Another thing to check is Pasting Options under Options --> Options menu.
If Paste Options is set to Original Layer then:
Objects in a Symbol file created under the layer name Default and in your drawing you created a new layer name and set it as current then when you retrieve a symbol file those objects will still be under the layer name Default.
If Paste Options is set to Current Layer then:
Objects in a retrieved Symbol file will be set to your current layer.
If Paste Options is set to Original Layer then:
Objects in a Symbol file created under the layer name Default and in your drawing you created a new layer name and set it as current then when you retrieve a symbol file those objects will still be under the layer name Default.
If Paste Options is set to Current Layer then:
Objects in a retrieved Symbol file will be set to your current layer.