Saturn LS Problems by Year
NHTSA has 1,458 owner complaints and 12 safety recalls on file for the Saturn LS, across 5 model years (1999–2004). The 2001 model year has the most complaints (582). The most reported problem area overall is engine and engine cooling.
Saturn LS years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
No LS model year stands out with more than twice the complaints of a typical year.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2001 LS: 582 complaints, 7 recalls
- 2002 LS: 493 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2000 LS: 382 complaints, 6 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Saturn LS problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 640 | 3 | 2 |
| Electrical System problems | 245 | 3 | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting problems | 183 | 4 | 2 |
| Engine | 94 | 3 | 0 |
| Power Train | 81 | 3 | 9 |
| Steering | 77 | 4 | 1 |
| Suspension | 75 | 3 | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 58 | 3 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 45 | 3 | 2 |
| Tires | 43 | 3 | 2 |
| Structure | 40 | 3 | 1 |
| Air Bags | 30 | 3 | 17 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 30 | 3 | 2 |
| Visibility | 28 | 3 | 1 |
| Equipment | 23 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 13 | 2 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 13 | 3 | 0 |
| Seats | 13 | 3 | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 10 | 3 | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 10 | 3 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Other | 9 | 3 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 7 | 3 | 1 |
| Parking Brake | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Wheels | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Saturn LS problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2002: engine and engine cooling (200) · electrical system (102) · exterior lighting (69)
- 2001: engine and engine cooling (300) · electrical system (80) · exterior lighting (51)
- 2000: engine and engine cooling (140) · electrical system (63) · exterior lighting (62)
All Saturn LS model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 LS | 1 | 0 | — | Exterior Lighting | |
| 2002 LS | 493 | 3 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | More complaints than other years |
| 2001 LS | 582 | 7 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | More complaints than other years |
| 2000 LS | 382 | 6 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 1999 LS | 0 | 0 | — | — |
More from Saturn: all Saturn models · VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Saturn LS years should you stay away from?
No year stands out at twice the typical count; the most complaints are for 2001 (582), 2002 (493), 2000 (382). Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Saturn LS?
Engine and Engine Cooling, with 640 complaints across 3 model years.
How many recalls does the Saturn LS have?
12 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.