Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 2 of 3 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Exterior Lighting. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
3 reports
23,000 miles · Jan 18, 2008
Electrical System
VEHICLE ENGINE STALLED WHILE TRAVELING IN A HIGH TRAFFIC INTERSECTION A LOW IDLE SPEED. PRIVATE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS IGNITION CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. THERE WAS ALREADY A RECALL ISSUED (03V2310000)A.K.A.03-C-06, HOWEVER IT DOES NOT COVER THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS 2002 SATURN L100 WITH 23,000 MILES. THE MFG HAS TO BE AWARE TH…
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VEHICLE ENGINE STALLED WHILE TRAVELING IN A HIGH TRAFFIC INTERSECTION A LOW IDLE SPEED. PRIVATE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS IGNITION CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. THERE WAS ALREADY A RECALL ISSUED (03V2310000)A.K.A.03-C-06, HOWEVER IT DOES NOT COVER THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS 2002 SATURN L100 WITH 23,000 MILES. THE MFG HAS TO BE AWARE THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS. THE COST OF THIS REPAIR WAS $497.00. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR INJURIES IN THIS INCIDENT FORTUNATELY. I HAVE RETAINED THE DEFECTIVE PART FOR INSPECTION IF NEEDED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10215340
Mileage unknown · Oct 11, 2006
Exterior Lighting
SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS W/THE TAIL LAMP BRACKET HOUSING ASSEMBLY. THIS PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED, I THOUGHT WHEN I BROUGHT BACK THE VEHICLE ON DATE OF PURCHASE, SUCH WAS NOT THE CASE, THE TAIL LAMP BRACKET HOUSING CONTINUED TO BURN OUT. I STRESSED TO THE REPAIR FACILITY AT SATURN THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. FINALL…
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SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS W/THE TAIL LAMP BRACKET HOUSING ASSEMBLY. THIS PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED, I THOUGHT WHEN I BROUGHT BACK THE VEHICLE ON DATE OF PURCHASE, SUCH WAS NOT THE CASE, THE TAIL LAMP BRACKET HOUSING CONTINUED TO BURN OUT. I STRESSED TO THE REPAIR FACILITY AT SATURN THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. FINALLY I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN 2005 FOR THIS DEFECT (TAIL LIGHT HOUSING BRACKET). I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE VESICLE FOR 2 YEARS PRIOR TO THE RECALL, IN 2005, IT STILL BURNS OUT 3 BULBS AT A TIME USUALLY A WEEK OR MONTH AFTER REPAIR. IT IS NOW 2006 AND I STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT NO COST TO ME ONLY BECAUSE I HAVE ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM WITH THE MANAGER OF THE DEALERSHIP (REPAIR DEPARTMENT), BUT THEY HAVE ONLY NOTED THE REPAIR TWICE; SO EVERY TIME THE ASSEMBLY UNIT GOES OUT THEY TRY AND CHARGE ME FOR THE REPAIR!...NOW THE CAR IS NEARLY PAID OFF AND I STILL HAVE THIS PROBLEM. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A DEFECT THAT CAN'T BE REPAIRED. MY REPAIR LOCALE IS SATURN OF MASSEPEQUA, NY. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10170557
66,400 miles · Aug 16, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling
MY 2002 SATURN L200 WITH 66,000 STARTED AND RAN FINE UNTIL I TURNED A CORNER WAS GOING ABOUT 10 TO 20 MPH AND THE CAR JUST STOPPED RUNNING APPOX 100 YARDS FROM A BUSY INTERSECTION. CAR WAS TOWED TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP THEY WOULD BE UNABLE TO LOOK AT IT TILL THE NEXT DAY. THEY FOUND THAT THE TIMING CHAIN AND CYLINDER HEAD WOULD COST…
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MY 2002 SATURN L200 WITH 66,000 STARTED AND RAN FINE UNTIL I TURNED A CORNER WAS GOING ABOUT 10 TO 20 MPH AND THE CAR JUST STOPPED RUNNING APPOX 100 YARDS FROM A BUSY INTERSECTION. CAR WAS TOWED TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP THEY WOULD BE UNABLE TO LOOK AT IT TILL THE NEXT DAY. THEY FOUND THAT THE TIMING CHAIN AND CYLINDER HEAD WOULD COST $2200 TO FIX BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE. NO INJURIES OR CRASHES OCCURRED ASK DEALER IF THIS WAS COMMON HE SAID NO THAT THIS OCCURS EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10165651
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
DP08002 · Timing Chain FAILURE-STALL
Opened Jun 18, 2008 · Closed Oct 16, 2008
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
ON JUNE 6, 2006, ODI OPENED AN INVESTIGATION OF TIMING CHAIN FAILURE RESULTING IN ENGINE STALL WHILE DRIVING WITH NO RESTART IN APPROXIMATELY 20,514 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 SATURN L-SERIES VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.2L ENGINES (L61) BUILT FROM NOVEMBER 2000 THROUGH FEBRUARY 2001 (EA06-009).THE VEHICLES BUILT DURING THOSE MONTHS EXHIBITED HIGHER FAILURE RATES THAN SIMILARLY EQUIPPED VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE AND AFTER.GM INTRODUCED A NEW TIMING CHAIN DESIGN IN PRODUCTION IN MAY 2002.ODI CLOSED ITS INVESTIGATION AFTER GM INITIATED A SAFETY RECALL ON NOVEMBER 7, 2007 (RECALL 07V-519). ON MAY 22, 2008, THE NORTH CAROLINA CONSUMERS COUNCIL (NCCC) SUBMITTED A DEFECT PETITION TO ODI REQUESTING THE EXPANSION OF RECALL 07V-519 TO INCLUDE ALL MY 1999 THROUGH 2003 SATURN L-SERIES VEHICLES WITH 2.2L ENGINES USING THE SAME TIMING CHAIN DESIGN AS THE RECALLED POPULATION.THE PETITION STATES THAT THE NCCC CONTINUES TO RECEIVE COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS THAT HAVE HAD A TIMING CHAIN FAIL IN VEHICLES BUILT OUTSIDE THE PRODUCTION RANGE COVERED BY THE RECALL.THE PETITION ALSO NOTES THAT ODI HAS CONTINUED TO RECEIVE COMPLAINTS.SINCE THE CLOSING OF EA06-009 ODI HAS RECEIVED 80 NEW COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS WHO HAD A TIMING CHAIN FAIL IN A MY 2000 THROUGH 2002 SATURN L-SERIES WITH THE 2.2L ENGINE THAT WERE NOT COVERED BY RECALL 07V-519 AND WERE BUILT PRIOR TO THE TIMING BELT CHANGE IN MAY 2002.THE COMPLAINTS DESCRIBE THE SAME FAILURE MODE AS THE RECALLED POPULATION WHERE THE TIMING CHAIN CAN BREAK SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, RESULTING IN ENGINE DAMAGE AND LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER.THE DEFECT PETITION HAS BEEN GRANTED. A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE08-061) HAS BEEN OPENED.
2002 Saturn Saturn L Series Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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