERMINED THIS WAS NORMAL OPERATIONS FOR THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE.
THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS DIM ALMOST ALL THE WAY OUT UNPREDICTABLY. THE DASH LIGHT DIMMING DRAWS THE DRIVER'S ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE ROAD, WHILE THE HEADLIGHTS DIMMING DRAWS THE ATTENTION OF OTHER DRIVERS AND THE POLICE. MANY DRIVERS THINK THAT YOU ARE SIGNALING THEM AND THIS CAN LEAD TO ROAD RAGE INCIDENTS. ALSO, IN MANY STATES SIGNALING OTHER DRIVERS OF A POLICE PRESENCE IS AGAINST THE LAW. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS ON MANY OCCASIONS I HAVE LOST SIGHT OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING. IT IS ONLY BLIND LUCK THAT PREVENTED ME FROM BEING INV…
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.
THE HEADLIGHTS CREATED A SHADOW ON THE ROAD WHICH CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE DEALER INDICATED TO THE CONSUMER THAT THE HEADLIGHTS COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED TO REMOVE THE SHADOW. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NLM
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. *TR
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. *TR
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 ME…
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.
I CAN NOT GET A REPLACEMENT PART FOR MY 2004 SATURN WAGON. THE TAIL LIGHT IS BROKEN, GM SAID THE SUPPLIER QUITE MAKING THE PART. THE CAR IS NOT LEGAL TO DRIVE WITH A BROKEN TAIL LIGHT. *TR THANK YOU ROBERT EMANUEL
WHILE DRIVING APPROX. 65 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON, TAPPED BRAKE TO DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, RESTARTED THE ENGINE. POWER APPEARED TO BE RESTORED BUT THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. DEALER RELOADED EEPROM SOFTWARE. *JB
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY 70 MPH ACCELERATION WILL DROP DOWN TO 5 MPH. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH COMPUTER THAT THREW THE VEHICLE INTO IDLE MODE. THIS PROBLEM ALSO OCCURRED IN THE OWNER'S PREVIOUS SATURN MODEL L200 2002. THE CAUSE WAS STILL UNDETERMINED. *AK
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 INFOR…
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.
STEERING COLUMN CLUNKING. HAD INTERMEDIATE SHAFT REPAIRED WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 12/2007 WHICH I INCLUDED THE LUBRICATION OF THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND REPLACING THE SWAY BAR LINKS. IN 3/2008, PROBLEM OF CLUNKING NOISE RESURFACED. STEERING GEAR WAS FAILING AND LEAKING AND REPAIRS WERE MADE. IN 12/2008, CLUNKING NOISE RESURFACED. FIND TIE ROD WAS LOOSE AND THAT THE STRUT MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CLUNKING NOISE HAS RESURFACED IN LATE 2009, EARLY 2010. SATURN IS INVESTIGATING REPAIR NEEDS BASED ON PREVIOUS WORK PERFORMED. *TR
A YEAR AGO, A GRINDING NOISE CAME FROM THE STEERING WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME, WHILE I WAS MAKING THE APPOINTMENT, THAT IT WAS THE STEERING SHAFT. *JB
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 …
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN L300. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, BENT THE FRAME AND DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FRONTAL AND SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY AN AMBULANCE. A POLICE REPORT IS AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
Component failure mileage distribution
Component
Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)
Median
Usable records
Examples
Electrical System
30,750–97,750 mi
70,505 mi
8
ODI 10062722 · 3,000 mi
THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS DIM ALMOST ALL THE WAY OUT UNPREDICTABLY. THE DASH LIGHT DIMMING DRAWS THE DRIVER'S ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE ROAD, WHILE THE HEADLIGHTS DIMMING DRAWS THE ATTENTION OF OTHER DRIVERS AND THE POLICE. MANY DRIVERS THINK THAT YOU ARE SIGNALING THEM AND THIS CAN LEAD TO ROAD RAGE INCIDENTS. ALSO, IN MANY STATES SIGNALING OTHER DRIVERS OF A POLICE PRESENCE IS AGAINST THE LAW. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS ON MANY OCCASIONS I HAVE LOST SIGHT OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING. IT IS ONLY BLIND LUCK THAT PREVENTED ME FROM BEING INV…
PURCHASED ON 9/17/04. AFTER 1 1/2 WEEKS, NOTICED THAT HEADLIGHTS AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY DIM ON & OFF EVERY 1/2 TO 1 MILE. TOOK TO SATURN, WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC, THEY CHANGED SUN SENSOR THOUGHT TO BE THE PROBLEM. THIS DID NOT FIX MY PROBLEM AND IT APPEARS THAT THE PROBLEM HAS WORSENED. THE SATURN CORPORATION HAS MAINTAINED THAT THIS IS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC IN THIS CAR AND REFUSED TO DO ANY FURTHER REPAIRS. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT BE NOTICEABLE TO ANY TRAFFIC ON TH…
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 INFOR…
WE HAVE RECENTLY PURCHASED AN 04 L300 AND HAVE STATED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS HAVE GONE OFF AND COME BACK ON. ON ONE SUCH OCCASSION, A TRACTOR TRAILER PULLED OVER ON US THINKING WE HAD NOTIFIED HIM TO DO SO. IT WAS JUST BY THE GRACE OF GOD WE WERE NOT CRUSHED. LATER THAT SAME NIGHT, A POLICE OFFICER PULLED US OVER WANTING TO KNOW WHY WE WERE BLINKING OUR HEAD LIGHTS AT HIM. WE EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM AND WERE TOLD THAT HE COULD RIGHT US A TICKET BUT WOULD NOT…
