2002 Saturn SL SL1 from North America - Comments

My Saturn SL1 also had headgasket problem at 39000 miles and the lite for the oil would always come on and the keys would get stuck and it is clunking sounding and old feeling at 39000.

I own a SL1 2002 Saturn.

I haven't had any kind of problems with it.

It's good on gas; 493 kms for only 40 Dollars (In Canada gas prices are beteewn 1.09-1.17 per litre), and that is using the AC.

I take the car for regular maintenance to the dealer every 4 or 6 months. It runs perfect and passes the verification very easy. I NEVER HAVE PROBLEMS with the car.

I definitely RECOMMEND this kind of car. Yes, it's not a "JAPANESE" (made in America, Mexico or Canada, but not in JAPAN). I will give SATURN Cars a 10 out of 10. I'm thinking on get the RELAY one, which is pretty kooool.

I've had a '94 SL1 5-speed, an '02 SL 5-speed, and now an '01 SL2 Automatic. I loved my '94 - I would get 42mpg on the highway at 70mph. It had reasonable wear-and-tear repair needs - nothing big. I sold it to my boss, and he drove it through 200K miles before it blew a head gasket or something and he ditched it. My '02 SL was the sport version with the spoiler and high-end interior. I liked it, but the engine idled roughly - apparently due to an exhaust manifold gasket issue. In any case, I got sick of driving a stick and traded to a loaded '02 SL2. True to its GM heritage, the transmission is smooth as silk and it's never left me on the side of the road. It's also one of the last true Saturns - before they starting morphing Chevy drivetrains with Saturn panels and calling them a Saturn. This Saturn is my last one - the pride in Saturn ownership is no longer availabe as the new ones are basically reskinned Chevy's.

Father-in-law has a 96 SL1 and it just eats oil (quart every 2 weeks) and did have a valve cover leak issue until I sealed the gasket with form-a-gasket... good little car, but has various little issues and anomolies for it's age.

I have a 2005 chevy cobalt and it rocks in comparison. Pretty stout.

I have a 2002 SL1. I bought it with 100,000 miles on it, and it runs pretty good. It has the green antifreeze, as I've heard both from the Internet and my mechanic that the orange stuff rots the engine gaskets.. so far the car has NO leaks, so I'm sticking with the green stuff...

I bought my first brand new car in Houston in 1994. It was a Saturn. I had looked at about 15 other dealerships and drove many cars and Saturn was the last place I went. It was in the middle of winter (a cold one for Houston) and I drove off with it about 3 days later once I got all the financing together. I loved it. I drove it until 2000 and put many miles on it. Drove it everywhere and so did a friend of mine. Once it started getting a bit old, my daughter needed a car and I gave it to her. She drove it for 4 more years and then had an accident and it was totaled. I went to a dealership and bought a used 2002 SL1 and have been driving it since 2005 right towards the end of the year. I had actually only had 2 problems with the 94 and that was because my daughter failed to maintain it properly. After 100,000 plus miles on it she finally burned the engine up and it needed to be replaced. 2 months later is when she totalled it. The 2002 has been another one of the best cars I've had. There were a few quirks I had to figure out, like the oil reset button and some of the other Icons on the dash when the engine is turned over. Mine didn't come with a book. Bottom line, I love my car and yes it's boring but I don't spend near as much time in my car as I do other places so I don't need the bells and whistles to make it pretty. I drive it, I service it every 3 months and I love it. It's been a great car and when this one goes to the graveyard, I will probably buy another Saturn.

My 2002 SL1 has 98K miles on it and runs well. The only big thing it needed was a new radiator a year ago (I wasn't stranded, it was just cracked and leaking). Everything else has been general maintenance. I do like that if I get into a fender bender, my car pops back out. I replaced the bumper recently only because it was scratched and not on my dime (the other driver's insurance covered it).

Someone else said it's not an exciting car, and it's not. I don't have power locks or a CD player on my version. But it is a sturdy, reliable car that's done its job very very well and still looks pretty good, too. Oh, and a year or so back some friends and I tracked our gas mileage and my little Saturn was right at the top for the most efficient car by engine type. We lost to a Honda.

A couple of people have mentioned the oil light - there's a button that needs to be reset.

I bought my 2002 SL1 with 143K on it for $3k out-the-door. It has a replaced fender in the front and a small ding on the hood under the bra. So far it has been one of the best running and driving cars I've owned. It had a Check Engine Light come on two days ago and found it was the EGR Valve. I used a 10mm socket to remove it and cleaned it out with some light cleaner and replaced it. Light went out. No other troubles and it still has the original everything (except the fender :) ). If you are worried about a used one, call Saturn and see if there are any recalls on the VIN and you can get the work done free ASAP.

Saturn uses 1.9 Litre engine, not 2.2.

I own a 2002 Saturn SL2 purchased with 119K. It now has 165K. Still going strong; only problems I have had with this car is a fuel pump and a radiator cooling fan motor. Other than that this has been a very reliable car. I would recommend it to anyone.

My 2002 Saturn SL2 fully loaded automatic is great. I floor it at every light, just beat the crap out of this car. She still purrs like a kitten.

I will keep buying Saturns as long as I can find them.