RoadVitals

2001 Saturn S-Series

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
5
Latest Jun 23, 2008
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
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InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
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Overview

Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2001 Saturn S-Series, most frequently naming the brakes, seat belts and airbags categories. 69 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes233.3%
  • Seat belts233.3%
  • Airbags116.7%
  • Interior & seats116.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Filed Jun 23, 2008
Crash reported

DRIVING NORTH ON I-5 IN OREGON. THE TRAFFIC WAS STOP AND GO. THE CAR IN FRONT STARTED TO GO. I FOLLOWED. THE CAR IN FRONT SLAMMED ON HER BRAKE. I DID THE SAME. MY BRAKE WOULD HOLD THAN RELEASE AND HOLD. WHEN THE BRAKE RELEASED I COULD FEEL THE CAR SURGE FORWARD. THE CAR SURGED FORWARD AND CAUSED ME TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE DAMAGE WAS MINOR. THE ENGINE WILL STAY REVERED AFTER I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS. IT WILL DO THIS ALMOST EVERY TIME THAT I DRIVE THE CAR. I HAVE HAD THE CAR INTO THE SATURN DEALER TWICE. THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. I HAVE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO SATURN. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10232060
Incident
Feb 20, 2006
AirbagsInterior & seatsSeat belts
Filed Jun 16, 2004
Crash reported

HIT IN THE RIGHT REAR, NO ARIBAG ENGAGED BUT ON IMPACT THE SEATBELT RELEASED AND THE SEAT COLLAPSED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10078340
Incident
Apr 19, 2004
Mileage
3,500 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 16, 2004

ANTI LOCK BRAKES BEING TOO SENSITIVE. FOUND ANITLOCK SENSOR RING ON THE RIGHT SPINDLE CRACKED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10078338
Incident
Apr 1, 2004
Mileage
3,500 mi
Seat belts
Filed Jan 30, 2003

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT COLLAPSED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

NHTSA ID
10006037
Incident
Jan 1, 2003
Brakes
Filed Oct 20, 2000

THE BRAKE PEDAL MAKES A LOUD POP NOISE AND THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, SOMETIMES THE PEDAL DROPS HALF WAY OR ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT WARNING, CONSUMER BELIEVES IT'S A DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDER OR BOOSTER BUT SATURN IS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. NLM

NHTSA ID
556320

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SB-10-08-50-003B

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT

GENERAL MOTORS: INFORMATION PROVIDED BY BULLETIN FOR ALL 2012 AND PRIOR GENERAL MOTOR TRUCKS AND PASSENGER VEHICLES REGARDING THE ADJUSTABLE COMFORT AND CUSTOM UPHOLSTERY OF THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER HEAD RESTRAINT. *PE

060730024

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

INFORMATION FOR DIAGNOSING AND SERVICING CUSTOMER CONCERNS OF THE VEHICLE CREEPING FORWARD IN NEUTRAL, BINDING IN REVERSE, AND/OR CLICKING OR WHINING IN ALL FORWARD GEARS AFTER TRANSAXLE SERVICE. *KB

030524001

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS

SERVICE INFORMATION REGARDING SATURN REAR DRUM WHEEL CYLINDER INSPECTIONS. *TT UPDATE. *TT

020232009

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

POWER STEERING SYSTEM NOISE AND/OR LEAK DIAGNOSIS. *TT

990137009A

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

ODOR FROM A/C AT VEHICLE START-UP. *TT

040310008

SUSPENSION

STEERING WHEEL SHAKE OR VIBRATION AT 100 - 109 KM/H (62 - 68 MPH). *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Saturn S-Series by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2002300—
2001Viewing500—
2000300—
1999200—
1998200—
1997100—
1996210—
1995110—
1994310—
1993010—
1992000—
1991000—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.