Stats focus on model years from 1960 onwards.
Earlier years appear in the detailed table below where data exists.
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Get plain-language explanations of recalls and complaints for the
Saturn LS. Powered by AI, backed by NHTSA data.
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Important: This assistant provides context from aggregated NHTSA data.
Always check your specific VIN on
NHTSA.gov
for vehicle-specific recall information.
Key Takeaways
A quick scan of where recalls and complaints concentrate for the Saturn LS,
based on aggregated NHTSA counts and campaign metadata.
Coverage spans model years 2000–2004 with 16 recall campaigns and 1885 complaints in NHTSA data.
Years with the most recall activity: 2001 (7), 2000 (6), and 2002 (3).
Years with the most complaint volume: 2001 (708), 2002 (631), and 2000 (544).
Top recall themes: Airbags, Fuel and emissions, and Seats and restraints.
Most reported complaint areas (across all years): Engine and engine cooling, Engine and engine cooling:engine, Electrical system.
Complaints are not proof of a defect, but repeated themes can be useful signals when researching a used vehicle.
Always check your specific VIN for open recalls (open recalls are VIN-specific and can change over time).
Recall Themes
Instead of listing long campaign narratives, this groups recall campaigns into a few recurring areas.
Each theme links back to official notices as evidence.
Airbags
3 campaigns · Years: 2001
These campaigns relate to airbag system components and deployment/airbag readiness issues.
Across all model years, the most frequently reported areas for the
Saturn LS in NHTSA complaint data are
Engine and engine cooling, Engine and engine cooling:engine, Electrical system.
Jump to Model Year
Year-by-Year Overview
Each row shows how often this model appears in NHTSA recalls and consumer
complaints for a given model year. These are counts of campaigns and
complaints, not risk predictions.
Model Year
Recalls
Complaints
Details
2004
0
2
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Exterior lighting, Steering.
2002
3
631
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling, Engine and engine cooling:engine, Electrical system.
2001
7
708
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling, Engine and engine cooling:engine, Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:belts and associated pulleys.
2000
6
544
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling, Engine and engine cooling:engine, Electrical system.
What to Do Next
Check open recalls by VIN on the official NHTSA site (open recalls are VIN-specific).
If buying used, ask for proof of recall remedy completion (dealer paperwork helps).
If symptoms match common complaint themes, consider a mechanic inspection before purchase or long trips.
A compact evidence view of recall campaigns that include this model.
The default text is an original summary line, with official notice text available on demand.
Most common areas involved:
Exterior lighting
, Electrical system
and Air bags
Show recall evidence by year
2002
Electrical system: Module:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 2.2L l4 (l61) engines, a failure of the ignition control module may cause deterioration in idle quality, reduction in overall engine power, and the vehicle may be hard to start. Continued operation of the vehicle after such an ignition module failure wi
Seat belts:
Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Certain wagons fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 210, "Seat belt assembly anchorages." The seat belt anchor may separate from the floor of the vehicle before holding the required test load for the required time.
Exterior lighting: Brake lights:
Safety recall involving the exterior lighting area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: On certain sedans and wagons, the plastic housing in the rear tail lamp assembly can become distorted if the brake lamps remain on for an extended time.
2001
Air bags: Side/window:
Safety recall involving the air bags area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with a side impact air bag system. The air bag system has a lower side impact safing sensor threshold than specified. Because of this reduced threshold, there could be an inadvertent deployment of the side head curtain air bag with severe slamming
Power train: Gear position indication (prndl):
Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transaxles. Some of these vehicles were assembled with the transaxle shift cable clip missing or improperly seated. Without the clip, the cable can slip out of its bracket and the transaxle lever would not move along with the shift l
Air bags: Frontal:
Safety recall involving the air bags area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: passenger, sport utility vehicles and minivans. The passenger air bag inflator modules were built without the correct amount of generant, which produces the gas that fills the air bag. Some were built with a double load of generant and some were built without generant.
Air bags: Frontal:
Safety recall involving the air bags area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: On certain passenger, sport utility vehicles and mini vans, some of these vehicles have a passenger air bag that was manufactured without a check valve pin. An air bag without the check valve pin could produce increased pressure at the onset of the air bag deployment and reduced pressure afterwar
Electrical system: Module:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 2.2L l4 (l61) engines, a failure of the ignition control module may cause deterioration in idle quality, reduction in overall engine power, and the vehicle may be hard to start. Continued operation of the vehicle after such an ignition module failure wi
Exterior lighting: Brake lights:
Safety recall involving the exterior lighting area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: On certain sedans and wagons, the plastic housing in the rear tail lamp assembly can become distorted if the brake lamps remain on for an extended time.
Engine and engine cooling:
Safety recall involving the engine and engine cooling area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles, light duty trucks, sport utility vehicles, and mini vans equipped with trw seat belt buckle assemblies. The buckle base of these seat belt assemblies were not properly heat treated and therefore do not pass the load bearing requirement of federal motor veh
Electrical system: Module:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 2.2L l4 (l61) engines, a failure of the ignition control module may cause deterioration in idle quality, reduction in overall engine power, and the vehicle may be hard to start. Continued operation of the vehicle after such an ignition module failure wi
Exterior lighting: Brake lights:
Safety recall involving the exterior lighting area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: On certain sedans and wagons, the plastic housing in the rear tail lamp assembly can become distorted if the brake lamps remain on for an extended time.
Fuel system, gasoline: Tank assembly:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles do not comply with requirements of fmvss no. 301, "Fuel system integrity." These vehicles may have been produced with an inoperative valve within the fuel tank assembly.
Exterior lighting: Switch:
Safety recall involving the exterior lighting area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles do not comply with requirements of fmvss no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." Because of a problem in the hazard warning switch assembly, the turn signal lamps may not work or may work intermittently when the drive
Fuel system, gasoline: Storage:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Fuel tank assemblies in these vehicles have an over pressure relief (opr) valve that can become stuck open in a frontal collision. If the vehicle rolls over, fuel spillage could occur.
Other Saturn Models
Explore recall and complaint data for other Saturn models.
Recall Explained provides independent analysis of official NHTSA data.
This site does not replace the official NHTSA VIN lookup and should not be
treated as legal or safety advice for your specific vehicle.
For any safety concerns: Always check your VIN on the official
NHTSA site and contact an authorized dealer.