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT TIME BOTH HEADLIGHTS GLAZED OVER, ALMOST OPAQUE, RESULTING IN EXTREMELY REDUCED HEADLIGHT VISIBILITY DURING THE NIGHT. THUS, OBSTRUCTING CONSUMER'S VIEW. DEALERSHIP INDICATED TO THE CONSUMER THAT HEADLIGHTS OPERATED AS DESIGNED BY THE MANUFACTURER, NOTHING THEY COULD DO.*AK
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. *TR…
THIRD BREAK LIGHT OR OVER HEAD BREAK LIGHT HAVNT WORKED SINCE I'VE BOUGHT THE CAR OUT SO BEEN OUT B4 I BOUGHT IT AND DASH LIGHTS DIMMER SWITCH FLICKERS IN AND OUT UNLESS WEDGE THE DIMMING SWITCH UP BEEN LIKE THAT SINCE BOUGHT THE CAR DON'T KNOW WHEN OR HOW IT HAPPENED BUT IT'S GOT MINOR SHORT AND EVERYTHING WORKS AS SHOULD DIMMER SWITCH MOVES AS IT SHOULD
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 INS…
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 INFOR…
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 HI…
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. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN L300. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, BENT THE FRAME AND DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FRONTAL AND SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY AN AMBULANCE. A POLICE REPORT IS AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN L300. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND DEPRESSED THE BRAKES VERY GENTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE MOTORED ROARED AFTER ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TRAILER THAT WAS IN FRONT OF IT. THE CONTACT THEN PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IN REVERSE AFTER THE CRASH OCCURRED. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MECHANIC REPAIRED …
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN L300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PROCEEDING THROUGH TRAFFIC LIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, ANOTHER DRIVER FAILED TO SEE THE CONTACT IN THE INTERSECTION AND CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE PASSENGER SIDE. THE DRIVER'S FRONTAL AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED A BRUISE LEFT ARM AND PAIN TO THE NECK AND LOWER BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.
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. *TR
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 TUR…
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. *TR
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. *TR
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 HI…
GAS FILLER PIPE NECK RUSTY AND FLAKING. COULD START LEAKING CAUSING A FIRE AND LEAKING ON THE GROUND IF NOT FIXED. WANT TO KNOW WHERE , HOW AND HOW MUCH TO GET THE PART. SATURN DEALERSHIP SAID SATURN HAS STOPPED MAKING MANY PARTS AND THIS IS ONE. IF STARTS LEAKING WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET STICKER. TRYING TO TALK WITH GM AND AT FIRST SAID THEY COULD HELP BUT NOW JUST ASK IF IT'S FIXED. CAN NOT FIX UNTIL I CAN GET THE PART. TALKING WITH RUBY AT GM [phone removed] EXT 42627 CASE # [XXX] . THANKS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF…
I OWN A 2004 SATURN L300 AND MY DAD OWNS A 2002 SATURN LW300 (WAGON). WE BOTH HAD TROUBLES WITH A LEAKING FUEL PUMP WHICH IS A TERRIBLE FIRE HAZARD. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY RECALLS ON THE SATURN IONS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT THE L300 HAVE NOT BEEN RECALLED. 2004 SATURN - I HAD MY FUEL PUMP REPLACED ON 5/23/2012 WITH 62,129 MILES. I WOULD PARKED THE CAR AND SMELL FUEL SO I DECIDED TO BRING MY CAR TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC. THE FUEL WAS COMING FROM THE FUEL PUMP TOWARDS THE TOP OF THE PUMP. IT COST ME $881.01. AT THAT TIME I THOUGHT I SHOULD…
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month
Complaints
Campaigns announced
Examples
2024-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2024-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-10
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2004: 23 complaints · 2005: 14 complaints
Equal observation windows
Model year
Through age 0
Through age 1
Through age 2
2004
15
18
23
2005
8
14
14
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year
Incident dates used
Filing date fallbacks
Excluded dates
2004
59
1
1
2005
25
0
0
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
Component co-occurrence matrix
Component
Electrical System
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
Exterior Lighting
Power Train
Air Bags
Engine
Engine And Engine Cooling
Fuel System, Gasoline
Electrical System
—
0
2ODI 10509633 · 75,000 mi
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. *TR…
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 INS…
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 INFOR…
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. *TR…
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 INS…
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 INFOR…
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. *TR
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 HI…
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. *TR
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 HI…
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
6 patterns with matching reports.
