NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
38 reports44,000 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…
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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…
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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.…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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.
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