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.
The worst 2002 Saturn S-Series problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Transmission3
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Transmission3
Recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Technical service bulletins for the 2002 Saturn S-Series 51
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- General motors vehicles and trucks: subject regarding, 2002 and prior passenger cars and trucks, chemical...
- General motors: information provided by bulletin for all 2012 and prior general motor trucks and passenger...
- Low tire pressure, leaking cast aluminum wheels (repair with adhesive sealant)
- Information for diagnosing and servicing customer concerns of the vehicle creeping forward in neutral,...
- Service information regarding saturn rear drum wheel cylinder inspections
- Power steering system noise and/or leak diagnosis
- Coolant temperature telltale inoperative and or coolant gauge inoperative
- Delay and or harsh into rev or 2ND 3RD 4TH after trans repair
- Cruise control is inop or will not set engage after the manual transaxle has been replaced
- Odor from a/c at vehicle start-up
What 2002 Saturn S-Series owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
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.
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.
Compare the 2002 Saturn S-Series
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Questions about the 2002 Saturn S-Series
Is the 2002 Saturn S-Series reliable?
Owners have filed 3 complaints about the 2002 Saturn S-Series, fewer than a typical S-Series model year.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Saturn S-Series?
Transmission and drivetrain, with 3 complaints.
How many recalls does the 2002 Saturn S-Series have?
No recalls on record.
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