Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 12 of 25 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
25 reports
84,000 miles · Feb 14, 2006
Power Train
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…
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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 BEFORE BUT I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE AFTER DOING A WHAT LITTLE RESEARCH MY SELF THAT THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. AS A MINIMUM THEY SHOULD AT LEAST RELEASE A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM. ANY HELP OR INFORMATION ON THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10150271
33,300 miles · Feb 18, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
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 …
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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 RECALL. THE NHTSA HAS A SERVICE BULLENTIN ON THE EXHAUST PROBLEM THAT JUST CAME OUT OCT. 2004 BULLENTIN #040605010 (SERVICE PROCEDURE FOR REPLACEMENT OF RESONATOR AND INTERMEDIATE PIPE) I ALSO FEEL A CAR THAT HAS 33,300 MILES SHOULDNT NEED ALL OF THIS KIND OF WORK DONE TO IT WHEN THESE KIND OF ISSUES USUALLY HAPPEN AROUND 60-70,000 MILES ON ANY OTHER NORMAL CAR. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER GM PRODUCT, THIS IS MY FIRST ESPECIALLY WITH THIS LOW OF MILAGE - THIS HAS BEEN A BIG DISAPPOINTMENT AND LET DOWN. THANK YOU - PLEASE PUT IN EFFECT A RECALL FOR THESE ISSUES..... I THINK GM CUSTOMERS HAVE SPENT ENOUGH ON REPAIRS. I VERY UNHAPPY FIRST SATURN (GM) OWNER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10110744
Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 2004
Steering
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 T…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10091624
51,000 miles · Aug 13, 2004
Visibility
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 SAT…
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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, AND IF I WANTED MY SUN ROOF FIXED THEY WOULD GIVE ME A DEAL BUT ONLY IF I HAD THIS OTHER SUPPOSED WORK DONE THEIR AT THE SATURN DEALERSHIP IN MEDFORD, OREGON. I WAS VERY UPSET AND THE MANAGER WOULD NOT SPEAK TO ME. THEN THEY REFUSED TO GIVE ME A COPY OF THE ESTIMATE TO FIX THE SUNROOF AND OTHER SUPPOSED PROBLEMS. I WAS THEN TOLD TO CALL A SPECIAL CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER AND THEY WOULD HELP. UPON CALLING THIS NUMBER I WAS TOLD I SHOULD HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER BEFOR CALLING THIS NUMBER THEY GAVE ME. I AGAIN NEVER TALKED TO THE MANAGER BUT THE SAME GUY I ORIGINALLY DEALT WITH AT THE DEALERSHIP. THEN BACK TO THE CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSON WHO WAS NO HELP AND AGAIN SAID THEY WOULD CUT ME A DEAL BUT ONLY IF I HAD OTHER WORK DONE FIRST AND THEY WANTED 995.00 DOLLARS FOR IT AND THE SUNROOF TO BE REPAIRED. I REFUSED AND THEY WERE NO HELP. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION ON MY OWN I HAVE LOOKED ON THE INTERNET FOR OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS REGARDING SATURN SUN ROOF AND FOUND MORE THEN I WANTED. HELP WHAT DO I DO? CAN YOU HELP ME REGARDING THE DEFECTIVE SUN ROOF.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10086820
38,000 miles · Feb 4, 2004
Power Train
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
NHTSA ODI #10057519
Mileage unknown · Aug 11, 2003
Structure
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…
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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**
NHTSA ODI #10032070
Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2003
Seat Belts
THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY WAS NOT DESIGNED PROPERLY. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10011529
Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2003
Electrical System
WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING CONSUMER CAN TAKE THE KEY OUT OF IGNITION, AND VEHICLE WOULD STILL BE RUNING. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS...*AK
NHTSA ODI #10003888
Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2002
Electrical System
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION HEADLIGHTS SHORT OUT, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8003390
Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 2001
Power TrainCrashInjury
VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, ENGINE SHUT OFF, EMERGENCY BRAKE NOT APPLIED, AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT BACKWARD AND ROLLED OVER CONSUMER'S RIGHT FOOT, KNOCKING HER DOWN. DEALER STATED CONSUMER SHOULD HAVE USED PARKING BRAKE. *AK *YD
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 & remedy
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.
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 & remedy
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2001 Saturn SC1 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year