RoadVitals

2002 Saturn S-Series Sedan

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
3
Latest Nov 8, 2010
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Jan 17, 2002
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
3 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Saturn S-Series Sedan, most frequently naming the airbags, brakes and transmission categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 8 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Airbags133.3%
  • Brakes133.3%
  • Transmission133.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
02V020000

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

Jan 17, 2002
790 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN SEDANS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES," AND NO. 214, "SIDE IMPACT PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH WELDS BETWEEN THE DOOR STRIKER AND BELT-LINE THAT DO NOT MEET SATURN SPECIFICATIONS.
The risk: IF THE SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE ON THE PILLAR FAILED IN A CRASH, THE DRIVER COULD BE INJURED MORE SERIOUSLY. IN A SIDE IMPACT, OCCUPANTS COULD ALSO BE INJURED MORE SERIOUSLY BECAUSE OF GREATER INTRUSION OR REDUCED PERFORMANCE OF THE OPTIONAL SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL ADDITIONAL STRUCTURAL FASTENERS TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR PILLAR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 22, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-553-6000, PROMPT #3.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.Manufacturer number 02002/02C05View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Airbags
Filed Nov 8, 2010
Crash reported3 injuries reported

A CAR WAS GOING 55 MPH, DIDN'T BRAKE AND HIT THE PERSON BEHIND ME WHO WAS PUSHED INTO MY CAR AND I WAS PUSHED INTO A TRUCK. THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT MOVED ALL OUR CARS 65 FEET. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, ALTHOUGH ACCORDING TO SOME COMMENTS BY POLICE AND FIRE, THEY SHOULD HAVE. I JUST WANTED TO REPORT THIS JUST IN CASE THERE WERE OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUES. CAR WAS TOTALED, NO REPAIR DONE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10365060
Incident
Oct 19, 2010
Mileage
78,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 11, 2004

CAR ENGINE STALLS AND DIES. CAR IDLES VERY ROUGH. THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION POPS OUT OF GEAR BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD OCCASIONALLY. CAR DOES NOT HAVE A 1ST GEAR IF YOU USE 1ST THE CAR BUCKS LIKE CRAZY. BUT ACCORDING TO SATURN DEALER SERVICE CENTERS VISITED 5 TIMES THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING WITHIN FACTORY SPECS AND THERE ARE NO FAIL CODES. HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TIMES ON THE EXPRESSWAY GOING 65 M.P.H AND THE ENGINE HAS DIED WHAT FUN. THE CAR HAS BEEN INSPECTED AND THE REPORT STATES THE CAR SINCE DAY ONE I DROVE IT OFF THE DEALERSHIP LOT WAS WORTH LESS THAN 50% OF PURCHASE PRICE AND HAS BECOME A SAFETY HAZARD. THE CAR HAS SAT IDLE FOR TWO YEARS NOW IN MY GARAGE AND I HAVE LOST MY FIGHT TO HAVE SATURN UPHOLD THEIR END OF THE LEMON LAW IN WISCONSIN. SATURN HAD TRIED TO REPAIR THE CAR TWICE BY PUTTING ALL NEW FUEL INJECTORS IN THE CAR. CAR WAS RETURNED THE FOLLOWING DAY WITH SAME PROBLEM. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR TWO WEEKS AND GAVE ME ANOTHER SATURN CAR TO DRIVE AND THEY STILL COULDN'T FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE WOULD BE IN THE SHOP EVERY WEEK IF I HAD DECIDED TO STILL DRIVE THE HEALTH RISK TO MYSELF AND DAUGHTER. WENT AND BOUGHT ANOTHER NEW CAR AND DEFINITELY NOT A AUTO FROM GM. *JB

NHTSA ID
10098667
Incident
Sep 10, 2002
Mileage
12,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 16, 2002
Crash reported

BRAKES FAILED ON MY 2002 SATURN S SERIES SEDAN (15,000 MILES) WHILE DECELLERATING AT A YIELD MERGE AND REARENDED A CAR AT LOW SPEED WITH MINIMAL DAMAGE. POLICE OFFICER NOTED BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE FLOORED TO GET ONLY SLIGHT BRAKING OFFICER ADVISED VEHICLE MUST BE TOWED. VEHICLE TOWED TO SATURN DEALERSHIP. AFTER MUCH RESISTANCE SATURN HOME OFFICE IN TENNESSEE SENT INSPECTOR. CONVERSATION THIS DATE WITH TENNESSEE OFFICE SAID VERBAL PRELIM. REPORT- NOTHING REALLY SEEN WRONG. I DON'T BELIVE IT AND FEAR DRIVING THE CAR.CAR STILL AT SATURN OF FREEHOLD.

NHTSA ID
10000148
Incident
Nov 26, 2002
Mileage
15,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SB-020842001B

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLES AND TRUCKS: SUBJECT REGARDING, 2002 AND PRIOR PASSENGER CARS AND TRUCKS, CHEMICAL DAMAGE TO EXTERIOR POLYCARBONATE HEADLAMP LENSES. *SLC UPDATED *EH UPDATED 3/30/11. HEADLAMP LENS OVERHEATING WHEN COVERED AND CHEMICAL DAMAGE TO EXTERIOR POLYCARBONATE HEADLAMP LENSES. CAN CAUSE CRAZING OR CRACKING OF HEADLAMP LENS. *PE UPDATED 6/24/11. *PE UPDATED 5/14/12. INCLUDING 2013 MODEL YEAR. *PE

SB-10-08-50-003B

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT

GENERAL MOTORS: INFORMATION PROVIDED BY BULLETIN FOR ALL 2012 AND PRIOR GENERAL MOTOR TRUCKS AND PASSENGER VEHICLES REGARDING THE ADJUSTABLE COMFORT AND CUSTOM UPHOLSTERY OF THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER HEAD RESTRAINT. *PE

050310003

WHEELS:RIM

LOW TIRE PRESSURE, LEAKING CAST ALUMINUM WHEELS (REPAIR WITH ADHESIVE SEALANT). 2008 AND PRIOR GM PASSENGER CAR AND LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS (INCLUDING SATURN) AND HUMMER H2, H3 AND SAAB 9-7X WITH CAST ALUMINUM WHEELS. *NJ UPDATED 10/23/09. *PE

02T07

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

SUBJECT REGARDING AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE TEMPERATURE SENSOR FLUID LEAK (REPLACE TRANSAXLE TEMPERATURE SENSOR). *JG

02C05

SEAT BELTS

SUBJECT REGARDING REINFORCEMENT OF DRIVER'S SIDE

01T44

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

SUBJECT REGARDING SEAT BELT LATCH FALLS TO THE FLOOR OR IS DIFFICULT TO RETRIEVE WHEN PUTTING ON SEAT BELT. *JG

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Saturn S-Series Sedan by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2002Viewing310—
2001400—
2000300—
1999400—
1998100—
1997200—
1996000—
1995000—
1994000—
1993000—
1992000—
1991000—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.