Saturn L-Series Problems and Repair Histories
Saturn L-Series problems reported via the Car Repair History and Car Reliability Surveys
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Saturn L-Series
Saturn L-Series for which no problems have been reported are not displayed. So the Saturn L-Series problems and repair histories you see here should not be used to infer car problem frequency.
For Saturn L-Series problem frequency, check the Car Reliability Survey result. For the problems behind the score, check the Saturn L-Series problems and repair histories that follow it.
Saturn L-Series Reliability through December 31, 2012
General NotesModels and statistics marked with an asterisk (*) have very low sample sizes. These results, visible only to logged-in members, provide only a rough estimate of car reliability.Any result under 20 repair trips per 100 cars is likely a result of the small sample size, and should be expected to increase to 20 or so in future updates.
New models often start out with high repair rates, and then improve as the manufacturer identifies and addresses common problems. MethodologyOnly successfully completed repairs are currently included in the analysis. Routine maintenance, most wear items, recalls, and problems fixed with just a reflash or warning light reset are not included.
| Year | Make/Model | Trips/Year/100 Cars | Compared to all models for the same year | |
| 2002 | Saturn L-Series | 11 L-Series, 8.9 months of data per L-Series, average 122300 miles Small sample size. Join or 11 L-Series, 8.9 months of data per L-Series, average 122300 miles Small sample size. sign in to view |
see reported repairs | |
| 2001 | Saturn L-Series | 10 L-Series, 11.0 months of data per L-Series, average 122800 miles Small sample size. Join or 10 L-Series, 11.0 months of data per L-Series, average 122800 miles Small sample size. sign in to view |
see reported repairs |
Non-members can see only ten Saturn L-Series problems and repair histories. Log in or join us to see them all.
Repair costs are in local units.
2003 Saturn L-Series 4dr Sedan
182-horsepower 3.0L V6 4-speed automatic FWD
| Saturn L-Series in California, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Aug | 2004 | 0 | Replaced leaking head gasket. Sales consultant stated that it appeared that the head gasket was slightly misaligned on assembly. Repaired under warranty. | |
| Apr | 2005 | 0 | Replaced steering rack. | |
| Feb | 2006 | 0 | Replaced auto climate control module. This was to repair a onetime situation where the heater was turning on by itself. Diagnostics revealed an error code, so they replaced the module. Repaired under warranty. | |
| Jan | 2007 | 150 | Intermediate shaft lubrication to repair rough steering in turns. Repair worked fine. | |
| Saturn L-Series in Wisconsin, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Mar | 2008 | 0 | Thermostat replaced under CPO warranty | |
| Jun | 2008 | 11 | MIL on, found broken clamp on vac hose. Clamps not covered under CPO warranty. | |
| Jul | 2008 | 0 | Power steering pump leaking, seal replaced under CPO warranty. | |
| Aug | 2008 | 0 | Oil leak. Oil filter canister was cracked/damaged during dealer oil change. Dealer replaced at no cost since it was their error. | |
| Oct | 2008 | 1724 | Oil in coolant, oil cooler cracked. Thermostat housing found to be warped, also replaced. Parts ran to $400, the rest was labor, as GM decided that making stuff impossible to get to is good for dealer profits. | |
2003 Saturn L-Series 4dr Sedan
135-horsepower 2.2L I4 5-speed manual FWD
| Saturn L-Series in Florida, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Oct | 2004 | 250 | Replace A/C hose. Recharge system | |
2002 Saturn L-Series 4dr Wagon
182-horsepower 3.0L V6 4-speed automatic FWD
| Saturn L-Series in California, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Feb | 2011 | 103000 | First odometer entry | |
| May | 2011 | 105000 | 1 | Replaced small bulbs in third brake light, required some trial and error. |
| Jul | 2011 | 116000 | 525 | After problem-free 50-mile freeway trip + parking 1-hour, failed to start; AAA towed to AAA shop "around the corner" + found to have failed in-tank fuel pump + "codes in history possibly indicated need for more repairs". Paid 200+towed Going to attempt to drain & drop the fuel tank + remove & replace the fuel pump & filter to remedy AAA shop's diagnosis while saving 500+ in labor costs. First, reading all I can to learn how to do this "big job" on my own. |
| Mar | 2012 | -2000 | Most recent odometer entry. | |
2002 Saturn L-Series 4dr Sedan
182-horsepower 3.0L V6 4-speed automatic FWD
| Saturn L-Series in Tennessee, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Mar | 2011 | 95000 | First odometer entry | |
| Apr | 2011 | 97000 | 300 | Crankshaft Position Sensor failed and was replaced. |
| Jun | 2011 | 100000 | 560 | Replaced heater core. |
| Nov | 2011 | 104000 | 0 | Sway bar linkage and front struts need to be replaced. Price for work $900. Repair declined. |
| Feb | 2012 | 104000 | 0 | Sway bar linkage and front struts needed to be replaced when sold. |
2002 Saturn L-Series 4dr Sedan
135-horsepower 2.2L I4 4-speed automatic FWD
| Saturn L-Series in Pennsylvania, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Feb | 2011 | 100000 | First odometer entry | |
| Sep | 2011 | 105000 | 0 | Was driving the car, heard and felt a "thud", and the engine stopped. Mechanic suspected internal timing chain broke. Recommended not fixing. |
| Saturn L-Series in Georgia, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| May | 2010 | 649 | Replaced Ignition Coil | |
| Jun | 2011 | 75400 | 285 | Replaced catalytic Converter |
| Jul | 2012 | 80000 | 0 | AC evaporator leaking water into passenger compartment. |
