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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.

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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

Exterior Lighting complaints

5 reports
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60,000 miles · May 29, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VISIBILITY WAS LOW ON THE HIGH BEAMS AND THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLAC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VISIBILITY WAS LOW ON THE HIGH BEAMS AND THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V231000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V158000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #10594901

Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

THE GM IGNITION PROBLEMS PROMPTING THE CURRENT RECALL ALSO AFFECTED THE CAR ABOVE. I BOUGHT THE 2002 SATURN NEW IN MARCH OF 2003, AND OWNED IT FOR OVER 10 YEARS, SELLING IT LAST FALL TO A FRIEND. I HAD IT AT THE JAKE SWEENEY (CINCINNATI) DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES FOR STRANGE "ELECTRICAL" PROBLEMS. (CAR DID NOT HAVE AUTO DOOR L…

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THE GM IGNITION PROBLEMS PROMPTING THE CURRENT RECALL ALSO AFFECTED THE CAR ABOVE. I BOUGHT THE 2002 SATURN NEW IN MARCH OF 2003, AND OWNED IT FOR OVER 10 YEARS, SELLING IT LAST FALL TO A FRIEND. I HAD IT AT THE JAKE SWEENEY (CINCINNATI) DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES FOR STRANGE "ELECTRICAL" PROBLEMS. (CAR DID NOT HAVE AUTO DOOR LOCKS OR WINDOWS - EVERYTHING WAS MANUAL). I WOULD BE DRIVING, WHEN ALL THE DASH GAUGES WOULD GO OUT. IT WOULD REGISTER NO SPEED, NO TEMP, NO GAS, NO RPMS. ODOMETER DIDN'T MOVE. I COULD DRIVE THE CAR, STOP AND START. THEN SUDDENLY IT WOULD "COME TO". THE DEALERSHIP THOUGHT I WAS NUTS, UNTIL FINALLY IN EARLY 2013, I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHILE IT WAS DOING IT. AFTER DAYS OF DIAGNOSTICS, THEY SAID IT WAS THE IGNITION. THEY REPLACED THE WHOLE THING (AT MY EXPENSE) AND THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. THEY SAID "WERE YOU AWARE THAT YOU COULD TAKE THE KEY OUT WHILE THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE?" (I HAD NOT BEEN AWARE). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10569374

35,000 miles · Dec 1, 2010
Exterior Lighting

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SL2. THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE BULB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE BULB WAS REPLACED, THE BRAKE LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SL2. THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE BULB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE BULB WAS REPLACED, THE BRAKE LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000.

NHTSA ODI #10368496

9,500 miles · Aug 1, 2003
Exterior Lighting

WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH THE HIGH BEAMS ON OR OFF, THE HEADLIGHTS, FLICKERED. THE CONSUMER FELT IT WAS VERY DISTRACTING AND ANNOYING. *AK *SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10027101

Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 2002
Exterior Lighting

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #757707

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.