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.
2002 Saturn SL: engine stalls while driving
15 of the 131 complaints about the 2002 Saturn SL describe engine stalls while driving.
- owner complaints
- 15
- of this car's complaints
- 11%
- typical mileage
- 65,000
- recalls
- 0
Is there a fix? 48 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below
Engine stalls while driving by model year
What owners say
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 saturn sl. The contact stated that the ignition switch failed. The ignition switch was replaced on four separate occasions; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 211,795. The consumer stated the vehicle would stall each time. Updated 08/19/15*jb also, the starter was replaced. Updated 11/19/15.
This vehicle is a death trap the vehicle shuts off while driving, can not start, whole steering column is loose, key comes out during driving. ...updated 09/22/15
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.
Key comes out freely while car is in drive and key does not need to be in the ignition once car is started. Engine will randomly stall.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 saturn sl2. The contact stated the vehicle stalled intermittently without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the ignition switch was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the defect. The contact was never notified or informed if his vehicle was included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 03v231000 (electrical system). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown. The current mileage was 85,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 saturn sl. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled on numerous occasions. The contact mentioned that the visibility was low on the high beams and the lights on the instrument panel failed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign id number: 03v231000 (electrical system) and the federal safety agency campaign id number: 05v158000 (exterior lighting). The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 saturn ls. The contact stated while the driver drove at low speed in a parking lot the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact's independent mechanic inspected the vehicle and located the failure at the ignition switch. The contact notified the manufacturer, who advised the vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number 14v047000 (air bags, electrical system). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 155,000.
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.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 25 MPH, a noise was heard and the vehicle stalled without warning. It was maneuvered off the road, and towed to the dealer. The dealership determined the transmission needed to be replaced. The gear went through the bottom of the transmission. Updated 01/10/07.
After leaving a traffic light, I had to stop suddenly because the car in front of me stopped for a stalled car in the lane of traffic we were traveling. The car behind me also stopped. The car behind this car collided with the car behind me causing it to collide with my car which was then pushed into the car in front of me. My car was sandwiched between the cars involved in the accident. The hinges of the driver's seat gave way causing the seat to move to the reclining position. I was not injured but the seat could not be placed in driving position. This kind of action could lead to serious injury and should be investigated.
2002 saturn sl2 stalled then vehicle caught on fire. *mr the vehicle begun to smoke then ignited.
Service bulletins that may apply
- This technical bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake...
- This service bulletin provides service information to technicians on guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil...
- This PI bulletin advises the technician on the proper way to install the pistons in an engine.
- This service bulletin provides graphics, information and guidelines for engine component wear to assist...
- This diagnostic tip bulletin provides additional information on how to diagnose a possible valve, lifter...
- This service bulletin provides service information on new torque specification and installation procedure...
- This Preliminary information communicates to the technician the need to inspect the induction system for...
- This Preliminary information communicates information that will need to be provided to TAC to aid in...
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the 2002 Saturn SL stalling
Is engine stalls while driving a common problem on the 2002 Saturn SL?
15 of 131 owner complaints about the 2002 Saturn SL (11%) mention engine stalls while driving. The model year with the most reports is 2002.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2002 Saturn SL?
There are 0 recalls and 48 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2002 Saturn SL
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