Power Train. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports3 fire reports6 injury reports

What owners actually said

148 reports

Mileage unknown · May 5, 2004

SeatsCrash

WHILE STOPPING VEHICLE WAS REAR-ENDED. AFTER THE COLLISION BOTH FRONT SEAT BACKS COLLAPSED AND FELL BACK ONTO REAR SEATS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10072146

25,000 miles · Feb 25, 2004

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ROTORS NEEDED TO BE TURNED AT ABOUT 25000 MILES DUE TO VIBRATION WHEN STOPPING, THIS WAS DONE UNDER WARRANTY, I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD ONLY DUE IT ONCE. THE CAR NOW HAS 62000 MILES ON IT AND IT HAS THE ORIGINAL PADS, THEY ARE DO NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WEAR. BUT THE ROTORS NEED TO BE TURNED AGAIN, LOOKING AT OTHER PROBLEMS O…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10058981

60,000 miles · Feb 25, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

60,000 MILES ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, IT TURNS OUT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAD A CRACK AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I FEEL THIS WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, BUT THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE FOR FREE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10058980

30,000 miles · Feb 25, 2004

Power Train

TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT AT 30,000 MILES, WOULD GRIND WHEN SHIFTING TO 2ND GEAR WHEN COLD. THIS WAS DONE UNDER WARRANTY. THE CAR NOW HAS 62,000 MILES AND SOMETIMES GRINDS, I AM AFRAID IT IS GOING OUT AGAIN.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10058977

19,000 miles · Jan 22, 2004

Visibility

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER BOLTS LOOSENED,CAUSING THE WIPERS TO DROP AND NOT WORK PROPERLY. THIS RESULTED IN POOR VISIBILITY. THE DRIVER HAD TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AND TIGHTEN THE BOLT. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE 3 TIMES BY REPLACING THE BOLTS, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10048755

Mileage unknown · Jan 16, 2004

Fuel System, Gasoline

THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO HEAR GAS SPLASHING UP AGAINST THE GAS TANK. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10055293

73,568 miles · Jan 15, 2004

Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSteeringFire

HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION CASING HAD A BAD LEAK WIRING HARNESS FROM IGNITION CAUGHT ON FIRE PUTTING ME AND MY FAMILIES LIFE AT RISK RATTLES REAL BAD IN REAR PORTION OF CAR HEATER QUIT WORKING

NHTSA ODI #10070025

29,220 miles · Jan 5, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. DEALER COULD NOT FIX THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10053383

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 2003

2000 SATURN SL2 WAS HAVING PROBLEM WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT WORKING ON LOW-STEADY (ONLY WORKED INTERMITTENTLY) -- REQUIRED WIPER MOTOR REPLACEMENT IN OCTOBER 2003, WHICH I BELIEVE IS UNUSUALLY SHORT LIFE SPAN FOR WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR

NHTSA ODI #10042953

Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 2003

Steering

CONSUMER NOTICED WHILE LOOKING OVER REAR BAKES STEERING WHEEL WAS IN THE WRONG POSITION. DEALER WAS CONTACTED TECHNICIAN COULD NOT REPAIR BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10042487

Official recalls

00V309000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Oct 12, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY." THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH AN INADEQUATE VENT VALVE WELD ON THE TOP PORTION OF THE FUEL TANK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL SPILLAGE COULD OCCUR DURING REFUELING OR IF THE VEHICLE WERE INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER. IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO ENSURE THE FUEL TANK VENT VALVE IS PROPERLY WELDED. IF NECESSARY, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY.

00V310000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:park/neutral Start Interlock Switch

Oct 12, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH AN IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE PARK LOCK CABLE ASSEMBLY. IF IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED, IT IS POSSIBLE TO SHIFT FROM THE "PARK" POSITION WITH THE IGNITION KEY REMOVED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH RESULTING FROM THE UNINTENDED MOVEMENT OF PARKED VEHICLES.

Remedy: SATURN IS ASKING OWNERS AND RETAILERS TO PERFORM A FUNCTIONAL CHECK OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE PARK LOCK CABLE ASSEMBLY OPERATION, AND IF NECESSARY, TO HAVE THE CABLE ADJUSTED. IF OWNERS ARE NOT COMFORTABLE PERFORMING THE FUNCTIONAL CHECK THEMSELVES, THEY CAN HAVE THEIR DEALER PERFORM THIS INSPECTION FOR THEM.

99V297000 · Structure:body

Oct 27, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A CONSOLE ARMREST FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACTS." THE ARMRESTS WERE PRODUCED WITH A LATCH THAT WILL NOT WITHSTAND THE VERTICAL FORCE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE LATCH MAY OPEN AND THE ARMREST OR THE CONTENTS OF THE CONSOLE COULD INJURE AN OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CONSOLE ARMREST LATCH.

99V280000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage

Oct 20, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES." SOME OF THE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH SEAT BELT SHOULDER GUIDE ANCHOR BOLTS THAT WERE NOT ADEQUATELY TIGHTENED AT THE CENTER PILLAR AND COULD FALL OUT, MAKING THE SEAT BELT INOPERATIVE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES FOR PROPER INSTALLATION AND TORQUE OF THE SEAT BELT SHOULDER GUIDE ANCHOR BOLTS.

99V231000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components

Aug 24, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 135, "PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH BRAKE PIPE ATTACHMENT NUTS THAT MAY NOT BE TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATIONS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE BRAKE PIPE NUTS ARE NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED, BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE BRAKE'S STOPPING DISTANCE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE PIPE NUTS FOR LEAKAGE, VERIFY THEY ARE TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATIONS, AND REPLACE THE BRAKE PIPES IF NEEDED.

99V230000 · Unknown Or Other

Aug 23, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH WELDS IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CARRIER ASSEMBLY THAT DO NOT MEET SATURN QUALITY STANDARDS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT, PARTICULARLY AN UNBELTED OCCUPANT, MAY HAVE AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY IN A FRONTAL CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLE'S INSTRUMENT PANEL CARRIER ASSEMBLY.

99V232000 · Structure:body:bumpers

Aug 23, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 581, "BUMPER STANDARD." THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH REAR BUMPER FASTENERS THAT MAY BE LOOSE OR MISSING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE FASTENERS ARE LOOSE OR MISSING, THE REAR BUMPER MAY NOT ABSORB ENERGY AS IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO IN THE EVENT OF A REAR END COLLISION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL VERIFY THAT THE REAR BUMPER BEAM FASTENERS ARE PRESENT AND PROPERLY TIGHTENED AND, IF MISSING, INSTALL NEW FASTENERS.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.