| Mar | 2013 | 88000 | Most recent odometer entry. | |
| Saturn L-Series in Wisconsin, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Aug | 2010 | 230 | Loss of coolant. AZ didn't have adapter to pressure test. The heater hoses were leaking an difficult to take off. Wet carpet on passenger side was relatively easy to fix with two O-rings from Graingers...bag of 50 $5, so I have 48 spares. | |
| Nov | 2010 | 3 | Passenger side brake light. | |
| May | 2011 | 138300 | 800 | New tires and alignment after I changed the tie-rod ends, struts and ball joints. |
| Oct | 2011 | 143000 | 600 | Replaced timing and balance chain. Sheared off bolts in the process because of poor work instructions from GM and a very complicated job for one person. |
| May | 2012 | 143000 | 2500 | Also cylinder head valve job. The engine did not hold compression because the valve faces had eroded. |
| Jun | 2012 | 143000 | 690 | Front Driver side rear brake shoe friction material wedged itself into the other brake shoe and car would not move. (Backing up in a parking space in the Motel.) |
2001 Saturn L-Series 4dr Wagon
182-horsepower 3.0L V6 4-speed automatic FWD
| Saturn L-Series in New York, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Feb | 2011 | 74000 | First odometer entry | |
| Aug | 2011 | 77500 | 300 | Hard shifts (auto trans), "wrench" icon lit and all shifts after that were very hard. Reset when car was restarted (no light). Similar problem solved years ago (35K miles) with trans fluid flush, and this seems to have worked again. |
| Jun | 2012 | 82000 | 1080 | AC clutch open circuit (electromagnet fail) Took an extra day to get the special order part ($300+). Due to the tight package/serpentine belt, diagnose/install was $600. This was at a Chevy dealer co-owned by the former Saturn dealer. |
| Mar | 2013 | 85000 | Most recent odometer entry. | |
| Saturn L-Series in Kansas, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| May | 2011 | 123000 | First odometer entry | |
| Jun | 2011 | 124000 | 850 | A/C compressor would not engage even though freon in system. Replaced A/C compressor and rcvr/drier. Work done by dealer, parts purchased by owner. |
| Jun | 2012 | 143000 | 1200 | While having all 4 struts replaced, found left front coil spring broken. Replaced both front coil springs and both front sway bar links, along with all 4 struts. |
| Mar | 2013 | 152000 | Most recent odometer entry. | |
| Saturn L-Series in Michigan, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Mar | 2011 | 164000 | First odometer entry | |
| Jun | 2011 | 181000 | 470 | Check engine light came on then the lights went out. Stopped vehicle as it was dark and was towed. Alternator was replaced. Two days later, the car completely died and the battery was replaced. No recurrence in six weeks. |
| Jan | 2012 | 199000 | 65 | My vehicle developed a sudden coolant leak with a loss of a quart of coolant over the course of one week. |
| Feb | 2012 | 201000 | 0 | Engine began to run roughly and the "service engine soon" light cam on. The mechanic diagnosed no firing on cylinder three. Repair required replacement of the one-three-five ignition coil. |
| Mar | 2012 | 203000 | 380 | Check engine light came on. A trip to my mechanic turned up two codes indicating problems with the EGR valve. It had never been replaced before, so it was replaced. |
| Dec | 2012 | 218000 | 2900 | Cracked transmission housing. Timing belt replacement Creaking from rear suspension Exhaust system noise |
| Mar | 2013 | 223000 | 30 | Oil leak. Turns out it was from the main bearing seal. Not worth spending the money to repair, will try oil additives. Update: added Blue Devil Bearing Seal stop leak, and after two weeks it seems to have worked. |
| Apr | 2013 | 223000 | 322 | I was getting an intermittent battery warning light and occasional cut out of the power steering during turn when it was raining. I suspected the serpentine belt was slipping. It and the belt tensioner were faulty and replaced. |
2001 Saturn L-Series 4dr Wagon
135-horsepower 2.2L I4 4-speed automatic FWD
| Saturn L-Series in Maryland, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Feb | 2011 | 82000 | First odometer entry | |
| May | 2011 | 84300 | 0 | new AC compressor installed |
| Oct | 2012 | Most recent odometer entry. | ||
2000 Saturn L-Series 4dr Wagon
182-horsepower 3.0L V6 4-speed automatic FWD
| Saturn L-Series in Pennsylvania, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Jan | 2013 | 87 | I used a scanner to get trouble codes, checked for vacuum leaks and bad fuses that could cause the p0030 and p0171 codes that came up, and then replaced the faulty oxygen sensor. | |
2000 Saturn L-Series 4dr Sedan
182-horsepower 3.0L V6 4-speed automatic FWD
| Saturn L-Series in British Columbia, Canada | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Jun | 2011 | 652 | Replaced the MAP sensor | |
| Sep | 2012 | 305 | Replaced the MAP sensor again, 305 bucks this time, not the 675 the GM dealer soaked me for | |
| Saturn in Arizona, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Feb | 2011 | 69000 | First odometer entry | |
| Apr | 2011 | 70000 | 1110 | Low fuel pressure, leaking fuel pump. Replaced w/ OEM delphi pump. replaced power steering/fan belt idler pulley after it's bearing froze completely and shredded the belts causing loss of power to steering and extreme engine overheating due to loss of coolant flow. towed to dealer for repair. |
| May | 2011 | 70000 | Most recent odometer entry. | |
Expert Saturn L-Series Repair Advice
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What People Are Saying about Problems with the Saturn L-Series
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