2002 Saturn Sl problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Electrical System (16) · Power Train:automatic Transmission (13) · Electrical System:ignition (10)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Saturn Sl model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
80 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (244)
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.
Unknown Or Other 2025-07-18 · PIP5601C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this pi communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from tac.
Electrical System 2024-08-26 · General Communication · Service Campaign
vehicle wide programming (vwp) is a new process to update software on gm vehicles. it provides the ability via a single selection within techline connect to first identify which modules need updating and then proceed to updating affected modules (with some exceptions). the updating of modules is com
Unknown Or Other 2024-06-17 · 18-NA-099 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information for use on a product assistance claim (pac), which is formerly known as a product allegation resolution (par) claim.
Electrical System 2024-06-06 · 24-NA-098 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on service programming system (sps) error codes e4398, e4399, e4401, e4403, m4404, m4413, m6954, m6955, e4414, e4423, e4491, e4492, or e6961 and resolution information.
Electrical System 2024-03-28 · 10-08-45-001H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information for electrical ground repairs using new general motors replacement fasteners with conductive finish.
Engine And Engine Cooling 2024-03-13 · 16-NA-383 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this technical bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves to correct conditions of rough idle, crank no start, extended crank or misfire, mil with dtcs, and explains how top tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up.
Showing the 6 most recent of 244 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2023-07-04 · Air Bags · 💥 crash“a car hit me it the front passenger side the hood of my car bent up the passenger side of my windshield cracked and my car went spinning not one air bag came out …”
2020-09-25 · Visibility/Wiper · 57,000 mi“ignition requires key jiggle in order to start. electrical issues such as constant shorts, major failure in supporting systems.…”
2018-12-19 · Power Train · 141,244 mi“i own a 2002 saturn sl vehicle purchased in 7/2016. i'm having problems starting my vehicle. both starter and battery have both been checked out ok. all spark plugs were replaced on 10/31/18. after these repairs, when started it still made very noisy sounds coming from the engine. now i can't get it to start at all. i tried to get help about a reca…”
2018-08-31 · Seats · 252,000 mi · 💥 crash“the vehicle was stopped, was involved in a 3 car collision. the vehicle was hit from behind by a 1985 cadillac fleetwood traveling at at least a moderate rate of speed. the vehicle was pushed into a 2002 audi (i believe it was) suv. during the collision the drivers seat back failed and collapsed into the back seat. i believe it was the seat adjust…”
2018-05-21 · Engine · 40,400 mi“rpms go up to 5 and then drop to 0 - engine stalls and will start but will continue at high rpms and keep stalling. as i was traveling at 50 mph, the rpms went up to 5, and then quickly dropped to 0. the engine stalled and i coasted to the side of the road. the vehicle would start but when reaching 35 mph, would do same thing (high rpms and then …”
2018-02-27 · Structure:body · 142,000 mi“after opening any door, the handles stick in the upright position, won't release and the door may not be properly secured.…”
2017-09-15 · Electrical System · 988,000 mi“ignition cylinder is wore out, when putting in the key, you have to jiggle the key, sometimes takes up to 10 minutes for the key to turn and start. sometimes it works fine. this is an off and on problem. this month (sept 2017) it has been real bad. i am afraid to go anywhere, fearing i will be stranded.…”
2017-01-10 · Air Bags · 34,000 mi · 💥 crash“driving on highway rt. 80, when a car swerved into right lane in front of me from entrance ramp. i was traveling at approx. 45 miles an hour. airbags failed to deploy in a front end collision, causing life altering injury. left temporal brain damage, post concussion syndrome and epilepsy, also other injuries to neck, shoulder and to lower back. *…”
2016-12-09 · Unknown Or Other“the coolant system breaks frequently. the radiator breaks about every year. there also seems to be a sticking accelerator. if you have to accelerate very quickly. the car will idle abnormally high for weeks before returning to normal. the ignition key comes out without turning the vehicle off.…”
2015-08-28 · Electrical System · 78,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2002 saturn sl. after parking the vehicle and returning twenty minutes later, the ignition key would not turn and the steering wheel seized. the vehicle could not be restarted. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the ignition module failed. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.