2002 Saturn SL Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 9about this part
- Share
- 7%of 131 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 39,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 9 complaints about the air bags of the 2002 Saturn SL, 7% of the 131 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 39,000 miles. 7 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Driving on highway rt. 80, when a car swerved into right lane in front of me from entrance ramp. I was traveling at approx. 45 miles an hour. Airbags failed to deploy in a front end collision, causing life altering injury. Left temporal brain damage, post concussion syndrome and epilepsy, also other injuries to neck, shoulder and to lower back.”
NHTSA complaint #10944042, filed 2017-01, 34,000 miles“Dt: the contact owns a 2002 Saturn sl1. The contact stated his daughter was involved in a front and rear end collision while driving approximately 20 MPH. The contact daughter's vehicle hydroplaned into a vehicle and was struck from behind by another vehicle. Upon impact, front air bags did not deploy. The consumer has not contacted the service dealer or manufacturer to determine why the airbags may not have deployed.”
NHTSA complaint #10136731, filed 2005-09, 45,000 miles“A car hit me it the front passenger side the hood of my car bent up the passenger side of my windshield cracked and my car went spinning not one air bag came out”
NHTSA complaint #11530331, filed 2023-07“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 appreciate it if you could investigate this situation. …”
NHTSA complaint #10641820, filed 2014-10“After a crash in a Saturn and the air bags exploded. The passenger side of the dashboard area started smoldering. The fire department arrived and put the fire out before it did a lot of damage.”
NHTSA complaint #10082691, filed 2004-07Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 9 | 7% |
| 2001 | 13 | 12% |
| 2000 | 5 | 3% |
| 1999 | 20 | 11% |
| 1998 | 8 | 5% |
| 1997 | 17 | 7% |
| 1996 | 18 | 6% |
| 1995 | 31 | 9% |
| 1994 | 20 | 7% |
| 1993 | 10 | 6% |
| 1992 | 3 | 2% |
| 1991 | 1 | 3% |
Other parts of the 2002 Saturn SL
43 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
22 complaintsEngine cooling
16 complaintsBrakes
10 complaintsSeats
9 complaintsSteering
8 complaintsEngine
5 complaintsExterior lighting
5 complaintsTires
5 complaintsFuel system
4 complaintsOther or unknown
4 complaintsBody and structure
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Saturn SL
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology