Total Complaints
708 filings
SATURN LS · model year
708 NHTSA complaints, 18 crash reports, and 7 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2001SATURNLS carries 708 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 18 crashes, 21 fires, 19 injuries, and 9 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2001 LS is engine and engine cooling with 150 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (91) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:belts and associated pulleys (45). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 7 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 14 investigation files overlapping the 2001 LS. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
708 filings
Crashes Reported
18 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 150 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 91 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS | 45 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 42 |
| ENGINE | 41 |
| SUSPENSION | 14 |
| POWER TRAIN | 14 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS | 13 |
| STEERING | 13 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS | 13 |
| AIR BAGS | 13 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 12 |
| TIRES | 11 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 11 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 11 |
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH THE TRANSAXLE SHIFT CABLE CLIP MISSING OR IMPROPERLY SEATED. WITHOUT THE CLIP, THE CABLE CAN SLIP OUT OF ITS BRACKET AND THE TRANSAXLE LEVER WOULD NOT MOVE ALONG WITH THE SHIFT L
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG SYSTEM. THE AIR BAG SYSTEM HAS A LOWER SIDE IMPACT SAFING SENSOR THRESHOLD THAN SPECIFIED. BECAUSE OF THIS REDUCED THRESHOLD, THERE COULD BE AN INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF THE SIDE HEAD CURTAIN AIR BAG WITH SEVERE SLAMMING
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.2L L4 (L61) ENGINES, A FAILURE OF THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE MAY CAUSE DETERIORATION IN IDLE QUALITY, REDUCTION IN OVERALL ENGINE POWER, AND THE VEHICLE MAY BE HARD TO START. CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE AFTER SUCH AN IGNITION MODULE FAILURE WILL
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND MINI VANS, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A PASSENGER AIR BAG THAT WAS MANUFACTURED WITHOUT A CHECK VALVE PIN. AN AIR BAG WITHOUT THE CHECK VALVE PIN COULD PRODUCE INCREASED PRESSURE AT THE ONSET OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND REDUCED PRESSURE AFTERWARD.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.2L 4-CYLINDER ENGINE, LINKS IN THE ENGINE'S TIMING CHAIN CAN SEPARATE.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
ON CERTAIN SEDANS AND WAGONS, THE PLASTIC HOUSING IN THE REAR TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY CAN BECOME DISTORTED IF THE BRAKE LAMPS REMAIN ON FOR AN EXTENDED TIME.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND MINIVANS. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG INFLATOR MODULES WERE BUILT WITHOUT THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF GENERANT, WHICH PRODUCES THE GAS THAT FILLS THE AIR BAG. SOME WERE BUILT WITH A DOUBLE LOAD OF GENERANT AND SOME WERE BUILT WITHOUT GENERANT.
The contact owns a 2001 Saturn LS1. The contact stated that the front driverâs seat failed to operate as intended. The contact stated that the power adjust switch was inoperable. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the electrical wiring for the switch was damaged. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.
Mileage: 30,000
Recall bulletin #06074a ,timing chain engine stall. I called gm,and gm arbitration and they said I have no recallcs. This car only has 28,700 miles on it!! My Vin fits the criteria of the recall,and I went to the dealership and they confirmed it,but GM does not acknowledge it! page 4, dealer recall responsibility-all. 2nd paragraph Dealers are to service All vehicals subject to this recall, regardless of milage,age of vehical,vehicle, ownership as of Jan ,2008. I'm the 2nd owner,and there is no documentation that this recall was preformed, 2 others were repaired. I have the car fax for this vehicle. My repair shop said it will cost @ $ 1000.00 to repair it. I'd be happy with a repair or a restoration check from Gm. I started a "Gm service request claim" # 9-7361453168. They never called me back,they canceled/ closed the request and did not approve the recall!! I'm at a loss at what to do at this point.Any help would be appreciated! Thankyou,Charlie
The contact owns a 2001 Saturn L200. The contact stated while driving, there was an abnormal fuel odor inside the vehicle. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed with the fuel pump needing to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired however, the contact removed the fuel tank. The contact was relating the failure to an unknown recall. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The contact was informed that a tow truck would pick up the vehicle and transport it to the local dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 226,000. THE CONUMER STATED THE PASSENGERS HAD HEADACHES, STOMACH ACHES, COUGHING AND BREATHING ISSUES WHILE RIDING IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED.
