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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

Tires complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
16,000 miles · Aug 8, 2008
Tires

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SL1. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 65-75 MPH, BOTH DRIVER'S SIDE TIRES BLEW OUT. TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FAILURES, THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED TO FIND OUT IF IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE LONG DISTANCES. THE VEHICLE PASSED INSPECTION AND THE DEALER WAS UNAWARE OF THE FAULTY VALVE STEMS. AAA INFORMED…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SL1. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 65-75 MPH, BOTH DRIVER'S SIDE TIRES BLEW OUT. TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FAILURES, THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED TO FIND OUT IF IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE LONG DISTANCES. THE VEHICLE PASSED INSPECTION AND THE DEALER WAS UNAWARE OF THE FAULTY VALVE STEMS. AAA INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VALVE STEMS ON THE TIRES WERE FAULTY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000.

NHTSA ODI #10237493

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2006
Tires

2002 SATURN SL-1 REAR PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT. *KB THE CONSUMER NOTICED SOMETHING FLYING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS LOOSING CONTROL AND IMMEDIATELY GRASPED THE STEERING WHEEL TO REGAIN CONTROL. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10167983

Mileage unknown · Apr 20, 2004
Tires

CONSUMER WANTED TO REPLACED THE TIRES DUE TO THE RECALL. *PH *JB

NHTSA ODI #10068577

24,500 miles · Mar 27, 2004
TiresCrashInjury

THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SEPARATED AT THE SIDEWALL, CAUSING THE CAR TO SWERVE VIOLENTLY INTO THE NEXT LANE, STRIKING A TRACTOR TRAILER AND TOTALING THE CAR.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10064002

Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 2002
Tires

CONSUMER STATED, SHE COULD FEEL A SLIGHT THUMPING IN THE STEERING COLUMN, CONSUMER THEN MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN, WHILE IN ROUTE TO THE DEALER, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE RIM, THERE WAS NO AUDIBLE SOUND OF A BLOWOUT, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, CONSUMER I…

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CONSUMER STATED, SHE COULD FEEL A SLIGHT THUMPING IN THE STEERING COLUMN, CONSUMER THEN MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN, WHILE IN ROUTE TO THE DEALER, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE RIM, THERE WAS NO AUDIBLE SOUND OF A BLOWOUT, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING 4 NEW TIRES, BUT THE DEALER REFUSED STATING THAT IT WAS JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS.(FIRESTONE TIRES)*JB

NHTSA ODI #567167

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.