Saturn L-Series

Saturn L-Series
Overview
Manufacturer	Saturn Corporation
Also called	Saturn L100/200/300 Saturn LS/LS1/LS2 Saturn LW1/LW2 Saturn LW200/300
Production	May 1999 – June 17, 2004
Model years	2000–2005
Assembly	Wilmington, Delaware, United States (Wilmington Assembly)
Body and chassis
Class	Mid-size
Body style	4-door sedan (LS) 5-door station wagon (LW)
Layout	Transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive
Platform	GM2900 platform
Related	Opel Vectra B Saab 9-3 Saab 9-5
Powertrain
Engine	2.2 L L61 I4 3.0 L L81 V6
Transmission	5-speed F35 manual 4-speed GM 4T40-E automatic 4-speed GM 4T45-E automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	106.5 in (2,705 mm)
Length	190.4 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.

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, shared with the Pontiac G6, Saab 9-3, and Chevrolet Malibu.

Model history

• 2000: In May 1999 for the 2000 model year, Saturn Corporation introduced the Saturn L-Series as a lineup of sedan and station wagon vehicle models – three sedan models and two station wagon models. The sedan L-Series models were the four-cylinder LS and LS1, and the six-cylinder LS2. The station wagons were the four-cylinder LW1 and the V6 LW2. The base LS sedan, without a wagon counterpart, came equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission, manual windows and locks, air conditioning, and an AM/FM stereo. The LS1/LW1 added power windows, mirrors and locks with keyless entry, heated mirrors, and other comfort features. The LS2/LW2 featured additional standard amenities including fog lights, as well as the more powerful V6 engine and 4-speed automatic transmission; the latter was optional on the four-cylinder models. Anti-lock brakes with traction control was an option on all models.
• 2001: For the 2001 model year, all of the L-Series received new model designations because of a naming dispute with Lincoln (Lexus also used the LS name at this time). The LS was renamed the L100, the LS1 became the L200, and the LS2 became the L300. For the station wagons, the LW1 was renamed the LW200 and the LW2 was renamed LW300. All models received a larger fuel tank (15.7 US gal (59 L; 13 imp gal)) and shoulder belts for the center rear seat position. Head curtain side airbags became available later in the model year, but only on the sedans.

2000–2002 Wagon

Saturn L-Series 2000-2002 Rear View

• 2002: Anti-lock brakes with traction control were standard this year, along with curtain side airbags (sedans only). A new six-spoke chrome alloy wheel became available, as well as automatic air conditioning and a rear DVD entertainment later in the model year. The Saturn L100 was discontinued after the 2002 model year.
• 2003: Sedans were facelifted, front and rear; wagons received the new front along with new taillights. Silver dash trim replaced wood trim, and a new available alloy wheel design (borrowed from Saab) were also both added for the 2003 model year. The L100 sedan was canceled, and anti-lock brakes with traction control were once again made optional.
• 2004: Anti-lock brakes and traction control were standard again, the automatic air conditioning was discontinued (leaving all models with the manual air conditioning), and the manual transmission was dropped, leaving all models with a four-speed automatic. The "L200" and "LW200" names were discontinued; all L-Series sedan and wagon models were renamed "L300," adopting a trim level structure like that of Saturn's Ion compact. The previous L200/LW200 were now the L300.1, powered by the 2.2L Ecotec and having no available options. The L300.2 was powered by the 3.0L V6 and had the same range of options as before. The L300.3 got chromed alloy wheels and a standard power driver's seat, and was unique in offering the "Premium Choice Package." This offered the choice between OnStar, rear DVD entertainment, or (on sedans) a power sunroof at no extra charge.
• 2005: Wagons were discontinued for this model year and the lineup was trimmed to one model, the L300.2 sedan. The only option was a power moonroof, as all other options were dropped to reduce production complexity. The last L300 rolled off the Wilmington Assembly line on June 17, 2004.

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.

2003–2005 facelift

Saturn L-Series 2003-2005 Rear View

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. 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.

Safety

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)

2000–2005 L-Series IIHS scores

Moderate overlap frontal offset	Acceptable
Small overlap frontal offset	Not tested
Side impact	Poor
Roof strength	Marginal

NHTSA

2000–2005 L-Series NHTSA scores

Year	Frontal driver	Frontal passenger	Side driver	Side passenger	4x2 rollover
2000					Not Rated
2001					Not Rated
2002
2003
2004
2005