IllustrationFRONT END ACCIDENT. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. CAR WAS IN MOTION, WENT THROUGH A RAIL OVER A EMBANKMENT AND DOWN THE HILL INTO THE LAKE.
2002 Saturn Sc
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2002 Saturn Sc do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 23.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sc 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
50–25K
425–50K
450–75K
775–100K
4100–150K
1150K+
25 reports with mileage · 13 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 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports2 fire reports5 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
6 reportsPASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT AT APPROX. 15 MPH. CAR WENT OVER A SPEEDBUMP AND AIRBAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED. NO PASSENGER WAS IN THE SEAT AT THE TIME. VEHICLE IGNITION "LOCKS" AFTER KEY IS REMOVED, SOMETIMES MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN KEY WHEN STARTING CAR AGAIN. KEY CAN ALSO BE REMIVED W…
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PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT AT APPROX. 15 MPH. CAR WENT OVER A SPEEDBUMP AND AIRBAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED. NO PASSENGER WAS IN THE SEAT AT THE TIME. VEHICLE IGNITION "LOCKS" AFTER KEY IS REMOVED, SOMETIMES MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN KEY WHEN STARTING CAR AGAIN. KEY CAN ALSO BE REMIVED WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION WITHOUT TURNING OFF THE IGNITION. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SC1. THE VEHICLE WAS A SALVAGED VEHICLE FROM A CERTIFIED DEALER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT BELIEVES IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE TO HAVE NON-FUNCTIONING AIR BAGS. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND A PO…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SC1. THE VEHICLE WAS A SALVAGED VEHICLE FROM A CERTIFIED DEALER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT BELIEVES IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE TO HAVE NON-FUNCTIONING AIR BAGS. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 48,000.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON A DRY HIGHWAY SOMEONE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD ON. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER SIDE OBTAINED THE MOST DAMAGE. THERE WERE NOT ANY LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THERE WERE INJURIES AND A …
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON A DRY HIGHWAY SOMEONE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD ON. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER SIDE OBTAINED THE MOST DAMAGE. THERE WERE NOT ANY LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THERE WERE INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE.
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT THE CONSUMER S VEHICLE HEAD ON. THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY ON IMPACT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *NLM
MY VEHICLE WAS IN A HEAD-ON CRASH AND NONE OF THE FOUR AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. MY VEHICLE WAS A 2002 SATURN SC2 ,AND IS NOW A TOTAL LOSS. IT'S VIN NUMBER IS [XXX]. THERE WERE 4 PEOPLE IN THE CAR AND ALL SUSTAINED INJURIES, ONE SERIOUS.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B…
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MY VEHICLE WAS IN A HEAD-ON CRASH AND NONE OF THE FOUR AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. MY VEHICLE WAS A 2002 SATURN SC2 ,AND IS NOW A TOTAL LOSS. IT'S VIN NUMBER IS [XXX]. THERE WERE 4 PEOPLE IN THE CAR AND ALL SUSTAINED INJURIES, ONE SERIOUS.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
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.