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2001 Saturn Ls reliability record

Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2001 Saturn Ls — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.

Source-verified · 2026NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Official source
NHTSA complaints
708
2 in the last 5 years
Top problem area
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
150 complaints
Recalls on record
0
none on record
Reported harm
18 reported crashes · 19 injuries · 9 deaths · 21 fires

How this record compares

raw NHTSA counts, not defect rates

Complaint rank

#680

of 4,194 vehicle records

Vs Saturn median

+339

median 369 across 39 Saturn records

Vs 1999-2003

+458

median 250 complaints in 747 records

Top component share

40%

Engine And Engine Cooling: 286 complaints

What owners report fails — 2001 Saturn Ls

  • ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 150
  • ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE 91
  • ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS 45
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 42
  • ENGINE 41

Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2001 Saturn Ls

A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.

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These are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2001 Saturn Ls units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2001 Saturn Ls reliable?

NHTSA has 708 consumer complaints on record for the 2001 Saturn Ls. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (150 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2001 Saturn Ls units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.

What are the most common problems with the 2001 Saturn Ls?

Owners most often report problems with: engine and engine cooling (150), engine and engine cooling:engine (91), engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:belts and associated pulleys (45), electrical system (42). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.

How much does it cost to own a 2001 Saturn Ls?

Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.

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