Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 12 of 175 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
24 crash reports8 fire reports13 injury reports
What owners actually said
175 reports
Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 1999
Seats
THERE IS A RECALL IN EFFECT FOR THE SEAT RECLINER FAILURE IN 1994, 1995 AND SOME 1993 SATURNS. MY SEAT RECLINER FAILED IN 1995, BUT MY VIN IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT ISN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL WHEN IT IS A FAILED PART FROM THE SAME RECLINER MANUFACTURER. OVER THE YEARS I HAVE ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT…
Read full complaint
THERE IS A RECALL IN EFFECT FOR THE SEAT RECLINER FAILURE IN 1994, 1995 AND SOME 1993 SATURNS. MY SEAT RECLINER FAILED IN 1995, BUT MY VIN IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT ISN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL WHEN IT IS A FAILED PART FROM THE SAME RECLINER MANUFACTURER. OVER THE YEARS I HAVE ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT IT A COUPLE OF TIMES AND CHOSE NOT TO GET IT FIXED BECAUSE IT COST $250. RECENTLY I HEARD ABOUT THE RECALL AND THOUGHT THAT FINALLY THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. BUT MY CAR ISN'T INCLUDED. WHY? *AK
NHTSA ODI #708919
Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO BE USED TO STOP VEHICLE. DEALER REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #841838
Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 1999
Steering
POWER STEERING GEAR BOX WORN CAUSING IT TO MAKE NOISE WHILE TURNING. NLM
NHTSA ODI #546416
Mileage unknown · May 27, 1999
Seats
WHEN DRIVER STEPPED ON THE BRAKES OR WHEN HE PUT PRESSURE ON SEAT, SEAT FELL BACK INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE ONTO THE REAR SEAT. THIS PROBLEM HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. *AK
NHTSA ODI #838570
Mileage unknown · May 27, 1999
Seats
INCORRECT SEAT BASE WELDS ON DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATS, CAUSING FAILURE OF THE SEAT BASE. VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NUMBER 91V038000 DUE TO VIN#. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #838545
Mileage unknown · May 26, 1999
Seats
GEARS THAT HOLD DRIVER'S SEATBACK UP BROKE, CAUSING SEAT TO RECLINE WITH SLIGHTEST MOVEMENT. SEAT HAS BEEN REPAIRED BY THE DEALERSHIP. *AK
NHTSA ODI #838429
Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 1999
Seats
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT FRAME BROKE AT WELD WHEN STOPPING SUDDENLY. *YC
NHTSA ODI #544488
Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 1999
Seat Belts
AUTOMATIC SEATBELT HARNESS MOVES BACK AND FORTH WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION. AT TIMES THE HARNESS HAS FROZEN PART WAY THROUGH THE TRACK OFFERING THE DRIVER NO PROTECTION.
NHTSA ODI #703612
Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 1999
Seats
WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 50MPH WHEN THE DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARDS. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE DRIVER'S VIEW WAS OBSTRUCTED. HAD TRIED TO RAISE SEAT, BUT BAR IN RECLINER WAS BENT. HAS TAKEN TO DEALER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #834128
Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 1999
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
WAS SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN AT 10MPH, APPLIED BRAKES & NO BRAKING POWER. VEHICLE HIT A DITCH. DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. POLICE OFFICER CHECKED VEHICLE & NOTICED NO BRAKES. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. *AK
THE GENERATOR ELECTRICAL WIRING IS NOT PROTECTED AGAINST EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW WHICH MAY BE CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE GENERATOR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SHOULD AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT OCCUR IN THEGENERATOR, THE GENERATOR WIRING HARNESS WOULD EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW.UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, ENOUGH HEAT COULD BE GENERATED TO IGNITE SURROUNDINGMATERIALS. IF THIS OCCURS, AN UNDERHOOD FIRE COULD RESULT WITH OR WITHOUT THEENGINE RUNNING AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: THE GENERATOR WIRING HARNESS WILL BE REPLACED WITH ONE THAT WILL OPEN AS A FUSE WOULD UNDER CERTAIN EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW CONDITIONS.
THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE TERMINAL AT THE STARTER SOLENOID MAY BE FORMED INCORRECTLY. INCORRECTLY FORMED TERMINALS CAN CONTACT THE STARTER SOLENOID HOUSING AND CAUSE AN ELECTRIC SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT BETWEEN THE BATTERY CABLE ANDTHE STARTER HOUSING CAN RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, ADJUST THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE TERMINAL SO THAT IT DOES NOT CONTACT THE STARTER SOLENOID HOUSING.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3
EA95003 · Cruise Control Failures
Opened Feb 24, 1995 · Closed May 31, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment
THIS INVESTIGATION DOCUMENTED HTE FUNCTIONAL ABERATIONS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SUBJECT CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM.MOST OF THE MALFUNCTIONS INVOLVED FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM TO PROPERLY REGULATE VEHICLE SPEED WHEN ENGAGED, FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM TO ENGAGE, OR SELF-DISENGAGEMENT OF THE SYSTEM. THESE PROBLEMS WERE INVESTIGATED AND STEPS TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER TO REMEDY THEIR OCCURRENCES.SERVICE PROCEDURES WERE ISSUED FOR VEHICLES IN USE, AND A DESIGN MODIFICATION MADE FOR NEW VEHICLES.NO CONFIRMED ALLEGATIONS OF FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISENGAGE UPON COMMAND WERE IDENTIFIED.IMPROVED QUALITY CONTROL PROCEDURES AND DESIGN MODIFICATIONSIN THE SYSTEM WERE UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE A MORE CONSISTENT LEVEL OF SYSTEM PERFORMANCE.THE DETAILS OF THESE FINDINGS AND THE RESULTING CONCLUSIONS ARE CONTAINED INTHE SUBJECT ENGINEERING ANALYSIS CLOSING REPORT.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND WAS NOT IDENTIFIED AT EHIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
PE94079 · Cruise Control Failure
Opened Nov 7, 1994 · Closed Feb 24, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment
There is no summary currently available
PE93022 · Steering System Lockup
Opened Apr 5, 1993 · Closed Sep 30, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
1993 Saturn Sl Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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