2000 Saturn S-Series Wagon Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2000 Saturn S-Series Wagon, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical125.0%
- Engine125.0%
- Fuel system125.0%
- Other / unspecified125.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
ON DECEMBER 14TH I LEFT WORK AT 4:00 PM (TEMP WAS 20 DEGREES F), DROVE 1/2 MILE, TURNED OFF IGNITION AND MADE A QUICK PURCHASE. STARTED THE CAR, DROVE ABOUT 1/2 MILE AND THE CAR BEGAN MISSING. I DROVE ANOTHER BLOCK, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WENT OFF, AND THE CAR MISSED AGAIN. I HEADED BACK TOWARDS MY WORKPLACE TO USE A TELEPHONE TO CALL MY SPOUSE TO PICK ME UP, BUT THE CAR COMPLETELY QUIT AFTER DRIVING A BLOCK OR TWO. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO WALK, BUT NOTICE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, THEN I HEARD A SPARKING, CRACKLING SOUND AND LOOKED UNDER THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND SAW A SMALL FIRE BURNING. I APPROACHED A RESIDENCE, THE OCCUPANTS HAD ALREADY OBSERVED THE SMOKE FROM THE CAR AND HAD BEGUN THE 911 CALL. THE FLAMES QUICKLY GREW AND THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY IN FLAMES AND BLACK SMOKE BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED AN EXHAUST PROBLEM. THE MUFFLER, EXHAUST PIPE AND MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. OWNER DID TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS SEALED. THE SEALANT JUST MELTED THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN SHE PUT GAS IN VEHICLE IT SPIT BACK OUT. THE VEHICLE IS A 2000 SATURN SL1. THERE IS A RECALL ON A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY. THE CONSUMER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ONCE. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO SEE IF CAR WAS IN THE VIN RANGE, AND CONSUMER'S CAR WAS NOT. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT PLANNING ON HAVING THE PROBLEM FIXED. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR FOUR YEARS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT: (SPANISH CALL): REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS ON MY 2000 SATURN SW2 WERE LEAKING. THEY LEAKED AND FAILED BEFORE, AND IT WAS TIME FOR THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REGULAR SERVICE. THE DEALER'S MECHANIC TOLD THE CONTACT THAT HE NEEDED TO CHANGE THE WHEEL CYLINDERS.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .