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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

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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

What owners actually said

131 reports
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, …

Read full complaint

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.