Stalling or loss of power
9 mentions · 14.8% of complaints
Median mileage: 77,000 mi (7 usable records).
ODI 10076170 · 8,700 mi
INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASHBOARD LIGHTSBLINK ON AND OFF. THE LIGHTS WOULD STAY OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN COME BACK ON AGAIN. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THIS WAS PERFECTLY NORMAL. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED FOUR TIMES IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. *AK THE CONSUMER INDICATED THA THE VEHICLKE ALSO LOST POWER WHILE DRIVNG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *NM
CAR WILL HESITATE AND STALL. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON THE CAR WILL AT TIMES NOT BE ABLE TO BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILING AND CLOGGING THE EXHAUST SYSTEM
MULTIPLE EPISODES OF CAR NOT STARTING AND STALLING. CAR ACTUALLY LOST ALL POWER AND STOPPED RUNNING WHILE I WAS DRIVING. CARS WERE ABLE TO SWERVE AROUND ME AND AN ACCIDENT WAS AVOIDED. I AM PURSUING LEMON LAW. AM VERY AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR!*JB
Matching rule\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b
Fuel smell or leak mentions
4 mentions · 6.6% of complaints
Median mileage: 62,129 mi (1 usable records).
ODI 10489661
CPSC#20121128. 2004 SATURN L300. CONSUMER STATED THE FUEL PUMP CRACKED, RELEASE FUEL AND HEAVY GAS SMELL INTO CAR MAKING CAR UNDRIVEABLE. *LN THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $ 350.
I OWN A 2004 SATURN L300 AND MY DAD OWNS A 2002 SATURN LW300 (WAGON). WE BOTH HAD TROUBLES WITH A LEAKING FUEL PUMP WHICH IS A TERRIBLE FIRE HAZARD. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY RECALLS ON THE SATURN IONS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT THE L300 HAVE NOT BEEN RECALLED. 2004 SATURN - I HAD MY FUEL PUMP REPLACED ON 5/23/2012 WITH 62,129 MILES. I WOULD PARKED THE CAR AND SMELL FUEL SO I DECIDED TO BRING MY CAR TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC. THE FUEL WAS COMING FROM THE FUEL PUMP TOWARDS THE TOP OF THE PUMP. IT COST ME $881.01. AT THAT TIME I THOUGHT I SHOULD…
FUEL PUMP ON A 2004 SATURN L300 CRACKED AND RELEASE FUEL AND HEAVY GAS SMELL INTO CAR MAKING CAR UN DRIVEABLE. THERE IS ALREADY A RECALL ON ANOTHER MAKE OF SATURN FOR THE SAME INCIDENT. *JS
GRINDING NOISE FROM POWER STEERING WHILE MAKING TURNS. HAD TWO MECHANICS LOOK AT THE CAR AND WAS TOLD THE RACK AND PINION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT IS A COMMON FAILURE IN THIS MODEL. *JB
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 PROBLE…
CAR WILL HESITATE AND STALL. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON THE CAR WILL AT TIMES NOT BE ABLE TO BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILING AND CLOGGING THE EXHAUST SYSTEM
I OWN A 2004 SATURN L300 SEDAN. ON OCTOBER 25, 2007, I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE PASSING LANE GOING ABOUT 65 TO 70 MPH AND THE CAR STALLS AND THE GAS PEDAL SHOWS NO RESPONSE. THE CAR ENGINE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON ALONG WITH THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT AND LOSS OF POWER LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD. I HAD TO CROSSOVER A LANE AND PULL THE CAR OVER. WHILE PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK THE CAR SHAKES. I TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND START THE CAR AGAIN AND I AM ABLE TO GO BUT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY HARD. THERE WERE NO PRECURSOR SIGNS THAT T…
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. *TR
Matching rule\b(parasitic drain|battery drain\w*|dead battery|won.t start|would not start|no.start)\b
Hard or delayed shifting
1 mentions · 1.6% of complaints
Median mileage: 91,000 mi (1 usable records).
ODI 10439123 · 91,000 mi
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 HI…