2001 Saturn SL Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 20about this part
- Share
- 18%of 111 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 60,500miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 20 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2001 Saturn SL, 18% of the 111 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 60,500 miles. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was driving going about 55 when the car started to loose power I pushed on the gas and it went up to 5 RPM before kicking in the transmission then it kept doing that where the rmp had to go way up before kicking. I took it to the service department to have it look at but they could not find anything wrong. However it took them three times to find out about my brake problems.”
NHTSA complaint #10140843, filed 2005-10, 65,945 miles“The transmission started going out on my 2001 Saturn sl1 (automatic), which only has 53,000 miles on it. A Saturn service agent accidentally (I think) told me that the valve body tends to go out in that model. A local transmission specialist has verified that, and is repeatedly repairing transmissions on this model.”
NHTSA complaint #10134678, filed 2005-08, 53,000 miles“Saturn 2001 sl1, my girlfriend was driving the car and called me saying that it was knocking she only drove it around the block due to her being scared of the sounds. I then drove the car around to ensure that it was a transmission problem. The car has 97,000 miles on it and I just had the o2 sensor changed for an idle high issue. I also had to clean out the idle air control valve due to build up and faulty operation. I brought my car to aamco to ensure the transmission is taken care of properly. They have to rebuild the transmission replacing every part inside the casing. …”
NHTSA complaint #10401150, filed 2011-05, 97,000 miles“Only had the car for a couple of months - started having problems with the transmission..... Kept shifting real hard from 2nd to 3rd (automatic). Took it to our mechanic and said it was out of his hands and referred us to a transmission specialist. Had the car towed to them and once he looked it over it needed a new transmission!!!! Only had 60,000 miles - go figure. Valve body!! Wrote a letter to the Saturn corporate office about the problem to see what they could do and told us that we should have taken the car to a Saturn service station. …”
NHTSA complaint #10253755, filed 2009-01, 60,000 miles“My 2001 Saturn sl2 recently developed a sever 'buck' in the automatic transmission when it shifts. That is, when it changes gears it either slams into the next or hesitates then slams. Reverse is the most severe as it slammed so hard that it broke the muffler from its mount at the very rear of the vehicle. The fluid has been changed ahead of schedule on the transmission, and the oils changes have also been timely. I've read on several forums that this is not only symptomatic of the make and model of my car, but predominate in quite a few of the models in the Saturn family. …”
NHTSA complaint #10229756, filed 2008-06, 127,000 milesRelated recalls
- 00V310000Oct 12, 2000Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles, equipped with automatic transaxles, fail to comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 114, "theft…Covers: Saturn SL 2000–2001, SW 2000–2001, SC1 2000–2001 +1 more
Related service bulletins
- 10249579Jan 12, 2024This PI bulletin advises the technician on the proper way to install the pistons in an engine.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 22 | 17% |
| 2001 | 20 | 18% |
| 2000 | 35 | 24% |
| 1999 | 22 | 12% |
| 1998 | 33 | 20% |
| 1997 | 23 | 10% |
| 1996 | 37 | 13% |
| 1995 | 40 | 11% |
| 1994 | 35 | 12% |
| 1993 | 26 | 15% |
| 1992 | 13 | 11% |
| 1991 | 1 | 3% |
Other parts of the 2001 Saturn SL
29 complaintsEngine cooling
18 complaintsAir bags
13 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