Model year record
2003 Saturn L300 recalls & problems
The 2003 Saturn L300 has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 42 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is exterior lighting (11 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2003 Saturn L300.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Fuel economy
L300
| City / highway | 18 / 26 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior lightingHeadlights; Tail lights | 11 | 112,000 mi |
| Electrical systemIgnition › Anti-theft › Control module | 10 | 85,306 mi |
| Engine and engine coolingEngine; Cooling system › Fan | 5 | 96,500 mi |
| Engine | 5 | 93,000 mi |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 56,250 mi |
| Air bagsFrontal | 3 | — |
| TiresTread/belt | 3 | 18,400 mi |
| Fuel system, gasolineDelivery › Fuel pump | 3 | — |
| VisibilityWindshield wiper/washer; Defroster/defogger/hvac system › Fan/motor | 2 | — |
| Interior lighting | 2 | — |
| SuspensionFront | 2 | — |
| Steering | 2 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 (NA) SATURN L300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-FREEZE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT FAILED, AND THE WIPER MOTOR DID NOT OPERATE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ANTI-FREEZE HOSE AND CONNECTOR WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RESONATOR BEING DAMAGED BY ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ALSO JERKED AFTER BEING OPERATED FROM A STOP. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE…
- Exterior lighting
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO TURN INTO ANY DIRECTION AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT BOTH RED PLASTIC TAIL LIGHT COVERS FADED INTO A PINKISH COLOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
- Electrical system
IGNITION SWITCH WILL NOT START THE CAR. IT IS IN THE OFF POSITION. I AM HAVING A NEW SWITCH INSTALLED. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS CAR PART IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. ALL OTHER 2003 SATURNS ARE BEING RECALLED. *TR
- Exterior lighting › Brake lights
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,800.
- Exterior lighting
THE CLUSTER LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, AND PARKING LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT. IT SHOWS FOR OTHER MODELS; BUT MINE THAT IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN. *TR
- Electrical system
COMPUTER WHICH RECORDS AND DISPLAYS SPEED, ENGINE RPM, MILEAGE, AND VEHICLE WARNINGS FAILED COMPLETELY. THIS FAILURE MEANT THE DASH NO LONGER RECORDS MILEAGE, AND WILL NOT DISPLAY SPEED OR RPM. DANGEROUS FAILURE FOR UNTRAINED DRIVER. UNKNOWN SPEED COULD LEAD TO UNSAFE DRIVING OR CRASH, HAVING POTENTIAL TO CAUSE DEADLY ACCIDENT. *TR
- Vehicle speed controlCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A TREE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
- Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L300. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
- TIMING CHAIN FAILUREClosed
ON DECEMBER 12, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A DEFECT PETITION (DP05-008) REQUESTING THE INVESTIGATION OF TIMING CHAIN FAILURES THAT COULD CAUSE STALLING IN SATURN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.2L (L61) ENGINE. ODI OPENED PE06-006 ON JANUARY 24, 2006, WITH 24 VEHICLE OWNER COMPLAINTS THAT ALLEGED A BROKEN TIMING CHAIN CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP OPERATING.ON APRIL 12, 2006, ODI RECEIVED INFORMATION FROM GENERAL MOTORS (GM) CONCERNING TIMING CHAIN FAILURES IN APPROXIMATELY 412,000 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2000 THROUGH 2003 SATURN L-SERIES AND ION VEHICLES WITH 2.2L ENGINES. GM'S RESPONSE INCLUDED 1,020 OWNER COMPLAINTS AND FIELD REPORTS CONCERNING TIMING CHAIN FAILURE, INCLUDING 228 THAT ALLEGED THE FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING.GM ALSO PROVIDED WARRANTY CLAIM DATA THAT SHOWED 1,902 SUBJECT VEHICLES RECEIVING TIMING CHAIN REPAIRS, INCLUDING 261 WHICH INDICATED THAT A STALL WHILE DRIVING…