2002 Ford Focus vs 2002 Saturn SL
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2002 Ford Focus | 2002 Saturn SL |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 939 | 131 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 143 | 244 |
| Investigations | 5 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 82 | 20 |
| Fire reports | 20 | 5 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–28 | 26–29 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 54,000 mi | 60,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Focus | Saturn SL |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 277 | 43 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 103 | 16 |
| Suspension | 109 | 3 |
| Air Bags | 72 | 9 |
| Power Train | 58 | 22 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 64 | 8 |
| Tires | 62 | 5 |
| Steering | 53 | 8 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 119 | 16 |
| Vibration / shaking | 46 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 24 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 23 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 17 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 17 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 14 | 0 |
| Water leaks | 9 | 0 |
2002 Ford Focus
2002 Saturn SL
Compare all Ford Focus vs Saturn SL years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.