2004 Saturn SATURN L SERIES: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
43,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 1 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler | 1 |
Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 0 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 1 |
2006: 1
Pattern summary
Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler leads the component reports. 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.
Owner report 10176564 · 2006-12-19 (December 19, 2006)
TL* - ON DECEMBER 11, 2006, THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING HIS 2004 SATURN VIEW AT 35 MPH WITH THE SEAT WARMER ON, WHEN THE SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND CONTACT WAS BURNED ON HIS LEFT LEG. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE SEAT WARMER OFF BUT COULD NOT. A MECHANIC UNPLUGGED THE SEAT WARMER AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE CONTACT DID NOT FILE A POLICE REPORT.
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10176564 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
1 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
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 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2004 | 2005 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 555.6%ODI 10174913IN OCTOBER 2006, MY ENGINE COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A BAD CAP THAT WAS NOT HOLDING THE PRESSURE. WITHIN TWO WEEKS, THE SAME LIGHT CAME ON. I WENT BACK AND THEY SAID CAP WAS FINE AND COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. STATED THAT THEY HAD ADDED A DYE TO THE ENGINE COOLANT TO LOOK FOR THE PROBLEM AND COME BACK IN TWO WEEKS. ALMOST EXACTLY TWO WEEKS LATER, DEC. 1, I RETURNED BECAUSE I HAD FOUND THE PROBLEM. THE COOLANT - INCLUDING THE BRIGHT, FLUORESCENT GREENISH, YELLOWISH DYED - LEAKED ALL IN THE PASSENGER FLOORBOARD AND WAS BEING SOAKED … | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 240.0%ODI 10186790 · 100,000 miWHILE TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 60 MILES PER HOUR I MY ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED WITH NO PRIOR WARNING OF A PROBLEM, I WAS JUST ABOUT RAN OFF THE OVERPASS I WAS CROSSING BY A VEHICLE BEHIND ME. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT MY VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER START. AFTER TAKING MY VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC I WAS TOLD THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN AND HE WOULD NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO MAKE REPAIRS AND I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. UPON CALLING THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THEY HAD HEARD OF THIS BEFORE AND IN … | 111.1%ODI 10244940 · 93,750 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L SERIES. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE TIMING BELT CAME APART AND THE VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SHOP TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 93,750. | 133.3%ODI 10165651 · 66,400 miMY 2002 SATURN L200 WITH 66,000 STARTED AND RAN FINE UNTIL I TURNED A CORNER WAS GOING ABOUT 10 TO 20 MPH AND THE CAR JUST STOPPED RUNNING APPOX 100 YARDS FROM A BUSY INTERSECTION. CAR WAS TOWED TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP THEY WOULD BE UNABLE TO LOOK AT IT TILL THE NEXT DAY. THEY FOUND THAT THE TIMING CHAIN AND CYLINDER HEAD WOULD COST $2200 TO FIX BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE. NO INJURIES OR CRASHES OCCURRED ASK DEALER IF THIS WAS COMMON HE SAID NO THAT THIS OCCURS EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS. *NM | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System | 240.0%ODI 10241791 · 82 miI HAVE A 2000 SATURN IT CAUGHT FIRE TWICE FROM THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 222.2%ODI 10265276THERE IS NO ONE THING WRONG WITH MY 2001 SATURN L300 V6. JUST EVERYTHING. I TAKE IT IN FOR ONE REPAIR AND SOMETHING ELSE IS WRONG LESS THAN A WEEK LATER. LESS THAN 3 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT IT USED, I HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR. THEN MY TIRES WERE BAD BECAUSE THE SUSPENSION SUCKS, AND YOU HAVE TO BUY AN AFTER-MARKET KIT JUST TO FIX THAT ISSUE. THEN MY WATER PUMP BLEW UP. THEN MY FUEL PUMP BLEW. THESE CARS ARE HORRIBLE & SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT IT! *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Air Bags | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 111.1%ODI 10265276THERE IS NO ONE THING WRONG WITH MY 2001 SATURN L300 V6. JUST EVERYTHING. I TAKE IT IN FOR ONE REPAIR AND SOMETHING ELSE IS WRONG LESS THAN A WEEK LATER. LESS THAN 3 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT IT USED, I HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR. THEN MY TIRES WERE BAD BECAUSE THE SUSPENSION SUCKS, AND YOU HAVE TO BUY AN AFTER-MARKET KIT JUST TO FIX THAT ISSUE. THEN MY WATER PUMP BLEW UP. THEN MY FUEL PUMP BLEW. THESE CARS ARE HORRIBLE & SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT IT! *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10215340 · 23,000 miVEHICLE ENGINE STALLED WHILE TRAVELING IN A HIGH TRAFFIC INTERSECTION A LOW IDLE SPEED. PRIVATE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS IGNITION CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. THERE WAS ALREADY A RECALL ISSUED (03V2310000)A.K.A.03-C-06, HOWEVER IT DOES NOT COVER THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS 2002 SATURN L100 WITH 23,000 MILES. THE MFG HAS TO BE AWARE THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS. THE COST OF THIS REPAIR WAS $497.00. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR INJURIES IN THIS INCIDENT FORTUNATELY. I HAVE RETAINED THE DEFECTIVE PART FOR INSPECTION IF NEEDED. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 120.0%ODI 10292585FOR THE LAST MONTH OR SO FLUID FROM THE AC CONDENSER LINE HAS BEEN FLOWING INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE AC IS ON. AS MUCH AS A HALF INCH OF LIQUID HAS POURED ONTO THE FLOORBOARD. ABOUT A WEEK AGO, THE BRIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE HAVE BEEN COMING ON AUTOMATICALLY WHILE THE CAR IS ON AND WHILE THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED, DRAINING THE BATTERY. THE BATTERY NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, BUT THE THERE HAS BEEN A SULFUR LIKE SMELL COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE HAS BEEN STALLING AS WELL. I BELIEVE THE ISSUE FOR THE BRIGHT… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 111.1%ODI 10215796 · 94,525 miTIMING CHAIN LINKS SEPARATED ON MY 2001 SATURN L SERIES. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
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 | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler | Too few reports for a range | 43,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10176564 · 43,000 miTL* - ON DECEMBER 11, 2006, THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING HIS 2004 SATURN VIEW AT 35 MPH WITH THE SEAT WARMER ON, WHEN THE SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND CONTACT WAS BURNED ON HIS LEFT LEG. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE SEAT WARMER OFF BUT COULD NOT. A MECHANIC UNPLUGGED THE SEAT WARMER AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE CONTACT DID NOT FILE A POLICE REPORT. |
Complaint and recall timeline
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
| 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: 1 complaints · 2005: 1 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2005 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | 1 | 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 | Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler |
|---|---|
| Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler | — |
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.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.