2002 Saturn SL engine problems

Filed Dec 19, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · 141,244 miles · IL

I own a 2002 saturn sl vehicle purchased in 7/2016. I'm having problems starting my vehicle. Both starter and battery have both been checked out ok. All spark plugs were replaced on 10/31/18. After these repairs, when started it still made very noisy sounds coming from the engine. Now I can't get it to start at all. I tried to get help about a recall relating to my vehicle's starting problems. I contacted saturn company 1(800)533-6000 and gm recall center 1(866)694-6546. Neither were willing to help. I found info on the kelley blue book website. I entered my VIN number and following was displayed: the federal safety agency campaign id: 03v231; report date: info unavailable; vehicles affected: 239,993; consequence: info unavailable; what you should do: dealers will (1) replace the ignition control module, (2) replace the ignition control module and spark plugs, or (3) replace the ignition control module, spark plugs, and update the powertrain control module. When parts become available, owners will be advised to contact their dealers for appointments to have their vehicle repaired. Parts should be available during september 2003. Summary: on certain passenger vehicles equipped with 2.2l l4 (l61) engines, a failure of the ignition control module may cause deterioration in idle quality, reduction in overall engine power, and the vehicle may be hard to start. Continued operation of the vehicle after such an ignition module failure will result in the "service engine soon" light flashing, and may lead to secondary failures of the catalytic converter, oxygen sensor, and exhaust resonator. Failure of the resonator will cause increased exhaust noise. Prolonged operation of the vehicle following a resonator failure may lead to a fire. **can you please help me with finding out if this recall effected my vehicle?

Filed May 21, 2018 · Engine · 40,400 miles · PA

Rpms go up to 5 and then drop to 0 - engine stalls and will start but will continue at high rpms and keep stalling. As I was traveling at 50 MPH, the rpms went up to 5, and then quickly dropped to 0. The engine stalled and I coasted to the side of the road. The vehicle would start but when reaching 35 MPH, would do same thing (high rpms and then drop and stall). I had to keep sitting and re starting to get the remainder of 6 miles to my home. Garage ran diagnostic and found nothing wrong. The car continues to do this at least 2 times per week, currently sitting in our garage because I am afraid to drive it and get stranded again. This occurs on city streets and highways.

Filed Oct 10, 2014 · Engine, Transmission · 44,330 miles · FL

Saturn is an l200 series/there was only the ls on your list.numerous occasions of engine stall while traveling at all speeds. Called saturn/said VIN not accepted? Live in florida keys/had to go to miami & get tail lamp fixed/only lasted two weeks (this was before engine stall) & call to saturn. Am 69yr old female/afraid to use car/paid for all sorts of repairs/modules/sensors???and more. No one in keys to repair via gm - saturn said miami only. Roundtrip over 200 miles. Afraid to drive/can't afford another car/must junk and, ofcourse, saturn said VIN # not under recall for engine or electrical. Is there any way to recoup dollars I paid for any repairs on this car??? So much more than I am listing here......thank you the federal safety agency.

Filed Jun 27, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 230,000 miles · SC

Ignition switch is hard to impossible to turn on and once the car is running the key will turn to the off position and with the key extracted from the lock the engine continues to run.

Filed Jan 4, 2013 · Engine · 160,000 miles · GA

While going from a parked position to driving. The car shifted gears very hard to the point it rattled the whole car. I stopped driving and checked the engine and all fluid levels. Everything seemed fine. As I pulled off again it did the same thing each time the automatic transmission shifted gears, this time harder. The mechanic at worked tested the computer and it registered a problem with the egr valve and an unknown code. When I called a certified service center they said they have seen this a bunch of times and that it is a common problem. With this is a common problem, where is the recall to get it fixed.

Filed Feb 10, 2009 · Electrical, Engine · 120,000 miles · TX

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 saturn sl. Whenever the contact starts the vehicle, the ignition control module fails and the ignition will not start. She had new keys made, but this did not correct the issue. During the failure, the check engine indicator remains illuminated and will not dim. The failure has been occurring for over a year. The contact must wiggle the keys for at least fifteen to thirty minutes before the vehicle will start. The dealer has not been notified. The failure mileage was 120,000. Updated 3/19/09 *cn the consumer also stated the engine idles very high. Over 4000 RPM/ updated 03/25/09.

Filed Jan 19, 2009 · Engine · 87,000 miles · NY

2002 saturn sl2 timing chain broke and damaged engine valves.

Filed Feb 5, 2008 · Engine · AR

While the car was still under warrant, I took it to the dealer with a complaint that the engine would not accelerate well and described it as "sluggish". After checking it, it was determined that it was not the engine. When I kept noticing that the oil in the car was extremely low between oil changes, but it was not leaking out of the car nor was the car burning oil from the exhaust, I contacted the dealer via telephone and was told that they had just fixed a car with the same problem and the engine needed to be rebuilt to the tune of $1400. At this point, the car was out of warranty. I was advised that the oil was leaking into the engine itself.

Filed Nov 26, 2007 · Engine · 60,000 miles · CA

At around 60k the saturn sl1 2002 showed a trouble code with the intake gasket leaking fuel mileage suffered. This car can not pass smog and now the car is consuming 1 qt of oil in 300 miles, as well as getting terrible gas mileage. No repairs have been made as I would think that since the net is littered with this problem on the sl1 1.9 it should be covered by saturn. If there is not a common failure with the intake gasket why has saturn made a upgraded gasket?? Recall this pos!

Filed Apr 1, 2007 · Electrical, Engine · 95,000 miles · TX · crash · 1 injury

My son had an accident involving 3 other vehicles. The motor of the 2002 saturn sl1 in which he was driving stalled as he exited the highway onto a service road. Once the engine stalled,he did not have the ability to steer or stop the vehicle. As a result, he struck 2 vehicles that were stopped at a red light causing a chain reaction. The second vehicle that he struck hit the vehicle in front of it. The airbags deployed in the vehicle my son drove. The right side of vehicle 1 sustained damage. The rear and front bumpers were damaged on vehicle 2. The rear of vehicle 3 is damaged. The saturn in which my son was driving had front bumper damage, hood crumpled, airbag deployment, left rear view mirror separated from the car, left head light and brackets destroyed, and damage along the left front quarter panel. *jb my son received a superficial cut in which the emergency paramedics bandaged while on site. The saturn was towed to saturn of arlington for diagnostic tests. The technician explained that the computer contains vehicle systems information that occured immediately prior to the collision, however he did not have the capability to extract the information.