Saturn LS Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 1,457 consumer complaints across the 3 model years of the Saturn LS (2000–2002) that have at least 5 complaints. 2001 has the most, with 582. Across all years, the part named most often is engine cooling (640 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All LS model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 493 | 75,628 | 3 | 85 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2001 | 582 | 80,000 | 7 | 70 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2000 | 382 | 77,000 | 6 | 57 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Engine cooling640 43%
- Electrical system245 17%
- Exterior lighting182 12%
- Engine94 6.4%
- Transmission and drivetrain81 5.5%
- Fuel system79 5.4%
- Steering76 5.2%
- Suspension75 5.1%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2000: “The whole subframe on my 2000 Saturn LS is rotted so bad that I can't even drive the vehicle. It started with my car not starting and putting it up on a lift to see what the problem was. That not starting problem is a bad resonator, but in the process the subframe was found to be seriously rotted away.”
NHTSA complaint #11329340, filed 2020-06, 170,000 miles2001: “I was driving my car and it stalled and would not restart. I had it diagnosed by a mechanic and it is the timing chain. From what I've researched, this year make and model vehicle had a recall but only on specific ones made within a four month period but my car falls into the recall description and I'm not sure about the time frame. My car was being driven on the highway at about 55 MPH when this happened.”
NHTSA complaint #11145102, filed 2018-11, 141,000 miles2002: “The car was running fine. I pulled away from a traffic light and tried to get up to the speed limit of 45 miles per hour. At approximately 40 miles an hour the engine just stopped in the middle of the road. I managed to get it to the side and called the wrecker. Mechanic said timing chain broke and I need a new engine.”
NHTSA complaint #10597247, filed 2014-06, 129,000 milesOther Saturn models
4,340 complaintsSaturn Vue
2,351 complaintsSaturn SL
2,218 complaintsSaturn Aura
1,434 complaintsSaturn Outlook
1,352 complaintsSaturn Sky
516 complaintsSaturn SC1
413 complaintsSaturn SC
296 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology