Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Saturn LS owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My daughter [redacted] was the passenger and [redacted] was driver. The kids went for drive and were found the next early morning around 6 am. The car was so burned and destroyed the kids could not be identified, and all who were there questioned the straight tire tracks without any correction or over correction in the steering of tire tracks, no braking in the county road tracks, and with fracture and damage of the skull area we later were told that the air bags never deployed! The tracks were approx 150 yrds long and went at an angle of perfection gradually pointing towards a ravine that would end both of the kids lives. We sent a forensic specialist to look at car 2 months later and was told to save our money on full report because the specialist said the car was so destroyed he couldn't make heads or tails as to a case against GM. …
A short circuit of some sort in the the headlight/turn signal switch caused a small electrical fire. While driving, the dashboard indicators showed that the daytime running lights and high beams were turning on and off on their own. When the car was turned off, the daytime running lights remained on. After a few moments, I began to smell the odor of something burning and smoke began to come out of the steering column. The smoke subsided only after I pulled the fuses on the two headlamps. The fuses did not break the circuit on their own -- the headlights did not go out until I pulled the fuses. I then called the Saturn roadside assistance hotline and asked them how to completely turn off the electrical power to the entire car (to prevent anything else from catching fire) but they were of little help. …
The blinker / light handle on the left hand side of the steering wheel, which also controls the bright lights. When I turn the blinker on either turning left or right, the bright lights come on, and causes the blinker electrical wiring to ARC and cause a small fire in the steering column area, which emits smoke into the cabin of the vehicle, also an odor of burning wires. At one point there was a small fire in that area, which caused me to have to pull over and blow out manually (do not have a place for a fire extinguisher in the vehicle). Ever since that day, it has done this, arcing and causing the smoke in the cabin. One time only has it flared up with visible flames and it did not destroy the vehicle, nor caused any other damage of any sort. However it still does cause the arcing in the wiring and cause the smoke to fill part of cabin.
Well first my engine control monitor is sending a bunch of random off codes from ma's air sensor vol low to crankshaft sensor volume low to o2 sensors to transmission codes, my side airbag on driver side blue up out of no were my key fob stopped reading and now my car won't start I know all of a sudden it's sending off codes for camshaft sensor and o2 sensors I believe there should be a recall on the ECM it's a very expensive replacement that seems to be a common failure it's dangers and defective.my car locked up in middle of I busy intersection do to these codes and low voltage readings my name is [redacted] I live at [redacted] my #[redacted] accident date 10/17/2017
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Saturn l100 (na). The contact stated that the ignition was stuck in the accessory mode and would not shift to the locked position. The contact stated that the key could be removed from the ignition, but the accessory mode was still engaged. As a result, the doors on the vehicle could not be locked. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 92,000. ...updated 08/15/16 the consumer stated she was able to remove the key from the ignition, while the vehicle was in motion. Updated 08/17/16.
On March 17, 2006, my wife and I returned home from supper around 8:45 pm. At approximately 9:00 pm, I heard a crash outside. I soon discovered that our Saturn had rolled out of the garage and into our neighbors yard across the road. Upon inspection inside the car, I discovered the car was not in park, yet the ignition system had allowed me to remove the key. This is a major safety failure. No car should allow a key to be removed from the ignition without the car being in park. As yet, the failure hasn't been corrected since the car is still at the body shop.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Saturn ls200. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, smoke started to emit from the ignition switch. The switch then burst into flames. The contact was able to exit the vehicle without injury. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was diagnosed that the ignition control module and spark plugs needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The approximate failure and current mileage was 221,744.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Saturn LS. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH the cruise control independently engaged and the contact noticed smoke coming from the steering column. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to his residence; however, the following day when the contact started the vehicle, the windshield wipers independently engaged. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for a diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 150,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Saturn l200. While parked, the contact noticed that the air conditioner would not activate. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnostics where the technician stated that the wiring harness was found to have been melted. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 109,000. ..updated 09-26-12 updated 10/01/2012
I was driving my 2001 Saturn and it seemed like it was running okay. I stopped at my daughters house to pick her up for an appointment and when I got back into the car it would not start. I had a mechanic look at it and he said the timing chain was bad. My car has about 60,000 miles on it. I cannot give the exact amount right now because the car is sitting at Saturn of boise. I had it towed to the Saturn dealership, because I read about the recall of 2001 Saturn's for timing chain issues and they said they might be able to help me. Well, they said it was my fault the timing chain went out of it, because the oil had not been changed often enough. That is untrue, but my husband changes the oil every 6000 miles or less, but I do not have any "records" showing this because he is the one to change the oil. …
Related recalls
Electrical system › Ignition › Module
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.
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…
NHTSA investigations
Inoperative tail lamps
General motors has decided that a safety related defect exists on certain model Saturn 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.this can cause (1) an intermittently inoperative brake/tail lamp bulb or (2) a short circuit that opens a fuse causing inoperative brake or tail lamps (including the center high-mounted stop…
Inoperative tail lamps
On January 25, 2005, a safety defect petition was received by the office of defects investigation (odi), requesting an investigation of inoperative tail lamps on my 2000-2002 Saturn l-series vehicles.the petitioner alleges a defect in the design and assembly of the tail lamp assembly circuit board and light socket contact.the petitioner identified 47 vehicle owner questionnaire's (voq's) associated with the alleged…
Electrical complaints in other LS years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2001 Saturn LS?
NHTSA has 80 complaints about the electrical system of the 2001 Saturn LS, 14% of the model year's 582 complaints. The component named most often is ignition › module (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Saturn LS electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 03V-231 (module, Jun 23, 2003). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2001 Saturn LS electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 74,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 12 fires and 0 injuries and 2 deaths to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.