Most common 2005 Saturn L300 problems
Share of the 25 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Saturn L300 complaints by model year
Best L300 years: 2005, 2003. Years to avoid: 2004. Compare all years →
What 2005 Saturn L300 owners say
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 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. …
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.
Engine & cooling
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Saturn L300. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was determined that the serpentine belt had fractured and entered into the engine compartment. In addition, the mechanic noticed a large hole in the engine cover, which allowed the drive belt to enter into the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and referred the contact to the dealer. The vehicle was towed from the independent mechanic to hudiburg Chevrolet in midwest city, oklahoma. Per the manufacturer's recommendation, the vehicle could not be diagnosed because the engine had been disassembled by the contact's mechanic. The failure mileage was 129,472.
The car routinely would not start or would start and stall out on the first start of the day or after sitting for several hours. The vehicle would appear to run normally after the vehicle started on the second or third attempt. The vehicle could then be started and turned off normally. If the vehicle sat again then the problem would appear again. The vehicle was taken to Saturn of lakeside where they were unable able to reproduce the stall in a short period of time. They returned the vehicle and said they couldn't find any problems. The vehicle was taken in again a week later with the same problems and Saturn kept the vehicle overnight. They were finally able to reproduce the problem. They currently have ruled out fuel problems, computers, and the crankshaft position sensor. …
Suspension
4/1/06-loud thumping while driving. Rear 2 tires cupping. Saturn stated it was a design flaw and said it needed a bolt shim kit and 2 new tires. 4/11/06-Saturn put on bolt shim kit, 2 new tires and aligned the car. 7/8/06-loud thumping while driving. Rear 2 tires cupping. Saturn stated that I would have to replace the tires. Saturn replaced 1 of the new tires from 4/11/06 because it was wearing bad. 7/11/06-Saturn stated the alignment was way off. Saturn aligned the vehicle and put on 2 new tires. Also low coolant light came on for the third time and Saturn replaced the oil cooler seals. 7/25/06 - vehicle would not start.
Our 2005 L300 has 17,000 miles on it - only driven 8 months, with no accidents, not even a bumper-to-bumper incident. We already have to replace two wheels (at $417 each - out of our own pocket) because the rims bent so badly they are useless (they are both saved at our home). We believe, since there was no accident or incident to cause this problem, the rims must have been defective, and we shouldn't have to pay for their replacement. We also have to replace a strut, which Saturn of blue springs, mo service tells me is "so rare we have hardly ever known it to be the case". I am not getting the service from Saturn that they advertise, and I am very dissatisfied. This is our second, and last, Saturn. We had many problems with the first (2002 l200) Saturn we had, and we traded it in on this one, before the extended warranty ran out, because we were afraid all the problems would continue. …
2005 Saturn L300 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Saturn L300 a good car?
Based on 25 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 L300 rates better than average: 45% fewer complaints than a typical year of the L300 at the same age. It is one of the best L300 years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2005 Saturn L300?
The electrical system — 7 complaints, 28% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (5) and suspension (3).
How many recalls does the 2005 Saturn L300 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2005 Saturn L300. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Saturn L300?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2005 and 2003. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2004. See the full Saturn L300 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2005 Saturn L300 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 17,000 miles; 75% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.