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2001 Saturn L-Series repairs by problem area

Engine (60%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (5%)

Brakes and Traction Control (2%)

Suspension and Steering (18%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (16%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (0%)

Other (0%)

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Chart based on 62 repairs.

See TSBs and recalls for the 2001 Saturn L-Series.

2001 Saturn L-Series repair cost distribution

$2500+ (6%)

$1000 - $2499 (9%)

$500 - $999 (15%)

$100 - $499 (37%)

< $100 (33%)

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Chart based on 54 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

See repairs for all Saturn L-Series model years.

Saturn L-Series in Colorado, United States Dec 2011 - Jan 2012
Jan 2012	Transmission would not upshift from second gear. It would start fine in first, shift to second fine, but not upshift any further. Estimated cost to repair transmission: $2400. KBB value of car: ~$1000.

Saturn L-Series in Pennsylvania, United States Oct 2013 - Nov 2013
Nov 2013 100000 mi US $159	Left rear shock was blown.

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Saturn L-Series in Arizona, United States Feb 2011 - Feb 2016
Apr 2011 70000 mi US $255	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.

Saturn L-Series in Massachusetts, United States Feb 2011 - Aug 2017
Mar 2012 92000 mi US $75	Oil filter housing cracked when trying to change filter element
Jul 2012 94200 mi US $600	Body control module failed, replaced with new unit that could only be programmed at a dealer
Oct 2013 98200 mi US $175	ball joint
Dec 2013 99000 mi US $400	Alternator failed and required replacement
Mar 2014 101000 mi US $350	water pump was leaking and needed replacement.

Saturn L-Series in Kansas, United States May 2011 - Apr 2019
Jun 2011 124000 mi US $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 mi US $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.
Jan 2016 168000 mi US $225	Leaking coolant at the firewall quick-connect for the heater hose.
Jun 2016 196000 mi US $315	Crank Position Sensor failed - No Start. After cool down period, was able to get engine started and drove car to shop. Shop verified with scantool and replaced CPS.
Dec 2016 200339 mi US $3100	While changing upper radiator hose, discovered that plastic neck of radiator was too brittle to remove old hose and install new one. Required replacement of radiator. Valve Cover Gaskets were leaking oil - needed to be replaced (old gaskets were extremely hard and brittle). System had a slow coolant leak (would lose about 12 ounces over 2 weeks of normal driving). Found to be weepage and leaking from O-rings on fittings in engine valley for the oil/water heat exchanger. Replaced all O-rings and gaskets in valley related to cooling system.
Oct 2017 209735 mi	Loss of coolant started slowly (a pint over about 100 miles) and accelerated to a pint in 13 miles of driving. Shop performed pressure test of system and found fittings on the new radiator were leaking. Fitting were sealed using coolant hose. Work performed at no charge to owner.
Dec 2017 212000 mi US $110	System would not cool - found to have lost all refrigerant

Saturn L-Series in Michigan, United States Mar 2011 - Feb 2014
Jun 2011 181000 mi US $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 mi US $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 mi	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 mi US $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 mi US $2900	Cracked transmission housing. Creaking from rear suspension Exhaust system noise
Mar 2013 223000 mi US $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 223300 mi US $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.
Feb 2014 229000 mi	Creaking from rear suspension never resolved, even with a replacement of the rear suspension bushing and repeated lubrication. Final thing that lead to getting rid of the car was the need to replace the front strut mounts. Would have cost $700+.

Saturn L-Series in New York, United States Feb 2011 - Aug 2021
Aug 2011 77300 mi US $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 mi US $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.
Oct 2013 89000 mi US $220	Strong vibration started at about 55 mph, got worse (like a washboard dirt road) until it stopped abruptly above 72 mph. Replaced the two older tires, now have 4 matching Goodyears that are all low mileage. This didn't solve the problem.
Feb 2015 92000 mi US $550	Rear muffler developed leak on top (against a heat shield). Repaired by independent muffler shop. Other than the price (shop claimed this was because this is a fairly low volume car) the repair seems OK.
Mar 2015 93000 mi US $300	Service Engine Soon light on. Had codes read at parts store -- 21 codes! Dealer diagnosed weak battery, low voltage during cranking causes the computer to throw codes. New battery has cured the problem.
Feb 2018 98000 mi US $1000	Fuel filler neck rusted through -- I live in a high salt area, so while unpleasant, I can't fault the car for this problem. My Chevy (former Saturn) dealer had the fuel filler neck in stock.

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Saturn L-Series in Nunavit Territory, Canada Feb 2015 - Dec 2015
Feb 2015 80600 mi C $150	Power steering pump broke.

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Saturn L-Series in Maryland, United States Nov 2013 - Mar 2014
Mar 2014 207000 mi US $50	Windshield washer pump needed replacing. I ordered a replacement online and installed myself

Saturn L-Series in Maryland, United States Feb 2011 - Oct 2012
May 2011 84100 mi	new AC compressor installed

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Saturn L-Series in Texas, United States Apr 2011 - Aug 2012
Aug 2011 146000 mi US $2000	Timing belt slipped; destroyed engine, replacement installed Camshaft position sensor failed, rendering vehicle inoperable. Yes, I know, I got shafted on the price of this repair... Oxygen sensor failed. Also on this trip, replaced taillight wiring pigtails, as they had melted AC compressor leaking at front seal. Also, check engine light on because of faulty ECM
Aug 2012 132000 mi	Main ECU threw every code in the book, and because Saturn no longer exists, replacement ECUs were $1200 plus labor to install

Saturn L-Series in California, United States Feb 2011 - Apr 2012
Aug 2011 105400 mi US $167	oil cooler housing leaks - declined to have repairs done ($687) rear control arm bushings ($783)

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Saturn L-Series in Quebec, Canada Apr 2011 - Apr 2015
Jul 2011 130480 mi C $800	The shop replaced the exhaust flexible and the manifold linking with the muffler assembly.
Mar 2012 137640 mi C $750	I did it myself: front, new rotors and pads. Rear brake shoes plus a wheel cylinder with the bleeding. I had new summer tires installed at a shop. Stabilizer bar link kit.
Jul 2014 151900 mi	replace flexible exhaust pipe

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Saturn L-Series in Colorado, United States Sep 2013 - Jun 2016
Oct 2013 109200 mi US $120	Heater core leaking, replaced with new heater core. Cause of leak - bad o-rings.
Jul 2015 130800 mi US $30	Throttle position sensor failed. Replaced with new OEM sensor.
Jun 2016 140000 mi US $5	Replaced Throttle Position Sensor. Had to pay for a different part due to previous supplier no longer carrying part. Replaced under part warranty.

Saturn L-Series in Michigan, United States Aug 2014 - Oct 2014
Sep 2014 159000 mi	Melted pipe inside the radiator. I had to fill the radiator daily.

Saturn L-Series in Michigan, United States Mar 2011 - Mar 2013
Feb 2013 119000 mi US $1500	Rear springs broken and struts excessively worn. Muffler rusted out
Mar 2013 119000 mi	Timing chain broke and damaged the engine valves, possibly two pistons as well.

Saturn L-Series in Illinois, United States Feb 2011 - Apr 2011
Apr 2011 92000 mi US $470	Timing chain rattle, possible skipped link. No valvetrain damage. Had chain, oiler, sprockets, and tansioner replaced. Also did oil change and new sparkplugs. Timing chain rattle, possible skipped link. No valvetrain damage. Had chain, oiler, sprockets, and tansioner replaced. Also did oil change and new sparkplugs.

Saturn L-Series in Missouri, United States Jun 2011 - Jun 2021
Apr 2012 75300 mi US $200	Replaced water pump.
Jun 2018 225000 mi US $80	Wheel bearing rear right

Saturn L-Series in Wisconsin, United States Dec 2011 - Mar 2013
Feb 2013 149600 mi US $80	Engine misfire caused by a defective coil pack.

Saturn L-Series in Illinois, United States Jun 2012 - Jul 2012
Jul 2012 150000 mi US $250	Cooling system leak. Replaced coolant fan & radiator cap.

Saturn L-Series in Arizona, United States Aug 2013 - Nov 2013
Nov 2013 130000 mi	The timing belt went out, and the car wasn't worth the trouble to fix it.

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