IllustrationDT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25MPH, THE FUEL LINE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE FUEL LINE WAS REPAIRED.
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 reportsMY CAR HAS A LOT OF PROBLEMS. THE STEERING SYSTEM HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES. THE CLIMATE BLOWER MOTOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES. IT HAS BROKEN DOWN 2 TIMES. THIS CAR IS A LEMON AND GM WILL DO NOTHING TO HELP WITH ANY PROBLEMS I HAVE.. THEY JUST GIVE ME THE RUN AROUND. AND MY WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM HAS BEEN REPLACED 1 TIME.. WHI…
Read full complaint
MY CAR HAS A LOT OF PROBLEMS. THE STEERING SYSTEM HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES. THE CLIMATE BLOWER MOTOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES. IT HAS BROKEN DOWN 2 TIMES. THIS CAR IS A LEMON AND GM WILL DO NOTHING TO HELP WITH ANY PROBLEMS I HAVE.. THEY JUST GIVE ME THE RUN AROUND. AND MY WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM HAS BEEN REPLACED 1 TIME.. WHICH STILL NEVER CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.. THE SPEED OF THE WIPERS WHEN ON HIGH ARE SLOWER THEN MOST CARS RESULTING IN POOR VISION. THE AIR BAGS NEVER WENT OFF WHEN I GOT IN TO A HEAD ON COLLISION AT 45 MPH.. THIS HAS TO BE THE WORST CAR OUT THERE. *JB
PUT MY CAR IN PARK AND WAS ABLE TO PULL THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING...WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR INTO GEAR AND DRIVE IT. I DO NOT KNOW HOW LONG THE CAR HAS BEEN LIKE THIS! *NM
INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. *JB
HUMMING SOUND COMING FROM FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. SOUND GOT LOUDER AFTER REPLACING BRAKE PADS AND TIRES WITH FRONT END ALIGNMENT. UPON INSPECTION, FRONT HUB BEARING IS GOING OUT. SATURN 2002 SL2 WITH 85K MILES, WITH MOSTLY HIGHWAY DRIVING. SOUND OCCURS WHETHER DRIVING HIGHWAY OR CITY. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SL1. THE CONTACT STATED HIS DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT AND REAR END COLLISION WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. THE CONTACT DAUGHTER'S VEHICLE HYDROPLANED INTO A VEHICLE AND WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER HA…
Read full complaint
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SL1. THE CONTACT STATED HIS DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT AND REAR END COLLISION WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. THE CONTACT DAUGHTER'S VEHICLE HYDROPLANED INTO A VEHICLE AND WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER TO DETERMINE WHY THE AIRBAGS MAY NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. *AK
THERE WAS NOTHING THAT LEAD UP TO THE EVENT THE REAR PLASTIC BUMPER COVER FELL OFF I HAVE TO BUY A NEW BUMPER AND MATCHING PAINT. *NM
AT APPROX. 71,000 MILES, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN EXHIBITING SHIFTING DIFFICULTIES BETWEEN 2ND & 3RD GEARS. REPUTABLE TRANSMISSION SHOP DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS HYDRAULIC LEAKS WITHIN TRANSMISSION. REPLACED SEALS WITH TRANS. REBUILD, REPLACED MLPS, TOTAL REPAIR COST OVER $3650. TRANS. WAS NOT ABUSED, THIS WAS A PREMATURE TRA…
Read full complaint
AT APPROX. 71,000 MILES, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN EXHIBITING SHIFTING DIFFICULTIES BETWEEN 2ND & 3RD GEARS. REPUTABLE TRANSMISSION SHOP DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS HYDRAULIC LEAKS WITHIN TRANSMISSION. REPLACED SEALS WITH TRANS. REBUILD, REPLACED MLPS, TOTAL REPAIR COST OVER $3650. TRANS. WAS NOT ABUSED, THIS WAS A PREMATURE TRANS. FAILURE. *JB
DT: WHILE TRYING TO START THE CAR WITH THE KEY IT WILL NOT TURN THE IGNITION TO START THE CAR. A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON THE SAME COMPONENT BUT FOR A DIFFERENT MODEL CAR. DEALER HAS FIXED PROBLEM, BUTCALLER HAS TO PAY FOR IT. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET.*AK
ELECTRICAL WIRING DEFECT RESULTED IN THE 2002 SATURN SL2 CATCHING ON FIRE. *MR (SHORT IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THIS HAZARD AND NHTSA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL. *SC 8JB
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.