2001 Saturn LS Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 300 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the 2001 Saturn LS, 52% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 84,972 miles. The words owners use most often: “timing chain” (75% of reports).
- 300engine and engine cooling complaints
- 84,972median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $3,850typical repair cost reported by owners
- 45%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Timing chain: mentioned in 226 of 300 complaints (75%)
- Included engine: mentioned in 18 of 300 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine and engine cooling repair on the 2001 Saturn LS at $3,850, and half of them between $2,550 and $5,300.
Based on 48 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2001–2011), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 261 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 300 complaints, 1 a fire, 1 an injury.
Saturn LS engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles equipped with a 2.2l 4-cylinder engine, links in the engine's timing chain can separate.
Risk: If a timing chain link separates while the engine is running, the engine will stall and will not restart increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the timing chain free of charge. The recall began on january 15, 2008. Owners may contact saturn at 1-800-972-8876.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Well first my engine control monitor is sending a bunch of random off codes from ma's air sensor vol low to crankshaft sensor volume low to o2 sensors to transmission codes, my side airbag on driver side blue up out of no were my key fob stopped reading and now my car won't start i know all of a…
Timing chain broken, stalled while driving. *tr
I have 2 children and im a part time single mom. I love my car. Never had any problems. One day after work. It simply wouldn't start. The timing chain defaulted on me. Now i am car less and in danger of losing employment. I have recently discovered that there had been a previous recall on this…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2001 Saturn LSs have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 300 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the 2001 Saturn LS (52% of the 582 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2001 Saturn LS engine and engine cooling?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine and engine cooling. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems start?
The median reported mileage is 84,972 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine and engine cooling problems on the 2001 Saturn LS?
Owners report a typical cost of $3,850 (half paid between $2,550 and $5,300), from 48 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the 2001 Saturn LS?
The most frequent phrase is “timing chain”, in 226 of 300 complaints, followed by “included engine” (18).
Other 2001 Saturn LS problems
See all 2001 Saturn LS problems or engine and engine cooling problems across all LS years.