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NHTSA recalls & complaints · 2003–2005

Saturn L300 recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 128 owner complaints for the Saturn L300, covering model years 2003 to 2005. The 2004 model year drew the most complaints (61), and Electrical System is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your Saturn L300 VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

  • 2 recall campaigns on file
  • 128 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
  • 3 model years with data (2003–2005)
  • most complaints: 2004 (61 for that model year)
  • top component: Electrical System (32 complaints)
  • latest recall 05V245000 (reported Jun 2, 2005)
  • 9 complaints reporting a crash (7.0%)
  • 5 complaints reporting a fire (3.9%)
  • 6 complaints reporting an injury (4.7%)
  • 1 complaint reporting a death (0.8%)

Saturn L300 complaints by model year

3 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 2004 model year has the most complaints: 61 of 128, or 47.7%. Next come 2003 (42) and 2005 (25).

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years
Saturn L300 owner complaints to NHTSA by model year, 2003–2005Column chart of 128 complaints across 3 model years. The highest is 2004 with 61. The full figures are in the table below the chart.2003: 42 complaints4220032004: 61 complaints6120042005: 25 complaints252005
Saturn L300 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Saturn L300 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model yearComplaintsReporting a crashReporting a fireReporting an injuryReporting a death
2003425431
2004613130
2005251000
All model years1289561

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported Saturn L300 components

top 15 · NHTSA categories

Electrical System is the component named most often, in 32 complaints (25.0% of all 128), followed by Exterior Lighting (22) and Engine and Engine Cooling (16).

Components named most often in Saturn L300 complaints (top 15)
Components named most often in Saturn L300 complaints (top 15)
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints
Electrical System3225.0%
Exterior Lighting2217.2%
Engine and Engine Cooling1612.5%
Power Train107.8%
Engine97.0%
Vehicle Speed Control97.0%
Fuel System, Gasoline86.3%
Steering75.5%
Tires75.5%
Air Bags64.7%
Suspension64.7%
Fuel/Propulsion System53.9%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic43.1%
Structure43.1%
Interior Lighting32.3%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

  • They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
  • Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
  • Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
  • One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
  • Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

Saturn L300 recalls

2 campaigns · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name L300, newest first. The 2 campaigns cover model year 2004.

  • 2 recall campaigns
Saturn L300 recall campaigns covering each model year
2004: 2 campaigns

  1. NHTSA campaign 05V245000

    Reported

    Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights

    Model year 2004

    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.

    Filed by General Motors, LLC

  2. NHTSA campaign 05V158000

    Reported

    Seat Belts

    Model year 2004

    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.

    Filed by General Motors, LLC

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it; older campaigns, which NHTSA stores in capital letters, are shown in sentence case. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means
What each recall field means
FieldWhat it tells you
Campaign numberNHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
ComponentThe system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
SummaryWhat the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
ConsequenceThe safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
RemedyWhat the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.
  • Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
  • A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
  • Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

Saturn L300 questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the Saturn L300 have?

NHTSA lists 2 vehicle recall campaigns for the Saturn L300, covering model years 2003 to 2005. The most recent, 05V245000, was reported on June 2, 2005 and is filed under “Exterior lighting”.

Which Saturn L300 model year has the most complaints?

The 2004 model year, with 61 of the 128 complaints in NHTSA’s file (47.7%). The next are 2003 (42) and 2005 (25). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common Saturn L300 complaint?

Electrical System is the component named most often: 32 complaints, or 25.0% of all 128. Exterior Lighting (22) and Engine and Engine Cooling (16) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my Saturn L300?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a Saturn dealer.

How many Saturn L300 complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 128 complaints, 9 report a crash, 5 a fire, 6 at least one injury and 1 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

Other Saturn models

8 models · most complaints first

The Saturn models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the Saturn VIN decoder with every Saturn model page, WMI code and VIN note.

  • Saturn Ion 2003–2008 · 10 recalls · 4,343 complaints
  • Saturn Vue 2002–2010 · 7 recalls · 2,351 complaints
  • Saturn SL 1995–2002 · 12 recalls · 1,605 complaints
  • Saturn LS 2000–2004 · 12 recalls · 1,458 complaints
  • Saturn Aura 2000–2010 · 5 recalls · 1,439 complaints
  • Saturn Outlook 2007–2010 · 10 recalls · 1,352 complaints
  • Saturn Sky 2007–2010 · 5 recalls · 516 complaints
  • Saturn SC1 1995–2001 · 6 recalls · 252 complaints

All Saturn models and WMI codesLook up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.