IllustrationWHILE APPLYING BRAKES FOR APPROACHING STOP LIGHT PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO REAR END VEHICLE IN FRONT. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AT DEALER SHOP, AND DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE CAUSE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sl years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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: 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
What owners actually said
355 reportsTHE POORLY SCREWED TRANSMISSION FILTER CONTRIBUTED TO PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION.*YH
VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR OTHER REPAIR (ALTERNATOR FAILURE). DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT INDICATED THAT THEIR INSPECTION REVEALED A CRACKED MOTOR MOUNT. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED OR INVOLVED IN ANY SORT OF COLLISION, AND MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED SERVICE HAS BEEN PERFORMED AT INDICATED INTERVALS. THIS IS AN USUSUAL PART TO F…
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VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR OTHER REPAIR (ALTERNATOR FAILURE). DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT INDICATED THAT THEIR INSPECTION REVEALED A CRACKED MOTOR MOUNT. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED OR INVOLVED IN ANY SORT OF COLLISION, AND MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED SERVICE HAS BEEN PERFORMED AT INDICATED INTERVALS. THIS IS AN USUSUAL PART TO FAIL AT THIS MILEAGE AND UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. REVIEW OF USENET INTERNET NEWSGROUPS INDICATES THAT PREMATURE FAILURE OF THIS PART IS WIDESPREAD AND WELL-KNOWN TO DEALERS. APPARENT CAUSE IS INHERENT WEAKNESS IN THE ORIGINAL DESIGN, NOW SUPPLANTED BY A STRENGTHENED DESIGN IN THE REPLACEMENT PART - WITH NO ADMISSION OF RESPONSIBILITY BY MANUFACTURER FOR DESIGN FLAW IN THE ORIGINAL.*AK
RECALL 99V045000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 99006 9000; SEATBACK FALLS BACKWARDS INTERMITTENTLY. RECLINER CAN HOLD SMALL AMOUNTS OF WEIGHT. CONSUMER CAN'T REST BACK COMFORTABLY IN SEAT WITHOUT SEAT COLLAPSING. THE RECALL IN GENERAL DOESN'T APPLY TO THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. *AK
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, CAR HIT CURB. *AK
STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY AND SLIP RING BROKE . WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED A PROBLEM IN STEERING WHEEL. CONSUMER STOPPED TO CHECK VEHICLE ,AND WIGGLED STEERING WHEEL ABOUT 6-8 SECONDS, AND STEERING WHEEL BROKE. CONTACT TECHNICIAN, AND DEALER STATED IT JUST HAPPENED. *AK THE CONSUMER LATER FOUND OUT THAT THE STEERING ASSEMBLY…
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STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY AND SLIP RING BROKE . WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED A PROBLEM IN STEERING WHEEL. CONSUMER STOPPED TO CHECK VEHICLE ,AND WIGGLED STEERING WHEEL ABOUT 6-8 SECONDS, AND STEERING WHEEL BROKE. CONTACT TECHNICIAN, AND DEALER STATED IT JUST HAPPENED. *AK THE CONSUMER LATER FOUND OUT THAT THE STEERING ASSEMBLY AND ITS RELATED PARTS FAILED. NLM
IN LOW IMPACT REAR-END COLLISION, THE SEAT BACK FAILED, CAUSING THE SEAT BACK (AND THE DRIVER) TO RECLINE ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK SEAT.*AK
SIDEWALL BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING. *AK (TIRESIZE: P175/70R14)
CAR HIT FROM THE REAR INTO A PICKUP WHILE BOTH WERE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE DRIVER'S SEAT FAILED TO STAY IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION CAUSING THE DRIVER TO GO BACK WARDS, INJURING HER NECK. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE SATURN WAS TOTALLED BEING HIT IN BOTH THE REAR AND THEN HITTING THE P/U IN IT'S REAR.*AK
VEHICLE STARTED TICKING/OVERHEATING, AND MAKING NOISE. VEHICLE STALLED. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK
Official recalls
399V045000 · 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
3RQ00005 · 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