2002 Saturn S-Series Sedan problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Service Brakes, Air:disc (1) · Power Train:manual Transmission (1) · Air Bags:frontal (1)
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (8)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Exterior Lighting:headlights 2012-02-01 · SB-020842001B · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
general motors vehicles and trucks: subject regarding, 2002 and prior passenger cars and trucks, chemical damage to exterior polycarbonate headlamp lenses. *slc updated *eh updated 3/30/11. headlamp lens overheating when covered and chemical damage to exterior polycarbonate headlamp
Seats:front Assembly:head Restraint 2011-11-01 · SB-10-08-50-003B · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
general motors: information provided by bulletin for all 2012 and prior general motor trucks and passenger vehicles regarding the adjustable comfort and custom upholstery of the driver and the passenger head restraint. *pe
Wheels:rim 2009-05-01 · 050310003 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
low tire pressure, leaking cast aluminum wheels (repair with adhesive sealant). 2008 and prior gm passenger car and light duty trucks (including saturn) and hummer h2, h3 and saab 9-7x with cast aluminum wheels. *nj updated 10/23/09. *pe
Power Train:axle Assembly 2002-01-01 · 02T07 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
subject regarding automatic transaxle temperature sensor fluid leak (replace transaxle temperature sensor). *jg
Seat Belts 2002-01-01 · 02C05 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
subject regarding reinforcement of driver's side
Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly 2001-09-01 · 01T44 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
subject regarding seat belt latch falls to the floor or is difficult to retrieve when putting on seat belt. *jg
Showing the 6 most recent of 8 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2010-11-08 · Air Bags:frontal · 78,000 mi · 💥 crash“a car was going 55 mph, didn't brake and hit the person behind me who was pushed into my car and i was pushed into a truck. the force of the impact moved all our cars 65 feet. the airbags did not deploy, although according to some comments by police and fire, they should have. i just wanted to report this just in case there were other owners with…”
2004-11-11 · Power Train:manual Transmission · 12,000 mi“car engine stalls and dies. car idles very rough. the manual transmission pops out of gear between 2nd and 3rd occasionally. car does not have a 1st gear if you use 1st the car bucks like crazy. but according to saturn dealer service centers visited 5 times the vehicle is running within factory specs and there are no fail codes. have been seve…”
2002-12-16 · Service Brakes, Air:disc · 15,000 mi · 💥 crash“brakes failed on my 2002 saturn s series sedan (15,000 miles) while decellerating at a yield merge and rearended a car at low speed with minimal damage. police officer noted brake pedal had to be floored to get only slight braking officer advised vehicle must be towed. vehicle towed to saturn dealership. after much resistance saturn home office in …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.