2001 Saturn S-SERIES SEDAN problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
4 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
56,482 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data updated: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Child Seat:Harness/Crotch Buckle is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 4 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Child Seat:Harness/Crotch Buckle | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 1 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 1 |
Child Seat:Harness/Crotch Buckle: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 1; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 1 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2008: 1; 2010: 1
Pattern summary
Child Seat:Harness/Crotch Buckle leads the component reports. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
4 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 150.0%ODI 10102371 · 82,000 miOIL FOUND IN COOLANT IN MY 1997 SATURN SL IN SUMMER 2004 AFTER MINOR FRONT-END COLLISION. IN THE 2-3 MONTHS PRIOR TO COLLISION, I HAD TO ADD COOLANT EVERY 3-4 WEEKS, AS COOLANT LOW WARNING LIGHT WOULD COME ON. COOLANT HAD NORMAL APPEARANCE PRIOR TO ACCIDENT. CAR RAN FINE, TEMP GAUGE NEVER WENT ABOVE NORMAL. CAR HAD @ 78,000 MILES WHEN THIS BEGAN TO HAPPEN. ADVISED BY MECHANIC FRIEND THAT I HAD PROBABLY BEGUN TO DEVELOP A CRACKED HEAD BEFORE ACCIDENT, THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN SATURNS BUILT IN 90'S. THE COLLISION POSSIBLY WORSENED CONDITI… | 1100.0%ODI 10199488 · 103,000 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 SATURN S-SERIES. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED LIT. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN SMOKING AND SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT, CONSTANTLY LEAKED ANTIFREEZE, AND THE FAN DID NOT WORK. THE RADIATOR HOSE WAS ALSO DAMAGED. THE IGNITION FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. | 125.0%ODI 10100380 · 117,330 miIN JANUARY, FEBRUARY AND MARCH OF 2003 I EXPERIENCED REPEATED STALLING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY 1999 SATURN. NO ONE, INCLUDING A SATURN DEALER, KNEW WHAT WAS WRONG. BY TRIAL AND ERROR, IT SEEMED THAT IF I KEPT THE GAS TANK AT LEAST HALF FULL I COULD AVOID THE PROBLEM. IT WASN'T THE BEST SOLUTION, BUT IT SEEMED TO WORK. BUT THIS PAST SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2004, IT STALLED AGAIN ON THE HIGHWAY. ON SUNDAY I DROVE IT AROUND TOWN AND IT WAS FINE. THEN TODAY IT STALLED AGAIN IN ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME SPOT AS TWO DAYS AGO. THE WORST PART IS THA… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10358159 · 157,000 mi2001 SATURN SL2 SEDAN TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. IT IS CURRENTLY AT AN AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP, SO I DO NOT HAVE THE VIN HANDY (BUT IF YOU NEED IT, CONTACT ME). THEY DO NOT WANT TO REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN BECAUSE THEY SAY THEY HAVE HAD EXPERIENCES WHERE THEY DO THIS AND IT FAILS AGAIN IN A FEW MONTHS. THEY SAY THEY DO NOT WANT TO LOOK FOR ANOTHER ENGINE BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I SPECIFICALLY BOUGHT THE SATURN BECAUSE IT HAD A TIMING CHAIN INSTEAD OF A TIMING BELT (BECAUSE I OWNED A FIAT ON WHICH THE TIMING BELT BROKE AND I NEVER WANT… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10241692BRUSHING ON MY 2001 SATURN BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING, LEAVING ME STUCK IN 3RD GEAR. I HAVE SEARCHED ONLINE, AND FOUND THAT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, AND SATURN REFUSES TO SELL THE DEFECTIVE PART, OPTING TO CHARGE THEIR CUSTOMERS OVER $200 FOR A $0.30 PART. *TR | 133.3%ODI 10098667 · 12,000 miCAR ENGINE STALLS AND DIES. CAR IDLES VERY ROUGH. THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION POPS OUT OF GEAR BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD OCCASIONALLY. CAR DOES NOT HAVE A 1ST GEAR IF YOU USE 1ST THE CAR BUCKS LIKE CRAZY. BUT ACCORDING TO SATURN DEALER SERVICE CENTERS VISITED 5 TIMES THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING WITHIN FACTORY SPECS AND THERE ARE NO FAIL CODES. HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TIMES ON THE EXPRESSWAY GOING 65 M.P.H AND THE ENGINE HAS DIED WHAT FUN. THE CAR HAS BEEN INSPECTED AND THE REPORT STATES THE CAR SINCE DAY ONE I DROVE IT OFF THE DEALERSHIP LOT WAS WORTH LESS TH… |
