Saturn L300 Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Saturn L300 model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2005 drew the fewest (25) and the 2004 the most (61).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Among the fewest complaints |
25 | 0 | Electrical system | — | 21 |
| 2003 Among the fewest complaints |
42 | 0 | Electrical system | — | 21 |
| 2004 Among the fewest complaints |
61 | 2 | Electrical system | — | 21–25 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Saturn L300 years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2004 Saturn L300: 61 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 15 (25%); Exterior lighting 12 (20%); Engine and engine cooling 8 (13%).
Reports mention 3 crashes, 1 fire, 4 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 66,010 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
2003 Saturn L300: 42 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 10 (24%); Exterior lighting 10 (24%); Engine 5 (12%).
Reports mention 5 crashes, 4 fires, 4 injuries, 1 death. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 61,500 miles. 0 recall campaigns listed.
2005 Saturn L300: 25 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 7 (28%); Engine and engine cooling 4 (16%); Power train 3 (12%).
Reports mention 1 crash. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 17,000 miles. 0 recall campaigns listed.
The Saturn L300 years with the fewest complaints
2005 Saturn L300: 25 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 7 (28%); Engine and engine cooling 4 (16%); Power train 3 (12%).
Reports mention 1 crash. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 17,000 miles. 0 recall campaigns listed.
2003 Saturn L300: 42 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 10 (24%); Exterior lighting 10 (24%); Engine 5 (12%).
Reports mention 5 crashes, 4 fires, 4 injuries, 1 death. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 61,500 miles. 0 recall campaigns listed.
2004 Saturn L300: 61 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 15 (25%); Exterior lighting 12 (20%); Engine and engine cooling 8 (13%).
Reports mention 3 crashes, 1 fire, 4 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 66,010 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Saturn L300 owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17,000 |
| 2004 | 61 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 66,010 |
| 2003 | 42 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 61,500 |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Saturn L300 recalls
- REAR TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY (2004 model year; 291,652 vehicles across all models; filed Jun 2005; 05V245000)
- SIDE REAR SEAT BELT ANCHOR/FMVSS 210 (2004 model year; 20,701 vehicles across all models; filed Apr 2005; 05V158000)
All 2 Saturn L300 recall campaigns · Saturn L300 problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Saturn L300 years FAQ
Which Saturn L300 year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2005 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (25). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Saturn L300 years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2004, 2003 and 2005 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the electrical system. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Saturn L300 problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the electrical system (32 of 128 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Saturn L300 have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns covering the Saturn L300. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Saturn L300 recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.