2002 SATURN SL Power Train Problems

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: NHTSA 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?

Mileage: 141,244

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 NHTSA. *TR

Mileage: 44,330

I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A STOP SIGN,WENT TO PUT IT FIRST (5SPEED) AND THE SHIFTER BUSHING BROKE. THE SHIFTER WAS JUST FLOPPING AROUND.I COULD HAVE BEEN IN SERIOUS SITUATION IF I WAS IN THE CITY OR TRAVELING.OR PICKING UP A SENIOR CUSTOMER. *JS

Mileage: 89,000

I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THIS CAR SINCE NEW DELAY AND HARD SHIFTS INTO REVERSE ALWAYS, AND FORWARD GEARS QUITE FREQUENTLY HAD SATURN SERVICE DEPT CHECK AND THEY SHOW NO CODES. *TR

Mileage: 10,000

TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON 2002 SATURN SL MILEAGE: 50+K ONLY 2ND OWNER BOUGHT FROM USED AUTO DEALER. COVERED ON DEALER WARRANTY AND FIXED IN 2005. TRANSMISSION FAILURE AGAIN AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRATION- 2008. *TR

Mileage: 55

ONE EVENING LAST WEEK I NOTICED THAT WHEN I WOULD SHIFT GEARS AFTER BEING PARKED, IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING DROPPED UNDER MY CAR. THE SAME NIGHT, I WOULD BE DRIVING ABOUT 35-40 MILES AND HOUR IN THE 1-2 RPM RANGE, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE GAUGE WOULD QUICKLY JUMP TO 3 RPMS AND THEN DROP BACK DOWN. IT DID THIS CONSISTENTLY EVERY 2-3 MINUTES. I TOOK MY CAR TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP THE NEXT MORNING BECAUSE I FELT THAT IT WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. THE BODY VALVE WAS DAMAGED WHICH WAS THE MAIN PROBLEM. THAT WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH A FEW OTHER PARTS. WHEN I WAS PAYING ($2895) THE MAN THAT HAD BEEN HELPING ME INFORMED ME THAT HIS SHOP HAD ENCOUNTERED MANY TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH MY MODEL CAR (2002 SATURN SL1) AND THAT THEY CHECKED IN TO ANY KIND OF RECALL OR BULLETINS. HE SAID THAT HE FELT THAT GM WOULD BE ISSUING A BULLETIN RELATIVELY SOON. I DID MY OWN RESEARCH AND FOUND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT SATURN TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, IN PARTICULAR THE BODY VALVE. WHEN MY FATHER ORIGINALLY PURCHASED THE NEW VEHICLE, HE HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SHIFTING OF THE CAR AND GONE TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP TO COMPLAIN A FEW TIMES, AND HE WAS TOLD, "OH, THAT'S JUST THE WAY CAR IS." I FEEL THAT THIS CAR HAD A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IN THE BEGINNING THAT WAS BRUSHED UNDER THE RUG, AND HAS CREATED A ALMOST $3000 PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 86,500

I HAVE A 2002 SL1 (AUTO TRANSMISSION)WITH OVER 150,000 MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION HAD STARTED CLUNKING WHEN ENGAGED IN REVERSE AND ALSO WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN OTHER GEARS. I DECIDED TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT. I HAVE HAD MY CAR AT A TRANSMISSION SHOP FOR OVER A MONTH NOW. THE MECHANICS REPLACED MY VALVE BOX AND STILL AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. MY MECHANICS IS AT A LOSS RIGHT NOW. I HAVE READ ALOT OF BLOGS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THE SATURN TRANSMISSIONS AND BELIEVE I AM NOT GOING TO GET MY CAR FIXED BY MY CURRENT MECHANIC NOR ANYONE ELSE. *TR

Mileage: 150,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SL2. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 20 AND 40 MPH MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME SLUGGISH WHILE THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE. HE HAD TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN AND GRADUALLY ACCELERATE IN ORDER TO SWITCH GEARS. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER AND THEY ACCUSED HIM OF NOT FOLLOWING THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33,323 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,175. UPDATED 04/04/08. *LJ

Mileage: 33,175

I HAVE A 2002 SATURN SL2 AND I'VE HAD TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION TWICE NOW. I BELIEVE THAT THE DEALERSHIP IN MANCHESTER, NH KNOWINGLY SOLD IT TO ME LIKE THIS SINCE I HAD BROUGHT UP A VERY SLIGHT SPEED UP EFFECT THE CAR HAD TO THE CAR SALES WOMAN, AND SHE HAD TOLD ME THAT IT WAS BECAUSE THE CAR HAD A SLIGHTLY MORE POWERFUL ENGINE THAN THE 4.0 I WAS USED TO (IT HAD A 4.6) AND THE JUMP WAS JUST THE "EXTRA POWER". I HAVEN'T EVEN OWNED THE CAR FOR 18 MONTHS YET. IT'S A PIECE OF CRAP AND I HAVE A PRETTY BITTER TASTE IN MY MOUTH FROM DEALING WITH THE CAR DEALERSHIPS IN NH AND IN MD. THE DEALERSHIP IN SALISBURY, MD WANTED TO CHARGE ME $3100 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. I NOTICED (AFTER THE FACT) THAT THERE WAS SOME TECHNICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION FROM THE BEGINNING IN ALL '02 S-SERIES, BUT I REALLY THINK THAT IF THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE HAVING ISSUES THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF RECALL ON THE PRODUCT. IT HAS ALREADY COST ME ABOUT $5000 ON TOP OF THE 9,000 THAT I HAVE ALREADY SPENT TO PURCHASE IT (COST OF CAR PLUS BANK INTEREST FOR LOAN). THE CAR IS HARDLY WORTH $14,000 BUT I'M STILL UPSIDE-DOWN ON MY LOAN SO I CAN'T GET RID OF THE THING. I'VE LOOKED INTO THE RESEARCH ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE IN HOPES THAT IT WILL GIVE SOME INSIGHT ON HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM PERMANENTLY (MORE MONEY DOWN THE DRAIN) BUT SATURN SHOULD REALLY BE REPRIMANDED OR MADE TO REIMBURSE THE CUSTOMERS SOMEHOW. CARS ARE REALLY TOO BIG OF A PURCHASE FOR THINGS TO GO THIS WRONG. *TR

