IllustrationDT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, A NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IT WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD, AND TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE GEAR WENT THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE TRANSMISSION. UPDATED 01/10/07. *JB
2002 Saturn Sl
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2002 Saturn Sl do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 171.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sl 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
130–25K
2325–50K
1550–75K
1075–100K
11100–150K
9150K+
81 reports with mileage · 50 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 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
20 crash reports5 fire reports15 injury reports
What owners actually said
131 reportsTHE BRAKES ON MY 2002 SL1 SATURN HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 15,000 MI; NOW, AT 30,000 MI, THE SATURN DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. I PREVIOUSLY HAD A 1991 SATURN SL1, FOR 11 YEARS AND WITH MORE THAN 100,000 MI, AND DID NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, SO IT'S NOT MY STYLE OF DRIVING - IT'S APPARENTLY …
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THE BRAKES ON MY 2002 SL1 SATURN HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 15,000 MI; NOW, AT 30,000 MI, THE SATURN DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. I PREVIOUSLY HAD A 1991 SATURN SL1, FOR 11 YEARS AND WITH MORE THAN 100,000 MI, AND DID NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, SO IT'S NOT MY STYLE OF DRIVING - IT'S APPARENTLY THE EQUIPMENT ON THE CAR ITSELF (AND THE REPLACEMENT PARTS AS WELL.) *NM
HEAD GASKET FAILURE IN A RELATIVELY YOUNG VEHICLE WITH 52,000 MILES. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND COST $600.00 TO FIX. *NM
LEFT FRONT STRUT/COIL SPRING BROKE IN HALF WHILE DRIVING. CAUSE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO EXTREME RUST. VEHICLE WAS A 2002 YEAR MODEL WITH 45,000 MILES. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND DEALER DID NOT CONSIDER RUST-INDUCED FAILURE TO BE ABNORMAL. COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC! *NM
2002 SATURN SL-1 REAR PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT. *KB THE CONSUMER NOTICED SOMETHING FLYING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS LOOSING CONTROL AND IMMEDIATELY GRASPED THE STEERING WHEEL TO REGAIN CONTROL. *JB
AFTER LEAVING A TRAFFIC LIGHT, I HAD TO STOP SUDDENLY BECAUSE THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED FOR A STALLED CAR IN THE LANE OF TRAFFIC WE WERE TRAVELING. THE CAR BEHIND ME ALSO STOPPED. THE CAR BEHIND THIS CAR COLLIDED WITH THE CAR BEHIND ME CAUSING IT TO COLLIDE WITH MY CAR WHICH WAS THEN PUSHED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. M…
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AFTER LEAVING A TRAFFIC LIGHT, I HAD TO STOP SUDDENLY BECAUSE THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED FOR A STALLED CAR IN THE LANE OF TRAFFIC WE WERE TRAVELING. THE CAR BEHIND ME ALSO STOPPED. THE CAR BEHIND THIS CAR COLLIDED WITH THE CAR BEHIND ME CAUSING IT TO COLLIDE WITH MY CAR WHICH WAS THEN PUSHED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. MY CAR WAS SANDWICHED BETWEEN THE CARS INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT. THE HINGES OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT GAVE WAY CAUSING THE SEAT TO MOVE TO THE RECLINING POSITION. I WAS NOT INJURED BUT THE SEAT COULD NOT BE PLACED IN DRIVING POSITION. THIS KIND OF ACTION COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *JB
ANTENNA CONNECTOR (HOLDER) FAILS ON A 2002 SATURN SL1 WITH 42K MILES ON IT RADIO WOULDN'T RECEIVE FM RECEPTION OVER 30 MILES! HAD FACTORY PUT BACK IN AND NO DIFFERENCE THOUGHT RADIO WAS BAD NOT THE CASE! REMOVED HOLDER WHICH WAS DIFFICULT TO DO TOOK 5 HOURS REMOVING AND PUTTING A NEW ONE IN COST 44.00 FOR PART DEALER REFUSED T…
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ANTENNA CONNECTOR (HOLDER) FAILS ON A 2002 SATURN SL1 WITH 42K MILES ON IT RADIO WOULDN'T RECEIVE FM RECEPTION OVER 30 MILES! HAD FACTORY PUT BACK IN AND NO DIFFERENCE THOUGHT RADIO WAS BAD NOT THE CASE! REMOVED HOLDER WHICH WAS DIFFICULT TO DO TOOK 5 HOURS REMOVING AND PUTTING A NEW ONE IN COST 44.00 FOR PART DEALER REFUSED TO PAY FOR IT! SPENT 50.00 REMOVING RADIO AND RE-INSTALLING RADIO! ANTENNA CONNECTOR (HOLDER) HAD SALT BUILD UP IN IT! *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TWO FRONT SEATS FAILED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, AND BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER RECLINED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY DETERMINED THE FRONT SEAT RECLINER WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER WERE INJURED AS A RESULT.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO WIRES AT THE BACK OF THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT WERE POKING OUT THROUGH THE UPHOLSTERY AND SOMEONE COULD BE INJURED. IT WAS NOT SAFE FOR THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AS WELL. THE DEALER OFFERED TO PAY FOR PARTIAL REPAIR BUT THE CONTACT EXPRESSED DISSATISFACTION WITH WITH THE SEAT BECAUSE THERE WAS FA…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO WIRES AT THE BACK OF THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT WERE POKING OUT THROUGH THE UPHOLSTERY AND SOMEONE COULD BE INJURED. IT WAS NOT SAFE FOR THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AS WELL. THE DEALER OFFERED TO PAY FOR PARTIAL REPAIR BUT THE CONTACT EXPRESSED DISSATISFACTION WITH WITH THE SEAT BECAUSE THERE WAS FAULTY ON WORKMANSHIP.
2002 SL2 FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE EXPLODED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *TS A DEFECT OR PRODUCT FAILURE IN THE COIL SPRING MOUNT, STRUT MOUNT OR TIE ROD RELEASED ENOUGH KINETIC ENERGY TO LIFT THE VEHICLE OFF THE PAVEMENT AND SHATTER THE WINDSHIELD AND BODY ND JETTISON THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS…
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2002 SL2 FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE EXPLODED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *TS A DEFECT OR PRODUCT FAILURE IN THE COIL SPRING MOUNT, STRUT MOUNT OR TIE ROD RELEASED ENOUGH KINETIC ENERGY TO LIFT THE VEHICLE OFF THE PAVEMENT AND SHATTER THE WINDSHIELD AND BODY ND JETTISON THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. *NM
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.