IllustrationFUEL GAUGE IS NOT REGISTERING PROPER AMOUNT OF FUEL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STOP RUNNING WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sl years →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
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 reportsVEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SIX CAR REAR END COLLISION AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SIX CAR REAR END COLLISION.DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT CAME UNLATCHED ,AND DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
TRANSMISSION PAWL WILL NOT DISENGAGE IF VEHICLE IS PARKED ON SLIGHTEST INCLINE EVEN WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE. THIS PROBLEM IS BECOMING REPETITIOUS MORE FREQUENTLY. VEHICLE MUST BE LEFT IN NEUTRAL WITH HAND BRAKE ENGAGED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
VEHICLES TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE WINDOWS TINTED. CONSUMER PICKS UP VEHICLE AND NOTICE NUMEROUS BUBBLES ON THE GLASS. DEALERSHIP ADVISED BUBBLES WOULD GO AWAY, HOWEVER BUBBLES GOT WORSE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED TINT ON BOTH DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW. *TT
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NOT ABLE TO SHIFT INTO LOW GEAR WHILE DESCENDING STEEP GRADE/MOUNTAIN ROADS. BRAKES ARE SCORCHED DUE TO EXCESSIVE PEDAL APPLICATION, AND CONTROLLING VEHICLE IS WITH DIFFICULTY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING IT IS HARD FOR BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE. *AK WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE. THE ENGINE RPMS RACED AND WOULD NOT IDLE DOWN. DRIVER HAD HAS TO APPLY BRAKES VERY HARD. DEALER REPLACE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. *TT
UPON REAR IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S SEAT IMMEDIATELY FELL BACKWARD TO A TOTAL RECLINING POSITION. THE DRIVER WAS FORCED BACKWARD, INTO A RECLINING POSITION, UNABLE TO SEE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD TO NAVIGATE THE CAR. THE SEAT IS NOT BROKEN. WHEN THE LEVER WAS PRESSED, THE SEAT RETURNED TO IT'S NORMAL UPRIGHT POSITION.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
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
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.