So, with under 1000 miles on my new car (1000 by me, ~67k total), another problem has developed. The car has suddenly started leaking oil - it was slow at first, but I drove home the other night and thought I smelled burned oil. In a panic (afraid of the L67/oil leak onto exhaust/fire scenario) I pulled over and checked under the hood as best I could, but didn't see any leak from the top of the engine. It does not appear to be coming from anywhere on the upper portion of the engine, but instead at the bottom somewhere. I do believe it'* coming from the front, but I can't get under the car to get a good look and my driveway is on a downward incline so who knows..

the leak seems to have sped up in the past 2 days, I just drove about 15 miles, came home, and see visible drips already. Back to the dealer I go tomorrow, but I was curious if there'* any known/common problems with the 2001 SSEi I should be aware of?

The location of the drips can help you find where the true leak is, but the best thing to do is get it on some ramps or a hoist so you can get a better look. You may have some oil pan bolts that are loose, oil pan drain plug issue or an oil filter that'* loose.

Check the valve covers and look for oil leaking from the lower side both front and back.

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Check your oil sending unit...I've had to replace mine before for the same reason

Place some clean cardboard under the car and leave it there over night. Then in the morning look at where the drips are. If from the front of the engine it could be a leaking oil pan gasket. If further front it could be a leaking seal on the dip stick. Also check higher up the engine checking the valve covers. If the back of the engine it could be the oil pressure sender. Your going to need to get the car on ramps and look around.

If you find the leak at the front of the pan (radiator side) middle then it'* likely the oil level sender.

If found on the backside by the passenger tire, it is most likely the oil pressure sender

And if it'* back middle, it'* most likely a bad filter seal on the oil filter or the drain plug.

I don't suppose you recently had an oil change?

Thanks for the tips - I wasn't able to check a whole lot at home in the driveway, and as I had said - since there'* roughly 2,000 miles left for it to be the dealer'* problem, it is the dealer'* problem.. They've had the car for 2 full days - since 7:30am Monday morning. They claim to have cleaned up the oil that leaked and added dye to the system. What the hell takes 2 days to find a not-particularly-slow oil leak when using dye?! I think I would have certainly found the leak by now.. (Note, they haven't claimed it'* not leaking - that'd be pretty hard, just that they can't find WHERE).
Ahh.. hopefully good news will come tomorrow.

And.. after 2 1/2 days.. they found the leak! Drumroll please...

it'* the rear main seal. Thankfully it'* covered!

This is god that it'* covered by them! No fun otherwise.

Glad it all is working out for you!