2002 Saturn LS Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 102 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the 2002 Saturn LS, 21% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 76,500 miles. The words owners use most often: “ignition control module” (8% of reports).
- 102electrical system complaints
- 76,500median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $990typical repair cost reported by owners
- 34%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Ignition control module: mentioned in 8 of 102 complaints (8%)
- Turn signal: mentioned in 7 of 102 complaints (7%)
- Service engine: mentioned in 6 of 102 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical electrical system repair on the 2002 Saturn LS at $990, and half of them between $910 and $990.
Based on 5 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2006–2012), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 66 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 102 complaints, 7 a fire, 1 an injury.
Saturn LS electrical system complaints by model year
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Electrical system:ignition:module
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 2.2l l4 (l61) engines, a failure of the ignition control module may cause deterioration in idle quality, reduction in overall engine power, and the vehicle may be hard to start. Continued operation of the vehicle after such an ignition module failure will result in the "service engine soon" light flashing, and may lead to secondary failures of the catalytic converter, oxygen sensor, and exhaust resonator.
Risk: Failure of the resonator will cause increased exhaust noise. Prolonged operation of the vehicle following a resonator failure may lead to a fire.
Fix: Dealers will (1) replace the ignition control module, (2) replace the ignition control module and spark plugs, or (3) replace the ignition control module, spark plugs, and update the powertrain control module calibration. Owner notification began on august 4, 2003. Owners should contact saturn at 1-800-553-6000, prompt 3.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Rear tail lights will not work. Have checked all fuses relays,and even changed the turn signal switch. My car is currently at the garage. Original appointment was only for inspection. Mechanic has not yet located the issue. Also has no dash lights. Parking lights. Had I known this in advance would…
The contact owns a 2002 Saturn J-Type. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle's brake lights failed to illuminate. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 05V245000 (Exterior Lighting), however, the part to do the recall repair is no longer…
Mechanic found short circuit in tail lamp assemblies causing brake lights to come on, and stay on, when headlamps do. *tr
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2002 Saturn LSs have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 102 owner complaints about electrical system for the 2002 Saturn LS (21% of the 493 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2002 Saturn LS electrical system?
Yes: 1 safety recall list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do electrical system problems start?
The median reported mileage is 76,500 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix electrical system problems on the 2002 Saturn LS?
Owners report a typical cost of $990 (half paid between $910 and $990), from 5 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the 2002 Saturn LS?
The most frequent phrase is “ignition control module”, in 8 of 102 complaints, followed by “turn signal” (7).
Other 2002 Saturn LS problems
See all 2002 Saturn LS problems or electrical system problems across all LS years.