2001 Saturn SC1: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
25 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
61,779 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 25 complaints (12.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 20.0% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 20.0% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 16.0% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 4.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 2 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 2 |
| Seat Belts:Front | 2 |
| Tires | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Electrical System:Ignition: 2; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 2; Seat Belts:Front: 2; Tires: 2; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 13 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
2000: 2; 2001: 4; 2002: 1; 2003: 3; 2004: 3; 2005: 1; 2006: 2; 2007: 3; 2008: 3; 2010: 2; 2012: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 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 10003888 · 2003-01-15 (January 15, 2003)
WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING CONSUMER CAN TAKE THE KEY OUT OF IGNITION, AND VEHICLE WOULD STILL BE RUNING. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS...*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003888 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011529 · 2003-03-12 (March 12, 2003)
THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY WAS NOT DESIGNED PROPERLY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011529 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032070 · 2003-08-11 (August 11, 2003)
THE VEHICLE HAD 7 DIFFERENT INTERNAL LEAKS IN THE PASSENGER CABIN FROM THE WINDOWS, SUNROOF, ETC. WHICH RESULTED IN SERIOUS RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE INTERIOR 3 TIMES AND THE HEADLINER TWICE. CONSUMER STATED THAT MOLD "SPORES" HAD FORMED IN THE VEHICLE. *AK *CB *JB **CONSUMER REQUESTS CALL BACK FROM AN ODI INVESTIGATOR**
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10032070 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057519 · 2004-02-04 (February 4, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION FAILED AND FLUID LEAKED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057519 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086820 · 2004-08-13 (August 13, 2004)
I BOUGHT MY CAR FROM THE MEDFORD SATURN DEALERSHIP, A 2001 SATURN SC2. I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE ONLY PUT SLIGHTLY LESS THEN 20,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM IS THAT MY SUN ROOF THAT IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD IS BROKEN BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE PART OF THE PLASTIC GLIDERS. I TOOK MY CAR TO SATURN AND THEY REFUSED TO FIX THEIR DEFECT AND WANTED OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO FIX IT. THEY ALSO LOOKED UNDER MY HOOD AND TOLD ME I HAD OTHER THINGS WRONG WITH THE CAR THAT THEY WOULD FIX FOR ANOTHER 995.00 DOLLARS. OH…
Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086820 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10091624 · 2004-09-08 (September 8, 2004)
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE STEERING COLUMN WAS TOO LOOSE. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A MANUFACTURED BOLT THAT WAS LOOSE. IT COULD NOT BE TIGHTENED, IT HAD TO BE CUT OFF AND REPLACED. CONSUMER FELT IT WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THEREFORE, IT SHOULD BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT ON RECALL AND CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10091624 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10110744 · 2005-02-18 (February 18, 2005)
2001 SATURN SC2 BOUGHT 2/04 20,000 ORGINAL MILES ....... SUPORTING DOCUMENTS STATE THE CAR WAS SITTING AND NOT DRIVEN PRIOR TO PURCHASING. AS OF OCT 2004 AND 30,000 MILES THERE HAS BEEN A LEAK IN EXHAUST, CHECKED WITH SATURN DEALER AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW RESONATOR AND PIPE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ME APPROX. $400 TO FIX, 2ND PROBLEM IS THAT MY IDLER PULLEY IS BAD AND IN THE PROCESS DISTROYING THE SERPENTINE DRIVE BELT APPROX. $200 TO REPAIR. I FEEL GM (SATURN) NEED TO OWN UP TO THESE COMMON PROBLEMS WITH THERE VEHICLES AND REPAIR THEM UNDER…
Owner-reported narrative. 33,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10110744 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10150271 · 2006-02-14 (February 14, 2006)
I OWN A 2001 SATURN SC2 WITH 84000 MILES. A GEAR IN THE TRANSAXLE DIFFERENTIAL HAS WORN A HOLE THROUGH THE INSIDE OF THE BELL HOUSING CAUSING A MAJOR LEAK. I HAVE CONTACTED 5 TRANSMISSION SHOPS IN MY LOCAL AREA AND ALL HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM NUMEROUS TIMES. I HAVE CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALER AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER AND WAS TOLD ITS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY WILL NOT COVER THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. I HAVE ONLY WORKED ON THIS ONE DAY AND EVERY SHOP THAT WORKS ON TRANSMISSIONS KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM. SATURN SAID THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BE…
Owner-reported narrative. 84,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10150271 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 ↗