2002 Saturn S-Series

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN QUESTIONED SINCE NEW DELAY SHIFTING INTO REVERSE ,DOWNSHIFTING ERRATIC AND SHIFTS HARD SOMETIMES FLUID HAS BEEN CHANGED BUT TO NO AVAIL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10216204

Incident

Jan 26, 2003

THE 2002 SATURN SL2 DOES NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND WHINES WHEN STARTED AND UNTIL RUN FOR AT LEAST 15 MIN. CALLED SATURN CORP. AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NEVER ANY MENTION FROM OTHER CONSUMERS. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS WITH THIS CERTAIN VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10208469

Incident

Nov 7, 2007

Mileage

108,520 mi

I OWN A 2002 SATURN SL PURCHASED IN JUNE OF 2002 WITH ABOUT 51K MILES AT THE TIME OF THE PROBLEM IN LATE MARCH. THE CAR IS A STANDARD TRANSMISSION. I WAS DRIVING MY SON TO SCHOOL IN THE MORNING WHEN I SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER TO THE WHEELS ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO OPERATE. I WAS ON A STRAIGHT ROAD, AND WAS CRUISING AT 45MPH WITH NO SHIFTING AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. UPON HAVING THE CAR TOWED TO THE LOCAL SATURN DEALER IN DANBURY, I WAS TOLD THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY HAD "COME APART" AND SINCE THE CAR WAS OVER 36K ,WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CLUTCH WAS REBUILT BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE PARTS WERE NOT RETURNED TO ME. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO SATURN CORP TO NO SATISFACTION. IN MY OPINION, THERE IS NO WAY A CLUTCH SHOULD SIMPLY COME APART AFTER ONLY 50K MILES AND LESS THAN 2 YEARS SERVICE. I HAVE DRIVEN STANDARD TRANSMISSIONS FOR MUCH OF MY LIFE, AND HAVE NEVER REPLACED THE CLUTCH OR TRANSMISSION. THE CAR JUST PRIOR TO THIS PURCHASE HAD NEARLY 200K MILES ON THE ORIGINAL CLUTCH, AND MY OTHER CARS WERE STILL RUNNING AT OVER 125K WITH THE ORGINAL CLUTCH WHEN I TRADED THEM IN. DRIVER WEAR & TEAR SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE. THE CAR HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED BY THE SATURN DEALER. NO FLUIDS WERE PRESENT OR NOISE PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT WERE NOTICED. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE MOST OF MY DRIVING IS HIGHWAY (APPROX 125 MILES/DAY) AND THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER COULD HAVE BEEN HIGHLY DANGEROUS IN SOME SITUATIONS. THANK YOU ALLOWING ME TO VENT MY FRUSTRATION.

NHTSA ID

10072423

Incident

Mar 29, 2004

Mileage

51,000 mi

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

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

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

INFORMATION FOR DIAGNOSING AND SERVICING CUSTOMER CONCERNS OF THE VEHICLE CREEPING FORWARD IN NEUTRAL, BINDING IN REVERSE, AND/OR CLICKING OR WHINING IN ALL FORWARD GEARS AFTER TRANSAXLE SERVICE. *KB

SERVICE INFORMATION REGARDING SATURN REAR DRUM WHEEL CYLINDER INSPECTIONS. *TT UPDATE. *TT

POWER STEERING SYSTEM NOISE AND/OR LEAK DIAGNOSIS. *TT