Saturn›SL›2002›Overview/saturn/sl/2002/base/

2002 Saturn SL

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2002 SL.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2002 Saturn SL closes out the model's twelve-year run as a four-door passenger car, pairing its 4.2-quart, 5W-30 API oil system with a four-speed automatic transmission that the EPA rates at 24 city, 34 highway, and 27 combined mpg. Within the SL's full 1991–2002 complaint arc, the 2002 model year logged 150 owner reports — a sharp decline from the 421 complaints tallied in 1995, though still well above the 30 recorded in 1991. With electrical issues leading the complaint tally and two recalls on file, this final-year SL represents a calmer, though not unblemished, conclusion to a historically variable nameplate.

Model year2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.2 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy24/34/27 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 75 · 525 CCA battery, OE oil filter 21000872. Note the factory fuel filter and front wiper blades are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 75 · 525 CCAOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	21000872
Engine air filter	21000938
Fuel filter	21009427 discontinued
Spark plug	21025103
Front wiper blades	21302897 discontinued · alt 21302896
Serpentine belt	21008367 alt 21008369

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	178 in
Overall width	66.5 in
Overall height	55.1 in
Wheelbase	102.4 in
Curb weight	2352 lb
Track (front / rear)	56.7 / 55.9 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	61/39

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	24 / 34 / 27 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	91 cu ft
Cargo volume	12 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.2 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 27.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.2 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	159 DOHC ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	27.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts

100 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance	8000-15,000 ohms
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	0.040 in
Spark Plug Torque	20 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.50 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	5.00-7.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	75
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	525 cca

Service checks

Injector Primary Resistance

11.8-12.6 @ 74 degreesF MFI ohms

Brakes

Brake Application	WITH REAR DISC
Torque Caliper to Bracket	27 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	63 ft-lbs / 86 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	0.030 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness	0.040 in
Brake Application	WITH REAR DISC
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.0024 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

1	22 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2	33 ft. lbs.	33 ft. lbs
3	90 degrees.	90 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs at 150,000 mi; coolant every 100,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 100,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 6,000 mi	Brake System (inspect)
Every 6,000 mi	Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Parking Brake System (inspect)
Every 12,000 mi	Brake System (inspect)
Every 18,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel System (inspect) · Vacuum Line (inspect)
Every 36,000 mi	Radiator Cap (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Filter (replace)
At 150,000 mi	Spark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2002 Saturn SL sits near the tail end of the generation’s downward trend in consumer complaints, dropping from a peak of 421 complaints in 1995 to 150 in 2002, yet it remains above the early‑2000 levels of 179 (2000) and 128 (2001). Recall activity also contracts markedly after a spike to eight recalls in 2000, falling to two in 2002, which is the second‑lowest count since 1991. Technical Service Bulletins, however, continue an upward trajectory, reaching a record 307 in 2002 after climbing steadily from 279 in 2000, indicating that service‑shop interventions are still frequent. The top complaint categories for 2002 are Electrical System (30 reports) and Power Train (25), with relatively low fire (5) and crash (23) complaints, and the data does not specify a root cause for these issues. **Takeaway:** 2002 shows fewer complaints and recalls than earlier years but a high volume of service bulletins, suggesting solid overall reliability but a need for attentive maintenance; it can be a reasonable purchase if you’re comfortable with routine service.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

307

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

150

Owner complaints

23 involved a crash · 5 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01’02

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 150 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System30

Power Train25

Engine & Engine Cooling14

Seats9

Service Brakes, Hydraulic8

Air Bags7

Tires7

Structure4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

09E012000Exterior LightingReported 07/04/2009

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 307 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
PIP5601C	2025-07-18	Unknown Or Other	This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic…
General Communication	2024-08-26	Electrical System	Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles. It…
18-NA-099	2024-06-17	Unknown Or Other	This bulletin provides information for use on a Product Assistance Claim (PAC), which is…
24-NA-098	2024-06-06	Electrical System	This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Service Programming…
10-08-45-001H	2024-03-28	Electrical System	This bulletin provides information for electrical ground repairs using new General Motors…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific SL. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 75 battery Vehicles taking 4.2 qt Engine oil filter 21000872 Engine air filter 21000938 Fuel filter 21009427 Spark plug 21025103

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2002 SL take?

4.2 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2002 SL have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the SL get?

EPA figures are 24 city / 34 highway / 27 combined mpg.