| Air Bags | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10047714 · 80,934 miDRIVER WAS REARENED IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENT ON FREEWAY, DRIVERS SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK, DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, AND DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BROKE, AND DRIVER WAS LAID IN BACK SEAT.*AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10365060 · 78,000 miA CAR WAS GOING 55 MPH, DIDN'T BRAKE AND HIT THE PERSON BEHIND ME WHO WAS PUSHED INTO MY CAR AND I WAS PUSHED INTO A TRUCK. THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT MOVED ALL OUR CARS 65 FEET. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, ALTHOUGH ACCORDING TO SOME COMMENTS BY POLICE AND FIRE, THEY SHOULD HAVE. I JUST WANTED TO REPORT THIS JUST IN CASE THERE WERE OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUES. CAR WAS TOTALED, NO REPAIR DONE. *TR |
| Child Seat:Harness/Crotch Buckle | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10157555 · 40,000 miDT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE THE HARNESS BUCKLE ASSEMBLY THAT LATCHES BETWEEN THE CHILD'S LEGS, THE HARNESS BUCKLE WOULD NOT UNLOCK. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY STRAP WAS CUT IN ORDER TO FREE THE CHILD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED. THE SEAT IS AN EVENFLO MODEL # 3252245P1, DATE OF MANUFACTURE IS MARCH 15, 2005. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10339436 · 180,000 miKEY FIT IN IGNITION BUT WOULD NOT TURN, TRIED TURNING STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH IN LOCKED POSITION WHILE TURNING KEY BUT TO NO AVAIL. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 5-10 MINUTES KEY WOULD FINALLY TURN AND ALLOW ME TO START VEHICLE BUT THE SAME THING HAPPENED THE NEXT TIME I TRIED TO START THE CAR. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 10199488 · 103,000 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 SATURN S-SERIES. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED LIT. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN SMOKING AND SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT, CONSTANTLY LEAKED ANTIFREEZE, AND THE FAN DID NOT WORK. THE RADIATOR HOSE WAS ALSO DAMAGED. THE IGNITION FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 150.0%ODI 10164989 · 180,000 miTHERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING THE CAR IS A 1997 SATURN AND I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE HEATER BLOWER MOTOR WORKING SOMETIMES AND THEN NOT YOU HAVE TO PLAY WITH THE WIRING TO GET IT TO WORK AND THE SAME FOR THE BLINKERS THE BLOWER WORKS NOW AND THE BLINKERS DON'T? *NM | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child Seat:Harness/Crotch Buckle | Too few reports for a range | 40,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10157555 · 40,000 miDT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE THE HARNESS BUCKLE ASSEMBLY THAT LATCHES BETWEEN THE CHILD'S LEGS, THE HARNESS BUCKLE WOULD NOT UNLOCK. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY STRAP WAS CUT IN ORDER TO FREE THE CHILD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED. THE SEAT IS AN EVENFLO MODEL # 3252245P1, DATE OF MANUFACTURE IS MARCH 15, 2005. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | Too few reports for a range | 157,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10358159 · 157,000 mi2001 SATURN SL2 SEDAN TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. IT IS CURRENTLY AT AN AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP, SO I DO NOT HAVE THE VIN HANDY (BUT IF YOU NEED IT, CONTACT ME). THEY DO NOT WANT TO REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN BECAUSE THEY SAY THEY HAVE HAD EXPERIENCES WHERE THEY DO THIS AND IT FAILS AGAIN IN A FEW MONTHS. THEY SAY THEY DO NOT WANT TO LOOK FOR ANOTHER ENGINE BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I SPECIFICALLY BOUGHT THE SATURN BECAUSE IT HAD A TIMING CHAIN INSTEAD OF A TIMING BELT (BECAUSE I OWNED A FIAT ON WHICH THE TIMING BELT BROKE AND I NEVER WANT… |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | Too few reports for a range | 56,482 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10114090 · 56,482 miCHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON DIAGNOSED CODES FOUND 34 1,300 AND 507 VVB PRESENT. DIAGNOSED FURTHER FOUND INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK. REPLACED TAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. DID A GOODWILL SPLIT ON COST. ON MARCH 14 2005 THE SAME PROBLEM CAME UP HAD TO REPLACE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE REPAIR THIS TIME HAD TO PAY $100 FOR REPAIR. SATURN PAID FOR THE REST OF THE REPAIRS. I FEEL I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED IN FULL FOR BOTH REPAIRS, AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE 2001 SATURN SLI *AK |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2001: 1 complaints · 2002: 2 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2002 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Child Seat:Harness/Crotch Buckle | Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | Power Train:Manual Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child Seat:Harness/Crotch Buckle | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.