Saturn L series

Last updated
Saturn L series
00-02 Saturn L-Series sedan.jpg
Overview
Manufacturer Saturn Corporation
Also called
  • Saturn L100
  • Saturn L200
  • Saturn L300
  • Saturn LS
  • Saturn LS1
  • Saturn LS2
  • Saturn LW1
  • Saturn LW2
  • Saturn LW200
  • Saturn LW300
ProductionMay 1999 – June 17, 2004
Model years 2000–2005
Assembly Wilmington, Delaware, United States (Wilmington Assembly)
Body and chassis
Class Mid-size
Body style
Layout Transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive
Platform GM2900 platform
Related Opel Vectra B
Saab 9-3
Saab 9-5
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission
Dimensions
Wheelbase 106.5 in (2,705 mm)
Length190.4 in (4,836 mm)
Width
  • 69.0 in (1,753 mm) (2000–2002)
  • 69.4 in (1,763 mm) (2003–2005)
Height
  • 56.4 in (1,432 mm) (sedan)
  • 57.3 in (1,455 mm) (wagon)
Chronology
Successor Saturn Aura

The Saturn L series is a line of automobiles, sedans and station wagons that were made by Saturn Corporation in Wilmington, Delaware.

Contents

Poor sales of the L-series cars caused GM to cancel the line for 2005. The first L-series car was built in May 1999, and the last one rolled off the Wilmington line on June 17, 2004, after a short run of 2005 models. About 406,300 L-series cars were built in this period. The plant was then retooled to build the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky roadsters.

The replacement for the L series, the Saturn Aura, arrived in August 2006 for the 2007 model-year. The Aura was built on the Epsilon platform, also shared by the Pontiac G6, and the Chevrolet Malibu.

Model history

2000-2002 Wagon Saturn LW300.jpg
2000–2002 Wagon
Saturn L-Series 2000-2002 Rear View Saturn L-Series 2000-02.jpg
Saturn L-Series 2000-2002 Rear View
2003-2005 facelift 03-05 Saturn L300.jpg
2003–2005 facelift
Saturn L-Series 2003-2005 Rear View 2003 Saturn L-200 rear 6.9.18.jpg
Saturn L-Series 2003-2005 Rear View

Quality issues

The L series was troubled early in production by a number of quality issues, often related to engine failures, transmission failures and overall fit and finish issues. Consumers reported repeat problems with tire noise and vibration linked to poorly designed control arm bushings and nonadjustable rear alignments. A retrofit kit was released to address these concerns.

Interior of a 2003 Saturn L200 sedan Interior of 2003 Saturn L200.jpg
Interior of a 2003 Saturn L200 sedan

In 2005, a recall was issued pursuant to a defect petition by the North Carolina Consumers Council, a consumer nonprofit advocacy organization, alleging repeat brake and tail light failures. The resulting recall affected more than 300,000 vehicles in the United States and Canada. [1] Later that same year, the North Carolina Consumers Council petitioned for an investigation into timing chain failures and subsequent engine failures across the model lineup for vehicles using the 2.2L engine. The resulting recall affected only a small number of vehicles built in a four-month period in late 2000 and early 2001. The organization reported that complaints of engine failure due to a defective timing chain design persist to this day and requests for recall expansions have largely been ignored. The organization has gone so far as to make its first recommendation against the purchase of a vehicle in its more than forty-year history due in part to this timing chain defect. [2]

Safety

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)

2000–2005 L series IIHS scores [3]
Moderate overlap frontal offsetAcceptable
Small overlap frontal offsetNot tested
Side impactPoor
Roof strengthMarginal

NHTSA

2000–2005 L series NHTSA scores [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]
YearFrontal driverFrontal passengerSide driverSide passenger4x2 rollover
2000Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgNot Rated
2001Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgNot Rated
2002Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg
2003Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg
2004Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg
2005Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg

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References

  1. Saturn Tail Light Recall is Result of NCCC Involvement, North Carolina Consumers Council website. Retrieved August 2012.
  2. NCCC Advises Consumers to Avoid 2.2L Saturn L-Series Vehicles, North Carolina Consumers Council website. Retrieved August 2012.
  3. "IIHS-HLDI: Saturn L-Series". Iihs.org. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
  4. "2000 Saturn LS 4-DR". Safercar.gov. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
  5. "2001 Saturn LS 4-DR". Safercar.gov. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
  6. "2002 Saturn L Series 4-DR". Safercar.gov. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
  7. "2003 Saturn L Series 4-DR". Safercar.gov. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
  8. "2004 Saturn L Series 4-DR. w/SAB". Safercar.gov. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
  9. "2005 Saturn L Series 4-DR. w/SAB". Safercar.gov. Retrieved 2013-12-20.