Used 2003 Saturn L-Series Consumer Reviews
Used L-Series for sale
1...
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Good vehicle for class/category
tclefton, 05/25/2011
2003 Saturn L-Series L200 4dr Sedan (2.2 L 4cyl 4A)
24 of 26 people found this review helpful
I purchased my 2003 Saturn in October of 2007. It had 65k miles on it. It now has 120k on it and I've only had to replace the fuel pump. It is a little noisy and rough riding at higher speeds, but most cars are in this class/category/price range. I get about 26mpg city/hwy combined. Everything still works on it fine, and everything is still in it's proper place. Everyone gets a lemon now and then no matter what make of vehicle you buy... I'm glad I'm not one of them with my Saturn purchase. I will keep this car till it dies.
Great Car but had electrical problems
k_maxwell712, 12/07/2012
2003 Saturn L-Series L200 4dr Sedan (2.2 L 4cyl 4A)
29 of 33 people found this review helpful
Even though this car is know to have electrical problems the are pretty expensive to fix, its still a great car. I had to replace the ignition module right around 75-80,000 miles. Then around 120,000 miles the Body Control Module(BCM) went out. The gas gauge would read at empty and the temperature light would constantly be on. The car ran like that for over a year with us just keeping track of milage for gas getting around 350 miles per tank (its about a 12 gallon tank) after a little over a year the car started acting up more and then eventually had a mind of its own when it came to starting and multiple dash lights coming on but not reading on computer scans. BCM costs around $4-500.
Weak, at best...
fsu1, 08/23/2012
2003 Saturn L-Series L200 4dr Sedan (2.2 L 4cyl 4A)
27 of 31 people found this review helpful
I got it with 40k miles, and fought to 100k. Going with Saturn due to previous experience - seemed like a good idea. Ended up not. First year with it went ok. Regularly maintained with Saturn, then GM dealers. The following major issues occurred: BCM module failure, entire brake system failure (three times), water and fuel pump failure, and a front strut replacement. A belt broke once, but that was likely age. Sometimes it liked not to start - two new batteries in a year. The brake system completely burned out - requiring a new master cylinder, booster and rear drums. This appears to have been common. It is underpowered, rode loud, and turned like a boat. It was a poor man's Buick.
Problems? Not a one.
Paul, 05/06/2009
2003 Saturn L-Series L200 4dr Sedan (2.2 L 4cyl 5M)
17 of 19 people found this review helpful
We are the second owners of this vehicle. I'm about to hit 200,000 miles and the only thing I've had to replace is oil, alternator and a battery. It still runs like a champ too. Not going to go up against a Dodge Viper or anything, but it's not afraid to move. Never thought I'd say this about my baby blue saturn, but I love this car.
Not a bad ride...
henthryglo, 08/15/2018
2003 Saturn L-Series LW300 4dr Station Wagon (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
12 of 13 people found this review helpful
So two years ago, I totaled my beloved '01 Chevy Silverado due to some black ice (I am very much a truck guy). With my settlement money, I wanted to buy myself a decent commuter vehicle, as I have a 40 minute drive to and from work, pay off some graduate tuition, as well as buy my girlfriend a reliable vehicle to keep her from having to walk to work in a sketchy part of our city. A 2003 Saturn LW300 showed up on Craigslist one day with 80,000 miles and for $3250. I swallowed my pride and went ahead and bought it, as technically it was what I was looking for at the price and mileage I wanted; it's just not exactly what I envisioned myself cruising around in. 2 years later and I am still glad I purchased this vehicle. It has been very reliable, has required minimal maintenance, and I have definitely put the highway mileage on it. I have a few complaints, but nothing major. 1- Due to what I believe is the weight-to-length ratio of the car, it does not handle wet road conditions well AT ALL. 2- the transmission is a sealed one, so you can't easily check the fluid levels; I do not trust this system. 3- Occasionally, an idiot light comes on and the transmission shifts hard. It has been doing this occasionally for some time and turning the car off and back on again intermittently fixes it; I believe it is a problem with a sensor, but nothing I have stressed, as the tranny shifts fine 95% of the time. 4- it uses an oil cartridge in stead of a conventional filter, which makes oil changes a hassle if you do them yourself like I do. Overall, save for that handful of complaints, this vehicle has gotten me to where I need to go, has required very little maintenance, has always been reliable, and that's all I look for in a vehicle. I was able to talk the price down to $2500, I believe, and was thenceforth able to buy my girlfriend an awesome used '90 Ranger that got her reliably to where she had to go, as well as pay off my graduate tuition for that summer.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
1...