AI DamageSaturn S-Series Sedan: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Saturn S-Series Sedan across 6 model years: 17 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 35% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 24% of all complaints
- 3 Air bags 12% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 12% of all complaints
- 5 Child seat 6% of all complaints
- 6 Exterior lighting 6% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel system 6% of all complaints
- 8 Seat belts 6% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 6 complaints (35% of all).
- Electrical system: 4 complaints (24% of all).
- Air bags: 2 complaints (12% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (12% of all).
- Child seat: 1 complaints (6% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 17 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Child seat | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The airbags did not deploy, although according to some comments by police and fire, they should have. I just wanted to report this just in case there were other owners with the same issues. Car was totaled, no repair done.
Driver was rearened in traffic accident on freeway, drivers seat belt did not lock, drivers side airbag did not deploy, and drivers side seat broke, and driver was laid in back seat.
Brakes failed on my 2002 saturn s series sedan (15,000 miles) while decellerating at a yield merge and rearended a car at low speed with minimal damage. Police officer noted brake pedal had to be floored to get only slight braking officer advised vehicle must be towed. Vehicle towed to saturn dealership.
2001 saturn sl2 sedan timing chain failure. It is currently at an automotive repair shop, so I do not have the vin handy (but if you need it, contact me). They do not want to replace the timing chain because they say they have had experiences where they do this and it fails again in a few months.
Key fit in ignition but would not turn, tried turning steering wheel back and forth in locked position while turning key but to no avail. After approximately 5-10 minutes key would finally turn and allow me to start vehicle but the same thing happened the next time I tried to start the car.
Car will turn over and immediately stall. This will continue for approx. 10 to 15 min.each time you turn the key,it will turn over and immediately stall. As if there is no gas going to the fuel injectors; or the fuel injectors stop .
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.