2001 Saturn SL Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 13about this part
- Share
- 12%of 111 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 73,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 13 complaints about the air bags of the 2001 Saturn SL, 12% of the 111 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 73,000 miles. 8 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Our daughter was involved in a motor vehicle accident on 10/9/2014. A vehicle pulled out in front of her. Our daughter was not able to stop in time and hit the vehicle with the front end of the Saturn to the drivers door of the other vehicle. Air bags did not deploy but we believe they should have. Our daughter sustained injuries.”
NHTSA complaint #10644252, filed 2014-10, 66,000 miles“While parking, at the speed of about 3 MPH I hit the side of a cemented driveway which was higher than the street, and the driver and passenger airbags deployed. There is no damage to my bumper or any other parts of my car.”
NHTSA complaint #10181015, filed 2007-01, 96,650 miles“I was in an accident on july 18 2009 a lady pulled out of a side street and we hit. I could not avoid her. Im not sure what speed I was going at impact but I slammed on my brakes at 40 MPH. My front end hit her side.most passengers me, the front passenger and two others were injured. Neither air bag deployed. Im not sure if they should have but at that speed and the impact I feel they definitely should have. My daughter and I flew forward and she hit the windshield and I went into the steering wheel coming very close to the windshield. The car in totaled.”
NHTSA complaint #10278294, filed 2009-07, 133,000 miles“On september 28, 2005 at approximately 8:00 am I was traveling on I 295 north where the speed limit is 65 MPH. I was in the middle lane of the interstate driving a 2001 Saturn sl1 blue in color. The car in front of me which was a Saturn vue slammed on his brakes hitting a white honda that was in front of him. When the vue hit the honda the vue went from the middle lane of traffic to the left lane. I was behind the vue in the middle lane and when the vue went into the left lane I hit the white honda on the right bumper and was going approximately between 55 MPH and 65 MPH. …”
NHTSA complaint #10138196, filed 2005-09, 50,500 miles“While driving 45 MPH the vehicle was involved in a frontal collision. The air bags did not deploy. As a result the vehicle was considered totaled. The passenger sustained a broken knee in three places and now unable to walk. Please provide additional. Information.”
NHTSA complaint #10087794, filed 2004-08, 80,000 milesAir bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 9 | 7% |
| 2001 | 13 | 12% |
| 2000 | 5 | 3% |
| 1999 | 20 | 11% |
| 1998 | 8 | 5% |
| 1997 | 17 | 7% |
| 1996 | 18 | 6% |
| 1995 | 31 | 9% |
| 1994 | 20 | 7% |
| 1993 | 10 | 6% |
| 1992 | 3 | 2% |
| 1991 | 1 | 3% |
Other parts of the 2001 Saturn SL
29 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
20 complaintsEngine cooling
18 complaintsBrakes
13 complaintsSeats
6 complaintsOther or unknown
4 complaintsBody and structure
4 complaintsTires
4 complaintsExterior lighting
3 complaintsFuel system
3 complaintsSteering
3 complaintsVehicle speed control
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2001 Saturn SL
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology