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 reports
65,945 miles · Oct 26, 2005
Power Train
I WAS DRIVING GOING ABOUT 55 WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO LOOSE POWER I PUSHED ON THE GAS AND IT WENT UP TO 5 RPM BEFORE KICKING IN THE TRANSMISSION THEN IT KEPT DOING THAT WHERE THE RMP HAD TO GO WAY UP BEFORE KICKING. I TOOK IT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE IT LOOK AT BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. HOWEVER IT TOOK THEM…
Read full complaint
I WAS DRIVING GOING ABOUT 55 WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO LOOSE POWER I PUSHED ON THE GAS AND IT WENT UP TO 5 RPM BEFORE KICKING IN THE TRANSMISSION THEN IT KEPT DOING THAT WHERE THE RMP HAD TO GO WAY UP BEFORE KICKING. I TOOK IT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE IT LOOK AT BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. HOWEVER IT TOOK THEM THREE TIMES TO FIND OUT ABOUT MY BRAKE PROBLEMS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10140843
50,500 miles · Sep 29, 2005
Air BagsCrashInjury
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…
Read full complaint
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.
NHTSA ODI #10138196
53,000 miles · Aug 29, 2005
Power Train
THE TRANSMISSION STARTED GOING OUT ON MY 2001 SATURN SL1 (AUTOMATIC), WHICH ONLY HAS 53,000 MILES ON IT. A SATURN SERVICE AGENT ACCIDENTALLY (I THINK) TOLD ME THAT THE VALVE BODY "TENDS TO GO OUT" IN THAT MODEL. A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST HAS VERIFIED THAT, AND IS REPEATEDLY REPAIRING TRANSMISSIONS ON THIS MODEL. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10134678
Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 2005
Electrical System
WHEN THE IGNITION KEY IS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION, IT DOESN'T TURN MOST OF THE TIME. IT HAS BEEN TRIED TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH AND ALSO REINSERTING THE KEY. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW AND IT IS GETTING WORSE AS TIME GOES ON. I ALSO KNOW OF OTHER SATURN OWNERS WITH OTHER MODELS WHICH HAVE TH…
Read full complaint
WHEN THE IGNITION KEY IS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION, IT DOESN'T TURN MOST OF THE TIME. IT HAS BEEN TRIED TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH AND ALSO REINSERTING THE KEY. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW AND IT IS GETTING WORSE AS TIME GOES ON. I ALSO KNOW OF OTHER SATURN OWNERS WITH OTHER MODELS WHICH HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP DOES NOT SAY THAT THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THEIR CARS.
NHTSA ODI #10129662
Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 2005
Electrical System
DT: AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE THE KEY WAS REMOVED WITH THE KEY IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION,. THEN, THE KEY COULD NOT BE REENTERED. ALSO, KEY WAS TAKEN OUT OF IGNITION WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. DEALERSHIP TOLD THE OWNER IT WAS DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR, AND SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. OWNER DID NOT THINK THAT SHE SHOULD …
Read full complaint
DT: AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE THE KEY WAS REMOVED WITH THE KEY IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION,. THEN, THE KEY COULD NOT BE REENTERED. ALSO, KEY WAS TAKEN OUT OF IGNITION WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. DEALERSHIP TOLD THE OWNER IT WAS DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR, AND SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. OWNER DID NOT THINK THAT SHE SHOULD TO PAY FOR REPAIRS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10126255
Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 2005
Electrical System
VEHICLE WAS LOSING POWER. FOUND POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL ON ORIGINAL AC DELCO BATTERY LEAKING AND CORRODING THE BATTERY CABLE. REPLACEMENT BATTERY CORRECTED PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10110630
Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2005
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DO SO. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10109502
76,885 miles · Jan 25, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
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
NHTSA ODI #10108875
43,900 miles · Sep 7, 2004
SteeringVisibility
THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. THE HEAT/AIR VENTS DID NOT WORK. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10091412
80,000 miles · Aug 12, 2004
Air BagsCrashInjury
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.
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.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2001 Saturn Sl Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration