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2002 Saturn Sl

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Saturn Sl do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 171.5.

About this comparison →
131Owner complaints

Model-year median: 171.5

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
178
1999148
2000111
2001131
2002
Compare all Sl years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
43Power Train
22Engine And Engine Cooling
16Air Bags
9Seats
9
All reported categories
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
8Steering
8Engine
5Exterior Lighting
5Tires
5Unknown Or Other
4Structure
3Suspension
3Fuel System, Gasoline
2Fuel System, Other
2Visibility
2Latches/locks/linkages
1Seat Belts
1Service Brakes
1Service Brakes, Air
1Vehicle Speed Control
1Visibility/wiper
1

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

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

81 reports with mileage · 50 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 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

20 crash reports5 fire reports15 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

16 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 29, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE PULLING INTO GARAGE CONSUMER REMOVED FOOT FROM GAS PEDAL AND VEHICLE DRIFTED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE FROM ROLLING BACKWARDS. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ENGINE DID NOT HAVE TORQUE POWER IN ORDER TO PULL THE VEHICLE, AN…

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WHILE PULLING INTO GARAGE CONSUMER REMOVED FOOT FROM GAS PEDAL AND VEHICLE DRIFTED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE FROM ROLLING BACKWARDS. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ENGINE DID NOT HAVE TORQUE POWER IN ORDER TO PULL THE VEHICLE, AND VEHICLE WAS WORKING PROPERLY AS DESIGNED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10071817

Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE SHUTDOWN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10027256

Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

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

NHTSA ODI #10013802

Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE CAR IDLES ROUGH, HAS LOUSY GAS MILEAGE, AND NO POWER. I WAS TOLD ON THE 5TH TIME TO THE SATURN REPAIR SHOP, THAT THE SL1S HAVE AN ENGINEERING DEFECT AND SATURN DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. DT

NHTSA ODI #768798

Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2002
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM, BUT REPLACED BATTERY .PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8002129

Mileage unknown · Nov 16, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

AFTER A LONG DISTANCE DRIVE AND STOPPING AT LOCAL STORE FOR A MOMENT VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE WHILE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 45MPH. THEN, WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING, RELEASING VERY THICK VAPOR. ALSO, SMOKE WAS COMING FROM EXHAUST, AND VAPORS WAS FROM INSIDE OF VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, …

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AFTER A LONG DISTANCE DRIVE AND STOPPING AT LOCAL STORE FOR A MOMENT VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE WHILE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 45MPH. THEN, WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING, RELEASING VERY THICK VAPOR. ALSO, SMOKE WAS COMING FROM EXHAUST, AND VAPORS WAS FROM INSIDE OF VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #899189

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.