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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.

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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 reports
Mileage unknown · Dec 20, 1995
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ABS BRAKE SYSTEM LOCKS UP WHEN THEY GET WET, RESULTING IN PULLING TO THE LEFT. TT

NHTSA ODI #976868

Mileage unknown · Dec 18, 1995
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #600662

Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 1995
Vehicle Speed Control

WHEN PUTTING THE CRUISE CONTROL ON IT WILL NOT DISENGAGE . TT

NHTSA ODI #976667

Mileage unknown · Dec 14, 1995
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARP. ALSO PULSATION IN STEERING EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. TT

NHTSA ODI #976568

Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 1995
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

BRAKE ROTORS FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #500263

Mileage unknown · Nov 28, 1995
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlCrash

THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE WHEN BRAKE WAS APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING.TT CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING WST AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET, AFTER FIRST SIGN INDICATING CONSUMER'S EXIT TURNED OFF CRUISE CONTROL AT STEERING COLUM, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE AT SAME SPEED, ATTEMPTED TO DISENGAGE BY APPLYING THE BRA…

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THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE WHEN BRAKE WAS APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING.TT CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING WST AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET, AFTER FIRST SIGN INDICATING CONSUMER'S EXIT TURNED OFF CRUISE CONTROL AT STEERING COLUM, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE AT SAME SPEED, ATTEMPTED TO DISENGAGE BY APPLYING THE BRAKES, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED AT FULL SPEED.*JB

NHTSA ODI #975579

Mileage unknown · Nov 21, 1995
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. TT

NHTSA ODI #975293

Mileage unknown · Nov 20, 1995
Latches/locks/linkagesService Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

CAR ACCELERATES WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS ON.

NHTSA ODI #501506

Mileage unknown · Nov 7, 1995
Air BagsCrashInjury

FRONTAL COLLISION IMPACT 12:00 POSITION SPEED 50 MPH, PASSENGERS AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. TT

NHTSA ODI #974741

Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 1995
Structure

VEHICLES 2 FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS ARE LEAKING.DUE TO POOR DESIGN. TT

NHTSA ODI #973977

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