NHTSA Data Explorer

Saturn SL2

Data refreshed June 26, 2026

Select a model year to filter results to that year of the Saturn SL2.

Complaints

42

Active records

Recalls

1

Active records

TSBs

148

Active records

Filing history

Monthly totals over the last 20 years. Click a legend item to show or hide that series.

Reported severity

Based on consumer complaints filed since 2000. Recalls and TSBs do not include severity data.

Deaths

1

Injuries

12

Crashes

8

Fires

0

Top reported issues — Saturn SL2

Click a category to expand its values.

Operating state

8

Transmission/drivetrain behavior

7

Condition issue

6

Engine behavior

4

Safety restraint behavior

4

Safety restraint issue

4

Noise

3

Braking behavior

2

Performance issue

2

Access/entry issue

1

Driver assistance issue

1

Powering on/off behavior

1

Starting behavior

1

Steering behavior

1

Wiper/washer behavior

1

Recent filings

The 10 most recent filings for each type.

1997 SATURN SATURN S SERIES

Filed May 22, 2012


WHEN DRIVING THE CAR THE STEERING SEEMED LOOSE. MY MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE SUB FRAME (ENGINE CRADLE) WAS CRACKED. THE SUB FRAME, RACK AND PINION, FRONT STRUTS, AND OUTER TIE ROD WAS REPLACED. THE CAR NOW DRIVES WELL. MY MECHANIC SAID IT WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WITH A CRACKED SUB FRAME. *TT

1996 SATURN S SERIES

Filed Aug 3, 2011


TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SATURN ION S-SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, UNLESS THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND PERFORMED THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

2002 SATURN S-SERIES SEDAN

Filed Nov 8, 2010


3 injured
Crash

A CAR WAS GOING 55 MPH, DIDN'T BRAKE AND HIT THE PERSON BEHIND ME WHO WAS PUSHED INTO MY CAR AND I WAS PUSHED INTO A TRUCK. THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT MOVED ALL OUR CARS 65 FEET. 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. *TR

2001 SATURN S-SERIES SEDAN

Filed Sep 28, 2010


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. THEY SAY THEY DO NOT WANT TO LOOK FOR ANOTHER ENGINE BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I SPECIFICALLY BOUGHT THE SATURN BECAUSE IT HAD A TIMING CHAIN INSTEAD OF A TIMING BELT (BECAUSE I OWNED A…

2000 SATURN S-SERIES SEDAN

Filed Jun 22, 2010


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. *TR

2000 SATURN S-SERIES SEDAN

Filed Sep 5, 2009


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 . NO MECHANIC CAN SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM SINCE IT NEVER HAPPENS WHEN I'M AT THE REPAIR SHOP. LIKE I SAID WHEN THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS, IT WILL LAST FOR APPROX. 10 TO 15 MIN. THEN THE CAR WILL START AS IF NOTHING EVER HAPPENED.*TR

2002 SATURN SATURN S SERIES

Filed May 6, 2009


TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN S SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY SHUTS OFF EVER SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. THE VEHICLE MUST REMAIN PARKED FOR AT LEAST A WEEK BEFORE IT WILL RESTART. AFTER THE MOST RECENT FAILURE, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN CALLING THE DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY LOCATED, BUT HAS…

1999 SATURN S SERIES

Filed Oct 13, 2008


I HAVE A 1999 SATURN. IT KEEPS STALLING WHILE IN MOTION. IT WILL WORK FINE FOR A FEW WEEKS, THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT WILL ACT UP AND THE RPMS WILL DANCE AROUND UNTIL IT FINALLY STALLS. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN MANY TIMES ALREADY. I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE INCLUDED WITH THE TIMING CHAIN INQUIRY, BUT I AM NOT SURE IF IT WILL RUN LONG ENOUGH FOR IT TO BE COVERED. I AM UPSET THAT I CAN'T GET ANY ANSWERS FROM SATURN. THEY INSIST ON ME BRINGING THE CAR IN AND I AM QUITE SURE THAT WILL NEED TO FIX…

2001 SATURN S-SERIES SEDAN

Filed Sep 10, 2008


BRUSHING ON MY 2001 SATURN BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING, LEAVING ME STUCK IN 3RD GEAR. I HAVE SEARCHED ONLINE, AND FOUND THAT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, AND SATURN REFUSES TO SELL THE DEFECTIVE PART, OPTING TO CHARGE THEIR CUSTOMERS OVER $200 FOR A $0.30 PART. *TR

2001 SATURN S-SERIES

Filed Jun 23, 2008


Crash

DRIVING NORTH ON I-5 IN OREGON. THE TRAFFIC WAS STOP AND GO. THE CAR IN FRONT STARTED TO GO. I FOLLOWED. THE CAR IN FRONT SLAMMED ON HER BRAKE. I DID THE SAME. MY BRAKE WOULD HOLD THAN RELEASE AND HOLD. WHEN THE BRAKE RELEASED I COULD FEEL THE CAR SURGE FORWARD. THE CAR SURGED FORWARD AND CAUSED ME TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE DAMAGE WAS MINOR. THE ENGINE WILL STAY REVERED AFTER I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS. IT WILL DO THIS ALMOST EVERY TIME THAT I DRIVE…

Data sourced from NHTSA's public datasets. Issue classifications are generated by Repair Surge. About this data.

Updated June 26, 2026. Refreshed nightly.