2002 Saturn Ls reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2002 Saturn Ls — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 631
- 5 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- 93 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 0
- none on record
- Reported harm
- 19 reported crashes · 10 injuries · 21 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#779
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Saturn median
+262
median 369 across 39 Saturn records
Vs 2000-2004
+378
median 253 complaints in 771 records
Top component share
26%
Engine And Engine Cooling: 166 complaints
What owners report fails — 2002 Saturn Ls
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 93
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE 73
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 62
- ENGINE 43
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS 27
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2002 Saturn Ls
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2002 Saturn Ls units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Saturn Ls reliable?
NHTSA has 631 consumer complaints on record for the 2002 Saturn Ls. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (93 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2002 Saturn Ls units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Saturn Ls?
Owners most often report problems with: engine and engine cooling (93), engine and engine cooling:engine (73), electrical system (62), engine (43). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2002 Saturn Ls?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.