Problems · NHTSA complaints

2001 Saturn SW problems

Owners filed 6 complaints about the 2001 Saturn SW with NHTSA between Feb 2001 and Dec 2014. The most-cited component is electrical system (1).

Complaints
6
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system1
  2. Fuel/propulsion system1
  3. Fuel system, gasoline1
  4. Seat belts1
  5. Engine and engine cooling1
  6. Power train1

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 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20011
20020
20030
20041
20051
20060
20070
20080
20091
20100
20110
20120
20130
20142

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

1 report
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN SW. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE KEY RELEASED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CYLINDER LOCK AND THE KEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RELATED MANUFACTURERS RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,734.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 19, 2014Electrical systemODI 10667296

Fuel/propulsion system

1 report
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN SW. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A VISIBLE FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 41,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 27, 2014Fuel/propulsion systemODI 10561658

Fuel system, gasoline

1 report1 related recall
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN SW2. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 20-25 MPH OVER A SPEED BUMP, THE FUEL TANK DETACHED AND WAS DRAGGING ON THE GROUND. THE CONTACT LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT BOTH BRACKETS WERE ROTTED OFF OF THE FUEL TANK. ONE BRACKET FELL OFF COMPLETELY. HE CALLED THE DEALER TO INQUIRE ABOUT RECALLS. THERE WAS NO RUST ON THE VEHICLE EXCEPT ON THE FUEL TANK BRACKETS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 68,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 8, 2009Fuel system, gasolineODI 10273132

Seat belts

1 report
“DT: CONTACT STATED WHEN LATCHING THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT IT WILL NOT RETRACT TO SECURE THE OCCUPANT. AS THE OCCUPANT LEANED FORWARD THE SEAT BELT CONTINUED TO LOOSEN. THE SERVICE DEALER SAID THE RETRACTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SEAT BELT WAS USED UNDER LIGHT TO NORMAL CONDITIONS. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 10, 2005Seat beltsODI 10142358

Engine and engine cooling

1 report
“WHILE DRIVING, ANTI FREEZE LEAKED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM PERTAINED TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *AK *SC”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 1, 2004Engine and engine coolingODI 10059714

Power train

1 report1 crash1 related recall
“VEHICLE WAS IN PARK. WHILE WALKING AWAY GEAR SOME HOW JUMPED INTO REVERSE AND BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS TOWARDS ANOTHER VEHICLE. SATURN HAS BEEN OCNTACTED. *AK THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT FIND ANY MECHANICAL CAUSE FOR THE INCIDENT. *YH”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 15, 2001Power trainCrash reportedODI 880655
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.