2001 Saturn L300 review from North America
"I wish I had retained my 94 SL2 over this 2001 L300"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
The water pump failed. I bought one, then learned that these are located inside the engine housing.
One of the 2 oil coolers failed. This too is located inside the engine housing.
Guess where the spark plugs are located. Yes, this job too takes all day.
The rear tail lights were frequently problematic. It took me about a year to get them correct & stable. I was not surprised when these were recalled (the rear brake/ running lights). I did bring them in for the recall. Then I checked them before I left the lot. One was out again. They fixed it immediately. That is now OK.
A sending unit failed, that was replaced for about $100.
The steering column developed the problem like most others. It shakes and rattles at maybe 55 MPH. This is design flaw with the stabilizer arms.
The brakes are next.
General comments?
Overall, the car would be fine if they did not put parts within the engine that must be replaced. Even a tune up is a major job. The Engineer should be flogged. The steering column should be recalled. That is a dangerous problem with the steering.
You can assume that everything I did not mention is either normal or good. It runs smooth. It is quick. It is comfortable.
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| Incredible value for the content and price! |
|
| More fun than a kick in the dent-resistant siding |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Model year | 2001 |
| Year of manufacture | 2001 |
| First year of ownership | 2003 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2006 |
| Engine and transmission | 3.0 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 9 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 4 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 5 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 9700 miles |
| Most recent distance | 39750 miles |
| Previous car | Saturn SL |
| Date of Entry | 24th April, 2006 |