Saturn S-SERIES problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
19 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
68,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 to 2002 model years. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 19 complaints (10.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 15.8% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 15.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 5.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 5.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 2 |
| Seat Belts | 2 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Electrical System:Horn | 1 |
| Electrical System:Starter Assembly | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 2; Seat Belts: 2; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 2; Air Bags: 1; Electrical System:Horn: 1; Electrical System:Starter Assembly: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 9 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
2000: 1; 2001: 3; 2002: 1; 2003: 4; 2004: 6; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2008: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10039300 · 2003-09-22 (September 22, 2003)
BALL OF BALL AND SOCKET LINKAGE AT SHIFTER ON MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSED THE INABILITY TO SHIFT GEARS. THIS PROBLEM CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. CAR WAS STUCK IN GEAR IT WAS INITIALLY IN. REPORTED ISSUE TO SATURN DEALERSHIP. THEY SEEM TO BE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM SINCE I DID NOT NEED TO FULLY DESCRIBE THE PROBLEM. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 97,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039300 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10072423 · 2004-05-11 (May 11, 2004)
I OWN A 2002 SATURN SL PURCHASED IN JUNE OF 2002 WITH ABOUT 51K MILES AT THE TIME OF THE PROBLEM IN LATE MARCH. THE CAR IS A STANDARD TRANSMISSION. I WAS DRIVING MY SON TO SCHOOL IN THE MORNING WHEN I SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER TO THE WHEELS ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO OPERATE. I WAS ON A STRAIGHT ROAD, AND WAS CRUISING AT 45MPH WITH NO SHIFTING AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. UPON HAVING THE CAR TOWED TO THE LOCAL SATURN DEALER IN DANBURY, I WAS TOLD THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY HAD "COME APART" AND SINC…
Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10072423 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10078338 · 2004-06-16 (June 16, 2004)
ANTI LOCK BRAKES BEING TOO SENSITIVE. FOUND ANITLOCK SENSOR RING ON THE RIGHT SPINDLE CRACKED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10078338 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10232060 · 2008-06-23 (June 23, 2008)
DRIVING NORTH ON I-5 IN OREGON. THE TRAFFIC WAS STOP AND GO. THE CAR IN FRONT STARTED TO GO. I FOLLOWED. THE CAR IN FRONT SLAMMED ON HER BRAKE. I DID THE SAME. MY BRAKE WOULD HOLD THAN RELEASE AND HOLD. WHEN THE BRAKE RELEASED I COULD FEEL THE CAR SURGE FORWARD. THE CAR SURGED FORWARD AND CAUSED ME TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE DAMAGE WAS MINOR. THE ENGINE WILL STAY REVERED AFTER I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS. IT WILL DO THIS ALMOST EVERY TIME THAT I DRIVE THE CAR. I HAVE HAD THE CAR INTO THE SATURN DEALER T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10232060 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10104043 · 2004-12-17 (December 17, 2004)
BAD IGNITION SWITCH, THREE TIMES THE CAR ACTED LIKE IT HAD A DEAD BATTERY, THE THIRD IT WENT COMPLETELY DEAD, LIKE THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED. JIGGLED KEY IN SWITCH AND IT CAME BACK TO LIFE. HAD TO HAVE SWITCH REPLACED, KEYS CODED, ETC. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10104043 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018782 · 2003-05-16 (May 16, 2003)
TRIED TO INSERT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION TO START BUT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOCKED. COULD NOT JIGGLE THE STEERING WHEEL TO UNLOCK. MECHANIC SAID THE IGNITION CYLINDER WAS FAULTY, HOWEVER WHEN HE TRIED TO REMOVE IT TO REPLACE, IT WOULD NOT COME OUT. HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY. FIRST REPLACEMENT ASSEMBLY ORDERED FROM SATURN WAS FAULTY SO HAD TO ORDER ANOTHER ONE. SATURN MECHANICS SAID THEY HAD SEEN "SEVERAL" OF THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM. I'M KEEPING THE ORIGINAL PARTS IN CASE THERE IS A RECALL. THE CAR ONLY HAS 44K MILES ON IT. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018782 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1995 | 0 |
| 1996 | 0 |
| 1997 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
1994: 0; 1995: 0; 1996: 0; 1997: 0; 1998: 0; 1999: 0; 2000: 0; 2001: 0; 2002: 0