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2005 Saturn L300

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

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

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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

Electrical System complaints

7 reports
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38,247 miles · Jul 7, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN L300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE, THE KEY WAS OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH BUT THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN L300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE, THE KEY WAS OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH BUT THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,247 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,953. UPDATED 09/05/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE DID NOT START UP UNTIL THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROAR AND REV UP WHILE IN THE OFF POSITION. THE VEHICLE STOPPED ON IT'S OWN. UPDATED 09/11/2014 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10608565

60,000 miles · Apr 12, 2013
Electrical SystemPower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN L300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED VIOLENTLY AND JERKED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY IN WARM WEATHER TEMPERATURES. IN ADDITION, THE AIR CONDITIONER/HEATER FAILED TO OPERATE TO THE DESIRED SELECTION AND DID NOT CIRCULATE THE APPROPRIATE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN L300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED VIOLENTLY AND JERKED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY IN WARM WEATHER TEMPERATURES. IN ADDITION, THE AIR CONDITIONER/HEATER FAILED TO OPERATE TO THE DESIRED SELECTION AND DID NOT CIRCULATE THE APPROPRIATE FLOW OF AIR THROUGH THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #10506053

54,000 miles · Sep 26, 2012
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION L3. THE CONTACT STATED THE KEY FAILED TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION WHICH CAUSED THE BATTERY AND THE COMPUTER SYSTEM TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHOM INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION L3. THE CONTACT STATED THE KEY FAILED TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION WHICH CAUSED THE BATTERY AND THE COMPUTER SYSTEM TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHOM INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

NHTSA ODI #10477108

Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 2009
Electrical System

INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER STOPPED WORKING. HOWEVER, AT THIS TIME, IT IS OPERABLE. DEALERSHIP CHECKED AND GOT CODE: U1000 CLASS 2 DATA LINK MALFUNCTION, BUT WOULD NOT REPLACE PANEL CLUSTER. WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP, AND CORPORATE OFFICE, THAT PANEL CLUSTER MUST BE COMPLETELY INOPERABLE BEFORE REPLACEMENT. THIS MEANS THERE WOULD…

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INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER STOPPED WORKING. HOWEVER, AT THIS TIME, IT IS OPERABLE. DEALERSHIP CHECKED AND GOT CODE: U1000 CLASS 2 DATA LINK MALFUNCTION, BUT WOULD NOT REPLACE PANEL CLUSTER. WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP, AND CORPORATE OFFICE, THAT PANEL CLUSTER MUST BE COMPLETELY INOPERABLE BEFORE REPLACEMENT. THIS MEANS THERE WOULD BE NO SPEEDOMETER, ETC., WHICH IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10259771

8,000 miles · Aug 31, 2007
Electrical System

MY 2005 SATURN L300, HAD AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS AND REMOTE START INCLUDED WITH THE PACKAGE UPON BUYING. AFTER APPRX 1 YEAR, AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS (NOT THE RUNNING LIGHTS) WOULD FAIL TO TURN ON AT NIGHT, TURN OFF DURING DAY. COULD NOT OVERRIDE PROBLEM BY MANUALLY TURNING ON LIGHTS. ISSUE WAS INTERMITTENT. SATURN COULD NOT FIND A PR…

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MY 2005 SATURN L300, HAD AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS AND REMOTE START INCLUDED WITH THE PACKAGE UPON BUYING. AFTER APPRX 1 YEAR, AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS (NOT THE RUNNING LIGHTS) WOULD FAIL TO TURN ON AT NIGHT, TURN OFF DURING DAY. COULD NOT OVERRIDE PROBLEM BY MANUALLY TURNING ON LIGHTS. ISSUE WAS INTERMITTENT. SATURN COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM AND SUGGESTED THAT IT WAS THE REMOTE START CAUSING THE PROBLEMS. REMOTE START WAS REPLACED. SEPTEMBER 2006, HEADLIGHT ISSUE RETURNED. ONCE AGAIN, SATURN SUGGESTED IT WAS THE REMOTE START. BCM MODULE OF REMOTE START WAS REPLACED. JULY - AUGUST 2007, NO HEADLIGHT ISSUES. HOWEVER CAR HAS STARTED ON IT'S OWN ACCORD. KEY FABS WERE SITTING ON TOP OF CAR, SO THE BUTTONS WERE NOT ACCIDENTALLY PUSHED. TAILLIGHTS WOULD PERIODICALLY FLASH FOR APPRX A MINUTE. GAS GAUGE WOULD REGISTER AT EMPTY BUT UPON TURNING CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN GAS GAUGE WORKED FINE. SATURN SUGGESTED THE REMOVAL OF THE REMOTE START. REMOTE START WAS REMOVED, NO REIMBURSEMENT WAS MADE, I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF TWO COMPANIES (SATURN AND SUNROOF, ETC) BICKERING ABOUT WHO WAS AT FAULT. SOLUTION, AFTER HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE OVER A SPAN OF THREE YEARS, CAR WAS TRADED IN FOR A VOLKSWAGEN. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10201622

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…

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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

50 miles · Sep 16, 2005
Electrical System

TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10136763

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.