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2002 Saturn Sc

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Saturn Sc do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 23.5.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

25 reports with mileage · 13 unknown

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 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports2 fire reports5 injury reports

What owners actually said

38 reports
75,000 miles · May 23, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

AT AROUND 75000 MILES I PULLED INTO WORK, PUT IT IN PARK, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY ENGINE STARTED TO REV, (INCREASING WITHOUT LEVELING. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE CAR TO STOP THE INCREASED REVVING. I TRIED TO TURN THE CAR ON AGAIN , HOPING IT WAS A FLUKE. AND IT STARTED AGAIN. I GOT IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD …

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AT AROUND 75000 MILES I PULLED INTO WORK, PUT IT IN PARK, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY ENGINE STARTED TO REV, (INCREASING WITHOUT LEVELING. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE CAR TO STOP THE INCREASED REVVING. I TRIED TO TURN THE CAR ON AGAIN , HOPING IT WAS A FLUKE. AND IT STARTED AGAIN. I GOT IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD ME IT HAD A VACCUUM LEAK AND HAD TO HAVE THE INTAKE GASKET REPLACED. AND THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE EXTENSIVE WORK TO REPLACE IT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10191555

Mileage unknown · Apr 12, 2007
Suspension

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN SC-2. WHILE SLOWLY MOVING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CLICKING SOUND. THE CONTACT NOTICED A TIRE WAS FLAT BECAUSE THE COIL SPRING PUNCTURED THE TIRE. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW OF THE DEALERS DIAGNOSIS OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE MILEAGE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10187660

37,200 miles · Feb 21, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

ON 2/1/07 MY CAR STARTED RUNNING ROUGH, WITH NO SES LIGHT COMING ON. AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS THE SES LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. A DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAD CAUSED THE ROUGH IDLE, AND THE DEALER SAID THAT IF I LEFT GO TO LONG ENOUGH IT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE UP. MY CAR …

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ON 2/1/07 MY CAR STARTED RUNNING ROUGH, WITH NO SES LIGHT COMING ON. AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS THE SES LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. A DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAD CAUSED THE ROUGH IDLE, AND THE DEALER SAID THAT IF I LEFT GO TO LONG ENOUGH IT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE UP. MY CAR HAS ONLY 37,315 MILES ON IT AND IS GARAGED WHEN NOT IN USE. A NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPLACED FOR A COST OF $463.44. I DO NOT HOT ROD THIS CAR OR ABUSE IT IN ANY FASHION, I AM 52 YEARS OLD. IF I HAD IGNORED THE SES LIGHT I COULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT IF THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE FAILED IN TRAFFIC. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10183160

56,000 miles · Aug 21, 2006
Air BagsCrashInjury

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON A DRY HIGHWAY SOMEONE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD ON. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER SIDE OBTAINED THE MOST DAMAGE. THERE WERE NOT ANY LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THERE WERE INJURIES AND A …

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON A DRY HIGHWAY SOMEONE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD ON. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER SIDE OBTAINED THE MOST DAMAGE. THERE WERE NOT ANY LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THERE WERE INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE.

NHTSA ODI #10166076

32,000 miles · Aug 11, 2006
Seat Belts

SEAT BELT HAS BECOME TORN AND FRAYED, CAUSED BY SEAT BELT RETRACTION DEVICE. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS ON THE 2001-2002 SATURN SC1. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10165234

Mileage unknown · Sep 16, 2005
Unknown Or Other

ASSISTANCE REQUESTED REGARDING 2002 SATURN SC-1.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS LIED TO ABOUT THE VEHICLE NOT BEING IN AN ACCIDENT PREVIOUSLY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10138806

Mileage unknown · Aug 18, 2005
Exterior Lighting

DT: CONSUMER HAS A 2002 SATURN SC2. HE HAS A PROBLEM WITH BOTH HEADLIGHTS, THEY HAVE ACCUMULATED CONDENSATION INSIDE OF THE GLASS FRONT OF THE HEADLIGHT. HE SAYS THAT THE MOISTURE IS ALWAYS IN THE HEADLIGHT, DAY, NIGHT, RAIN OR SHINE. HE SAYS THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT DUE TO THE MOISTURE CAUSING OBSTRUCTION OF LIGHT …

