FaultScore

2002 Saturn SL brake problems

10 of the 154 complaints about the 2002 Saturn SL are about the braking system — 6% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 29,434 miles.

B

10

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Rotor 4 40.0%
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 1 10.0%
Foundation Components 1 10.0%
Pedals AND Linkages 1 10.0%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 1 10.0%
Antilock 1 10.0%
Service Brakes 1 10.0%

Brakes across every Saturn SL year

1992 25 6.7%
1993 39 10.4%
1994 52 13.9%
1995 80 21.3%
1996 53 14.1%
1997 27 7.2%
1998 21 5.6%
1999 36 9.6%
2000 16 4.3%
2001 16 4.3%
2002 10 2.7%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 110,000 miles Baltimore, MD

SERVICE BRAKES

I RECENTLY PURCHASED MY SATURN AND REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS IT WAS FINE THEN AFTER 200 MILES THE BRAKES STARTED GRINDING THEN WOULD STOP. CHECKED THE CALIPERS THEY WERE FINE HAD TO REPLACE THE ROTORS AGAIN DUE TO THE GRINDING BRAKES WERE FINE. 2 WEEKS LATER SAME THING THEN STOPPED IT STARTS AND STOPS GRINDING WHEN IT WANTS.

NHTSA complaint #10638585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 15,000 miles Randolph, MA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

THE BRAKES ON MY 2002 SL1 SATURN HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 15,000 MI; NOW, AT 30,000 MI, THE SATURN DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. I PREVIOUSLY HAD A 1991 SATURN SL1, FOR 11 YEARS AND WITH MORE THAN 100,000 MI, AND DID NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, SO IT'S NOT MY STYLE OF DRIVING - IT'S APPARENTLY THE EQUIPMENT ON THE CAR ITSELF (AND THE REPLACEMENT PARTS AS WELL.)

NHTSA complaint #10171892 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 5,000 miles Exeland, WI

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL BRAKES FAILED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED THEM FOUR TIMES. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED.

NHTSA complaint #10091827 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 28,600 miles Columbus, GA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELLED TO THE FLOOR BOARD. THE OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HAD THE DEALER INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS EVALUATED THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY DEFECTS IN THE BRAKES. HOWEVER, THEY DID HAVE TO ADD FLUID TO THE BRAKES. LATER THEY CONTACTED THE OWNERS SPOUSE AND SAID THE VEHICLES BRAKE RESPONSE WAS NORMAL FOR THIS TYPE VEHICLE. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #10091493 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kingsport, TN Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR, AS SHE WAS ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL. IT HAD RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. ABOUT $600 WORTH OF DAMAGES OCCURRED NOT INCLUDING THE CAUSE OF REPAIRS FOR THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10042177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lakewood, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE REPLACED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED.

NHTSA complaint #10057785 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 43,000 miles Salem, WV

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

VEHICLE ROTORS ARE WARPED.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE ROTORS WARPED SO BAD IN 10,000 MILES THAT THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND VIBRATED. WHEN MANEUVERING AROUND A CURVE THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. *PH

NHTSA complaint #10044522 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,269 miles Brevard, NC

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN BRAKING, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS. THE DEALER REPORTS THIS IS DUE TO WARPED ROTORS DUE TO "EXTERNAL FORCES" AND NOT A WARRANTY PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS 30,000 MILES AND LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD. DRIVEN MOSTLY HIGHWAY TO AND FROM WORK, 35 MILES ONE WAY EACH DAY. SEEMS MORE LIKE A DEFECTIVE PART OR ENGINEERING.

NHTSA complaint #10023831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Compton, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK

WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL GO DOWN TO THE FLOOR INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. TS

NHTSA complaint #10004631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cullowhee, NC

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

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.

NHTSA complaint #8010054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2002 Saturn SL problems

← Full 2002 Saturn SL report