2002 Saturn Saturn L Series Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2002 Saturn Saturn L Series, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical250.0%
- Engine125.0%
- Exterior lighting125.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE ENGINE STALLED WHILE TRAVELING IN A HIGH TRAFFIC INTERSECTION A LOW IDLE SPEED. PRIVATE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS IGNITION CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. THERE WAS ALREADY A RECALL ISSUED (03V2310000)A.K.A.03-C-06, HOWEVER IT DOES NOT COVER THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS 2002 SATURN L100 WITH 23,000 MILES. THE MFG HAS TO BE AWARE THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS. THE COST OF THIS REPAIR WAS $497.00. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR INJURIES IN THIS INCIDENT FORTUNATELY. I HAVE RETAINED THE DEFECTIVE PART FOR INSPECTION IF NEEDED. *TR
SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS W/THE TAIL LAMP BRACKET HOUSING ASSEMBLY. THIS PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED, I THOUGHT WHEN I BROUGHT BACK THE VEHICLE ON DATE OF PURCHASE, SUCH WAS NOT THE CASE, THE TAIL LAMP BRACKET HOUSING CONTINUED TO BURN OUT. I STRESSED TO THE REPAIR FACILITY AT SATURN THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. FINALLY I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN 2005 FOR THIS DEFECT (TAIL LIGHT HOUSING BRACKET). I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE VESICLE FOR 2 YEARS PRIOR TO THE RECALL, IN 2005, IT STILL BURNS OUT 3 BULBS AT A TIME USUALLY A WEEK OR MONTH AFTER REPAIR. IT IS NOW 2006 AND I STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT NO COST TO ME ONLY BECAUSE I HAVE ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM WITH THE MANAGER OF THE DEALERSHIP (REPAIR DEPARTMENT), BUT THEY HAVE ONLY NOTED THE REPAIR TWICE; SO EVERY TIME THE ASSEMBLY UNIT GOES OUT THEY TRY AND CHARGE ME FOR THE REPAIR!...NOW THE CAR IS NEARLY PAID OFF AND I STILL HAVE THIS PROBLEM. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A DEFECT THAT CAN'T BE REPAIRED. MY REPAIR LOCALE IS SATURN OF MASSEPEQUA, NY. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY 2002 SATURN L200 WITH 66,000 STARTED AND RAN FINE UNTIL I TURNED A CORNER WAS GOING ABOUT 10 TO 20 MPH AND THE CAR JUST STOPPED RUNNING APPOX 100 YARDS FROM A BUSY INTERSECTION. CAR WAS TOWED TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP THEY WOULD BE UNABLE TO LOOK AT IT TILL THE NEXT DAY. THEY FOUND THAT THE TIMING CHAIN AND CYLINDER HEAD WOULD COST $2200 TO FIX BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE. NO INJURIES OR CRASHES OCCURRED ASK DEALER IF THIS WAS COMMON HE SAID NO THAT THIS OCCURS EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS W/THE TAIL LAMP BRACKET HOUSING ASSEMBLY. THIS PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED, I THOUGHT WHEN I BROUGHT BACK THE VEHICLE ON DATE OF PURCHASE, SUCH WAS NOT THE CASE, THE TAIL LAMP BRACKET HOUSING CONTINUED TO BURN OUT. I STRESSED TO THE REPAIR FACILITY AT SATURN THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. FINALLY I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN 2005 FOR THIS DEFECT (TAIL LIGHT HOUSING BRACKET). I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE VESICLE FOR 2 YEARS PRIOR TO THE RECALL, IN 2005, IT STILL BURNS OUT 3 BULBS AT A TIME USUALLY A WEEK OR MONTH AFTER REPAIR. IT IS NOW 2006 AND I STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT NO COST TO ME ONLY BECAUSE I HAVE ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM WITH THE MANAGER OF THE DEALERSHIP (REPAIR DEPARTMENT), BUT THEY HAVE ONLY NOTED THE REPAIR TWICE; SO EVERY TIME THE ASSEMBLY UNIT GOES OUT THEY TRY AND CHARGE ME FOR THE REPAIR!...NOW THE CAR IS NEARLY PAID OFF AND I STILL HAVE THIS PROBLEM. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A DEFECT THAT CAN'T BE REPAIRED. MY REPAIR LOCALE IS SATURN OF MASSEPEQUA, NY. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .