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: 16 of 286 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.
Seat Belts. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seats. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
51 crash reports4 fire reports32 injury reports
What owners actually said
286 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 1998
SeatsCrashInjury
ON 12/25/95, I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM A CHRISTMAS DAY OUTING. I WAS DRIVING MY SATURN SL2 AND HAD STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT. A TAXI REARENDED ME WHILE I WAS STOPPED AT THE STOPLIGHT. THE IMPACT FROM THE BACK COLLAPSED MY BUMPER, DAMAGED THE LEFT REAR TRUNK AREA AND CAUSED THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO FALL BACKWARDS. I WAS …
Read full complaint
ON 12/25/95, I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM A CHRISTMAS DAY OUTING. I WAS DRIVING MY SATURN SL2 AND HAD STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT. A TAXI REARENDED ME WHILE I WAS STOPPED AT THE STOPLIGHT. THE IMPACT FROM THE BACK COLLAPSED MY BUMPER, DAMAGED THE LEFT REAR TRUNK AREA AND CAUSED THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO FALL BACKWARDS. I WAS LEFT LOOKING UP AT THE CEILING OF MY VEHICLE FROM MY BROKEN SEATBACK. I WAS JUST THREE WEEKS OUT OF SURGERY FOR MY LEFT KNEE AND THIS ACCIDENT RESULTED IN INJURY TO MY BACK AND RIGHT KNEE AND A SUBSEQUENT SURGERY. MY CAR WAS REPAIRED AT PUNCHBOWL FENDERWORKS, INC., AT 3427 WAIALAE, HONOLULU, HAWAII 96816, (808) 737-5584. MY CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME SIX WEEKS LATER. I STILL HAVE THE VEHICLE AND THE SEATBACK STILL DOES NOT SIT UP STRAIGHT OR HOLD AT TIMES.
NHTSA ODI #700135
Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 1998
Seats
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE EXPRESSWAY WHEN THE DRIVER'S SEATBACK COLLAPSED. THERE IS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION AT THIS TIME. #3805-EA-98-017. *AK
NHTSA ODI #828935
Mileage unknown · Oct 13, 1998
SeatsCrash
WHILE IN TRAFFIC ANOTHER VEHICLE REARENDED THE SATURN. UPON IMPACT, THE ENTIRE FRONT SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARDS ONTO THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT IN REAR. WILL BE TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #828876
Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 1998
Air BagsVehicle Speed ControlCrash
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH THE GAS PEDAL BROKE, CAUSING THE PEDAL TO GO DOWN THE FLOORBOARD. WHEN CONSUMER TRIED TO PULL THE GAS PEDAL UP, HE HIT A MAILBOX AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER FOUND NO DEFECT WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #827752
Mileage unknown · Sep 22, 1998
Seat Belts
LEFT SIDE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA ODI #541575
Mileage unknown · Sep 22, 1998
SteeringInjury
VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE LEFT HITTING ANOTHER CAR.
NHTSA ODI #541030
Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering
WHILE DRIVING HEARD NOISE. RACK& PINION STEERING FAILED. PROBLEM WAS FIXED, BUT IT REOCCURRED. *AK TIMING CHAIN FAILED. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #827627
Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 1998
Fuel System, Gasoline
FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO RUN. DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP. *AK
NHTSA ODI #826229
Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSeat Belts
SEAT BELTS MOVE BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING AND THEY WON'T OPEN WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED. ALSO, SUN ROOF AND SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED/ NOISY ENGINE DUE TO TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. IN ADDITION, REPLACED EGR VALVE AND CANISTER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #826207
Mileage unknown · Aug 25, 1998
Seats
DRIVERS SEAT BACK COLLAPSED SEVERAL TIMES, ALLOWING SEAT TO FALL INTO A RECLINING POSITION. QCAW
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME FRONT SEAT BACK RECLINER GEAR TEETH MAY WEAR EXCESSIVELY THROUGH REPEATED USE, AND COULD CAUSE THE SEAT BACK TO SLIP PARTIALLY REARWARD WHEN FORCE IS APPLIED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, IT COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SEAT RECLINER MECHANISMS.
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
4
RQ00005 · Front Seat Back Can Recline Or Collapse
Opened Feb 16, 2000 · Closed Aug 19, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats:front Assembly:recliner
No summary supplied.
EA98017 · Seat Back Failures
Opened Jul 31, 1998 · Closed Mar 16, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
IN ITS LETTER DATED MARCH 5, 1999, GENERAL MOTORS STATED THAT IT WILL RECALL 136,300 MODEL YEAR 1994 AND 1995 SATURN VEHICLE (ALL MODELS) BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1994 AND AUGUST 1994.DURING THIS PERIOD, SATURN'S SEAT SUPPLIER MANUFACTURED RECLINER ASSEMBLIES WHICH WERE OUT OF DESIGN SPECIFICATION, ALLOWING THE FRONT SEAT BACKS TO RECLINE OR COLLAPSE INADVERTENTLY.TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, SATURN DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BACK RECLINER ASSEMBLIES.SEE NHTSA'S SAFETY RECALL FILL 99V-045 FOR DETAILS.
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
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