Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
130–25K
2325–50K
1550–75K
1075–100K
11100–150K
9150K+
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
What owners actually said
131 reports
28,600 miles · Sep 7, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELLED TO THE FLOOR BOARD. THE OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HAD THE DEALER INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS EVALUATED THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY DEFECTS IN THE BRAKES. HOWEVER, THEY DID HAVE TO ADD FLUID TO THE BRAKES. LATER THEY CONTACTED THE OWNERS SPOUSE AND SA…
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THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELLED TO THE FLOOR BOARD. THE OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HAD THE DEALER INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS EVALUATED THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY DEFECTS IN THE BRAKES. HOWEVER, THEY DID HAVE TO ADD FLUID TO THE BRAKES. LATER THEY CONTACTED THE OWNERS SPOUSE AND SAID THE VEHICLES BRAKE RESPONSE WAS NORMAL FOR THIS TYPE VEHICLE. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10091493
Mileage unknown · Jul 26, 2004
Air BagsCrashFireInjury
AFTER A CRASH IN A SATURN AND THE AIR BAGS EXPLODED. THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD AREA STARTED SMOLDERING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND PUT THE FIRE OUT BEFORE IT DID A LOT OF DAMAGE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10082691
30,002 miles · Jul 9, 2004
Electrical SystemFire
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD, NEAR THE BATTERY, AFTER HAVING OIL CHANGED. TWO PARTIES HAVE LOOKED AT THE CAR AND DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS FAULTY. THE WIRING NEAR THE BATTERY WAS THE AFFECTED AREA. THE CAR WAS A LOSS WITH ONLY 30000 MILES ON IT. SATURN DOES NOT WANT TO HONOR FACTORY WARRANTY. ALSO, SATU…
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VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD, NEAR THE BATTERY, AFTER HAVING OIL CHANGED. TWO PARTIES HAVE LOOKED AT THE CAR AND DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS FAULTY. THE WIRING NEAR THE BATTERY WAS THE AFFECTED AREA. THE CAR WAS A LOSS WITH ONLY 30000 MILES ON IT. SATURN DOES NOT WANT TO HONOR FACTORY WARRANTY. ALSO, SATURN FOUND CRACK IN THE ENGINE. THEY "BELIEVE" THIS CRACK COULD HAVE CAUSED THE FIRE. NO OTHER INSPECTOR FOUND THIS CRACK AND I WANT TO KNOW HOW IT GOT THERE. SATURN HAD NO ANSWERS AND WERE VERY NASTY ABOUT MY ENTIRE SITUATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10080670
12,900 miles · Jun 14, 2004
Power Train
CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN BACK TO SATURN FOR REPAIRS 5 TIMES AND AFTER THE MAX OF 2 DAYS THE PROBLEMS WERE BACK. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND HAS BEEN PARKED IN MY GARAGE FOR NOW TWO YEARS. SATURN IS NOT WILLING TO BUY THE CAR BACK THROUGH THE WISCONSIN LEMON LAW AND BY AN INSPECTOR AND MYSELF IT IS A PURE LEMON. THE CAR VIBRATE…
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CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN BACK TO SATURN FOR REPAIRS 5 TIMES AND AFTER THE MAX OF 2 DAYS THE PROBLEMS WERE BACK. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND HAS BEEN PARKED IN MY GARAGE FOR NOW TWO YEARS. SATURN IS NOT WILLING TO BUY THE CAR BACK THROUGH THE WISCONSIN LEMON LAW AND BY AN INSPECTOR AND MYSELF IT IS A PURE LEMON. THE CAR VIBRATES, IDLES VERY ROUGH, AND HAS THE CURIOUS TENDENCY TO STALL, LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE CAR DOES NOT KNOW WHAT FIRST GEAR IS, THE BACK END TELLS YOU OF ANY BUMP IN THE ROAD. CAR HAS STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WHEN TURNING IN A MAJOR INTERSECTION JUST LOVE THE SIGHT OF ON COMING CARS AND GETTING THE FINGER AND THE HORN. NOT TO MENTION THE FEAR OF GOING TO THE HOSPITAL FOR INJURIES, MAYBE NOT ME, BUT MAYBE MY PASSENGER AT THE TIME IN THIS CAR WAS 6, MY DAUGHTER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10075347
Mileage unknown · May 6, 2004
Power Train
WHEN PUTTING THE GEAR SHIFT IN REVERSE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10072203
Mileage unknown · May 4, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
VEHICLE REPEATEDLY LOSES POWER AND SHUTS OFF AT HIGHWAY SPEED. DRIVER IS NOT ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE FOR A FEW MINUTES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10072073
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 · Apr 20, 2004
Tires
CONSUMER WANTED TO REPLACED THE TIRES DUE TO THE RECALL. *PH *JB
NHTSA ODI #10068577
25,000 miles · Apr 20, 2004
Electrical SystemFire
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE CENTER OF THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRES WERE FAULTY. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK *SC
NHTSA ODI #10059156
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
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.
2002 Saturn Sl Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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