Mileage: 68,000

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. *JB

Mileage: 67,000

AT APPROX. 71,000 MILES, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN EXHIBITING SHIFTING DIFFICULTIES BETWEEN 2ND & 3RD GEARS. REPUTABLE TRANSMISSION SHOP DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS HYDRAULIC LEAKS WITHIN TRANSMISSION. REPLACED SEALS WITH TRANS. REBUILD, REPLACED MLPS, TOTAL REPAIR COST OVER $3650. TRANS. WAS NOT ABUSED, THIS WAS A PREMATURE TRANS. FAILURE. *JB

Mileage: 71,800

TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE, WHEN SHIFTING IT DOWN SHIFTED AND CHANGED GEARS ON ITS OWN. MANUFACTURER TO DATE HAS OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE.*AK

Mileage: 12,000

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. DRIVING ON STRAIGHTAWAY ~ 20-30 MPH. BANGING INTO GEAR AS SHIFTS. HARDER BANG WHEN GOING INTO "R". BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY. PROBLEM: FAULTY SOLENOID. REPLACED VALVE BODY. EXPENSIVE REPAIR! THIS IS A VERY PREMATURE, FAILURE. CAR ONLY 3 YEARS WITH ~50K. *JB

Mileage: 53,400

THIS IS REGARDED TO THE VALVE BODY ISSUE THAT IS COMMON IN SATURNS. I HAVE A 2002 SL1 WITH 50,000 MILES ON IT AND MUST NEED TO BE REPLACED AFTER DOING RESEARCH ONLINE I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE IS HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. WHY HAS SATURN NOT DONE ANYTHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, OR OFFER TO HELP PAY FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS?*AK

Mileage: 48,000

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE JERK AND VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION NUMEROUS TIMES. HOWEVER, MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Mileage: 6,000

CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN BACK TO SATURN FOR REPAIRS 5 TIMES AND AFTER THE MAX OF 2 DAYS THE PROBLEMS WERE BACK. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND HAS BEEN PARKED IN MY GARAGE FOR NOW TWO YEARS. SATURN IS NOT WILLING TO BUY THE CAR BACK THROUGH THE WISCONSIN LEMON LAW AND BY AN INSPECTOR AND MYSELF IT IS A PURE LEMON. THE CAR VIBRATES, IDLES VERY ROUGH, AND HAS THE CURIOUS TENDENCY TO STALL, LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE CAR DOES NOT KNOW WHAT FIRST GEAR IS, THE BACK END TELLS YOU OF ANY BUMP IN THE ROAD. CAR HAS STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WHEN TURNING IN A MAJOR INTERSECTION JUST LOVE THE SIGHT OF ON COMING CARS AND GETTING THE FINGER AND THE HORN. NOT TO MENTION THE FEAR OF GOING TO THE HOSPITAL FOR INJURIES, MAYBE NOT ME, BUT MAYBE MY PASSENGER AT THE TIME IN THIS CAR WAS 6, MY DAUGHTER. *AK

Mileage: 12,900

WHEN PUTTING THE GEAR SHIFT IN REVERSE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK

SATURN SL1 WAS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIRS ON MONDAY, 6/23/03. SUPOSSEDLY COMPUTER WAS REPROGRAMMED. FOUR DAYS LATER (06/27/03) TRANSMISSION FAILED TOTALY. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED. WHOLE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BUT I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT.

Mileage: 8,500

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE GEARS BROKE AND WENT THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION. MANUAL TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. *AK

Mileage: 38,026

GEAR SHIFT STARTED SMOKING THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE.*MR THERE WAS A RECALL FOR 2000-2003 SATURNS OF THE SAME MODEL. THE DEALER STATED THEY WEREN'T RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FIRE AND WASN'T GOING TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGES. *PH *NLM

TRANSMISSION PAWL WILL NOT DISENGAGE IF VEHICLE IS PARKED ON SLIGHTEST INCLINE EVEN WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE. THIS PROBLEM IS BECOMING REPETITIOUS MORE FREQUENTLY. VEHICLE MUST BE LEFT IN NEUTRAL WITH HAND BRAKE ENGAGED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NOT ABLE TO SHIFT INTO LOW GEAR WHILE DESCENDING STEEP GRADE/MOUNTAIN ROADS. BRAKES ARE SCORCHED DUE TO EXCESSIVE PEDAL APPLICATION, AND CONTROLLING VEHICLE IS WITH DIFFICULTY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK