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2002 Saturn SL problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

131 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

60,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 81 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 21 of 131 complaints (16.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1713.0%
Engine operation1511.5%
Transmission and shifting1410.7%
Electrical and battery issues139.9%
Steering behavior139.9%

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.

Electrical System
21
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
14
Electrical System:Ignition
11
Engine And Engine Cooling
7
Air Bags
6
Steering
6
Engine
5
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
5
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System21
Power Train:Automatic Transmission14
Electrical System:Ignition11
Engine And Engine Cooling7
Air Bags6
Steering6
Engine5
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine5

Electrical System: 21; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 14; Electrical System:Ignition: 11; Engine And Engine Cooling: 7; Air Bags: 6; Steering: 6; Engine: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 5

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
13
25,000 to 49,999
23
50,000 to 74,999
15
75,000 to 99,999
10
100,000 to 149,999
11
150,000 and above
9
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00013
25,000 to 49,99923
50,000 to 74,99915
75,000 to 99,99910
100,000 to 149,99911
150,000 and above9

Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 23; 50,000 to 74,999: 15; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 11; 150,000 and above: 9

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (23). 50 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
14
2003
13
2004
19
2005
10
2006
14
2007
5
2008
10
2009
5
2010
2
2013
2
2014
23
2015
4
2016
1
2017
2
2018
4
2020
1
2023
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20011
200214
200313
200419
200510
200614
20075
200810
20095
20102
20132
201423
20154
20161
20172
20184
20201
20231

2001: 1; 2002: 14; 2003: 13; 2004: 19; 2005: 10; 2006: 14; 2007: 5; 2008: 10; 2009: 5; 2010: 2; 2013: 2; 2014: 23; 2015: 4; 2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2018: 4; 2020: 1; 2023: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 15 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 14 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 10004631 · 2003-01-24 (January 24, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL GO DOWN TO THE FLOOR INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004631 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10014398 · 2003-04-15 (April 15, 2003)

I PURCHASED A 4-DOOR SATURN SL 2002 THIS PAST SUMMER. THE CARS DESIGN IS INCORRECT. WHEN I SIT IN THE SEAT WITH BOTH OF MY HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND DRIVE, I HAVE TO TURN MY BODY FROM THE WAIST DOWN TO THE LEFT IN ORDER TO PRESS ON THE GAS OR BRAKE. I HAVE NO ROOM ON THE RIGHT SIDE NEXT TO THE GAS PEDAL DUE TO THE CENTER CONSOLE PANEL, IT FORCES ME TO SIT WITH MY WAIST TURNED TO THE LEFT. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE POSITION AND I HAVE HAD CONTINUAL BACK PAIN, WHICH BEGAN TWO MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR. I HAVE BEEN SEEING A CH…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014398 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10075347 · 2004-06-14 (June 14, 2004)

CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN BACK TO SATURN FOR REPAIRS 5 TIMES AND AFTER THE MAX OF 2 DAYS THE PROBLEMS WERE BACK. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND HAS BEEN PARKED IN MY GARAGE FOR NOW TWO YEARS. SATURN IS NOT WILLING TO BUY THE CAR BACK THROUGH THE WISCONSIN LEMON LAW AND BY AN INSPECTOR AND MYSELF IT IS A PURE LEMON. THE CAR VIBRATES, IDLES VERY ROUGH, AND HAS THE CURIOUS TENDENCY TO STALL, LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE CAR DOES NOT KNOW WHAT FIRST GEAR IS, THE BACK END TELLS YOU OF ANY BUMP IN THE ROAD. CAR HAS STALLED SEVERAL TIMES…

Owner-reported narrative. 12,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10075347 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10091565 · 2004-09-08 (September 8, 2004)

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE IT OVERHEATED. ONCE TURNING IT OFF, AND UPON TRYING TO START IT AGAIN, IDLE DROPPED TO ZERO, AND VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO, DASH LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER MORE THAN FOUR TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A BAD SENSOR. HOWEVER, PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10091565 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10050569 · 2003-12-15 (December 15, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE GEARS BROKE AND WENT THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION. MANUAL TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 38,026 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050569 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10070610 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)

SATURN SL1 WAS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIRS ON MONDAY, 6/23/03. SUPOSSEDLY COMPUTER WAS REPROGRAMMED. FOUR DAYS LATER (06/27/03) TRANSMISSION FAILED TOTALY. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED. WHOLE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BUT I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT.

Owner-reported narrative. 8,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070610 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10059156 · 2004-04-20 (April 20, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE CENTER OF THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRES WERE FAULTY. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK *SC

Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10059156 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10080670 · 2004-07-09 (July 9, 2004)

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD, NEAR THE BATTERY, AFTER HAVING OIL CHANGED. TWO PARTIES HAVE LOOKED AT THE CAR AND DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS FAULTY. THE WIRING NEAR THE BATTERY WAS THE AFFECTED AREA. THE CAR WAS A LOSS WITH ONLY 30000 MILES ON IT. SATURN DOES NOT WANT TO HONOR FACTORY WARRANTY. ALSO, SATURN FOUND CRACK IN THE ENGINE. THEY "BELIEVE" THIS CRACK COULD HAVE CAUSED THE FIRE. NO OTHER INSPECTOR FOUND THIS CRACK AND I WANT TO KNOW HOW IT GOT THERE. SATURN HAD NO ANSWERS AND WERE VERY NASTY ABOUT MY ENTIRE SITU…

Owner-reported narrative. 30,002 miles reported. Look up ODI 10080670 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10023831 · 2003-06-26 (June 26, 2003)

STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN BRAKING, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS. THE DEALER REPORTS THIS IS DUE TO WARPED ROTORS DUE TO "EXTERNAL FORCES" AND NOT A WARRANTY PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS 30,000 MILES AND LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD. DRIVEN MOSTLY HIGHWAY TO AND FROM WORK, 35 MILES ONE WAY EACH DAY. SEEMS MORE LIKE A DEFECTIVE PART OR ENGINEERING.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 30,269 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023831 at NHTSA ↗