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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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

67 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY CAR HAD 26,653 MILES ON IT, BEING ONLY 3.5 YEARS OLD, WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCCURED, FEB.10, 1999. THE EGR VALVE WENT, WITH NO PRIOR WARNING, AND NO EARLIER SIGNS OF FAILURE. I WAS DRIVING ON AN OPEN HIGHWAY, WHEN CAR STALLED. THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" LIT. I BARELY GOT VEHICLE OFF TO SIDE OF ROAD. RESTARTED CAR LONG ENOUGH TO G…

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MY CAR HAD 26,653 MILES ON IT, BEING ONLY 3.5 YEARS OLD, WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCCURED, FEB.10, 1999. THE EGR VALVE WENT, WITH NO PRIOR WARNING, AND NO EARLIER SIGNS OF FAILURE. I WAS DRIVING ON AN OPEN HIGHWAY, WHEN CAR STALLED. THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" LIT. I BARELY GOT VEHICLE OFF TO SIDE OF ROAD. RESTARTED CAR LONG ENOUGH TO GET IT TO AN OPEN PARKING LOT (APPROX 1 MILE), WHERE IT COASTED TO A STOP, AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. NEXT MORNING, FEB 11, 1999, HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO SATURN OF CLARENCE FOR REPAIR. BECAUSE CAR WAS OFF 3 YR WARANTEE, I HAD TO PAY FOR ALL REPAIRS, REPLACEMENTS, AND LABOR. I FELT THIS WAS UNWARANTED, AS THE EGR SHOULD NOT HAVE BECOME DEFECTIVE IN A VEHICLE, WITH LOW MILEAGE. HEAVY CARBON BUILD-UP TO EGR VALVE, NEEDING IT'S REPLACEMENT. THROTTLE BODY HAD TO BE CLEANED FOR SAME REASON. ALSO REPLACED: 2 COILS, AND 4 PLUG WIRES. CAR NOT RUNNING ROUGH PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT DATE. NEW INFORMATION LEARNED INDICATES THAT SATURN & GM, HAVING TROUBLE WITH EGR VALVES PREMATURELY NEEDING REPLACEMENT DUE TO CARBON BUILD-UP. THANK YOU, FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION. DLK

NHTSA ODI #703614

Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

ENGINE OIL LIGHT NEVER CAME ON; VEHICLE HAD OIL AT PREVIOUS CHECK, AND NO OIL SPOTS WERE SEEN. YET, AFTER TRAVELLING 1/4 OF MILE, ENGINE DIED AND MECHANIC REPORTED NO OIL AND NEEDS NEW ENGINE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #701907

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. ALSO VEHICLE WAS LOSING 11/2 QUARTS PER OIL CHANGE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #781281

Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

TIMING CHAIN WORE PREMATURELY.

NHTSA ODI #540907

Mileage unknown · Aug 10, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKET CRACKED CAUSING FAILURE OF OTHER COMPONENTS. (QCAW)

NHTSA ODI #538910

Mileage unknown · May 15, 1998
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Air

EGR VALVE WAS STICKING CAUSING THE SES LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND THE VEHICLE TO HESITATE/STALL.

NHTSA ODI #535577

Mileage unknown · May 5, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingSeatsService Brakes, Hydraulic

POWER WINDOW MOTOR BURNED OUT.

NHTSA ODI #535156

Mileage unknown · Apr 18, 1998
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingParking Brake

ENGINE/IGNITION/COMPUTER/SPEEDOMER/CRUISE CONTROL/REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER: ELECRICAL WIRING/WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR/DRIVER'S SEAT LATCH AND PARKING BRAKE FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #534611

Mileage unknown · Jan 7, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

AFTER MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS REGARDING AMOUNT OF OIL VEHICLE WAS BURNING, THE ENGINE LOCKED UP DUE TO LACK OF OIL.

NHTSA ODI #527975

Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE LOSES POWER AND MAKES NOISE DUE TO ENGINE FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #525251

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