Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
29
Latest Oct 9, 2005
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jan 13, 1995
What this page shows
Our database holds 29 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1991 Saturn Sl. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaints, most recent first
Showing 1–25 of 29 · page 1 of 2
Brakes
Filed Oct 9, 2005
THE BRAKE PEDAL IS ALWAYS LOW AND SOME TIMES BOTTOMS OUT WHEN YOU FIRST START DRIVING THE CAR. YOU CAN'T STOP. RECORD OF COMPLAINT IS ON FILE WITH SATURN, BUT THEY JUST BLEW ME OFF BECAUSE THEY CHECK OUT THE CAR, BUT SAID IT WAS OK. I SHOWED THEM THAT BY PUMPING THE BREAKS A FEW TIMES THAT THE PEDAL WOULD BOTTOM AND BREAKING WAS LOST. THEY DUPLICATED IT BUT REFUSED TO ADMIT IT WAS A PROBLEM. NOW MY SONS ARE DRIVING AND I CAN'T LET THEM DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT EXPERIENCED ENOUGH DRIVERS AND IF THEY EVERY GET INTO A PANIC STOP SITUATION THEY NEED TO HAVE EXTRA ROOM FOR GLIDING AS THE WHEELS WON'T LOCK UP. I MADE SATURN REPLACE THE MASTER BREAK CYLINDER AND THE PROBLEM BECAME WORSE. I HAVE THE OLD MASTER BREAK CYLINDER. *NM
NHTSA ID
10139160
Incident
Feb 10, 2000
Mileage
85,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 9, 2005
THE BRAKE PEDAL IS ALWAYS LOW AND SOME TIMES BOTTOMS OUT WHEN YOU FIRST START DRIVING THE CAR. YOU CAN'T STOP. RECORD OF COMPLAINT IS ON FILE WITH SATURN, BUT THEY JUST BLEW ME OFF BECAUSE THEY CHECK OUT THE CAR, BUT SAID IT WAS OK. I SHOWED THEM THAT BY PUMPING THE BREAKS A FEW TIMES THAT THE PEDAL WOULD BOTTOM AND BREAKING WAS LOST. THEY DUPLICATED IT BUT REFUSED TO ADMIT IT WAS A PROBLEM. NOW MY SONS ARE DRIVING AND I CAN'T LET THEM DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT EXPERIENCED ENOUGH DRIVERS AND IF THEY EVERY GET INTO A PANIC STOP SITUATION THEY NEED TO HAVE EXTRA ROOM FOR GLIDING AS THE WHEELS WON'T LOCK UP. I MADE SATURN REPLACE THE MASTER BREAK CYLINDER AND THE PROBLEM BECAME WORSE. I HAVE THE OLD MASTER BREAK CYLINDER. *NM
NHTSA ID
10139159
Incident
Feb 10, 2000
Mileage
85,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Jun 10, 2005
DT: CONTACT STATES THE VEHICLE IS CONTINUOUSLY SHAKING, AFFECTING THE STEERING. THE SOLENOIDS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, 6 MONTHS LATER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
NHTSA ID
10124940
Incident
Jun 9, 2005
Seat belts
Filed May 28, 2004
THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER PASSIVE RESTRAIN SEAT BELT LOCKS DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT SEAT BELTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *LA
NHTSA ID
10074438
Incident
Apr 25, 2004
Visibility
Filed Oct 3, 2003
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE SUNROOF DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION THE MOUNTS WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. AT NO TIME THE SUNROOF HAS BEEN IMMERSED AND THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN TO A ROLL OVER. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS TO BE A RESULT OF NEGLECT ON MY PART, RATHER POOR QUALITY MATERIALS USED IN MANUFACTURE. *LA
NHTSA ID
10041200
Incident
Oct 3, 2003
Mileage
137,245 mi
Seat belts
Filed Jun 26, 2001
FRONT PASSENGER PASSIVE RESTRAINT BELT IS LOCKED IN FORWARD POSITION, LEAVING OCCUPANT UNRESTRAINED.*AK
NHTSA ID
891237
Interior & seatsSeat belts
Filed Apr 8, 2001
DRIVERS SEATBACK BROKEN AND MOTORIZED SHOULDER BELTS BIND IN TRACK AND BLOW FUSE. *AK
NHTSA ID
743730
Incident
Jan 1, 1996
Seat belts
Filed Nov 3, 2000
Crash reported2 injuries reported1 death reported
RESTRAINT SYSTEM ANALYSIS WAS PERFORMED BY CHP-CENTRAL DIVISION MAIT. THE ANALYSIS INDICATED THE RESTRAINT FAILED AT THE LATCH PLATE CONNECTION TO THE MOTORIZED GUIDE PLATE. THIS REPORT IS BEING FILED FOR THE VEHICLE OWNER BY THE CHP PER OUR DEPARTMENTAL POLICY. *AK
NHTSA ID
735686
Incident
Aug 6, 2000
Transmission
Filed Aug 18, 2000
MANUAL TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT ARM SUDDENLY WAS LOOSE. SATURN OF ASUTIN REPORTED SHIFTER CABLE BROKE AND REPLACED SAME. IF BREAK HAD OCCURRED WHILE MOVING IT LIKELY WOULD HAVE CAUSED ACCIDENT AND INJURY.
NHTSA ID
728379
Incident
Aug 8, 2000
Engine
Filed Apr 25, 2000
HAVE HAD CAR SERVICED NUMEROUS TIMES, ENGINE ALWAYS REMAINED ROUGH, CAR DIES ON US, HAS LOW UPTAKE SPEED, MECHANIC SAID ITS A SATURN ENGINE DEFECT, WILL EVENTUALLY DIE ALTOGETHER. *AK
NHTSA ID
721925
Incident
Apr 1, 2000
Electrical
Filed Jan 31, 2000
CONSUMER EXPERENCING PROBLEMS WITH REPLACING THE BATTERY. BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ID
855821
Electrical
Filed Nov 29, 1999
I INQUIRED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT SATURN OF MONROVIA (MONROVIA,CA, 91016) IF THEY WERE AWARE OF THE AFOREMENTIONED PROBLEMS. THEY DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF ANY PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH ELECTRICAL WIRING UNDER THE HOOD. *AK
NHTSA ID
715404
Incident
Nov 29, 1999
Electrical
Filed Nov 29, 1999
Fire reported
NONE
NHTSA ID
715359
Incident
Nov 23, 1999
Seat belts
Filed Sep 15, 1999
THE SEAT BELTS ARE ELECTRIC AND ARE SUPPOSE TO SLIDE ALONG THE INTERIOR SURFACE. THE PASSENGER SIDE WENT OUT FIRST, AND A PERMANENT LATCH WAS PUT IN SO THAT ANY ONE SITTING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAVE TO CLAMP THE SEAT BELT EVERY TIME THE ENTER AND EXIT THE CAR. SOMETIME LATER THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WENT OUT. THE SEAT CABLE WOULD PULL THE LATCH BUT WOULD NOT SECURE THE LATCH TO LOCK. WITH THE LATCH NOT LOCKING I COULD STILL CLAMP THE SEAT BELT ON TO THE LATCH. I WOULD CLAMP THE SEAT BELT ON THE LATCH EVEN THOUGH IT WOULD NOT LOCK, TO AVOID GETTING A CITATION FOR NOT HAVING A SEAT BELT. MY MAIN CONCERN IS IF I WAS TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT WITH THE SIT BELT NOT SECURED, I AM AFRAID THAT MY SEAT BELT WILL NOT PROTECT ME.
NHTSA ID
711409
Incident
Mar 1, 1998
Interior & seats
Filed Nov 24, 1998
NO SUMMARY PROVIDER BY CONSUMER.
NHTSA ID
700883
Incident
Nov 15, 1998
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 18, 1998
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY VEHICLE STARTED ACCELERATING BY ITSELF. DRIVER STEPPED ON THE BRAKES TO STOP. BUT VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, AND DRIVING OVER CURVES WITHOUT STOPPING, SHE FINALLY STOPPED IT BY PULLING THE IGNITION KEY ON A MALL PARKING LOT. *AK
NHTSA ID
822021
Incident
Mar 12, 1998
Seat belts
Filed Jan 22, 1998
DRIVER SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT FAILED.
NHTSA ID
529618
Incident
Jan 19, 1998
Seat belts
Filed Jan 22, 1998
DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT FAILURE.
NHTSA ID
528675
Incident
Oct 1, 1997
Seat belts
Filed Jan 20, 1998
THE DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT FAILURE.
NHTSA ID
529528
Incident
Jan 19, 1998
Other / unspecified
Filed Jun 18, 1997
WHILE COMING TO A STOP THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL FOUR LUG: NUTS BROKE OFF, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO FALL OFF. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ID
813259
Incident
Jun 16, 1997
Seat belts
Filed Jun 2, 1997
SEAT BELT MOTOR FAILED, CAUSING FAILURE OF SHOULDER HARNESS.
NHTSA ID
517677
Incident
Jan 1, 1996
Seat belts
Filed May 13, 1997
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT TRACK DOESN'T SLIDE ON TRACK PROPERLY. *AK
NHTSA ID
812231
Incident
Jan 15, 1997
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Mar 6, 1997
Crash reported1 injury reported
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A REAR END CRASH GOING ABOUT (20-25) MPH AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO THE SHOULDER HARNESS DID NOT LOCK. VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED. *AK
NHTSA ID
809763
Incident
Mar 3, 1997
Engine
Filed Jan 27, 1997
ENGINE OIL LEAK, GASKET OIL PAN RUSTED, CAUSING LOSS OF ENGINE OIL, IN FOR REPAIR WILL PROVIDE INVOICE RECEIPT. *AK
NHTSA ID
807126
Incident
Jan 3, 1997
Interior & seats
Filed Jan 17, 1997
WHILE LEANING BACK IN SEAT TO REACH INTO PANTS POCKET, THE SEATBACK FRAME BENT BACKWARDS, CAUSIN GTHE RECLINING CATCH TO RELEASE. *AK
NHTSA ID
513637
Incident
Dec 6, 1996
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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