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1995 Saturn Sl

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Sl years

Owner complaints for the 1995 Saturn Sl are substantially higher than the model-year median of 171.5.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 40 of 355 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.

  • Seats. Review the 69 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 51 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

75 crash reports6 fire reports46 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

31 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 1998
Air BagsSeatsCrashInjury

COPY OF E-MAIL TO SATURN: DEAR SATURN REPRESENTATIVE, MY HUSBAND AND I ARE CONSIDERING BUYING ANOTHER SATURN SL2. HOWEVER, WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY. MY PREVIOUS SL2 (1995, #[XXX]) WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY A CHEVY TAHOE ON 5/3/97. I WAS PUSHED INTO ANOTHER CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THAT VEHICLE (A TOYOTA) ENDED UP ON TOP OF MY…

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COPY OF E-MAIL TO SATURN: DEAR SATURN REPRESENTATIVE, MY HUSBAND AND I ARE CONSIDERING BUYING ANOTHER SATURN SL2. HOWEVER, WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY. MY PREVIOUS SL2 (1995, #[XXX]) WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY A CHEVY TAHOE ON 5/3/97. I WAS PUSHED INTO ANOTHER CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THAT VEHICLE (A TOYOTA) ENDED UP ON TOP OF MY SATURN. MY SL2 WAS A TOTAL LOSS. I SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK MUSCLE INJURIES. I CONTINUE TO UNDERGO TREATMENTS FOR RECURRING PAIN. THE CAB COMPARTMENT OF THE SL2 HELD UP WELL. HOWEVER, THE DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED AND FELL BACK AGAINST THE BACK SEAT. IT SEEMS THIS LACK OF SUPPORT MAY HAVE ADDED TO MY MUSCLE STRAIN. ALSO, THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. SHOULDN'T IT HAVE DEPLOYED AS THE SL2 WAS PUSHED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT? ARE THESE DESIGN ISSUES OR WERE THEY POSSIBLY DEFECTS IN OUR CAR? WOULD THE '98 VEHICLES BE SAFER IN THESE RESPECTS? IF HELPFUL, WE COULD SEND PICTURES OF THE SL2 AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THANK YOU - [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #700016

Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 1998
Air BagsCrashInjury

CONSUMER WAS IN A VERY BAD ACCIDENT. SHE WAS HIT BY A TRUCK GOING ABOUT 50 MPH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND CONSUMER WAS INJURED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #828803

Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 1998
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING HEAD ON COLLISION, SEAT BELTS DID NOT RESTRAIN PROPERLY CAUSING CONSUMER TO HIT HEAD.

NHTSA ODI #541436

Mileage unknown · Jun 24, 1998
Air Bags

VEHICLE STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE HEAD-ON AT 40MPH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA ODI #780351

Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 1998
Air BagsCrashInjury

AIR BAG: PARKED AT LIGHT ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT SATURN IN THE BACK, CONSUMER HIT THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF HIM, TOTALING CAR. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #820768

Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 1997
Air BagsSteeringCrash

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE RIGHT FRONT SPINDLE FAILED, RESULTING IN VEHICLE LOSING THE WHEEL AND HITTING CURB. DRIVER'S AIR BAG ALSO DIDN'T DEPLOY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #819414

Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 1997
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHEN VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH HITTING A TREE HEAD ON, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF EITHER AIR BAG. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #816265

Mileage unknown · May 16, 1997
Air BagsSeat BeltsVisibilityCrash

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 40MPH HIT TREE HEAD-ON AND THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS. OWNER NOTES THAT IN HUMID WEATHER WINDOWS CANNOT BE CLEARED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #810939

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 1997
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingCrash

NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS IN A FRONT END COLLISION. ALSO IGNITION/AIR CONDITIONING AND MUFFLER REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #515318

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 1997
Air BagsCrash

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA ODI #546700

Official recalls

3

99V045000 · Seats

Mar 12, 1999

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.

94V217000 · Power Train:clutch Assembly:pedal/hand Lever(motorcycle)

Nov 8, 1994

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE PARK LOCK CABLE ASSEMBLY WAS IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO SHIFT FROM THE "PARK" POSITION WITH THE IGNITION KEY REMOVED, OR REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY WITH THE SHIFT LEVER IN A POSITION OTHER THAN "PARK." THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 114, "THEFT PROTECTION."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT CAN OCCUR WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: CONSUMERS ARE BEING ASKED TO INSPECT THE PARK LOCK CABLE. IF IT DOES NOT PERFORM CORRECTLY, DEALERS WILL MAKE THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS.

94V170000 · Steering:gear Box (other Than Rack And Pinion)

Sep 14, 1994

THE STEERING GEAR PINION SHAFT WAS IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED CAUSING THE SHAFT TO FRACTURE DURING VEHICLE OPERATION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FRACTURE OF THE STEERING GEAR PINION SHAFT CAUSES COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHICH CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE MANUAL STEERING ASSEMBLY.

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

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.

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