Skip to content
Saturn L300Model year report

2005 Saturn L300 Problems

Complaints
25filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
16,500miles, 20 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
21 mpgcombined, 3.0L 6-cyl FWD · 18 city / 26 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2005 Saturn L300 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 25 consumer complaints for the 2005 Saturn L300. The part named most often is electrical system, with 7 complaints (28% of the total), followed by engine cooling (4) and suspension (3). 20 of the complaints include a mileage, and 75% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 16,500 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 439 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 93 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Engine cooling complaints overlap with 62 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Seats (1), Tires (1), Vehicle speed control (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

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. 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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10136767, filed 2005-09, 5,000 miles

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.”

NHTSA complaint #10136765, filed 2005-09, 75 miles

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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10163627, filed 2006-07, 27,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “While driving on the highway around 55mph the car would suddenly lose throttle response. All the engine lights would come on and the car would shake violently until I turn it off and then back on. Once I do that the car drives but shifts violently. Was told it was a PCM failure. Occurs more often in cold weather. It happens so often that while on the highway I quickly put it in neutral shut it off and turn it back on while still on the highway.”

NHTSA complaint #10593927, filed 2014-05, 110,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

75% of the 20 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 75 and 38,247 miles.

40%0–1020%10–2515%25–5010%50–750%75–10010%100–1505%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (20 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 16,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’057’07’10’13’16’19’26
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2005 Saturn L300 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
L300 FWD3.0L 6-cyl4-speed automatic182621$3,200

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2005 Saturn L300 in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 439 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 439 bulletins →

Other model years of the Saturn L300

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20052516,5000—21Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20046164,0702—25Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20034261,5000—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Saturn L300 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2005 Saturn L300 have?

NHTSA recorded 25 consumer complaints for the 2005 Saturn L300 as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2005 Saturn L300 is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 7 complaints (28% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 4.

Has the 2005 Saturn L300 been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2005 Saturn L300 get?

The EPA rates the 2005 Saturn L300 (L300, 3.0L 6-cyl) at 21 mpg combined, 18 city and 26 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,200 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2005 Saturn L300 reported?

Among the 20 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 16,500 miles and the middle half falls between 75 and 38,247 miles; 75% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.