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Saturn LSYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 1,458 NHTSA owner complaints across 4 model years, no Saturn LS year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 2000, 2001 and 2002. The LS has 12 safety recalls on record.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years'00 '01 '02Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints1,458Top: Engine and engine coolingSafety recalls122000–2004 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Saturn LS years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the LS median. Tap a year for its full report.

'00'01'02'04
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2004Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls2002Solid50/100493 complaints · 3 recalls2001Solid45/100582 complaints · 7 recalls2000Solid56/100382 complaints · 6 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Saturn LS problems

All model years combined: 1,458 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling6407
Electrical system24522
Exterior lighting18314
Engine943
Power train819
Steering776
Suspension752
Fuel system, gasoline582
Service brakes, hydraulic452
19 other systems29141
12 recalls

Saturn LS recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Engine and engine cooling07V-519 · 2001 · Nov 7, 2007 · 20,514 vehicles–Exterior lighting: brake lights05V-245 · 2000–2002 · Jun 2, 2005 · 291,652 vehicles–Seat belts05V-158 · 2002 · Apr 20, 2005 · 20,701 vehicles–Ignition: module03V-231 · 2000–2002 · Jun 23, 2003 · 239,993 vehicles–Air bags: frontal02V-329 · 2001 · Dec 9, 2002 · 272 vehicles–Air bags: frontal01V-026 · 2001 · Feb 1, 2001 · 38 vehicles–Automatic transmission: gear position indication (prndl)00V-344 · 2001 · Oct 30, 2000 · 1,637 vehicles–Air bags: side/window00V-235 · 2001 · Aug 23, 2000 · 168 vehicles–Seat belts00V-228 · 2000 · Aug 7, 2000 · 156,305 vehicles–Fuel system, gasoline: storage99V-345 · 2000 · Dec 2, 1999 · 36,848 vehicles–Storage: tank assembly99V-197 · 2000 · Jul 26, 1999 · 1,300 vehicles–Turn signal: switch99V-199 · 2000 · Jul 26, 1999 · 1,395 vehicles
10 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the LS

  1. FUEL PUMP LEAKSPE09028 · 2002 · closed Oct 27, 2009
    No recall
  2. TIMING CHAIN BREAKS, ENGINE STALLPE08061 · 2000–2002 · closed Apr 8, 2009
    No recall
  3. TIMING CHAIN FAILURE-STALLDP08002 · 1999–2002 · closed Oct 16, 2008
    No recall
  4. TIMING CHAIN FAILURE - STALLEA06009 · 2001 · closed Nov 9, 2007
    Led to recall 07V-519
  5. TIMING CHAIN FAILUREPE06006 · 2000–2002 · closed Jun 6, 2006
    No recall
  6. TIMING CHAIN FAILUREDP05008 · 2000–2002 · closed Feb 6, 2006
    No recall
  7. INOPERATIVE TAIL LAMPSPE05010 · 2000–2002 · closed Jun 3, 2005
    Led to recall 05V-245
  8. INOPERATIVE TAIL LAMPSDP05001 · 2000–2002 · closed Feb 22, 2005
    No recall
  9. HEADLAMPS FLICKER OFF AND ONPE03017 · 2001–2002 · closed Aug 25, 2003
    No recall
  10. POST-COLLISION FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITYPE99064 · 2000 · closed Feb 11, 2000
    Led to recall 99V-345