Mileage: 226,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN LS200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL LEAKED ONTO THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT AND CARPET. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE FUEL TANK FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND AGREED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CABLE DAHMER CHEVROLET OF INDEPENDENCE LOCATED AT (1834 S NOLAND RD, INDEPENDENCE, MO 64055), THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 264,000.
Mileage: 264,000
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND IT STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. I HAD IT DIAGNOSED BY A MECHANIC AND IT IS THE TIMING CHAIN. FROM WHAT I'VE RESEARCHED, THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE HAD A RECALL BUT ONLY ON SPECIFIC ONES MADE WITHIN A FOUR MONTH PERIOD BUT MY CAR FALLS INTO THE RECALL DESCRIPTION AND I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE TIME FRAME. MY CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 55 MPH WHEN THIS HAPPENED.
Mileage: 141,000
IGNITION CYLINDER SEIZED IN IGNITION HOUSING.
Mileage: 115,123
WELL FIRST MY ENGINE CONTROL MONITOR IS SENDING A BUNCH OF RANDOM OFF CODES FROM MA'S AIR SENSOR VOL LOW TO CRANKSHAFT SENSOR VOLUME LOW TO O2 SENSORS TO TRANSMISSION CODES, MY SIDE AIRBAG ON DRIVER SIDE BLUE UP OUT OF NO WERE MY KEY FOB STOPPED READING AND NOW MY CAR WON'T START I KNOW ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S SENDING OFF CODES FOR CAMSHAFT SENSOR AND O2 SENSORS I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE ECM IT'S A VERY EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT THAT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE IT'S DANGERS AND DEFECTIVE.MY CAR LOCKED UP IN MIDDLE OF I BUSY INTERSECTION DO TO THESE CODES AND LOW VOLTAGE READINGS MY NAME IS [XXX] I LIVE AT [XXX] MY #[XXX] ACCIDENT DATE 10/17/2017 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Mileage: 176,000
WELL FIRST MY ENGINE CONTROL MONITOR IS SENDING A BUNCH OF RANDOM OFF CODES FROM MA'S AIR SENSOR VOL LOW TO CRANKSHAFT SENSOR VOLUME LOW TO O2 SENSORS TO TRANSMISSION CODES, MY SIDE AIRBAG ON DRIVER SIDE BLUE UP OUT OF NO WERE MY KEY FOB STOPPED READING AND NOW MY CAR WON'T START I KNOW ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S SENDING OFF CODES FOR CAMSHAFT SENSOR AND O2 SENSORS I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE ECM IT'S A VERY EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT THAT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE IT'S DANGERS AND DEFECTIVE.MY CAR LOCKED UP IN MIDDLE OF I BUSY INTERSECTION DO TO THESE CODES AND LOW VOLTAGE READINGS MY NAME IS [XXX] I LIVE AT [XXX] MY #[XXX] ACCIDENT DATE 10/17/2017 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Mileage: 176,000
WELL FIRST MY ENGINE CONTROL MONITOR IS SENDING A BUNCH OF RANDOM OFF CODES FROM MA'S AIR SENSOR VOL LOW TO CRANKSHAFT SENSOR VOLUME LOW TO O2 SENSORS TO TRANSMISSION CODES, MY SIDE AIRBAG ON DRIVER SIDE BLUE UP OUT OF NO WERE MY KEY FOB STOPPED READING AND NOW MY CAR WON'T START I KNOW ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S SENDING OFF CODES FOR CAMSHAFT SENSOR AND O2 SENSORS I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE ECM IT'S A VERY EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT THAT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE IT'S DANGERS AND DEFECTIVE.MY CAR LOCKED UP IN MIDDLE OF I BUSY INTERSECTION DO TO THESE CODES AND LOW VOLTAGE READINGS MY NAME IS [XXX] I LIVE AT [XXX] MY #[XXX] ACCIDENT DATE 10/17/2017 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Mileage: 176,000
HAVING TROUBLE WITH BRAKE LIGHTS BULBS AND 3RD BRAKE LIGHT
THE SATURN L SERIES WHEN FILLED WITH GASOLINE WILL STALL CAUSING IMMINENT HARM TO THE DRIVER, PASSENGERS, AND ANY OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD. IN ADDITION, THE DASHBOARD AT NIGHT IS SO DIM THAT IT CANNOT BE SEEN BY THE DRIVER. THERE ARE SEVERAL ELECTRICAL FAILURES INVOLVING THIS VEHICLE.
