Recalls (7)
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2001 Saturn LS. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Listed for 2001 Saturn LS. Not checked against your VIN.
ENGINE TIMING CHAIN
Engine and engine cooling
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.2L 4-CYLINDER ENGINE, LINKS IN THE ENGINE'S TIMING CHAIN CAN SEPARATE.
- Consequence
- IF A TIMING CHAIN LINK SEPARATES WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING, THE ENGINE WILL STALL AND WILL NOT RESTART INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 15, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876.
Repair progress not yet reported20,514 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 07V519000
Listed for 2001 Saturn LS. Not checked against your VIN.
REAR TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY
Exterior lighting · brake lights
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- ON CERTAIN SEDANS AND WAGONS, THE PLASTIC HOUSING IN THE REAR TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY CAN BECOME DISTORTED IF THE BRAKE LAMPS REMAIN ON FOR AN EXTENDED TIME.
- Consequence
- THIS CAN CAUSE (1) AN INTERMITTENTLY INOPERATIVE BRAKE/TAIL LAMP BULB OR (2) A SHORT CIRCUIT THAT OPENS A FUSE CAUSING INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMPS (INCLUDING THE CENTER HIGH-MOUNTED STOP LAMP) OR TAIL LAMPS. A FOLLOWING DRIVER MAY NOT KNOW WHEN THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN APPLIED, AND A REAR-END CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL INSTALL TWO NEW TAIL LAMP REINFORCING SOCKET ADAPTERS AND SOCKETS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 17, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876.
Repair progress not yet reported291,652 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 05V245000
Listed for 2001 Saturn LS. Not checked against your VIN.
GM/IGNITION CONTROL MODULE
Electrical system · ignition · module
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.2L L4 (L61) ENGINES, A FAILURE OF THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE MAY CAUSE DETERIORATION IN IDLE QUALITY, REDUCTION IN OVERALL ENGINE POWER, AND THE VEHICLE MAY BE HARD TO START. CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE AFTER SUCH AN IGNITION MODULE FAILURE WILL RESULT IN THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT FLASHING, AND MAY LEAD TO SECONDARY FAILURES OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, OXYGEN SENSOR, AND EXHAUST RESONATOR.
- Consequence
- FAILURE OF THE RESONATOR WILL CAUSE INCREASED EXHAUST NOISE. PROLONGED OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE FOLLOWING A RESONATOR FAILURE MAY LEAD TO A FIRE.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL (1) REPLACE THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE, (2) REPLACE THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE AND SPARK PLUGS, OR (3) REPLACE THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE, SPARK PLUGS, AND UPDATE THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE CALIBRATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-553-6000, PROMPT 3.
Repair progress not yet reported239,993 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 03V231000
Listed for 2001 Saturn LS. Not checked against your VIN.
GM/PASSENGER AIR BAG MISSING CHECK VALVE PIN
Air bags · frontal
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND MINI VANS, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A PASSENGER AIR BAG THAT WAS MANUFACTURED WITHOUT A CHECK VALVE PIN. AN AIR BAG WITHOUT THE CHECK VALVE PIN COULD PRODUCE INCREASED PRESSURE AT THE ONSET OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND REDUCED PRESSURE AFTERWARD.
- Consequence
- THIS COULD INCREASE THE SEVERITY OF INJURY TO A PERSON WHO WAS NOT PROPERLY RESTRAINED AND WHO WAS CLOSE TO THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AT THE TIME OF DEPLOYMENT. IT COULD ALSO REDUCE THE AB8ILITY OF THE AIR BAG TO PROTECT A RESTRAINED FRONT SEAT PASSENGER.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 16, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537, OR SATURN AT 1-800-553-6000, PROMPT #3.
Repair progress not yet reported272 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 02V329000
Listed for 2001 Saturn LS. Not checked against your VIN.
GM/AIR BAG INFLATOR MODULE
Air bags · frontal
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND MINIVANS. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG INFLATOR MODULES WERE BUILT WITHOUT THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF GENERANT, WHICH PRODUCES THE GAS THAT FILLS THE AIR BAG. SOME WERE BUILT WITH A DOUBLE LOAD OF GENERANT AND SOME WERE BUILT WITHOUT GENERANT.
