Problems · NHTSA complaints
2001 Saturn SL problems
Owners filed 128 complaints about the 2001 Saturn SL with NHTSA between Oct 2000 and Jan 2024. The most-cited component is electrical system (31).
Complaints
128
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
18
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
11
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system31
- Power train22
- Engine and engine cooling21
- Air bags16
- Service brakes, hydraulic13
- Seats7
- Tires4
- Structure4
- Exterior lighting4
- Fuel system, gasoline3
- Steering3
- Visibility3
- Vehicle speed control3
- Engine2
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
10
21
19
12
12
5
7
17
3
1
3
2
0
9
3
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 10 |
| 2002 | 21 |
| 2003 | 19 |
| 2004 | 12 |
| 2005 | 12 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 17 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
31 reports1 crash1 fire
“MY SATURN THAT I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF NOW, COMPLETELY CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF ME DRIVING IT. LUCKILY I WAS AT A DRIVE THEY SO SO SERIOUS DAMAGE TO ME OR ANYONE ELSE. COULD NOT GET IT TO START BACK UP FOR A GOOD 5-10 MINS. ALSO THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT IN IT AND I'M CONSTANTLY HAVING TO ADD FLUID SO IT DOESNT SKIP. THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS KEEP HAVING TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY KEEP BLOWING OUT.”
Power train
22 reports1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN SL1. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING EXCESSIVELY. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 132,000. ....UPDATED 12/03/12 *BF UPDATED 01/11/12”
Engine and engine cooling
21 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN SL2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.”
Air bags
16 reports11 crashes
“OUR DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON 10/9/2014. A VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF HER. OUR DAUGHTER WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP IN TIME AND HIT THE VEHICLE WITH THE FRONT END OF THE SATURN TO THE DRIVERS DOOR OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BUT WE BELIEVE THEY SHOULD HAVE. OUR DAUGHTER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *TR”
Service brakes, hydraulic
13 reports1 crash
“THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE PADS WEAR PREMATURELY. THE PART HAS BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES WITHIN ONE YEAR. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB”
Seats
7 reports5 crashes
“WHILE BEING DRIVEN 40 MPH, THE OWNER NOTICED A VEHICLE DRIVING ERRATIC AND SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. THE DRIVER CLIPPED THE OTHER VEHICLE IN THE PROCESS. THE REAR SEAT BACK LATCH FAILED ALLOWING THE REAR SEAT BACK TO FALL ON TOP OF THE CHILD BELTED IN THE REAR. A MECHANIC, WAS UNABLE TO RELATCH THE SEAT BACK. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS TS”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.