SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

2005 Saturn L300

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
25Owner complaints

Model-year median: 42

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
42
200361
200425
2005
Compare all L300 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
7Engine And Engine Cooling
4Power Train
3Suspension
3Steering
2
All reported categories
Unknown Or Other
2Engine
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Seat Belts
1Seats
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Tires
1Vehicle Speed Control
1Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

20 reports with mileage · 5 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

25 reports
5,000 miles · Sep 16, 2005
Electrical System

THIS COMPLAINT COMES AFTER 4 OTHER PREVIOUS ONES WITH THIS SAME VEHICLE. 1ST - CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, 2ND - TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT, 3RD AND 4TH - LOW COOLANT LIGHT. PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED FOR THESE ALREADY. NOW THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS DIM DOWN AND THEN COME BACK ON TO FULL POWER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. SAT…

Read full complaint

THIS COMPLAINT COMES AFTER 4 OTHER PREVIOUS ONES WITH THIS SAME VEHICLE. 1ST - CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, 2ND - TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT, 3RD AND 4TH - LOW COOLANT LIGHT. PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED FOR THESE ALREADY. NOW THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS DIM DOWN AND THEN COME BACK ON TO FULL POWER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. SATURN OF FOND DU LAC SAYS THIS IS NORMAL. I HAVE NEVER OWNED A VEHICLE OR TALKED TO ANYONE WHO EVER HAS HAD THIS HAPPEN. THIS IS NOT NORMAL. IF THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS "NORMAL" DIMMING OF THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS HAPPENED BEFORE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE; I WOULD HAVE NOT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND I DON'T KNOW OF ANYONE WHO WOULD. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10136767

75 miles · Sep 16, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

LOW COOLANT LIGHT WOULD GO ON AND OFF . HOSE AND CLAMP WAS LEAKING. DEALER FIXED ONCE. 1 MONTH LATER THE SAME HOSE AND CLAMP WAS LEAKING AGAIN. DEALER FIXED AGAIN. THIS IS AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON (OXYGEN SENSOR) AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT DID NOT WORK. OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THESE ITEM WERE SUBMITTED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10136765

50 miles · Sep 16, 2005
Electrical System

TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10136763

27 miles · Sep 16, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

JANUARY 28TH, 2005 - PURCHASED 2005 SATURN L-300. 10 MINUTES AFTER THE CAR LEFT THE LOT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS BAD. THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS REPLACED BY SATURN OF FOND DU LAC, WI. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10136761

Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 2005
Tires

I BOUGHT A 2004 SATURN ION LEVEL 2, WITHIN 6 MONTHS THE STARTER WENT OUT, I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET TO WORK, SO I TRADE IT IN HOPING NOT TO HAVE THAT PROBLEM AGAIN...AND I GET THE BEST ONE A L 300 TOP OF THE LINE,,25,000...3 MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD THE FRONT TIRES SQUEAK AND THERE IS BLACK SOOT STUFF ALL OVER THE RIMS, YOU CANNOT EVEN…

Read full complaint

I BOUGHT A 2004 SATURN ION LEVEL 2, WITHIN 6 MONTHS THE STARTER WENT OUT, I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET TO WORK, SO I TRADE IT IN HOPING NOT TO HAVE THAT PROBLEM AGAIN...AND I GET THE BEST ONE A L 300 TOP OF THE LINE,,25,000...3 MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD THE FRONT TIRES SQUEAK AND THERE IS BLACK SOOT STUFF ALL OVER THE RIMS, YOU CANNOT EVEN SEE THE RIMS THAT WERE SILVER AND NOW BLACK...I DO NOT RIDE MY BREAKS, SO I AM THINKING PERHAPS I NEED TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE AND PURCHASE A CAR WITH LESS PROBLEMS...AS I FEEL THIS COMPANY HAS NOT GOT A GOOD PRODUCT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10116337

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.