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DT: CONSUMER HAS A 2002 SATURN SC2. HE HAS A PROBLEM WITH BOTH HEADLIGHTS, THEY HAVE ACCUMULATED CONDENSATION INSIDE OF THE GLASS FRONT OF THE HEADLIGHT. HE SAYS THAT THE MOISTURE IS ALWAYS IN THE HEADLIGHT, DAY, NIGHT, RAIN OR SHINE. HE SAYS THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT DUE TO THE MOISTURE CAUSING OBSTRUCTION OF LIGHT FROM HEADLAMPS. HEADLAMP REPLACEMENT IS 166.60 DOLLARS PER HEAD LIGHT FOR THE PART. WITH LABOR AND SALES TAX PUTS TOTAL COST 399.39 DOLLARS FOR REPLACEMENT OF BOTH HEADLIGHTS. HE TRIED TO HAVE DEALER REPLACE LIGHTS UNDER WARRANTY, THEY WOULD NOT, HE ALSO TRIED TO HAVE INSURANCE COVER THE REPLACEMENT, THEY WOULD NOT EITHER. HE SPOKE WITH DEALER AND ASKED IF IT WAS A COMMON THING, DEALER SAID THAT HE HAS HAD SOME COME IN, HE ALSO ASKED DEALER IF THIS WAS A DEFECT AND DEALER SAID NO.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10133318

88,000 miles · Feb 13, 2005
SeatsCrashInjury

ON FEBRUARY 11, 2005 I WAS INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT. I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP AND REAR ENDED BY A PERSON MOST LIKELY GOING ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR. I OWN A SATURN SC1 2000. MY SEAT WENT FORWARD AND THEN COMPLETELY COLLAPSED INTO THE BACK SEAT. THIS IS VERY SIGNIFICANT FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS. MY 8 YEAR OLD GRAN…

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ON FEBRUARY 11, 2005 I WAS INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT. I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP AND REAR ENDED BY A PERSON MOST LIKELY GOING ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR. I OWN A SATURN SC1 2000. MY SEAT WENT FORWARD AND THEN COMPLETELY COLLAPSED INTO THE BACK SEAT. THIS IS VERY SIGNIFICANT FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS. MY 8 YEAR OLD GRANDSON TYPICALLY RIDES IN THAT VERY SPOT AND IF HE WERE WITH ME HE CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE SUBSTAINED HEAVY INJURIES DUE TO MY WEIGHT AND THE SPEED IN WHICH THE SEAT SLAMMED BACKWARDS. I ALSO FEEL THAT MY INJURIES WHERE MORE SEVERE AS THE SEAT DID NOT KEEP ME IN A SECURE POSITION. MY GREATEST FEAR IS THAT THIS MAY OCCUR WITH VEHICLES OF THIS SAME MODEL AND OTHERS WILL BE GREATLY WOUNDED. I SINCERELY APPRECIATE ANY INQUIRIES YOU MAY MAKE ON MY BEHALF FOR THE COMMON GOOD AND SAFETY OF OTHERS. SINCERELY, PAMELA D. LOMASTRO. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10110431

4,000 miles · Sep 21, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE PEDAL WENT DOWN. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE ADJUSTED AND CLEANED. THE MECHANIC CLEANED AND ADJUSTED THE BRAKES. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RE…

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WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE PEDAL WENT DOWN. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE ADJUSTED AND CLEANED. THE MECHANIC CLEANED AND ADJUSTED THE BRAKES. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE THREE TIMES AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *TC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10089783

11,000 miles · Oct 14, 2003
Electrical System

THE SPARK PLUG WIRES ARE ARCHING AND SPARKING WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INITIALLY CHANGED THE SPARK PLUGS. DEALER CONTACTED THE DIVISION OFFICE WHICH TOLD HIM TO PUT THE OLD SPARK PLUGS BACK ON THE VEHICLE. *AK *MR

NHTSA ODI #10042885

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.