VehicleVerdict

2001 Saturn SL engine problems

The 2001 Saturn SL has 20 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 15% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.

20

Engine complaints

15%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

SL engine complaints by model year75 complaints1991: 2 complaints1992: 28 complaints1993: 36 complaints1994: 50 complaints1995: 75 complaints1996: 71 complaints1997: 41 complaints1998: 29 complaints1999: 51 complaints2000: 38 complaints2001: 20 complaints2002: 22 complaints
SL engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT ONTO THE MAIN HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR MADE A PFFFF SOUND AND I LOST ALL POWER TO THE CAR THE MOTOR JUST STOPPED. I HAD NO POWER STEERING AND NO POWER BRAKES. THE DEALER STATED THE TIMING CHAIN JUST SNAPPED AND THEN 12 OUT OF THE 16 VALVES IN THE CAR BENT. I FOUND…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · July 14, 2007

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 2001 Saturn SL have?

NHTSA has 20 complaints about the 2001 Saturn SL engine — 15% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.