2003 Saturn L300 vs 2003 Volkswagen Passat
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2003 Saturn L300 | 2003 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 42 | 628 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 6 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 304 | 213 |
| Investigations | 1 | 6 |
| Crash reports | 5 | 14 |
| Fire reports | 4 | 94 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21 | 20–23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 64,635 mi | 59,200 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Saturn L300 | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 137 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 4 | 131 |
| Electrical System | 10 | 90 |
| Seats | 1 | 97 |
| Exterior Lighting | 10 | 39 |
| Power Train | 1 | 35 |
| Structure | 1 | 29 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 28 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 5 | 75 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 29 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 24 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 18 |
| Overheating | 0 | 18 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 13 |
| Water leaks | 0 | 11 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 0 | 10 |
2003 Saturn L300
2003 Volkswagen Passat
Compare all Saturn L300 vs Volkswagen Passat years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.