Problems · NHTSA complaints
2002 Saturn SL problems
Owners filed 149 complaints about the 2002 Saturn SL with NHTSA between Nov 2001 and Jul 2023. The most-cited component is electrical system (43).
Complaints
149
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
23
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
19
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system43
- Power train30
- Engine and engine cooling18
- Air bags10
- Service brakes, hydraulic10
- Seats9
- Steering8
- Tires7
- Engine5
- Exterior lighting5
- Structure4
- Equipment4
- Suspension3
- Fuel system, other2
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
18
18
21
11
14
6
11
6
4
0
0
2
23
4
1
2
4
0
1
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 18 |
| 2003 | 18 |
| 2004 | 21 |
| 2005 | 11 |
| 2006 | 14 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 11 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 23 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
43 reports2 crashes3 fires
“I OWN A 2002 SATURN SL VEHICLE PURCHASED IN 7/2016. I'M HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING MY VEHICLE. BOTH STARTER AND BATTERY HAVE BOTH BEEN CHECKED OUT OK. ALL SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED ON 10/31/18. AFTER THESE REPAIRS, WHEN STARTED IT STILL MADE VERY NOISY SOUNDS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. NOW I CAN'T GET IT TO START AT ALL. I TRIED TO GET HELP ABOUT A RECALL RELATING TO MY VEHICLE'S STARTING PROBLEMS. I CONTACTED SATURN COMPANY 1(800)533-6000 AND GM RECALL CENTER 1(866)694-6546. NEITHER WERE WILLING TO HELP. I FOUND INFO ON THE KELLEY BLUE BOOK WEBSITE. I ENTERED MY VIN NUMBER AND FOLLOWING WAS DISPLAYED: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 03V231; REPORT DATE: INFO UNAVAILABLE; VEHICLES AFFECTED: 239,993; CONSEQUENCE: INFO UNAVAILABLE; WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: DEALERS WILL (1) REPLACE THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE, (2) REPLACE THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE AND SPARK PLUGS, OR (3) REPLACE THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE, SPARK PLUGS, AND UPDATE THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE. WHEN PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE, OWNERS WILL BE ADVISED TO CONTACT THEIR DEALERS FOR APPOINTMENTS TO HAVE THEIR VEHICLE REPAIRED. PARTS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE DURING SEPTEMBER 2003. SUMMARY: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH…”
Power train
30 reports1 fire
“SATURN IS AN L200 SERIES/THERE WAS ONLY THE LS ON YOUR LIST.NUMEROUS OCCASIONS OF ENGINE STALL WHILE TRAVELING AT ALL SPEEDS. CALLED SATURN/SAID VIN NOT ACCEPTED? LIVE IN FLORIDA KEYS/HAD TO GO TO MIAMI & GET TAIL LAMP FIXED/ONLY LASTED TWO WEEKS (THIS WAS BEFORE ENGINE STALL) & CALL TO SATURN. AM 69YR OLD FEMALE/AFRAID TO USE CAR/PAID FOR ALL SORTS OF REPAIRS/MODULES/SENSORS???AND MORE. NO ONE IN KEYS TO REPAIR VIA GM - SATURN SAID MIAMI ONLY. ROUNDTRIP OVER 200 MILES. AFRAID TO DRIVE/CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER CAR/MUST JUNK AND, OFCOURSE, SATURN SAID VIN # NOT UNDER RECALL FOR ENGINE OR ELECTRICAL. IS THERE ANY WAY TO RECOUP DOLLARS I PAID FOR ANY REPAIRS ON THIS CAR??? SO MUCH MORE THAN I AM LISTING HERE......THANK YOU NHTSA. *TR”
Engine and engine cooling
18 reports1 crash
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN S SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY SHUTS OFF EVER SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. THE VEHICLE MUST REMAIN PARKED FOR AT LEAST A WEEK BEFORE IT WILL RESTART. AFTER THE MOST RECENT FAILURE, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN CALLING THE DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY LOCATED, BUT HAS NOT GOTTEN A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000. UPDATED 05/27/09 *BF UPDATED 05/29/09.*JB”
Air bags
10 reports8 crashes1 fire
“A car hit me it the front passenger side the hood of my car bent up the passenger side of my windshield cracked and my car went spinning not one air bag came out”
Service brakes, hydraulic
10 reports2 crashes
“I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY FOR ABOUT 15 MILES WHEN I STARTED TO HEAR A HIGH PITCHED GRINDING SOUND OR CAVITATION NOISE WHICH I THOUGHT MAY HAVE COME FROM THE AXLE OR BRAKES. UPON EXITING THE HIGHWAY I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES WHICH WENT TO THE FLOOR BEFORE I FELT THEM BEGIN TO STOP THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO PUMP THE BREAKS AND THE CAR DID STOP. I DROVE ABOUT A MILE MORE ON LOCAL STREETS BUT WAS STILL ONLY ABLE TO STOP BY PUMPING THE BRAKES. SO I STOPPED AT A PEP BOYS STORE AND HAD THEM CHECK OUT THE BRAKES. THEY SAID I HAD PLENTY OF BRAKE PADS AND BRAKE FLUID. THEY TEST DROVE IT BUT COULD FIND ANYTHING WRONG. SO I DROVE THE CAR HOME AND IT WORKED FINE ALL THE WAY. *TR”
Seats
9 reports6 crashes
“THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, WAS INVOLVED IN A 3 CAR COLLISION. THE VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY A 1985 CADILLAC FLEETWOOD TRAVELING AT AT LEAST A MODERATE RATE OF SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED INTO A 2002 AUDI (I BELIEVE IT WAS) SUV. DURING THE COLLISION THE DRIVERS SEAT BACK FAILED AND COLLAPSED INTO THE BACK SEAT. I BELIEVE IT WAS THE SEAT ADJUSTER THAT FAILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION DUE TO THE COLLISION AND THE SEAT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS ON A STATE ROAD, AND WAS STATIONARY.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.