IllustrationWHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE SHIMMIES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT THE BRAKE DRUMS NEEDED CHANGING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
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
What owners actually said
111 reportsTHE DRIVER SIDE SEAT LOCK WILL NOT STAY IN PLACE IN ORDER TO LOCK THE SEAT DOWN. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*JB
VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE SEVERELY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. VEHICLE BEEN TO THE DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, CONSUMER RAN INTO SIDE OF A BRIDGE AND HIT BOTH SIDES. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. FRONT END WAS DAMAGED. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED AND THERE WAS ONE INJURY. *JG
VEHICLE WAS REARENDED WHILE AT A STOP, REAR PASSENGER'S SEATBACK ON DRIVER SIDE FELL FORWARD. NO INJURIES, DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.*AK
WHEN DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WILL AT TIMES JUMP OUT OF FIFTH GEAR, AND HAS ALSO COME OUT OF THIRD GEAR ON 2 OCCASIONS, THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AFTER THE LAST REPAIR ATTEMPT CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THEY LUBED THE GEARSHIFT MECHANISM TO ALLOW GREATER EASE OF SHIFTING, THEN THE VEHICLE DISPLAYE…
Read full complaint
WHEN DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WILL AT TIMES JUMP OUT OF FIFTH GEAR, AND HAS ALSO COME OUT OF THIRD GEAR ON 2 OCCASIONS, THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AFTER THE LAST REPAIR ATTEMPT CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THEY LUBED THE GEARSHIFT MECHANISM TO ALLOW GREATER EASE OF SHIFTING, THEN THE VEHICLE DISPLAYED THE LONGEST PERIOD OF NORMAL FUNCTIONING SINCE THE FIRST REPAIR, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE BEGAN DISPLAYING THE SAME PROBLEMS ALL OVER AGAIN.*JB
DAMAGE DO CAR INCLUDE FRAME DAMAGE THAT REQUIRES FRAME REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT, YET AIRBAGS FAILED TO OPEN.
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE WILL SHUTTER AND VIBRATE. ROTORS ARE PREMATURELY WARPING. TOOK TO DEALER TO REPLACE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK DEALER REPLACED AND TURNED ROTORS ONCE, STATING THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL PROBLEM FOUND. *JG
IT IS VERY HARD TO SEE DUE TO THE WINDSHIELD WIPER'S.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER CHANGE THE BLADES AND INSTALLED NEW WIPER ARMS BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *YH
SATURN HAS ENGINEERED A FRONT SEAT THAT FOLDS FLAT WHEN HIT IN THE REAR WITH SUFFICIENT FORCE. WHAT SATURN HAS FORGOTTEN ABOUT DURING THE DESIGN IS THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE AND CATOSTROPHIC INJURIES TO REAR PASSENGERS WHEN THE SEAT FOLDS DOWN DURING A CRASH. I EXPERIENCED SUCH A CRASH AND FEEL THAT IF A PASSENGER WERE IN THE R…
Read full complaint
SATURN HAS ENGINEERED A FRONT SEAT THAT FOLDS FLAT WHEN HIT IN THE REAR WITH SUFFICIENT FORCE. WHAT SATURN HAS FORGOTTEN ABOUT DURING THE DESIGN IS THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE AND CATOSTROPHIC INJURIES TO REAR PASSENGERS WHEN THE SEAT FOLDS DOWN DURING A CRASH. I EXPERIENCED SUCH A CRASH AND FEEL THAT IF A PASSENGER WERE IN THE REAR SEAT THEY WOULD HAVE SUSTAINED BROKEN KNEE CAPS OR HAD VARIOUS PARTS OF THEIR BODY SERVERELY HIT BY THE SEAT. THIS WOULD BE FROM THE HEAD TO THE LOWER TORSO. SATURN IS VERY NON-COMMITAL ABOUT MY CONCERN. THIS IS A SERIOUS INJURY WAITING TO HAPPEN. IT ESSENTIALLY MAKE THE SATURN A 2-PASSENGER CAR AND ONLY FOR FRONT PASSENGERS.*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.