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Saturn SCModel year report

2001 Saturn SC Problems

Complaints
21filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
90,500miles, 12 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
27 mpgcombined, 1.9L 4-cyl FWD · 23 city / 34 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2001 Saturn SC (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 21 consumer complaints for the 2001 Saturn SC. The part named most often is electrical system, with 5 complaints (24% of the total), followed by air bags (4) and engine cooling (4). 12 of the complaints include a mileage, and 8% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 90,500 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 48 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 10 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Other or unknown (1), Body and structure (1), Suspension (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Electrical system: “While the car was being tested in the shop, a fuse was replaced. A fire started in the electrical system. According to the dodge dealership, this is a common problem with saturns. The dodge dealership checked with a general motors who verified that it is not uncommon for saturns to catch on fire.”

NHTSA complaint #10619445, filed 2014-08, 135,000 miles

Air bags: “Air bags, name unknown, opened after hitting a curb in a parking lot, approx. Less than10mph. No dents, no damage, I was bruised but I'm ok, is my air bags a recall, should air bags pop out after bumping a curb, thank goodness I didn't have my grandchild with me, or any body!! Can you let me know why this would happen, thank you. Updated 08/28/2017”

NHTSA complaint #10969433, filed 2017-03, 160,000 miles

Engine cooling: “The contact owns a 2001 Saturn sc1. While driving 50 MPH, the vehicle sputtered and the engine temperature increased. The dealer stated that there was a leak in the intake manifold gasket. There were no repairs made because the contact traded in the vehicle. The failure and current mileages were 60,000. Updated 02-01-08 updated 02/01/08”

NHTSA complaint #10199770, filed 2007-08, 60,000 miles

Steering: “My daughter katie was driving her car around a curved exit ramp when the steering seemed to fail. The car veered wildly back and forth, and the brakes were unresponsive as well. She made minor corrections to the steering until it finally began to straighten out. Then a fox ran across the road, she jerked reflexively, and the car veered into a ditch and rolled. Luckily she was uninjured except for scrapes, however the car was totaled - windshield smashed, roof smashed, passenger side smashed, and so on. Had there been a passenger there would have been a serious injury.”

NHTSA complaint #10227607, filed 2008-05, 85,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

8% of the 12 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 73,000 and 120,000 miles.

8%0–100%10–250%25–5033%50–7517%75–10025%100–15017%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (12 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 90,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

2002420052007200920142022
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2001 Saturn SC version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
SC FWD1.9L 4-cyl5-speed manual253629$2,300
SC FWD1.9L 4-cyl5-speed manual233427$2,500
SC FWD1.9L 4-cyl4-speed automatic233226$2,600
SC FWD1.9L 4-cyl4-speed automatic223226$2,600

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2001 Saturn SC → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 48 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 48 bulletins →

Other model years of the Saturn SC

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20023865,0000—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20012190,5002—27—Falling
20007142,0007—27—Not enough data
19992479,4461—27—Stable
19981397,1120—27—Not enough data
199733101,5523—27Not compared (before 2008)Falling
19962673,8150—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19953994,4502—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199451147,0001—26Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19932379,5001—26—Stable
199216—2—25—Stable
19915—1—25—Not enough data

All Saturn SC model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2001 Saturn SC have?

NHTSA recorded 21 consumer complaints for the 2001 Saturn SC as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2001 Saturn SC is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 5 complaints (24% of the total), followed by air bags with 4.

Has the 2001 Saturn SC been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2001 Saturn SC get?

The EPA rates the 2001 Saturn SC (SC, 1.9L 4-cyl) at 27 mpg combined, 23 city and 34 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,500 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2001 Saturn SC reported?

Among the 12 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 90,500 miles and the middle half falls between 73,000 and 120,000 miles; 8% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

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. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.