Saturn SATURN L SERIES problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
19 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
71,876 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2000 to 2005 model years. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 19 complaints (26.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 6 | 31.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 10.5% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 5.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 5.3% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4; Electrical System: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2; Air Bags: 1; Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 1; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 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 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 5 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 | 5 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2011 | 1 |
2006: 5; 2007: 2; 2008: 6; 2009: 5; 2011: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 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 10186790 · 2007-04-02 (April 2, 2007)
WHILE 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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10186790 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10292585 · 2009-11-17 (November 17, 2009)
FOR 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…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10292585 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10265276 · 2009-04-14 (April 14, 2009)
THERE 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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10265276 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10280114 · 2009-08-11 (August 11, 2009)
FUEL SYSTEM/FUEL TANK VENT VALVE IN 2001 SATURN L200. I KEPT SMELLING GAS FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. COULD NOT FIND THE SOURCE OF THE SMELL. WAS AFRAID OF FIRE/ASPHYXIATION. FINALLY TOOK TO MECHANIC AND HAD A FUEL DIAGNOSTICS PERFORMED. THE FUEL TANK VENTLINE AND THE FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. HAD I CONTINUED TO DRIVE IT THIS WAY IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN FIRE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10280114 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10258064 · 2009-02-09 (February 9, 2009)
DEALERSHIP REVIEW OF CAR DURING OIL MAINTENANCE INDICATED DETERIORATION OF CRADLE ASSEMBLY - REPAIR COST $1153 - WIFE COMPLAINED OF NOISE IN FRONT END - REVIEWED WITH TEST DRIVE AND CAR DROVE STRAIGHT BUT DIPPED RIGHT AT BRAKING AND DIPPED LEFT AT ACCELERATION - VISUAL INSPECTION SHOWED COMPLETE RUST OUT OF CRADLE AT FRONT CONNECTION OF LOWER CONTROL ARM OF FRONT WHEEL - INSUFFICIENT METAL REMAINED FOR EVEN MINIMAL SUPPORT - BRACKET COULD BE MOVED BY HAND. FURTHER INSPECTION SHOWED CAUSE TO BE LOCATION OF EXHAUST SYSTEM PARALLEL TO AND TOO CL…
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10258064 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2004 | 0 |
| 2005 | 0 |
2000: 0; 2001: 0; 2002: 0; 2004: 0; 2005: 0