2002 Saturn SL: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
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.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 17 | 13.0% |
| Engine operation | 15 | 11.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 14 | 10.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 13 | 9.9% |
| Steering behavior | 13 | 9.9% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10003695 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE VEERED INTO ANOTHER LANE OF INCOMING TRAFFIC.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003695 at NHTSA ↗
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 10013802 · 2003-04-01 (April 1, 2003)
2002 SATURN SL HAS 3 LEAKING SEALS. VERY DANGEROUS FOR A FIRE. REAR SEAL, OIL PAN GASKET AND CRANK CASE GASKET ALL LEAKING. DANGEROUS FOR SINGLE WOMEN ON THE ROAD. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10013802 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 10018168 · 2003-05-05 (May 5, 2003)
VEHICLE WAS IN A HIGH SPEED FRONTAL COLLISION BUT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT.
Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018168 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 ↗
Owner report 10027101 · 2003-08-01 (August 1, 2003)
WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH THE HIGH BEAMS ON OR OFF, THE HEADLIGHTS, FLICKERED. THE CONSUMER FELT IT WAS VERY DISTRACTING AND ANNOYING. *AK *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 9,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10027101 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10027256 · 2003-07-14 (July 14, 2003)
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE SHUTDOWN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10027256 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.