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2002 Saturn SC problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

38 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

65,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 25 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 38 complaints (15.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior513.2%
Steering behavior410.5%
Electrical and battery issues37.9%
Transmission and shifting12.6%

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.

Air Bags
6
Electrical System
6
Electrical System:Ignition
3
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
3
Unknown Or Other
3
Engine And Engine Cooling
2
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
2
Steering
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags6
Electrical System6
Electrical System:Ignition3
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch3
Unknown Or Other3
Engine And Engine Cooling2
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine2
Steering2

Air Bags: 6; Electrical System: 6; Electrical System:Ignition: 3; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Steering: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
5
25,000 to 49,999
4
50,000 to 74,999
4
75,000 to 99,999
7
100,000 to 149,999
4
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0005
25,000 to 49,9994
50,000 to 74,9994
75,000 to 99,9997
100,000 to 149,9994
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 1

75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 13 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.

2001
1
2002
1
2003
7
2004
1
2005
3
2006
2
2007
6
2008
2
2010
1
2011
1
2014
8
2015
3
2016
1
2017
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20011
20021
20037
20041
20053
20062
20076
20082
20101
20111
20148
20153
20161
20171

2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 7; 2004: 1; 2005: 3; 2006: 2; 2007: 6; 2008: 2; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2014: 8; 2015: 3; 2016: 1; 2017: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 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 10041556 · 2003-10-09 (October 9, 2003)

ON AUGUST 16, 2003 I CARRIED THE CAR TO A MIDAS LOCATION TO HAVE MY BRAKES AND ALIGNMENT CHECKED. UPON LEAVING THEY GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE SAYING I NEEDED MY ROTORS RESURFACED, REAR BRAKES SERVICED, AND MY FRONT BRAKES SERVICED. WHICH CAME TO A TOTAL OF $148.21. SO, THEREFORE I CALLED SATURN, AND HAD AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THEM CHECK MY BRAKES. ON AUGUST 18, 2003 I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP OF COLUMBUS, AND THEY RESURFACED MY ROTORS AND STATED THAT WAS ALL THAT WAS WRONG. AROUND OCTOBER THE BRAKES STARTED SQUEAKING AGAIN, AND I CALLED…

Owner-reported narrative. 13,695 miles reported. Look up ODI 10041556 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10089783 · 2004-09-21 (September 21, 2004)

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE PEDAL WENT DOWN. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE ADJUSTED AND CLEANED. THE MECHANIC CLEANED AND ADJUSTED THE BRAKES. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE THREE TIMES AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *TC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10089783 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10233609 · 2008-07-09 (July 9, 2008)

AFTER READING SEVERAL CASES OF WHICH SATURN IGNITION LOCKING UP. SO I THOUGHT I WOULD GIVE IT A SHOT TO FILE A COMPLAINT TO SEE IF MANY A RECALL WILL BE ISSUED. I REALLY NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY SATURN UNTIL A FEW MONTHS AGO WHEN I TRIED TO START MY CAR AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN OVER. I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING I WAS DOING WRONG AFTER THIS HAPPENING EVERYDAY I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG. RIGHT NOW I AM LOOKING INTO GETTING THIS FIXED BEFORE I HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS LIKE I HAVE READ WITH OTHER CUSTOMERS OF SATURN. STEERING WHEEL LOCKING U…

Owner-reported narrative. 105,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10233609 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10400031 · 2011-05-11 (May 11, 2011)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SC1. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD SUDDENLY LOCK. SHE TRIED TO ROCK THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH BUT IT WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE CYLINDER AND THE HOUSING WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10400031 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10621403 · 2014-08-11 (August 11, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION TURNED FROM THE ON POSITION TO THE OFF POSITION ON ITS OWN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10621403 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10633786 · 2014-09-16 (September 16, 2014)

HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE TURNING THE IGNITION AS IT JAMS AND AT TIMES FEARFUL IT MAY NOT TURN NEXT TIME I TRY TO START IT .....BUT TODAY WHILE WAITING AT A RED LIGHT...CAR RUNNING, RADIO ON AND INTERIOR DASH LIGHTS ON...EVERYTHING JUST SHUT DOWN....THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN...BUT THE REST OF THE CAR DIED...I WAS VERY NERVOUS WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE .....WONDERING IF IT WOULD ALLOW ME TO EVEN GET HOME....WITHIN IN 2 MINUTES THE ELECTRICAL DID COME BACK....I ONLY PURCHASED MY SATURN IN FEB, AS USED BUT DID NOT START SEEI…

Owner-reported narrative. 141,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10633786 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10243382 · 2008-09-25 (September 25, 2008)

2002 SATURN SC1 LOST ENGINE--OIL IN COOLANT AT 80,000 MILES. THE MECHANIC THAT DISASSEMBLED THE ENGINE STATED THAT THE CAMSHAFT JOURNALS WERE WORN SO BAD THAT THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE RE-BUILT. REPLACED ENGINE 5 MONTHS AGO, LAST WEEK, AUTO TRANSMISSION STOPPED ENGAGING REVERSE GEAR. DISCUSSED WITH LOCAL SATURN DEALER WHO OFFERED NO HELP. THIS IS MY DAUGHTER'S CAR. MY CAR--2002 SATURN SC2 HAD TO HAVE AN ENGINE OVERHAUL AT 46,000 MILES DUE TO BURNED VALVES IN #2 CYLINDER. EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERED REPAIRS. OIL CONSUMPTION PRIOR TO OVERHAUL…

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10243382 at NHTSA ↗