Most common 2001 Saturn SC1 problems
Share of the 25 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Saturn SC1 complaints by model year
Best SC1 years: 2000, 1999, 2001. Years to avoid: 1995, 1997. Compare all years →
2001 Saturn SC1 recalls (2)
Power train › Automatic transmission › Park/neutral start interlock switch
Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles, equipped with automatic transaxles, fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 114, "theft protection." these vehicles were built with an improperly adjusted automatic transaxle park lock cable assembly.
Remedy: Saturn is asking owners and retailers to perform a functional check of the automatic transaxle park lock cable assembly operation, and if necessary, to have the cable adjusted.
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 301, "fuel system integrity." these vehicles were built with an inadequate vent valve weld on the top portion of the fuel tank.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicle to ensure the fuel tank vent valve is properly welded. If necessary, dealers will replace the fuel tank assembly.
What 2001 Saturn SC1 owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
I own a 2001 Saturn sc2 with 84000 miles. A gear in the transaxle differential has worn a hole through the inside of the bell housing causing a major leak. I have contacted 5 transmission shops in my local area and all have seen this problem numerous times. I have contacted my local dealer and the customer service center and was told its out of warranty they will not cover the defective parts. I have only worked on this one day and every shop that works on transmissions knows of this problem. Saturn said they have never heard of this problem before but I find it hard to believe after doing a what little research my self that they are not aware of the problem. As a minimum they should at least release a service bulletin on this problem. Any help or information on this problem would be greatly appreciated.
Vehicle was in park, engine shut off, emergency brake not applied, and vehicle suddenly went backward and rolled over consumer's right foot, knocking her down. Dealer stated consumer should have used parking brake.
Electrical system
While driving in the center lane on a 3-lane highway the vehicle shut off without warning. No lights were visible on the dashboard prior to the engine shutting off. The loss of power steering and power brakes resulted in a loss of control of the vehicle. The car swerved into the right lane striking another motorist and then spun out of control making at least two full revolutions before coming to a rest against the guard rails of the median. The other motorist involved in the crash was able to drive off the scene after the police responded, but my car needed to be towed to a local dealer for an autobody and engine repair estimate. The engine diagnostic test indicated that there were 8 separate error codes in the computer. Two were cam shaft error codes, three transmission error codes, a low coolant error code and a communications error code. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Saturn sc2. The contact stated while inserting the key into the ignition, she noticed that the ignition switch was loose. The ignition switch was replaced by the dealer. The failure recurred. The ignition switch was replaced by the dealer August 2003, June 2004 and August 2006. The failure persisted and the dealer informed the contact that the ignition cylinder would to be replaced again. The manufacturer was not contacted. The vehicle was not further repaired at the time of the complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 29,000 and the current mileage was 67,579.
Wheels & tires
Tl contact owns a 2001 Saturn sc2 equipped with sigma supreme tires. While driving various speeds the vehicle would shake. She did not want to provide an approximate speed because the failure occurred while driving at any speed. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop where she was informed that there was tread separation on the front drivers side tire. The tire was replaced. The failure had not recurred. The failure and current mileages were 67,419. The VIN was unavailable.
In 2007, based on recommendations from service technicians and other owners of my car's model, I purchased new Michelin hydroedge tires. Upon recent inspection and rotation at a service center, it was noted that all four of my tires were dry-rotting at the sidewall near the treads. The technician stated that "michelins do that." the tires are 4 1/2 years old, have been driven 23,000 miles with very little tread wear (9/32" left) and are not housed inside a garage where ozone could affect them. I drive 10 miles round trip each work day. I also do not live in an urban area. I researched this issue online and found many similar complaints of dry rot leading to blowouts, often with related accidents. …
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Saturn SC1 a good car?
Based on 25 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 SC1 rates average: 32% fewer complaints than a typical year of the SC1 at the same age. It is one of the best SC1 years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2001 Saturn SC1?
The transmission & drivetrain — 4 complaints, 16% of all complaints for this model year, most often about manual transmission. Next are the electrical system (4) and wheels & tires (3).
How many recalls does the 2001 Saturn SC1 have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2001 Saturn SC1, the most recent from October 12, 2000 (park/neutral start interlock switch). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Saturn SC1?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2000, 1999 and 2001. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1995 and 1997. See the full Saturn SC1 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2001 Saturn SC1 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 67,000 miles; 33% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.