Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2001 Saturn LS, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling300
- Electrical system80
- Exterior lighting51
- Engine41
- Power train30
- Steering29
- Suspension29
- Fuel system, gasoline17
- Air bags16
- Service brakes, hydraulic13
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 19 injuries and 3 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Recalls in Canada
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 2001 Saturn LS.
| 2007362 9 Nov 2007 | Engine On certain vehicles equipped with a 2.2L engine, the timing chain may fail. If a timing chain link separates while the engine is running, the engine will stall… |
| 2005168 2 Jun 2005 | Electrical On certain vehicles, the plastic housing in the rear tail lamp assembly can become distorted if the brake lamps remain on for an extended time. This can cause … |
| 2003161 24 Jun 2003 | Other On certain vehicles, a failure of the ignition control module may cause deterioration in idle quality, reduction in overall engine power and the vehicle may be … |
| 2000263 27 Oct 2000 | Powertrain On certain vehicles, the transaxle shift cable retainer clip may be missing or improperly seated. Without the retainer clip, the cable can slip out of its brac… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.2L 4-CYLINDER ENGINE, LINKS IN THE ENGINE'S TIMING CHAIN CAN SEPARATE.
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.
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 RESULT IN THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT FLASHING, AND MAY LEAD TO SECONDARY FAILURES OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, OXYGEN SENSOR, AND EXHAUST RESONATOR.
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.
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.
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 LEVER. THE DRIVER MAY PUT THE SHIFT LEVER IN PARK, BUT THE TRANSAXLE MAY BE IN REVERSE OR NEUTRAL.
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 OF THE DOOR.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Saturn told its dealers about the 2001 Saturn LS: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 633545 | SUBJECT REGARDING SERVICE MANUAL UPDATE FOR CHASSIS SERVICE MANUALSS REGARDING ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS AND SERVICE PROCEDURE FOR INSTALLATION OF SPACERS BETWEEN REAR SUSPENSION SUPPORT AND VEHICLE BODY WHEN PERFORMING WHEEL ALIGNMENT. *JG |
| 633537 | SOME CONSUMERS MAY COMPLAIN ABOUT A STEERING WHEEL SHAKE OR VIBRATION FELT WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS CONDITION IS MOST NOTICEABLE ON SMOOTH ROAD SURFACES AT VEHICLE SPEEDS ABOVE 65MPH (105 KM/H) *JG |
| 633527 | SUBJECT REGARDING SERVICE MANUAL UPDATE FOR BODY /ELECTRICAL VOLUME II SERVICE MANUALS REGARDING LIFTGATE RELEASE-WAGON CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION. *JG |
| 633525 | SUBJECT REGARDING SERVICE ENGINE SOON (SES) LAMP ILLUMINATED WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) P1441 SET IN PCM HISTORY (INSTALL NEW PCM CALIBRATION) *JG |
| 633516 | SUBJECT REGARDING SQUEAK, RATTLE AND POOR FIT FROM DEFROSTER GRILLE (INSTALL REDESIGNED DEFROSTER GRILLE) *JG |
| 633514 | SERVICE INFORMATION REGARDING REDESIGNED WIPER LINKAGE AND NEW SERVICE PROCEDURES. *JG |
| 633496 | SERVICE INFORMATION REGARDING POWER STEERING SYSTEM NOISE AND/OR LEAK DIAGNOSIS. *JG |
| 633491 | SUBJECT REGARDING MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR FAILURE DUE TO OIL CONTAMINATION OF SENSOR MEMBRANE (INSTALL NEW MASS AIR FLOW (MAF) SENSOR AND UPDATE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE CALIBRATION) *JG |
| 633477 | SUBJECT REGARDING SERVICE INFORMATION REGARDING NEW DESIGN LINE PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOIDS. *JG |
| 633468 | SUBJECT REGARDING SERVICE MANUAL UPDATE FOR ENGINE SERVICE MANUALS REGARDING EVAPORATIVE EMISSION (EVAP) SYSTEM FLOWCHART. *JG |
| 633466 | SUBJECT REGARDING INSTALLATION PROCEDURES FOR STANDARD HVAC CONTROLLER WITH 3RD MOUNTING BOSS. *JG |
| 633449 | SUBJECT REGARDING SERVICE INFORMATION ON NEW OIL COOLER COVER SEALANT. *JG |
| 633443 | SUBJECT REGARDING SERVICE MANUAL UPDATE FOR ENGINE SERVICE MANUALS REGARDING BALANCE SHAFT TIMING PROCEDURE. *JG |
| 633414 | SOME CONSUMERS MAY COMPLAIN THAT THE REAR DOOR GLASS IS INOPERATIVE OR DISPLAYS ERRATIC OPERATION. *JG |
| 633411 | SUBJECT REGARDING SERVICE MANUAL UPDATE FOR ENGINE SERVICE MANUALS REGARDING NEW POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE REPLACEMENT PROCEDURES. *JG |
| 633406 | SUBJECT REGARDING SERVICE MANUAL UPDATE FOR TRANSAXLE SERVICE MANUALS REGARDING NEW DIFFERENTIAL RING GEAR REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE. *JG |
| 633395 | SUBJECT REGARDING WHISTLE NOISE UNDER CERTAIN ENGINE OPERATING CONSITIONS. *JG |
| 633352 | SUBJECT REGARDING INACCURATE ODOMETER READING AFTER LOSS OF BATTERY POWER. *JG |
| 632277 | THE PURPOSE OF THIS BULLETIN IS TO PROVIDE NEW POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE REPLACEMENT PROCEDURES. *TT |
| 632269 | SERVICE INFORMATION REGARDING DESIGN CHANGE TO THERMOSTAT HOUSING, THERMOSTAT HOUSING BOLTS, AND THERMOSTAT HOUSING O-RING SEAL. *TT |
| 631945 | SUBJECT REGARDING SERVICE MANUAL UPDATE FOR CHASSIS SERVICE MANUALS REGARDING FRONT STRUT ASSEMBLY PROCEDURE. *SLC |
| 631943 | SUBJECT REGARDING SERVICE MANUAL AND QUICK REFERENCE SPECIFICATIONS GUIDE UPDATE REGARDING INCORRECT CYLINDER HEAD BOLT TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS. *SLC |
| 631859 | SERVICE MANUAL UPDATE FOR CHASSIS SERVICE MANUALS REGARDING FRONT STRUT ASSEMBLY PROCEDURE. *SLC |
| 631855 | SERVICE MANUAL UPDATE REGARDING FRONT SEAT CUSHION COVER/PAD REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION. *SLC |
| 631317 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF REAR DOOR GLASS BEING INOPERATIVE OR OPERATES ERRACTICALLY.*JB |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
TIMING CHAIN BREAKS, ENGINE STALL
TIMING CHAIN FAILURE-STALL
TIMING CHAIN FAILURE - STALL
TIMING CHAIN FAILURE
TIMING CHAIN FAILURE
INOPERATIVE TAIL LAMPS
INOPERATIVE TAIL LAMPS
HEADLAMPS FLICKER OFF AND ON
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation