2001 Saturn Sl problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train:automatic Transmission (14) · Air Bags:frontal (7) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine (6)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Saturn Sl model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
61 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (208)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2025-07-18 · PIP5601C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this pi communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from tac.
Electrical System 2024-08-26 · General Communication · Service Campaign
vehicle wide programming (vwp) is a new process to update software on gm vehicles. it provides the ability via a single selection within techline connect to first identify which modules need updating and then proceed to updating affected modules (with some exceptions). the updating of modules is com
Unknown Or Other 2024-06-17 · 18-NA-099 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information for use on a product assistance claim (pac), which is formerly known as a product allegation resolution (par) claim.
Electrical System 2024-06-06 · 24-NA-098 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on service programming system (sps) error codes e4398, e4399, e4401, e4403, m4404, m4413, m6954, m6955, e4414, e4423, e4491, e4492, or e6961 and resolution information.
Engine And Engine Cooling 2024-03-13 · 16-NA-383 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this technical bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves to correct conditions of rough idle, crank no start, extended crank or misfire, mil with dtcs, and explains how top tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up.
Engine And Engine Cooling 2024-02-22 · 22-NA-074 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this service bulletin provides service information to technicians on guidelines to replace oil cooler, oil cooler lines and oil tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system.
Showing the 6 most recent of 208 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2024-01-15 · Tires:temporary/Emergency Spare Tire“the problem is with the firestone tempa spare t115/70 r14 spare tire. this tire came with the car when new, and has never been used. tire date of manufacture is 42 2000. i periodically check its air pressure, but it has never been out of the spare tire well. i checked the pressure 1 week ago, and found a large bulge in the tread, along with broken …”
2018-03-25 · Structure:body · 127 mi · 💥 crash“i have soo much problem with this car…”
2016-02-14 · Exterior Lighting · 190,000 mi“my saturn that i've been driving for about a year and a half now, completely cut off in the middle of me driving it. luckily i was at a drive they so so serious damage to me or anyone else. could not get it to start back up for a good 5-10 mins. also the transmission is going out in it and i'm constantly having to add fluid so it doesnt skip. the r…”
2015-06-16 · Unknown Or Other · 65,000 mi“my key comes out the ignition in the run position, when the car is running. i am original owner since new. this started about the year of 2009 at about 65,000 miles. i have 165,000 miles on the car now. …”
2015-06-01 · Unknown Or Other · 185,000 mi“i have trouble turning the ignition switch. once started the keys can fall out of the switch. please add this to the ignition recall because i don't want to die!!!…”
2015-05-04 · Electrical System · 142,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2001 saturn sl. the contact stated that when the ignition was turned towards the on position, it was difficult to turn the key and it took numerous attempts to start the vehicle. the contact stated that the key was removed without the ignition being turned to the off position. the contact also stated that while refueling the …”
2014-11-02 · Electrical System · 118,025 mi“after the key is inserted in the ignition cylinder it will not engage and turn to start the vehicle. the lock remains stuck in the "off" position. over the past several months the problem has become consistently worse. we have been stranded numerous occasions unable to start the vehicle. while the vehicle is running we are able to remove the key…”
2014-10-13 · Air Bags · 66,000 mi · 💥 crash“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…”
2014-10-04 · Electrical System:ignition · 135,169 mi“i took my saturn in for repair because i was having trouble with the ignition and starting my car. the dealer said that the ignition cylinder binding and column was loose. they replaced the cylinder and code cylinder and secured the steering wheel column. now the same ignition problem is back but even worse. it takes a series of shakes of my key an…”
2014-09-16 · Electrical System · 100,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2001 saturn sl. the contact stated that while driving at 30 mph, the key intermittently released from the ignition. the failure occurred on two occasions. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 100,000.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.