THE SATURN L SERIES WHEN FILLED WITH GASOLINE WILL STALL CAUSING IMMINENT HARM TO THE DRIVER, PASSENGERS, AND ANY OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD. IN ADDITION, THE DASHBOARD AT NIGHT IS SO DIM THAT IT CANNOT BE SEEN BY THE DRIVER. THERE ARE SEVERAL ELECTRICAL FAILURES INVOLVING THIS VEHICLE.
THE SATURN L SERIES WHEN FILLED WITH GASOLINE WILL STALL CAUSING IMMINENT HARM TO THE DRIVER, PASSENGERS, AND ANY OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD. IN ADDITION, THE DASHBOARD AT NIGHT IS SO DIM THAT IT CANNOT BE SEEN BY THE DRIVER. THERE ARE SEVERAL ELECTRICAL FAILURES INVOLVING THIS VEHICLE.
I'M HAVING THE EXACT PROBLEM AS RECALL 05V245000. EXAMINING MY CAR CONFIRMS THIS WAS NOT REPLACED. IT HAS SHORTED OUT MULTIPLE TIMES HAVING ME DRIVE AT NIGHT TIME WITH NO LIGHTS! THIS IS DANGEROUS AND HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME AN ACCIDENT SEVERAL TIMES.
Mileage: 190,000
CAR STOPPED WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT JUST AFTER EXITING THE FREEWAY , AND WOULD NOT RESTART. AFTER WALKING HOME, HAD CAR TOWED TO A CAR REPAIR SHOP. THEY DETERMINED THAT THE TIMING CABLE HAD BROKEN AND HAD DAMAGED OTHER PARTS OF THE ENGINE. WE NOTICED THAT THERE IS A RECALL IN PLACE FOR SOME SATURNS, BUT DON'T KNOW IF OUR CAR IS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
GAS FUMES ARE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. A MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE PLASTIC GAS TANK HAS A SMALL CRACK. GASS APPEARS TO BE VAPORIZING. THERE IS NO LEAKAGE OF LIQID GAS THAT CAN BE IDENTIFIED. GAS VAPOR PERMEATES THAT INTERIOR TO VARYING DEGREE BUT IS USUALLY EVIDENT ON THE VEHICLE EXTERIOR. I CANT RULL OUT THAT THE LEAK MAY ORIGINATE FROM A RUPTURED LINE, FITTING, OR FAILED FILTER. AVAILABILITY OF NEW OEM FUEL TANKS IS A PROBLEM PROBABLY RELATED TO THE DISCONTINUATION OF THE SATURN LINE BY GM. I HAVE READ SEVERAL OTHER ACCOUNTS OF SATURN GAS LEAKS ON INTERNET BULLETIN BOARDS. GIVEN THE POTENTIAL CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES INCLUDING PROPERTY LOSS AND HUMAN INJURY AND DEATH, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD LAUNCH AN INVESTIGATION TO IDENTIFY THE DEFECTIVE COMPONENT (S) AND INITIATE A RECALL TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. OF ALL THE VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED THIS IS THE ONLY ONE WHERE IN THE FACE OF MULTIPLE REPORTS BY CONSUMERS OF GAS ODORS/LEAKS FROM THE SATURN L SERIES, NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN T
Mileage: 125,000
IGNITION PROBLEMS WITH ONLY 88,000 MILESDOES MY CAR FIT THE GM RECALL.
Mileage: 88,000
IGNITION PROBLEMS WITH ONLY 88,000 MILESDOES MY CAR FIT THE GM RECALL.
Mileage: 88,000
IGNITION PROBLEMS WITH ONLY 88,000 MILESDOES MY CAR FIT THE GM RECALL.
Mileage: 88,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L100 (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION WAS STUCK IN THE ACCESSORY MODE AND WOULD NOT SHIFT TO THE LOCKED POSITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY COULD BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION, BUT THE ACCESSORY MODE WAS STILL ENGAGED. AS A RESULT, THE DOORS ON THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000. ...UPDATED 08/15/16 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. UPDATED 08/17/16.*JB
Mileage: 92,000
Electric Power Steering Failure
Electric Power Steering Failure
OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES STICK UNLATCHED
TIMING CHAIN BREAKS, ENGINE STALL
TIMING CHAIN FAILURE-STALL
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.