Is the 2001 Saturn LS a bad year?
582 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 336.
Consider selling
Half of all engine complaints about the 2001 Saturn LS were filed between 67k and 110k miles. You're at 88,000 miles.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2001 LS owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 88,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 330 (57%) | 67k–110k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 80 (14%) | 58k–99k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 30 (5%) | 61k–112k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Steering | 29 (5%) | 36k–100k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Fuel system | 24 (4%) | 66k–116k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Brakes | 20 (3%) | 39k–102k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Air bags | 16 (3%) | 49k–93k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Exterior lightingSTANDS OUT | 51 (9%) | 39k–80k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Suspension | 29 (5%) | 26k–87k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Equipment | 15 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 12 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 12 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Engine and cooling | 6 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seats | 5 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 88,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 582 complaints: 14 mention a crash · 14 mention a fire · 14 report an injury · 2 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Jan 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
While traveling at approximately 60 MPH on an 8 lane highway (Interstate 75 and without any warning signs the 2001 Saturn L200 lost power.
While traveling at highway speed, the timing chain failed in my 2001 Saturn L200. This caused sudden loss of power on a major highway.
Timing chain broke while driving on interstate 40 causing catastrophic engine damage. Engine had to be rebuilt.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 88,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2001 Saturn LS: 7
On certain passenger vehicles equipped with a 2.2L 4-CYLINDER engine, links in the engine's timing chain can separate. If a timing chain link separates while the engine is running, the engine will stall and will not restart increasing the risk of a crash.
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. This can cause (1) an intermittently inoperative brake/tail lamp bulb or (2) a short circuit that opens a fuse causing inoperative brake lamps (Including the center high-mounted stop lamp) or tail lamps.
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. Failure of the resonator will cause increased exhaust noise. Prolonged operation of the vehicle following a resonator failure may lead to a fire.
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. This could increase the severity of injury to a person who was not properly restrained and who was close to the passenger air bag at the time of deployment.
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. In the event of a crash that would trigger a passenger air bag deployment, a double load of generant can cause the inflator module to explode.
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. Unexpected movement of the vehicle could cause a crash without prior warning.
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. This could cause injury to an occupant.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Saturn: 39
Repair instructions Saturn sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2001 Saturn LS. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Proper way to install the pistons in an engine
Torque specification and installation procedure for ACDelco Spin-On Oil Filters
NHTSA defect investigations: 8
Timing chain breaks, engine stall
Timing chain failure-stall
Timing chain failure - stall
Timing chain failure
Timing chain failure
Neighbouring years
2000 LS: 382 complaints, consider selling · 2002 LS: 493 complaints, consider selling.
Every Saturn LS year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2004 · All LS years side by side
Other Saturn models: Saturn Astra · Saturn Aura · Saturn ION · Saturn Outlook · Saturn SL · Saturn Sky · Saturn Vue. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2001 Saturn LS a bad year?
582 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 336. At 88,000 miles the tool says: Consider selling. Half of all engine complaints about the 2001 Saturn LS were filed between 67k and 110k miles. You're at 88,000 miles.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Saturn LS?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (330), electrical system (80), transmission and drivetrain (30), steering (29), fuel system (24). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 67k–110k miles.
How many recalls does the 2001 Saturn LS have?
7 recall campaigns list this model year: Engine (NHTSA 07V-519), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 05V-245), Electrical system (NHTSA 03V-231), Air bags (NHTSA 02V-329) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.