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2002 Saturn LW200

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
8Owner complaints

Model-year median: 6

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
4
20008
20018
20021
2003
Compare all LW200 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine
3Fuel System, Gasoline
2Fuel/propulsion System
2Electrical System
1Engine And Engine Cooling
1
All reported categories
Exterior Lighting
1Unknown Or Other
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 6 of 8 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Engine. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Engine complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2022
Engine

driving at 35 mph when engine stopped running and failed to restart. inspection determined timing chain had failed due to failure to keep tension. the timing chain tensioner on Ecotech 2.2 engines from 2000-2004 had tensioners which failed to keep the chain taught which lead to GM redesigning the tensioner. this problem was n…

Read full complaint

driving at 35 mph when engine stopped running and failed to restart. inspection determined timing chain had failed due to failure to keep tension. the timing chain tensioner on Ecotech 2.2 engines from 2000-2004 had tensioners which failed to keep the chain taught which lead to GM redesigning the tensioner. this problem was never recalled and consequentially this occurred in almost all of these engines and caused severe engine damage to pistons and valves, requiring a complete engine overhaul somewhere's around 100k miles on up. GM's new tensioner design solved this and the part cost a mere $50 yet no recall ever happened. I had to put a new engine in my Saturn and spent over 8000 dollars...

NHTSA ODI #11485334

39,000 miles · May 18, 2018
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

RECALL 03033/03-C-06 IGNITION CONTROL MODULE WAS NEVER SERVICED. OWNED BY A 88 YEAR OLD LADY. MUST SOME KIND OF A REPAIR SCAM IN LA.

NHTSA ODI #11096799

160,000 miles · Oct 28, 2014
Engine

TIMING CHAIN BREAK, CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. VEHICLE MANUFACTURED 09/01. NOT NOTIFIED ABOUT ANY POSSIBLE RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10650775

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.