2003 Saturn L300 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
42 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
61,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 35 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 42 complaints (21.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 11.9% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 9.5% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 9.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 7.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 7.1% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 |
Electrical System: 9; Engine: 5; Exterior Lighting: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 3; Air Bags: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 7 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 9 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
2003: 9; 2004: 3; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 5; 2008: 2; 2009: 2; 2010: 3; 2012: 2; 2013: 2; 2014: 10; 2015: 1; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 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.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10041322 · 2003-10-06 (October 6, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 5,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10041322 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10059854 · 2004-04-01 (April 1, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 50-70 MPH FRONT END SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY. *AK THE BRAKES SQUEAK AND THE ROTORS WARPED. THE METALLIC SURFACE AREA RUSTED ABNORMALLY FROM "MORNING COMPENSATION." THE WHEELS WOBBLED AS A RESULT OF THE WARPED ROTORS. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 8 miles reported. Look up ODI 10059854 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10123807 · 2005-06-01 (June 1, 2005)
SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER IN ENGINE, HAD TO PULL OFF ROAD. ENGINE DID NOT STALL. AFTER 5 MINUTES AT IDLE, WAS ABLE TO CONTIUE. FIRST HAPPEND IN JUNE 2004. MILEAGE NEAR 35000 ON CAR. DEALERSHIP REPLACED TANK FUEL PUMP, SAID IT WAS OVERHEATING AND FAILED. NON SHELL GAS HAS BEEN USED. MAY 2005, MILEAGE NEAR 52000, EXACT SAME PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP WAS PERPLEXED.
Owner-reported narrative. 51,869 miles reported. Look up ODI 10123807 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10361564 · 2010-10-21 (October 21, 2010)
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 C…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10361564 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10200111 · 2007-08-20 (August 20, 2007)
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. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 69,950 miles reported. Look up ODI 10200111 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10215728 · 2008-01-22 (January 22, 2008)
SATURN 2003 L300, PURCHASED NEW, MULTIPLE ISSUES. INTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKER. CAR WILL NOT START WHEN GAS IS UNDER 1/4 TANK, DEALERSHIP SAYS OPERATING PER DESIGN. IGNITION, KEY FROZE, WOULD NOT TURN, KEY STUCK, CAR HAD TO BE TOWED, IGNITION REPLACED. MAJOR ISSUE: STEERING. INTERMEDIATE SHAFT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. IN ADDITION TO GEAR BOX. PROBLEM MAKES STEERING LOOSE, CLUNKING FEEL AND NOISE WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10215728 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10192028 · 2007-05-30 (May 30, 2007)
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 H…
Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10192028 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10357847 · 2010-09-27 (September 27, 2010)
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 LIG…
Owner-reported narrative. 133,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10357847 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10215441 · 2008-01-19 (January 19, 2008)
FUEL PUMP FAILURE -- DISINTEGRATED. HAVE OVER $1,000 OF REPAIRS. THIS IS ON TOP OF $400 REPAIRS LAST MONTH TO REPLACE THE HEATER CORE AND A RECOMMENDED $600+ TO REPLACE THE OIL COOLER HOUSING. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 80,000 MILES ON IT AND IS NOT PAID OFF FOR 2 MORE MONTHS. I'VE GONE TO THE WEBSITE WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG AND MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS WITH THIS AS WELL. LUCKILY, THE PUMP DIDN'T DISINTEGRATE WHILE WE WERE DRIVING, UNLIKE SOME OTHER OWNERS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10215441 at NHTSA ↗