Problems · by component
2002 Saturn SL electrical system problems
43 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Saturn SL cite electrical system, 29% of all 149 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
43
29% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
What owners say about the electrical system
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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…”
“IGNITION CYLINDER IS WORE OUT, WHEN PUTTING IN THE KEY, YOU HAVE TO JIGGLE THE KEY, SOMETIMES TAKES UP TO 10 MINUTES FOR THE KEY TO TURN AND START. SOMETIMES IT WORKS FINE. THIS IS AN OFF AND ON PROBLEM. THIS MONTH (SEPT 2017) IT HAS BEEN REAL BAD. I AM AFRAID TO GO ANYWHERE, FEARING I WILL BE STRANDED.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SL. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE AND RETURNING TWENTY MINUTES LATER, THE IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION MODULE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 211,795. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL EACH TIME. UPDATED 08/19/15*JB ALSO, THE STARTER WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 11/19/15.*JB”
“THIS VEHICLE IS A DEATH TRAP THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING, CAN NOT START, WHOLE STEERING COLUMN IS LOOSE, KEY COMES OUT DURING DRIVING. ...UPDATED 09/22/15 *BF”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE KEY EJECTED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RUN IN THE ON POSITION WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.”
Showing 6 of 43 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.