IllustrationI HAVE SOO MUCH PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR
2001 Saturn Sl
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2001 Saturn Sl do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 171.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sl years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
90–25K
1225–50K
1550–75K
1075–100K
11100–150K
4150K+
61 reports with mileage · 50 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
14 crash reports0 fire reports9 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
13 reportsOUR 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 INJURIE…
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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
I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON JULY 18 2009 A LADY PULLED OUT OF A SIDE STREET AND WE HIT. I COULD NOT AVOID HER. IM NOT SURE WHAT SPEED I WAS GOING AT IMPACT BUT I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES AT 40 MPH. MY FRONT END HIT HER SIDE.MOST PASSENGERS ME, THE FRONT PASSENGER AND TWO OTHERS WERE INJURED. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. IM NOT SURE IF THEY…
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I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON JULY 18 2009 A LADY PULLED OUT OF A SIDE STREET AND WE HIT. I COULD NOT AVOID HER. IM NOT SURE WHAT SPEED I WAS GOING AT IMPACT BUT I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES AT 40 MPH. MY FRONT END HIT HER SIDE.MOST PASSENGERS ME, THE FRONT PASSENGER AND TWO OTHERS WERE INJURED. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. IM NOT SURE IF THEY SHOULD HAVE BUT AT THAT SPEED AND THE IMPACT I FEEL THEY DEFINITELY SHOULD HAVE. MY DAUGHTER AND I FLEW FORWARD AND SHE HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND I WENT INTO THE STEERING WHEEL COMING VERY CLOSE TO THE WINDSHIELD. THE CAR IN TOTALED. *TR
LTR FROM SENATOR BINGAMAN ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT, RE FRONT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN HER 2001 SATURN SL1. *NJ THE AIR BAD DEPLOYED WHEN THE CONSUMER SON EXITED THE VEHICLE AFTER FIRMLY CLOSING THE DOOR. THE CONSUMER HAD AN OUTSIDE CONTRACTOR INSPECT THE VEHICLE, AND HE STATED THE VEHICLES COMPUTER REGISTERED AN EVENT THAT O…
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LTR FROM SENATOR BINGAMAN ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT, RE FRONT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN HER 2001 SATURN SL1. *NJ THE AIR BAD DEPLOYED WHEN THE CONSUMER SON EXITED THE VEHICLE AFTER FIRMLY CLOSING THE DOOR. THE CONSUMER HAD AN OUTSIDE CONTRACTOR INSPECT THE VEHICLE, AND HE STATED THE VEHICLES COMPUTER REGISTERED AN EVENT THAT OCCURRED PRIOR TO THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. *JB
MALFUNCTION OF PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG ON 2001 SATURN SL1. *NJ THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHEN THE CONSUMER'S SON EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP WITH THE ENGINE IDLING. *JB
TL*- WHILE GETTING OUT THE 2001 SATURN SL 1, THE CONTACT CLOSED THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR AND THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY STATED THEY COULDN'T ASSIST THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE DEALER AND THE DEALE…
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TL*- WHILE GETTING OUT THE 2001 SATURN SL 1, THE CONTACT CLOSED THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR AND THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY STATED THEY COULDN'T ASSIST THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE DEALER AND THE DEALER SAID TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE DID NOT HAVE ANY PREVIOUS WORK DONE ON THE AIR BAGS BEFORE, AND AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE THERE WAS NO AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHT. *AK
WHILE PARKING, AT THE SPEED OF ABOUT 3 MPH I HIT THE SIDE OF A CEMENTED DRIVEWAY WHICH WAS HIGHER THAN THE STREET, AND THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO MY BUMPER OR ANY OTHER PARTS OF MY CAR. *JB
ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2005 AT APPROXIMATELY 8:00 AM I WAS TRAVELING ON I 295 NORTH WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS 65 MPH. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF THE INTERSTATE DRIVING A 2001 SATURN SL1 BLUE IN COLOR. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHICH WAS A SATURN VUE SLAMMED ON HIS BRAKES HITTING A WHITE HONDA THAT WAS IN FRONT OF HIM. WHEN THE VUE HIT TH…
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ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2005 AT APPROXIMATELY 8:00 AM I WAS TRAVELING ON I 295 NORTH WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS 65 MPH. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF THE INTERSTATE DRIVING A 2001 SATURN SL1 BLUE IN COLOR. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHICH WAS A SATURN VUE SLAMMED ON HIS BRAKES HITTING A WHITE HONDA THAT WAS IN FRONT OF HIM. WHEN THE VUE HIT THE HONDA THE VUE WENT FROM THE MIDDLE LANE OF TRAFFIC TO THE LEFT LANE. I WAS BEHIND THE VUE IN THE MIDDLE LANE AND WHEN THE VUE WENT INTO THE LEFT LANE I HIT THE WHITE HONDA ON THE RIGHT BUMPER AND WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 55 MPH AND 65 MPH. MY CAR THEN SPUN AROUND AND I THEN HIT THE VUE IN THE LEFT HAND LANE AND MY CAR ENDED UP BETWEEN THE MIDDLE AND LEFT HAND LANE. THE TWO AIRBAGS IN MY 2001 SATURN SL1 NEVER DEPLOYED. MY CAR HAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE AND WILL PROBABLY BE A TOTAL LOSS. THIS VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED FROM THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT.
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED TOTALED. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A BROKEN KNEE IN THREE PLACES AND NOW UNABLE TO WALK. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL. *JB INFORMATION.
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR-ENDED IT, CAUSING THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK
Official recalls
200V309000 · 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.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.