- The problem
- On certain sedans and wagons, the plastic housing in the rear tail lamp assembly can become distorted if the brake lamps remain on for an extended time.
- The risk
- This can cause (1) an intermittently inoperative brake/tail lamp bulb or (2) a short circuit that opens a fuse causing inoperative brake lamps (including the center high-mounted stop lamp) or tail lamps. A following driver may not know when the brakes have been applied, and a rear-end crash could occur without prior warning.
- The fix
- Dealers will install two new tail lamp reinforcing socket adapters and sockets free of charge. The recall began on october 17, 2005. Owners may contact saturn at 1-800-972-8876.
Vehicle safety record
2002 Saturn LS Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 2002 Saturn LS have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 3 recalls, the latest in June 2005 for the brake lights.
NHTSA data checked
AFar fewer problems than a typical LS year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
2002 Saturn LS recalls 3
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- Certain wagons fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 210, "Seat belt assembly anchorages." The seat belt anchor may separate from the floor of the vehicle before holding the required test load for the required time.
- The risk
- If a separation occurred in crash, the right and center rear seat occupants may not be properly restrained, increasing the risk of personal injury.
- The fix
- Dealers will install a rear seat center belt anchor reinforcement plate to the floor pan of the vehicle free of charge. The recall began on april 25, 2005. Owners may contact saturn at 1-800-972-8876.
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- Failure of the resonator will cause increased exhaust noise. Prolonged operation of the vehicle following a resonator failure may lead to a fire.
- The fix
- 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 calibration. Owner notification began on august 4, 2003. Owners should contact saturn at 1-800-553-6000, prompt 3.
What owners say
Be the first LS owner to share.
Problems or none - your experience is exactly what the next buyer is looking for. Write it now
No complaints about the 2002 Saturn LS yet
No owner has filed a complaint about this vehicle with NHTSA. If yours has a problem, share it here and report it to NHTSA.
Saturn LS: every year compared
All LS years2002 Saturn LS vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 Saturn LS | 0 | 3 | A | |
| 2002 Saturn L-Series | 504 | 0 | F | Compare |
| 2002 Saturn Vue | 177 | 2 | B | Compare |
| 2002 Saturn SL | 149 | 1 | C | Compare |
| 2002 Saturn SC | 38 | 0 | D | Compare |
| 2002 Saturn S-Series Coupe | 3 | 0 | D | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2002 Saturn LS
Does the 2002 Saturn LS have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2002 Saturn LS: brake lights (June 2005); seat belts (April 2005); module (June 2003). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
How many complaints has the 2002 Saturn LS had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 2002 Saturn LS a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 78 out of 100 (grade A: far fewer problems than a typical Saturn LS year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
What should I do if my 2002 Saturn LS has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data