IllustrationTHE AXLE SQUEAKED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION.*JB. FRONT LEFT AXLE HAS BEEN REPLACED, BUT NOISE CONTINUED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN LOCATED THE PROBLEM-AXLE SEALS. TECHNICIAN REPLACED BOTH AXLE SEALS, AND PROBLEM HAS BEEN SOLVED. *AK
2001 Saturn Sl
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2001 Saturn Sl do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 171.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sl years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
90–25K
1225–50K
1550–75K
1075–100K
11100–150K
4150K+
61 reports with mileage · 50 unknown
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 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
14 crash reports0 fire reports9 injury reports
What owners actually said
111 reportsINSTRUMENT CLUSTER TRUNK AJAR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES WHILE DRIVING. DEALER CANNOT REMEDY
2001 SL1 SATURN
WHILE BEING DRIVEN 40 MPH, THE OWNER NOTICED A VEHICLE DRIVING ERRATIC AND SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. THE DRIVER CLIPPED THE OTHER VEHICLE IN THE PROCESS. THE REAR SEAT BACK LATCH FAILED ALLOWING THE REAR SEAT BACK TO FALL ON TOP OF THE CHILD BELTED IN THE REAR. A MECHANIC, WAS UNABLE TO RELATCH THE SEAT BACK. PLEASE DESCRIBE DE…
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WHILE BEING DRIVEN 40 MPH, THE OWNER NOTICED A VEHICLE DRIVING ERRATIC AND SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. THE DRIVER CLIPPED THE OTHER VEHICLE IN THE PROCESS. THE REAR SEAT BACK LATCH FAILED ALLOWING THE REAR SEAT BACK TO FALL ON TOP OF THE CHILD BELTED IN THE REAR. A MECHANIC, WAS UNABLE TO RELATCH THE SEAT BACK. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS TS
FINGERS BENT AND TWISTED INDEX AND MIDDLE FINGERS BENT TOWARDS THE BABY FINGERS. THUMBS IS BENT OUTWARD FROM THE HANDS. EXTREME SHOULDER PAIN AND RESTRICTED MOVEMENT. BOTH SHOULDERS ARE PAINFUL LEFT ARM IS VERY RESTRICTED IN MOVEMENT. CAN NOT RAISE LEFT ARM TO 90% OR CROSS LEFT ARM OVER CHEST. BOTH ARMS HAVE PAIN RADIATING…
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FINGERS BENT AND TWISTED INDEX AND MIDDLE FINGERS BENT TOWARDS THE BABY FINGERS. THUMBS IS BENT OUTWARD FROM THE HANDS. EXTREME SHOULDER PAIN AND RESTRICTED MOVEMENT. BOTH SHOULDERS ARE PAINFUL LEFT ARM IS VERY RESTRICTED IN MOVEMENT. CAN NOT RAISE LEFT ARM TO 90% OR CROSS LEFT ARM OVER CHEST. BOTH ARMS HAVE PAIN RADIATING DOWN FROM THE SHOULDER. STEERING IS EXTREMELY TIGHT/HARD LIKE THE CHEVROLET IMPALA. PICTURES OF HANDS CAN BE SEEN ON HTTP://PHOTOS.YAHOO.COM/MIKETOMICH. THIS INFORMATION SUBMITTED ON BEHALF OF MICHELLE BY MIKE TOMICH 989-665-2311.
I HAVE NOT EVEN OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR ONE FULL YEAR AND IT HAS COST ME $700.00 IN LESS THAN 2 WEEKS. DT
NO SUMMARY. DT
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLES ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. NLM
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. NLM
HORN STOPPED WORKING 1 WEEK AFTER PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER 5 TIMES, COULD NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK
Official recalls
200V309000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
Oct 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 & 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.
00V310000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:park/neutral Start Interlock Switch
Oct 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 & 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.