- Consequence
- IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THAT WOULD TRIGGER A PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, A DOUBLE LOAD OF GENERANT CAN CAUSE THE INFLATOR MODULE TO EXPLODE. IF THE AIR BAG MODULE EXPLODES, METAL AND PLASTIC DEBRIS COULD CAUSE SEVERE INJURY TO VEHICLE OCCUPANT. A MODULE WITH NO GENERANT WOULD NOT INFLATE THE AIR BAG, AND THE OCCUPANTS COULD RECEIVE MORE SEVERE INJURIES.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG MODULE. TELEPHONE CALLS WERE MADE TO OWNERS ON JANUARY 29, 2001. FOLLOW UP OWNER MAILING BEGAN ON APRIL 17, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OR SATURN AT 1-800-553-6000.
Repair progress not yet reported38 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 01V026000
Listed for 2001 Saturn LS. Not checked against your VIN.
GM/TRANSAXLE SHIFT CABLE CLIP
Power train · automatic transmission · gear position indication (prndl)
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH THE TRANSAXLE SHIFT CABLE CLIP MISSING OR IMPROPERLY SEATED. WITHOUT THE CLIP, THE CABLE CAN SLIP OUT OF ITS BRACKET AND THE TRANSAXLE LEVER WOULD NOT MOVE ALONG WITH THE SHIFT LEVER. THE DRIVER MAY PUT THE SHIFT LEVER IN PARK, BUT THE TRANSAXLE MAY BE IN REVERSE OR NEUTRAL.
- Consequence
- UNEXPECTED MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSAXLE SHIFT CABLE RETAINER CLIP TO VERIFY PROPER INSTALLATION AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE CLIP AND ADJUST THE CABLE TO SPECIFICATIONS.
Repair progress not yet reported1,637 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 00V344000
Listed for 2001 Saturn LS. Not checked against your VIN.
GM/SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG
Air bags · side/window
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG SYSTEM. THE AIR BAG SYSTEM HAS A LOWER SIDE IMPACT SAFING SENSOR THRESHOLD THAN SPECIFIED. BECAUSE OF THIS REDUCED THRESHOLD, THERE COULD BE AN INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF THE SIDE HEAD CURTAIN AIR BAG WITH SEVERE SLAMMING OF THE DOOR.
- Consequence
- THIS COULD CAUSE INJURY TO AN OCCUPANT.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE INFLATABLE RESTRAINT SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE ASSEMBLY.
Repair progress not yet reported168 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 00V235000
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (582)
582 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The engine and engine cooling is mentioned most often.
14involved a crash
14involved a fire
19injuries reported
3deaths reported
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 582 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 300 | 51.5% |
| Electrical system | 80 | 13.7% |
| Exterior lighting | 51 | 8.8% |
| Engine | 41 | 7% |
| Power train | 30 | 5.2% |
| Steering | 29 | 5% |
| Suspension | 29 | 5% |
| Fuel system | 21 | 3.6% |
| Service brakes | 20 | 3.4% |
| Air bags | 16 | 2.7% |
How 2001 compares with other LS years
Best and worst LS years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 382 | 6 |
| 2001 | 582 | 7 |
| 2002 | 493 | 3 |
| 2004 | 1 | 0 |
This year (2001)Other yearsStill collecting reports
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Looking at a 2001 LS for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2001 Saturn LS FAQ
How many recalls does the 2001 Saturn LS have?
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns: 07V519000 (engine), 05V245000 (brake), 03V231000 (electrical), 02V329000 (air bag), 01V026000 (air bag), 00V344000 (power train), 00V235000 (air bag). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2001 Saturn LS problems?
Owners filed 582 complaints with NHTSA. Engine and engine cooling (300), Electrical system (80), Exterior lighting (51) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
How does the 2001 LS compare with other years?
Among the 2000–2004 Saturn LS model years at least five years old, the 2004 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 2001 the most (582). The 2001 drew 582. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.
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