2002 Saturn Vue Problems, Recalls & Reliability
220 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2002 Saturn Vue, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 2 defect investigations. It scores 26/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 82,150 miles.
Typical
Where 2002 sits among all Vue years
What owners report
“When my 2002 saturn vue is very cold 20 degrees or colder inside car the horn is very hard to push the plastic will not flex many women wuold not be able to use the horm.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 Vue
“Car power shuts down while driving, unable to start again in any traffic or road conditions to move car to a safe area. Full loss of power unexpected, vehicle simply stops running. This vehicle was purchased 'used' from a private seller i suspect was well aware of the situation but didn't expose…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 Vue
“In july i bought a 2002 saturn vue. Over christmas holidays i noticed it was leaking transimission fluid from a connection in front of the vehicle. I was amazed to find these lines totally unprotected and vulnerable to road hazard damage. Due to their proximity to the exhaust i'm concerned with a…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 Vue
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 172 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 82,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 50,000 and 112,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (2)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2002-2004 Saturn Vue vehicles manufactured September 11, 2001, to April 6, 2004. In the affected vehicles, it may be possible for the key to be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the…
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle to see if the key can be pulled out when the ignition is off. If it can, dealers will replace the ignition cylinder and keys, free of…
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES." SOME VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH REAR OUTER SEAT BELT SHOULDER GUIDE ANCHOR BOLTS THAT WERE INCORRECTLY INSTALLED.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR SHOULDER GUIDE ANCHOR BOLTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 19, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO…
Federal defect investigations
Technical service bulletins
485 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2002 Saturn Vue. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2002 Saturn Vue reliable?
The 2002 Saturn Vue drew 220 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 26/100, scored against the model's worst year (2003).
What are the most common 2002 Saturn Vue problems?
The top reported problems for the 2002 Saturn Vue are electrical (56 complaints), engine (50), and transmission & drivetrain (25).
At what mileage do 2002 Saturn Vue problems show up?
Owners most often report 2002 Saturn Vue problems around 82,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 50,000 and 112,000 miles.
Does the 2002 Saturn Vue have recalls?
2 recall campaigns apply to the 2002 Saturn Vue. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.