Saturn S-SERIES WAGON problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
5 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
76,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 to 2002 model years. Data updated: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 5 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 1 | 20.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 |
| Seats | 1 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Head Restraint | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 |
| Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars | 1 |
Electrical System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 1; Seats: 1; Seats:Front Assembly:Head Restraint: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 1; Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 1 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
2003: 1; 2004: 2; 2005: 1; 2010: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10342812 · 2010-07-12 (July 12, 2010)
I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY FOR ABOUT 15 MILES WHEN I STARTED TO HEAR A HIGH PITCHED GRINDING SOUND OR CAVITATION NOISE WHICH I THOUGHT MAY HAVE COME FROM THE AXLE OR BRAKES. UPON EXITING THE HIGHWAY I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES WHICH WENT TO THE FLOOR BEFORE I FELT THEM BEGIN TO STOP THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO PUMP THE BREAKS AND THE CAR DID STOP. I DROVE ABOUT A MILE MORE ON LOCAL STREETS BUT WAS STILL ONLY ABLE TO STOP BY PUMPING THE BRAKES. SO I STOPPED AT A PEP BOYS STORE AND HAD THEM CHECK OUT THE BRAKES. THEY SAID I HAD PLENTY OF BRAK…
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10342812 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
1994: 0; 1998: 0; 2000: 0; 2002: 0
Year-by-year records
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
5 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1994 | 1998 | 2000 | 2002 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 10103959 · 102,000 miON DECEMBER 14TH I LEFT WORK AT 4:00 PM (TEMP WAS 20 DEGREES F), DROVE 1/2 MILE, TURNED OFF IGNITION AND MADE A QUICK PURCHASE. STARTED THE CAR, DROVE ABOUT 1/2 MILE AND THE CAR BEGAN MISSING. I DROVE ANOTHER BLOCK, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WENT OFF, AND THE CAR MISSED AGAIN. I HEADED BACK TOWARDS MY WORKPLACE TO USE A TELEPHONE TO CALL MY SPOUSE TO PICK ME UP, BUT THE CAR COMPLETELY QUIT AFTER DRIVING A BLOCK OR TWO. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO WALK, BUT NOTICE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, THEN I HEARD A SPARKING, CRACKLING SOUND AND LOO… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 10097233 · 28,000 miTHE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED AN EXHAUST PROBLEM. THE MUFFLER, EXHAUST PIPE AND MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. OWNER DID TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS SEALED. THE SEALANT JUST MELTED THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Seats | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 10003808CONSUMER WAS REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK TO COLLAPSE IN THE REAR POSITION, ALSO THE HEAD REST SEPARATED FROM THE SEAT. DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES.*JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Head Restraint | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 10003808CONSUMER WAS REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK TO COLLAPSE IN THE REAR POSITION, ALSO THE HEAD REST SEPARATED FROM THE SEAT. DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES.*JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 10342812 · 55,000 miI WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY FOR ABOUT 15 MILES WHEN I STARTED TO HEAR A HIGH PITCHED GRINDING SOUND OR CAVITATION NOISE WHICH I THOUGHT MAY HAVE COME FROM THE AXLE OR BRAKES. UPON EXITING THE HIGHWAY I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES WHICH WENT TO THE FLOOR BEFORE I FELT THEM BEGIN TO STOP THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO PUMP THE BREAKS AND THE CAR DID STOP. I DROVE ABOUT A MILE MORE ON LOCAL STREETS BUT WAS STILL ONLY ABLE TO STOP BY PUMPING THE BRAKES. SO I STOPPED AT A PEP BOYS STORE AND HAD THEM CHECK OUT THE BRAKES. THEY SAID I HAD PLENTY OF BRAK… |
| Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars | 1100.0%ODI 10124949 · 97,000 miDT: CALLER HAS RUST IN BOTTOM OF ROOF AND PILLARS OF HIS STATION WAGON. CALLER HAD NO IDEA THIS WAS HAPPENING UNTIL RUST CAME OVER THE PLASTIC THAT COVERED IT UP. DEALER SAID THEY HAVE QUICK FIX FOR THIS, AND CALLER FELT MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE TOLD CONSUMERS OF THIS PROBLEM, SO HE COULD WATCH FOR IT BEFORE IT GOT TOO BAD. CALLER FELT MANUFACTURER SHOULD MAKE GOOD ON WARRANTY ON SHEET METAL BY SENDING OUT LETTERS ON THIS PROBLEM TO ALLOW THE FIX BE MADE BY MANUFACTURER AND NOT CONSUMER. CALLER STATED MANUFACTURER KNEW ABOUT PROBLEM LONG BEF… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | Too few reports for a range | 102,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10103959 · 102,000 miON DECEMBER 14TH I LEFT WORK AT 4:00 PM (TEMP WAS 20 DEGREES F), DROVE 1/2 MILE, TURNED OFF IGNITION AND MADE A QUICK PURCHASE. STARTED THE CAR, DROVE ABOUT 1/2 MILE AND THE CAR BEGAN MISSING. I DROVE ANOTHER BLOCK, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WENT OFF, AND THE CAR MISSED AGAIN. I HEADED BACK TOWARDS MY WORKPLACE TO USE A TELEPHONE TO CALL MY SPOUSE TO PICK ME UP, BUT THE CAR COMPLETELY QUIT AFTER DRIVING A BLOCK OR TWO. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO WALK, BUT NOTICE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, THEN I HEARD A SPARKING, CRACKLING SOUND AND LOO… |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | Too few reports for a range | 28,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10097233 · 28,000 miTHE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED AN EXHAUST PROBLEM. THE MUFFLER, EXHAUST PIPE AND MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. OWNER DID TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS SEALED. THE SEALANT JUST MELTED THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Too few reports for a range | 55,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10342812 · 55,000 miI WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY FOR ABOUT 15 MILES WHEN I STARTED TO HEAR A HIGH PITCHED GRINDING SOUND OR CAVITATION NOISE WHICH I THOUGHT MAY HAVE COME FROM THE AXLE OR BRAKES. UPON EXITING THE HIGHWAY I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES WHICH WENT TO THE FLOOR BEFORE I FELT THEM BEGIN TO STOP THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO PUMP THE BREAKS AND THE CAR DID STOP. I DROVE ABOUT A MILE MORE ON LOCAL STREETS BUT WAS STILL ONLY ABLE TO STOP BY PUMPING THE BRAKES. SO I STOPPED AT A PEP BOYS STORE AND HAD THEM CHECK OUT THE BRAKES. THEY SAID I HAD PLENTY OF BRAK… |
| Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars | Too few reports for a range | 97,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10124949 · 97,000 miDT: CALLER HAS RUST IN BOTTOM OF ROOF AND PILLARS OF HIS STATION WAGON. CALLER HAD NO IDEA THIS WAS HAPPENING UNTIL RUST CAME OVER THE PLASTIC THAT COVERED IT UP. DEALER SAID THEY HAVE QUICK FIX FOR THIS, AND CALLER FELT MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE TOLD CONSUMERS OF THIS PROBLEM, SO HE COULD WATCH FOR IT BEFORE IT GOT TOO BAD. CALLER FELT MANUFACTURER SHOULD MAKE GOOD ON WARRANTY ON SHEET METAL BY SENDING OUT LETTERS ON THIS PROBLEM TO ALLOW THE FIX BE MADE BY MANUFACTURER AND NOT CONSUMER. CALLER STATED MANUFACTURER KNEW ABOUT PROBLEM LONG BEF… |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2000: 0 complaints · 2002: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Electrical System | Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | Seats | Seats:Front Assembly:Head Restraint | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 0 | 0 | — | 1ODI 10003808CONSUMER WAS REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK TO COLLAPSE IN THE REAR POSITION, ALSO THE HEAD REST SEPARATED FROM THE SEAT. DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES.*JB | 0 | 0 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Head Restraint | 0 | 0 | 1ODI 10003808CONSUMER WAS REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK TO COLLAPSE IN THE REAR POSITION, ALSO THE HEAD REST SEPARATED FROM THE SEAT. DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES.*JB | — | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.