← New search

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

Other model years Selected 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

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

What owners actually said

38 reports
44,000 miles · Jun 18, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER AND ISSUED NEW KEYS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT TH…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER AND ISSUED NEW KEYS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

NHTSA ODI #10599175

1,200 miles · Mar 29, 2014
EngineService BrakesSteering

ALMOST FROM THE START THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD LOCK UP TRYING TO START THE CAR. FRONT AND BACK LIGHTS HAVE WATER INSIDE, BRAKES HAVE NEVER WORKED RIGHT GOING ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR WITH NO AIR IN LINES. SUNROOF ALSO QUIT. FRONT DRIVER DOOR METAL CRACKS WHEN OPENING. ENGINE ALSO LOOKING LIKE TROUBLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10575621

89,000 miles · Feb 27, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE KEY WAS PLACED IN THE IGNITION, THE THEFT SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND THE ENGINE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VE…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE KEY WAS PLACED IN THE IGNITION, THE THEFT SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND THE ENGINE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,654. UPDATED 04/30/14 MA UPDATED 06/03/14

NHTSA ODI #10566278

80,000 miles · May 11, 2011
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SC1. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD SUDDENLY LOCK. SHE TRIED TO ROCK THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH BUT IT WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE CYLINDER AND THE HOUSING WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED.…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SC1. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD SUDDENLY LOCK. SHE TRIED TO ROCK THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH BUT IT WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE CYLINDER AND THE HOUSING WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #10400031

50,000 miles · Feb 18, 2010
Exterior LightingStructure

LEFT HEAD LIGHT HAS A LEAK OR WATER KEEPS GETTING IN AND BURNING OUT THE HEADLIGHT BULBS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10311869

80,000 miles · Sep 25, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

2002 SATURN SC1 LOST ENGINE--OIL IN COOLANT AT 80,000 MILES. THE MECHANIC THAT DISASSEMBLED THE ENGINE STATED THAT THE CAMSHAFT JOURNALS WERE WORN SO BAD THAT THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE RE-BUILT. REPLACED ENGINE 5 MONTHS AGO, LAST WEEK, AUTO TRANSMISSION STOPPED ENGAGING REVERSE GEAR. DISCUSSED WITH LOCAL SATURN DEALER WHO OFFERE…

Read full complaint

2002 SATURN SC1 LOST ENGINE--OIL IN COOLANT AT 80,000 MILES. THE MECHANIC THAT DISASSEMBLED THE ENGINE STATED THAT THE CAMSHAFT JOURNALS WERE WORN SO BAD THAT THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE RE-BUILT. REPLACED ENGINE 5 MONTHS AGO, LAST WEEK, AUTO TRANSMISSION STOPPED ENGAGING REVERSE GEAR. DISCUSSED WITH LOCAL SATURN DEALER WHO OFFERED NO HELP. THIS IS MY DAUGHTER'S CAR. MY CAR--2002 SATURN SC2 HAD TO HAVE AN ENGINE OVERHAUL AT 46,000 MILES DUE TO BURNED VALVES IN #2 CYLINDER. EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERED REPAIRS. OIL CONSUMPTION PRIOR TO OVERHAUL WAS EXCESSIVE (QT EVERY 1000 MILES--DEALER SAID NORMAL) MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS AN INTERMITTENT EXTREMELY ROUGH DOWNSHIFT, WHICH WAS REPORTED TO SATURN DEALERS 4 TIMES WHILE IN WARRANTY. EACH TIME, THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. OUR FAMILY BOUGHT THE CAR NEW, AND RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN PERFORMED. AT THIS TIME, I FEEL THAT SATURN HAS SOME WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEMS WITH BOTH THE SINGLE CAM AND TWIN CAM ENGINES, AS WELL AS THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10243382

105,000 miles · Jul 9, 2008
Electrical System

AFTER READING SEVERAL CASES OF WHICH SATURN IGNITION LOCKING UP. SO I THOUGHT I WOULD GIVE IT A SHOT TO FILE A COMPLAINT TO SEE IF MANY A RECALL WILL BE ISSUED. I REALLY NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY SATURN UNTIL A FEW MONTHS AGO WHEN I TRIED TO START MY CAR AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN OVER. I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING I WAS…

Read full complaint

AFTER READING SEVERAL CASES OF WHICH SATURN IGNITION LOCKING UP. SO I THOUGHT I WOULD GIVE IT A SHOT TO FILE A COMPLAINT TO SEE IF MANY A RECALL WILL BE ISSUED. I REALLY NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY SATURN UNTIL A FEW MONTHS AGO WHEN I TRIED TO START MY CAR AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN OVER. I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING I WAS DOING WRONG AFTER THIS HAPPENING EVERYDAY I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG. RIGHT NOW I AM LOOKING INTO GETTING THIS FIXED BEFORE I HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS LIKE I HAVE READ WITH OTHER CUSTOMERS OF SATURN. STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP WHILE DRIVING OR THE CAR NOT BEING ABLE TO BE TURNED OFF. MINE CAR IS NOT TO THAT POINT BUT I KNOW IF I LET IT GO IT WILL GET TO THIS POINT. THE TUMBLERS ARE BAD IN MY SATURN IM NOT SURE HOW MUCH IT WILL BE TO FIX BUT THERE SHOULD DEF BE A RECALL ON THIS MATTER. ESP IF YOUR STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP WHEN DRIVING THIS IS NOT SAVE FOR ANYONE! I DRIVE A 2002 SATURN SC1. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10233609

48,000 miles · Nov 15, 2007
Air BagsCrash

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…

Read full complaint

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.

NHTSA ODI #10209058

60,000 miles · Aug 16, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SC1. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT SMELLED COOLANT IN THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAILPIPE. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10199774

Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2007
Fuel System, Other

THE 2002 SATURN SC1 NEEDED AN INTAKE MANIFOLD AT 60, 000 MILES BECAUSE IT WAS PLACED ON WRONG SIDE AT THE FACTORY. THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY GOT ALOT OF THESE COMPLAINTS, SHOULD THIS WARRANT A RECALL.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10193878

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.