Recalls (1)
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2002 Saturn S-Series. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗GM/FMVSS 210/214/SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE
- Summary
- CERTAIN SEDANS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES," AND NO. 214, "SIDE IMPACT PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH WELDS BETWEEN THE DOOR STRIKER AND BELT-LINE THAT DO NOT MEET SATURN SPECIFICATIONS.
- Consequence
- IF THE SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE ON THE PILLAR FAILED IN A CRASH, THE DRIVER COULD BE INJURED MORE SERIOUSLY. IN A SIDE IMPACT, OCCUPANTS COULD ALSO BE INJURED MORE SERIOUSLY BECAUSE OF GREATER INTRUSION OR REDUCED PERFORMANCE OF THE OPTIONAL SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL INSTALL ADDITIONAL STRUCTURAL FASTENERS TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR PILLAR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 22, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-553-6000, PROMPT #3.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (10)
10 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The power train is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 4 | 40% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 30% |
| Air bags | 1 | 10% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 10% |
| Steering | 1 | 10% |
How 2002 compares with other S-Series years
Best and worst S-Series years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 2 | 0 |
| 1994 | 5 | 0 |
| 1995 | 3 | 0 |
| 1996 | 3 | 0 |
| 1997 | 4 | 0 |
| 1998 | 4 | 0 |
| 1999 | 6 | 0 |
| 2000 | 10 | 0 |
| 2001 | 11 | 0 |
| 2002 | 10 | 1 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Looking at a 2002 S-Series for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2002 Saturn S-Series FAQ
How many recalls does the 2002 Saturn S-Series have?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 02V020000 (seat belt). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2002 Saturn S-Series problems?
Owners filed 10 complaints with NHTSA. Power train (4), Service brakes (3), Air bags (1) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
How does the 2002 S-Series compare with other years?
Among the 1993–2002 Saturn S-Series model years at least five years old, the 1993 drew the fewest complaints (2) and the 2001 the most (11). The 2002 drew 10. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.