2002 Saturn SL Electrical problems

Ignition requires key jiggle in order to start. Electrical issues such as constant shorts, major failure in supporting systems.

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...

Ignition cylinder is wore out, when putting in the key, you have to jiggle the key, sometimes takes up to 10 minutes for the key to turn and start. Sometimes it works fine. This is an off and on problem. This month (sept 2017) it has been real bad. I am afraid to go anywhere, fearing I will be stranded.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 saturn sl. After parking the vehicle and returning twenty minutes later, the ignition key would not turn and the steering wheel seized. The vehicle could not be restarted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the ignition module failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 78,000.

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.*Jb

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 *bf

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 saturn sl. While driving approximately 55 mph, the key ejected from the ignition switch without warning. The vehicle continued to run in the on position without the key in the ignition switch. The failure recurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 77,000.

We have a saturn sl1 that has the exact same problem that the cars on the ignition recall list have. The key comes out in any position - the wheel locks up and we can't get it to unlock - we live in a rural area and our roads are very rough. We feel that the key may move from the run position while we are driving the car and the engine will turn off and we will be in great danger. We have contacted gm and they said that since the car is not on the recall list - there is nothing they can do....We would...

KEYS COME OUT OF IGNITION DURING USE. *TR

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 saturn sl. The contact stated that the key was removed while the vehicle was on. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000...Updated 10/06/14 *bf

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 saturn sl. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing ignition failures. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 14e021000 (electrical system). The failure mileage was 60,000 and current mileage was 82,500.

I have removed the key with the vehicle stopped and the car continues to run. The key falls out of the ignition switch. Additionally, the key can be removed before being turned to the "off" position. This causes the key to be difficult to reinsert into the ignition. *Tr

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. *Tr

WHILE CAR IS MOVING KEY COMES OUT OF IGNITION. *TR

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 nhtsa 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 ignition locked and prevented the vehicle from being started. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or mechanic. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was unknown.

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 nhtsa campaign id number: 03v231000 (electrical system) and nhtsa campaign id number: 05v158000 (exterior lighting). The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

When I removed the keys from my car it kept running. They keys have only fallen out twice, but I have since removed all the extras from the key fob. But the car should not continue to run after it has been placed in park and the key removed from the ignition. I know it is an older car and currently has 135,000 miles on it. I have had diligent maintenance performed on it since I purchased it new in 2002. The problem occurred when it had 45,000 miles on it and should have been replaced by gm, but I was advised it was a costly expense for me. Gm should replace the ignition at their cost. *Tr

Ignition switch fails causes steering wheel to lock and or unable to turn on car. *Tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 saturn sl1. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start and the key failed to turn to start the engine. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 104,000.

The key comes out of the ignition while running. There is also trouble turning the key in the ignition to start it. Similar to what can happen when the steering wheel locks, sometimes the key wont turn. This happens without the steering wheel locked and takes 20-30 tries before it finally turns over. *Js

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 saturn sl. The contact stated that the key was unable to be removed from the ignition. The contact also stated that the key was able to be removed while the vehicle was being operated. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 72,000. Updated 5/27/14*cn updated 06/02/2014 *js

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 nhtsa campaign number 14v047000 (air bags, electrical system). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 155,000.

The gm ignition problems prompting the current recall also affected the car above. I bought the 2002 saturn new in march of 2003, and owned it for over 10 years, selling it last fall to a friend. I had it at the jake sweeney (cincinnati) dealership several times for strange "electrical" problems. (Car did not have auto door locks or windows - everything was manual). I would be driving, when all the dash gauges would go out. It would register no speed, no temp, no gas, no rpms. Odometer didn't move. I could...

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 saturn sl. The contact stated that he attempted to start the vehicle but the engine would not start. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for inspection where they stated that the ignition switch would need to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 155,062. *Tr