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2001 Saturn SC problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

21 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

90,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 21 complaints (14.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior314.3%
Steering behavior29.5%
Electrical and battery issues14.8%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Air Bags:Frontal
3
Electrical System
3
Steering
3
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
2
Engine And Engine Cooling
2
Tires
2
Air Bags
1
Engine
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags:Frontal3
Electrical System3
Steering3
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch2
Engine And Engine Cooling2
Tires2
Air Bags1
Engine1

Air Bags:Frontal: 3; Electrical System: 3; Steering: 3; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Tires: 2; Air Bags: 1; Engine: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
1
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
4
75,000 to 99,999
2
100,000 to 149,999
3
150,000 and above
2
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0001
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9994
75,000 to 99,9992
100,000 to 149,9993
150,000 and above2

Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 2

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 9 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2001
3
2002
1
2003
4
2005
3
2006
1
2007
1
2008
1
2009
1
2010
1
2014
3
2017
1
2022
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20013
20021
20034
20053
20061
20071
20081
20091
20101
20143
20171
20221

2001: 3; 2002: 1; 2003: 4; 2005: 3; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2014: 3; 2017: 1; 2022: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10025527 · 2003-07-07 (July 7, 2003)

2001 SATURN SC1-IDELING PROBLEMS AND OVER 70 MISFIRES NOTED BY COMPUTER. I PAID FOR A COMPLETE TUNE UP WITH DID NO GOOD AND ALSO HAD TO REPLACE ALL THE BRAKES FOR $362. THE DEALER STATES SINCE THE COMPUTER DOESN'T SHOW ANY PROBLEMS THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS. WARRANTY JUST WENT OUT 6-30-03. THE CAR IDELS ROUGHLY AND MISFIRES INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10025527 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10139270 · 2005-10-11 (October 11, 2005)

DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT SEVERAL PROBLEMS. THERE WAS A FUEL SMELL IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO STEER, WHEN SHE TURNED THE WHEEL THERE WAS A SQUEAKING NOISE. THE BRAKES DRAGGED AND SQUEAKED, AND IT FELT LIKE THE VEHICLE WAS SLIDING AND IT WAS HARD TO STOP. THE VEHICLE SHOOK AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 50 TO 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN GOING UPHILL OR TURNING A CORNER. WHEN SHE FIRST GOT THE VEHICLE IT WOULD KEEP RUNNING AFTER SHE TURNED IT OFF. THEY REPLACED SOMETHING IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. DEALER SAID THE FUEL SMELL WAS NORM…

Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 10139270 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10227607 · 2008-05-13 (May 13, 2008)

MY DAUGHTER KATIE WAS DRIVING HER CAR AROUND A CURVED EXIT RAMP WHEN THE STEERING SEEMED TO FAIL. THE CAR VEERED WILDLY BACK AND FORTH, AND THE BRAKES WERE UNRESPONSIVE AS WELL. SHE MADE MINOR CORRECTIONS TO THE STEERING UNTIL IT FINALLY BEGAN TO STRAIGHTEN OUT. THEN A FOX RAN ACROSS THE ROAD, SHE JERKED REFLEXIVELY, AND THE CAR VEERED INTO A DITCH AND ROLLED. LUCKILY SHE WAS UNINJURED EXCEPT FOR SCRAPES, HOWEVER THE CAR WAS TOTALED - WINDSHIELD SMASHED, ROOF SMASHED, PASSENGER SIDE SMASHED, AND SO ON. HAD THERE BEEN A PASSENGER THERE WOULD HAV…

Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10227607 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10619445 · 2014-08-06 (August 6, 2014)

WHILE THE CAR WAS BEING TESTED IN THE SHOP, A FUSE WAS REPLACED. A FIRE STARTED IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. ACCORDING TO THE DODGE DEALERSHIP, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SATURNS. THE DODGE DEALERSHIP CHECKED WITH A GENERAL MOTORS WHO VERIFIED THAT IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR SATURNS TO CATCH ON FIRE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 135,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10619445 at NHTSA ↗