IllustrationSTEERING GEAR BROKE OFF FROM RACK PINION STEERING, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING. VEHICLE TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT REPAIRS SHOP. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS 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 reportsVEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL 99 V 045 000/ RECLINER GEAR TEETH ON DRIVER'S SEAT. VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED, AND UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SEATBACK COLLAPSED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO OVER AN ENBANKMENT, RESULTING IN INJURY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK
VEHICLE REARENDED. FRONT SEATS COLLAPSED BACKWARDS. DRIVER LOST VISIBILITY. SATURN REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED DRIVER'S SHOULDERS TO GO BACKWARD AND THEN FORWARD BEFORE DISCLOCATING. *AK
THE TRANSMISSION INTERNITTENTLY FAILS TO UPSHIFT. THE SPEED AT WHICH THIS OCCURS IS TYPICALLY 25-35 MPH. WE BROUGHT THE CAR TO SATURN OF STERLING (46980 HARRY BYRD HWY, STERLING, VA 20164, 703-450-8500) 6 TIMES UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY FAILED TO FIND ANY. *AK
WHILE MAKING A TURN STEERING POPPED, AND STEERING WHEEL HAD NO CONTROL OVER STEERING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
DRIVER'S SEAT BACKREST FAILS. SAME AS NHTSA CAMPAIGN 99V045000. *AK
I BECAME AWARE OF AN OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM WHEN MY OIL LIGHT CAME ON WHEN THE CAR WAS 1000 MILES AND ONE MONTH EARLY FOR THE NEXT OIL CHANGE. THE COMPLAINT WAS DISMISSED BY SERVICE TECHS AT THAT TIME, EXPLAINING THAT "SATURN EGINES RUN HOT, AND THAT IT WAS NOT UNUSUAL TO USE ONE OR TWO QUARTS OF OIL BETWEEN CHANGES. ON A TR…
Read full complaint
I BECAME AWARE OF AN OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM WHEN MY OIL LIGHT CAME ON WHEN THE CAR WAS 1000 MILES AND ONE MONTH EARLY FOR THE NEXT OIL CHANGE. THE COMPLAINT WAS DISMISSED BY SERVICE TECHS AT THAT TIME, EXPLAINING THAT "SATURN EGINES RUN HOT, AND THAT IT WAS NOT UNUSUAL TO USE ONE OR TWO QUARTS OF OIL BETWEEN CHANGES. ON A TRIP BACK TO VIRGINIA FORM NEW JERSEY, MY SES LIGHT CAME ON, AND I BEGAN TO NOTICE A FAIRLY LOUD TICKING IN MY ENGINE. WHEN I PULLED OVER I FOUND I HAD NO OIL IN MY OIL PAN. MY ENGINE COULD HAVE SEIZED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, AND THE OIL LIGHT NEVER CAME ON (I WAS ABOUT 500 MILES AND TWO WEEKS EARLY FOR MY NEXT OIL CHANGE). I HAD REGULAR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AT THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THE DEALERSHIP RECENTLY INFORMED ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A MASSIVE OVERHAUL OF MY ENGINE BEFORE I EVEN HAD 100,000 MILES ON IT. THIS SEEMS HIGHLY IRREGULAR FOR A VEHILE WHICH WAS IMPECCABLY MAINTAINED. I HAVE ALSO BECOME AWARE OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON OTHER INTERNET SITES. THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM, BUT IT IS A VERY COSLY ONE.*AK
WAS AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE REARENDED SATURN. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARDS. VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD & HIT VEHICLE IN FRONT. DRIVER'S HEAD HIT SEAT'S HEAD REST. EMERGENCY ROOM TREATMENT FOR KNEE & BACK INJURY. *AK
WHEN EGR VLALVE FAILS, CAR STALLS AND TAKES A MINUTE TO RESTART. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SATURNS. IT TOOK 2 WEEKS TO GET A REPLACEMENT PART SINCE THEY ARE ON NATIONAL BACKORDER. PLEASE HELP!*AK
WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION DRIVER'S SEATBACK WOULD DISENGAGE AND FALL BACK TO REAR SEAT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *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