Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 38 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Saturn Sc. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 38 · page 1 of 2
FRONT END ACCIDENT. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. CAR WAS IN MOTION, WENT THROUGH A RAIL OVER A EMBANKMENT AND DOWN THE HILL INTO THE LAKE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FELL OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE DRIVING. AT TIMES, THE CONTACT HAD DIFFICULTY PLACING THE KEY IN AND OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPAIRED THREE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
CAR HAS HAD ISSUES WITH THE STARTER OVER THE YEARS, REQUIRING COUNTLESS REPLACEMENTS BEFORE THE RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT DATES. RECENTLY, A STARTER LASTED ONLY 6 MONTHS BEFORE FAILING. WHEN A MECHANIC LOOKED AT THE STARTER, HE SAID THAT THERE IS PROBABLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE IGNITION CAUSING THE STARTER TO CONTINUOUSLY RUN WHILE THE ENGINE IS ON. THIS RESULTED IN THE STARTER COMPLETELY BURNING UP ON THE INSIDE. SMOKE WAS VISIBLE FROM THIS STARTER. THE KEY ALSO SLIPS OUT OF THE IGNITION IN ANY POSITION, INCLUDING WHEN THE ENGINE IS ON AND CAR IS MOVING. THERE IS A RECALL FROM GM AFFECTING SATURN IGNITION SWITCHES AND IGNITION CYLINDERS, BUT IT DOES NOT INCLUDE 2002 SATURNS EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME.
I CONTACTED GM'S CUSTOMER SERVICE REGARDING MY IGNITION SWITCH WHICH IS STUCK ON ACCESSORY AND HAS BEEN DRAINING MY BATTERY. MY CAR WAS A YEAR BEFORE THE RECALLED IGNITION SWITCHES IN OTHER SATURN BUT AFTER SIGNIFICANT RESEARCH IT APPEARED TO BE SIMILAR ISSUES THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE RECALLS HAD. THEY REFERRED ME TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP FOR A QUOTE AND SAID THAT THEY WOULD DETERMINE IF IT WOULD BE COVERED. WHEN I ARRIVED THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY HAD SEEN MANY OF THESE ISSUES BUT GM ALWAYS REFUSED TO COVER AND THAT I SHOULD CALL THEM TO GET A CASE NUMBER. AFTER SPENDING 45 MINUTES ON THE PHONE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE TO DETERMINE IF I WAS ELIGIBLE I WAS THEN PASSED TO ANOTHER REPRESENTATIVE WHO TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE THE IGNITION SWITCH DID NOT TURN WHILE DRIVING, IT WAS MY PROBLEM BECAUSE MY CAR IS OVER 10 YEARS OLD AND PARASITIC DRAINS WERE NOT THEIR REMIT. I ASKED IF THESE WERE IN THE SAME BATCH AS THE RECALLED SWITCHES BECAUSE THEY SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL FAULTY SWITCHES WITHIN THAT TIME FRAME AND THEY TOLD ME TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA. I REACHED OUT TO THEIR DIGITAL CUSTOMER SERVICE REPS WHO WERE ABLE TO ISSUE ME A CASE NUMBER AND SAID THAT SOMEONE WOULD CALL ME WITHIN 24 HOURS AND NO ONE CALLED. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT 2002 SWITCHES ARE INVESTIGATED FOR POSSIBLE RECALL ISSUES AND I HAVE MY CASE NUMBER ON FILE IN CASE ANYONE ACTUALLY HELPS ME THERE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START UNTIL AFTER AWAITING SEVERAL HOURS LATER. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION. ALSO,THE KEY BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. IN ADDITION, THE KEY RELEASED INDEPENDENTLY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH ON NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.
PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT AT APPROX. 15 MPH. CAR WENT OVER A SPEEDBUMP AND AIRBAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED. NO PASSENGER WAS IN THE SEAT AT THE TIME. VEHICLE IGNITION "LOCKS" AFTER KEY IS REMOVED, SOMETIMES MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN KEY WHEN STARTING CAR AGAIN. KEY CAN ALSO BE REMIVED WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION WITHOUT TURNING OFF THE IGNITION. *TR
HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE TURNING THE IGNITION AS IT JAMS AND AT TIMES FEARFUL IT MAY NOT TURN NEXT TIME I TRY TO START IT .....BUT TODAY WHILE WAITING AT A RED LIGHT...CAR RUNNING, RADIO ON AND INTERIOR DASH LIGHTS ON...EVERYTHING JUST SHUT DOWN....THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN...BUT THE REST OF THE CAR DIED...I WAS VERY NERVOUS WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE .....WONDERING IF IT WOULD ALLOW ME TO EVEN GET HOME....WITHIN IN 2 MINUTES THE ELECTRICAL DID COME BACK....I ONLY PURCHASED MY SATURN IN FEB, AS USED BUT DID NOT START SEEING THESE ISSUES UNTIL THE PAST 2 MONTHS...BUT HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT THIS CAR MODEL IS NOT ON ANY RECALL LIST WITH OTHERS DISPLAYING THE SAME ISSUES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION TURNED FROM THE ON POSITION TO THE OFF POSITION ON ITS OWN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SC. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A LOT, THE CONTACT HAD TO MAKE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS AND EXERT FORCE TO UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE AND COIL SPRING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.
THE KEYS TO THE IGNITION SWITCH HAVE WORN DOWN SO MUCH THAT THEY WILL NOT WORK. I PURCHASED NEW KEY BLANKS, WENT TO THE DEALER AND HAD THEM COPY THE KEYS. THE DEALER HAD TO RUN THE KEYS THROUGH THE MACHINE TWICE TO CUT THEM PROPERLY. THE NEW KEYS WORK, BUT A VERY GREAT DEAL OF FRICTION IS FELT WHEN THE KEY IS INSERTED OR REMOVED. THE KEY DRAGS BADLY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCK. THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS WORN OUT. *TR
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.
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
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
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.
LEFT HEAD LIGHT HAS A LEAK OR WATER KEEPS GETTING IN AND BURNING OUT THE HEADLIGHT BULBS. *TR
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
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
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.
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
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
AT AROUND 75000 MILES I PULLED INTO WORK, PUT IT IN PARK, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY ENGINE STARTED TO REV, (INCREASING WITHOUT LEVELING. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE CAR TO STOP THE INCREASED REVVING. I TRIED TO TURN THE CAR ON AGAIN , HOPING IT WAS A FLUKE. AND IT STARTED AGAIN. I GOT IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD ME IT HAD A VACCUUM LEAK AND HAD TO HAVE THE INTAKE GASKET REPLACED. AND THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE EXTENSIVE WORK TO REPLACE IT. *AK
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN SC-2. WHILE SLOWLY MOVING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CLICKING SOUND. THE CONTACT NOTICED A TIRE WAS FLAT BECAUSE THE COIL SPRING PUNCTURED THE TIRE. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW OF THE DEALERS DIAGNOSIS OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE MILEAGE. *AK
ON 2/1/07 MY CAR STARTED RUNNING ROUGH, WITH NO SES LIGHT COMING ON. AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS THE SES LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. A DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAD CAUSED THE ROUGH IDLE, AND THE DEALER SAID THAT IF I LEFT GO TO LONG ENOUGH IT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE UP. MY CAR HAS ONLY 37,315 MILES ON IT AND IS GARAGED WHEN NOT IN USE. A NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPLACED FOR A COST OF $463.44. I DO NOT HOT ROD THIS CAR OR ABUSE IT IN ANY FASHION, I AM 52 YEARS OLD. IF I HAD IGNORED THE SES LIGHT I COULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT IF THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE FAILED IN TRAFFIC. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON A DRY HIGHWAY SOMEONE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD ON. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER SIDE OBTAINED THE MOST DAMAGE. THERE WERE NOT ANY LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THERE WERE INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE.
SEAT BELT HAS BECOME TORN AND FRAYED, CAUSED BY SEAT BELT RETRACTION DEVICE. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS ON THE 2001-2002 SATURN SC1. *NM
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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