2002 Saturn S-SERIES SEDAN: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
3 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
15,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 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 1 of 3 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 66.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 33.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 33.3% |
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 | 1 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Air:Disc | 1 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 1; Service Brakes, Air:Disc: 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 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 0 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
2002: 1; 2004: 1; 2010: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000148 · 2002-12-16 (December 16, 2002)
BRAKES FAILED ON MY 2002 SATURN S SERIES SEDAN (15,000 MILES) WHILE DECELLERATING AT A YIELD MERGE AND REARENDED A CAR AT LOW SPEED WITH MINIMAL DAMAGE. POLICE OFFICER NOTED BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE FLOORED TO GET ONLY SLIGHT BRAKING OFFICER ADVISED VEHICLE MUST BE TOWED. VEHICLE TOWED TO SATURN DEALERSHIP. AFTER MUCH RESISTANCE SATURN HOME OFFICE IN TENNESSEE SENT INSPECTOR. CONVERSATION THIS DATE WITH TENNESSEE OFFICE SAID VERBAL PRELIM. REPORT- NOTHING REALLY SEEN WRONG. I DON'T BELIVE IT AND FEAR DRIVING THE CAR.CAR STILL AT SATURN OF FREEHOLD…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000148 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10098667 · 2004-11-11 (November 11, 2004)
CAR ENGINE STALLS AND DIES. CAR IDLES VERY ROUGH. THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION POPS OUT OF GEAR BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD OCCASIONALLY. CAR DOES NOT HAVE A 1ST GEAR IF YOU USE 1ST THE CAR BUCKS LIKE CRAZY. BUT ACCORDING TO SATURN DEALER SERVICE CENTERS VISITED 5 TIMES THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING WITHIN FACTORY SPECS AND THERE ARE NO FAIL CODES. HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TIMES ON THE EXPRESSWAY GOING 65 M.P.H AND THE ENGINE HAS DIED WHAT FUN. THE CAR HAS BEEN INSPECTED AND THE REPORT STATES THE CAR SINCE DAY ONE I DROVE IT OFF THE DEALERSHIP LOT WAS WORTH LESS TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10098667 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10365060 · 2010-11-08 (November 8, 2010)
A CAR WAS GOING 55 MPH, DIDN'T BRAKE AND HIT THE PERSON BEHIND ME WHO WAS PUSHED INTO MY CAR AND I WAS PUSHED INTO A TRUCK. THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT MOVED ALL OUR CARS 65 FEET. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, ALTHOUGH ACCORDING TO SOME COMMENTS BY POLICE AND FIRE, THEY SHOULD HAVE. I JUST WANTED TO REPORT THIS JUST IN CASE THERE WERE OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUES. CAR WAS TOTALED, NO REPAIR DONE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10365060 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
02V020000 · Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
Reported: 2002-01-17 (January 17, 2002)
CERTAIN SEDANS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES," AND NO. 214, "SIDE IMPACT PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH WELDS BETWEEN THE DOOR STRIKER AND BELT-LINE THAT DO NOT MEET SATURN SPECIFICATIONS.
Consequence: IF THE SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE ON THE PILLAR FAILED IN A CRASH, THE DRIVER COULD BE INJURED MORE SERIOUSLY. IN A SIDE IMPACT, OCCUPANTS COULD ALSO BE INJURED MORE SERIOUSLY BECAUSE OF GREATER INTRUSION OR REDUCED PERFORMANCE OF THE OPTIONAL SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL ADDITIONAL STRUCTURAL FASTENERS TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR PILLAR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 22, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-553-6000, PROMPT #3.
NHTSA campaign record ↗