2001 Saturn SC: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
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.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 14.3% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 9.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 4.8% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10013862 · 2003-04-02 (April 2, 2003)
THE HIGH PRESSURE HOSE TO THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR FITTING CRACKED. THE CRACK OCCURRED ON THE END OF THE TUBING. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 52,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013862 at NHTSA ↗
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 10029908 · 2003-07-22 (July 22, 2003)
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10029908 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10029909 · 2003-07-22 (July 22, 2003)
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10029909 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10113544 · 2005-04-12 (April 12, 2005)
THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WHILE DRIVNG. THE CONSUMER WAS ALSO ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE WITH A KEY OTHER THAN THE ONE WHICH WAS DESIGNED FOR THE VEHICLE. *JB *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 74,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10113544 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 10145252 · 2005-12-14 (December 14, 2005)
I BOUGHT A NEW 2000 SC1. THE WARRANTY PERIOD ENDED IN MAY OF THIS YEAR. TODAY I HAD TO HAVE THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR ON A CAR WITH LESS THAN 75000 MILES. THE REPAIRMAN AT SATURN SAID HE HAD NEVER REPLACED A HEAD GASKET ON A SATURN IN 14 YEARS WITH THE COMPANY. THEY ALSO FOUND CARBON DEPOSITS IN THE MOTOR THAT THE REPAIRMAN WAS SUPRISED TO SEE. THE REPAIR DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THEIR FINDINGS WERE INCONCLUSIVE IN DETERMINING IF THE GASKET WAS DEFECTIVE. THIS CAR WAS ADVERTISED USING TWO EMPLOYEES DRIVING AROUND T…
Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10145252 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10156502 · 2006-05-01 (May 1, 2006)
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN FRONT IMPACT ACCIDENT, REAR-ENDING A NON-MOVING VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON IMPACT (STRAIGHT-ON AND CENTER). AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURY. VEHICLE DAMAGE INCLUDED FRONT BUMPER & HOOD. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 96,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10156502 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
00V309000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Reported: 2000-10-12 (October 12, 2000)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY." THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH AN INADEQUATE VENT VALVE WELD ON THE TOP PORTION OF THE FUEL TANK.
Consequence: FUEL SPILLAGE COULD OCCUR DURING REFUELING OR IF THE VEHICLE WERE INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER. IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO ENSURE THE FUEL TANK VENT VALVE IS PROPERLY WELDED. IF NECESSARY, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗00V310000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch
Reported: 2000-10-12 (October 12, 2000)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH AN IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE PARK LOCK CABLE ASSEMBLY. IF IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED, IT IS POSSIBLE TO SHIFT FROM THE "PARK" POSITION WITH THE IGNITION KEY REMOVED.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH RESULTING FROM THE UNINTENDED MOVEMENT OF PARKED VEHICLES.
Remedy: SATURN IS ASKING OWNERS AND RETAILERS TO PERFORM A FUNCTIONAL CHECK OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE PARK LOCK CABLE ASSEMBLY OPERATION, AND IF NECESSARY, TO HAVE THE CABLE ADJUSTED. IF OWNERS ARE NOT COMFORTABLE PERFORMING THE FUNCTIONAL CHECK THEMSELVES, THEY CAN HAVE THEIR DEALER PERFORM THIS INSPECTION FOR THEM.
NHTSA campaign record ↗