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 snapshot: . 40 complaints include usable failure mileage.
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.
| 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.
| 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.
| 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 14 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2003: 1; 2004: 14; 2005: 4; 2006: 2; 2007: 7; 2008: 8; 2009: 2; 2010: 5; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 4; 2015: 3; 2016: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 3; 2020: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
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.
Owner report 10048714 · 2003-11-26 (November 26, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10048714 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062722 · 2004-03-21 (March 21, 2004)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10062722 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10073115 · 2004-05-25 (May 25, 2004)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10073115 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10076170 · 2004-07-19 (July 19, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 8,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10076170 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10078476 · 2004-06-19 (June 19, 2004)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10078476 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10083597 · 2004-07-26 (July 26, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10083597 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086911 · 2004-08-15 (August 15, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10086911 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10090301 · 2004-09-02 (September 2, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND FRONT BRAKES PULSATED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10090301 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗05V245000 · Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights
Reported: 2005-06-02 (June 2, 2005)
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