Saturn S-Series Reliability
21 NHTSA complaints (1994–2002). Complaint rate: 39.5 per 1,000 vehicles.
Which Years to Buy & Avoid
Years auto-clustered by complaint volume relative to this model's median.
Bottom line: The 2001 Saturn S-Series had a notable spike in NHTSA complaints. Other years had typical complaint volumes. Most common issue across all years: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH.
Avoid These Years
Average
Better Years
No years stand out as significantly better.
A model's reputation is just the start.
Even within the “good” years, individual cars can have hidden accidents, title issues, or odometer rollbacks. Check the actual VIN before you buy — full history report for $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA complaint count per model year
Common Saturn S-Series Problems
Most reported component complaints to NHTSA
| Component | Complaints | Crash % |
|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 2 | 0.0% |
| SEAT BELTS | 2 | 50.0% |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 2 | 100.0% |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 2 | 50.0% |
Year-by-Year Breakdown
NHTSA complaint count per model year — click any year for full problems & recalls breakdown.
| Year | Generation | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | — | 3 | 1 | — | View 1994View→ |
| 1998 | — | 2 | 0 | — | View 1998View→ |
| 2000 | — | 3 | 1 | — | View 2000View→ |
| 2001AVOID | — | 7 | 4 | — | View 2001View→ |
| 2002 | — | 2 | 0 | — | View 2002View→ |
See also: Saturn S-Seriesaccident & safety statistics from our vehicle history database.
Buying a Saturn S-Series?
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