Ignition switch will not start the car. It is in the off position. I am having a new switch installed. I do not understand why this car part is not on the recall list. All other 2003 saturns are being recalled.
Saturn L300 won't start problems
12 of the 128 owner complaints about the Saturn L300 describe won't start, most of them for the 2003 model year.
- owner complaints
- 12
- worst model year
- 2003
- typical mileage
- 40,000
Is there a fix? No recall or service bulletin covers this area of the car yet.
By model year
- 20053
- 20044
- 20035
Often reported together
What owners say
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
On a rainy night, jan 10, 2014, I came out of work and started my car. I thanked god it started because sometimes it wouldn't start at all. Even after replacing almost every engine part including the computer. I started driving out of the parking spot and I smelled something burning inside the car. The engine started revving wildly up and down. I had no control of the car. White thick smoke filled the car fast. Flames started shooting out at me from under the dashboard. I was so panicked that I could hardly get out of the car. The insurance co totaled it and I still owe 500.00! I've spent more money trying to get the car to start when I want it to and to stop shutting off while im driving on the highway with my children and or infant granddaughter. This 2003 saturn l300 has been nothing but a financial and mental nightmare only to go up in smoke, ruin my credit, and leave me stranded with no vehicle once again.
Engine stalls after 10 minutes of driving. Won't start again for 2 or 3 hours only to run for 10 minutes and stall again. Sometimes engine will stall while idling. Sometimes the engine light with the wrench in it comes on and the vehicle starts to shift roughly. If I turn off the vehicle and start it again, this light goes off and the vehicle shifts normally.
I was driving my 2004 saturn l300 at 55 MPH. The car suddenly cut off. I was able to drift to the side of the road. I tried to restart the vehicle and it would not start. This has happened to me in a parking lot approximately 3 other times. I took the car to a mechanic and he said it may be the crankshaft position sensor. This could have caused a serious accident.
Saturn 2003 l300, purchased new, multiple issues. Interior lights flicker. Car will not start when gas is under 1/4 tank, dealership says operating per design. Ignition, key froze, would not turn, key stuck, car had to be towed, ignition replaced. Major issue: steering. Intermediate shaft has been replaced twice. In addition to gear box. Problem makes steering loose, clunking feel and noise when turning left or right.
2004 saturn ion - will not start if outside temp is below freezing. Service vehicle light comes on. If you wait 5-10 minutes then the car will start. This has happened 15+ times to me in the last month.
My 2004 saturn ion will not start when the weather is cold. After several visits to the mechanic it was discovered that this is because of a fault in the ignition switch which keeps it from starting when it gets below a certain temperature. I was told this is a common problem in saturn ions and that the cost to fix it would be over $200.
Having problems with the pass lock system on the 2003 saturn l300. Out of the blue the car won't start. Sometimes the pass lock light comes on and sometimes it does not. If a wait about 10 minutes and then try to start the car it will work. This has been happening every day for the past week. Based on my online search, it sounds like a lot of gm cars are experiencing this problem. Something should be done.
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.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the Saturn L300 won't start
Which Saturn L300 years have won't start problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2003 (5 complaints), 2004 (4 complaints) and 2005 (3 complaints).
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