Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 286 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1994 Saturn Sl, most frequently naming the seat belts, interior & seats and brakes categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 4 NHTSA investigations name it; and 2 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1999 | 4 | 169 |
| Feb 1999 | 1 | 170 |
| Mar 1999 | 4 | 174 |
| Apr 1999 | 3 | 177 |
| May 1999 | 5 | 182 |
| Jun 1999 | 5 | 187 |
| Jul 1999 | 2 | 189 |
| Aug 1999 | 5 | 194 |
| Sep 1999 | 4 | 198 |
| Oct 1999 | 1 | 199 |
| Nov 1999 | 1 | 200 |
| Dec 1999 | 2 | 202 |
| Jan 2000 | 2 | 204 |
| Feb 2000 | 1 | 205 |
| Mar 2000 | 2 | 207 |
| Apr 2000 | 5 | 212 |
| May 2000 | 1 | 213 |
| Jun 2000 | 1 | 214 |
| Jul 2000 | 2 | 216 |
| Aug 2000 | 3 | 219 |
| Sep 2000 | 3 | 222 |
| Oct 2000 | 2 | 224 |
| Dec 2000 | 2 | 226 |
| Jan 2001 | 2 | 228 |
| Feb 2001 | 1 | 229 |
| Mar 2001 | 2 | 231 |
| May 2001 | 3 | 234 |
| Jul 2001 | 4 | 238 |
| Aug 2001 | 5 | 243 |
| Sep 2001 | 2 | 245 |
| Oct 2001 | 1 | 246 |
| Nov 2001 | 2 | 248 |
| Jan 2002 | 1 | 249 |
| Mar 2002 | 2 | 251 |
| Apr 2002 | 1 | 252 |
| Jul 2002 | 2 | 254 |
| Sep 2002 | 1 | 255 |
| Nov 2002 | 2 | 257 |
| Mar 2003 | 1 | 258 |
| Apr 2003 | 1 | 259 |
| Jun 2003 | 1 | 260 |
| Jul 2003 | 3 | 263 |
| Aug 2003 | 2 | 265 |
| Oct 2003 | 2 | 267 |
| Jan 2004 | 3 | 270 |
| Jun 2004 | 1 | 271 |
| Oct 2004 | 1 | 272 |
| Dec 2004 | 1 | 273 |
| Mar 2005 | 1 | 274 |
| Jun 2005 | 1 | 275 |
| Apr 2006 | 1 | 276 |
| Jul 2006 | 1 | 277 |
| Aug 2006 | 1 | 278 |
| May 2007 | 1 | 279 |
| Mar 2008 | 1 | 280 |
| Oct 2008 | 2 | 282 |
| Oct 2009 | 1 | 283 |
| Jun 2011 | 1 | 284 |
| Jul 2013 | 1 | 285 |
| Jun 2016 | 1 | 286 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
1 campaign cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govSEATS
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
FRONT SEAT BACK CAN RECLINE OR COLLAPSE
SEAT BACK FAILURES
IN ITS LETTER DATED MARCH 5, 1999, GENERAL MOTORS STATED THAT IT WILL RECALL 136,300 MODEL YEAR 1994 AND 1995 SATURN VEHICLE (ALL MODELS) BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1994 AND AUGUST 1994.DURING THIS PERIOD, SATURN'S SEAT SUPPLIER MANUFACTURED RECLINER ASSEMBLIES WHICH WERE OUT OF DESIGN SPECIFICATION, ALLOWING THE FRONT SEAT BACKS TO RECLINE OR COLLAPSE INADVERTENTLY.TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, SATURN DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BACK RECLINER ASSEMBLIES.SEE NHTSA'S SAFETY RECALL FILL 99V-045 FOR DETAILS.
CRUISE CONTROL FAILURES
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.
CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE
There is no summary currently available
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
THE FBI WAS MY FIRST CHOICE. THE CAR OVERHEATS FROM A COLD START AFTER I JUST FILLED UP THE COOLANT AND DROVE THE CAR FOR A FEW FEET IN 2 MINUTES FROM START. THE COOLANT WAS ALREADY OVERFLOWING. I NOTICED SOMETHING WAS EATING THE BATTERY LOAD WHEN THIS HAPPENED ANOTHER TIME MAKING THE CAR LOSE POWER WHEN I CHECKED THE READING ON THE CARS INSTALLED VOLTMETER. THIS AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT A MILE. THIS EXTREME HOT TEMPRETURE CAUSES THE COOLANT TO BOIL AND OVERFLOW EVEN IF I AID IT WITH A REWIRED RADIATOR FAN ON I HAVE REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT AND THE WATERPUMP A COUPLE OF TIMES. PLEASE HELP CAPTAIN AMERICA. THE RECEIPT FROM THE ATTACHED FILE IS THE LATEST.THIS CAR IS POSSESSED.
FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, THE CRUISE CONTROL ON THE CAR WILL TURN ITSELF OFF WHILE ENGAGED, AND, IF LEFT ALONE, WILL RANDOMLY REENGAGE TEN OR FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER WITH NO WARNING. THIS CAN CAUSE A SURGE OF ACCELERATION (AS MUCH AS ONE CAN EXPECT FROM A SATURN, ANYHOW) IF SPEED HAS SLOWED DUE TO TRAFFIC. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 SATURN SL. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH BIG O BIG O ASPEN TIRES (205/70/R14 DOT U9T9 TX30103). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASH INTO A DITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE TIRE WAS NOT REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 241,000.
I HAVE A 1994 SATURN SL2 VEHICLE AND WAS ALMOST IN A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHEN THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND CAUSED MY CAR TO COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN ON A HEAVILY TRAFFIC HIGHWAY. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED TO ME WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE TOTALLY REBUILT WITH A NEW TIMING CHAIN AND IT ONLY LAST 1 YEAR. I PAID OVER $1000 DOLLARS FOR THE REBUILT ENGINE INCLUDING LABOR AND THE ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN,I THINK ITS LUDICROUS BECAUSE MANY MECHANICS TOLD ME THAT SATURNS HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF ENGINE PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY TIMING BELTS. NOW I AM WITHOUT A VEHICLE ONCE AGAIN WITH NOT MANY OPTIONS. NEED SATURN TO HELP ME OUT!!!!!!!!! *TR
I OWN A 1994 SATURN SL1 . THIS MODEL OF CAR EMPLOYS "AUTOMATIC" STYLE SEAT BELTS, THAT ARE BUILT INTO THE DOOR FRAME. WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOOR THE SEAT BELT IS SUPPOSED TO OPEN BY SLIDING UP THE TRACK. WHEN YOU GET IN THE CAR AND CLOSE THE DOOR, THE SEAT BELT IS SUPPOSED TO CLOSE BY SLIDING BACK ON THE TRACK. THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC OPERATION DRIVEN BY A MECHANICAL MOTOR. THE TRACK OR SOMETHING IN THE MECHANISM HAS FAILED, AND THE SEAT BELT IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL WHAT SO EVER. I FEEL THIS IS WITHOUT A DOUBT A SAFETY RELATED ISSUE! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO DRIVE AROUND A CAR WITHOUT A WORKING SEAT BELT??? SATURN IS REFUSING TO REPAIR THE ISSUE BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT ACCORDING TO THE NHTSA "IF A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS IN A MOTOR VEHICLE OR ITEM OF MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPMENT, THE MANUFACTURER MUST FIX IT AT NO COST TO THE OWNER." THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME AN EXORBITANT AMOUNT OF MONEY TO FIX THE ISSUE, AND ARE REFUSING TO COOPERATE WITH ME. IN THE MEANTIME I AM DRIVING AROUND A CAR WITHOUT A SEAT BELT!!! WHAT SHOULD I DO TO HAVE THIS CORRECTED? I HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT SATURN DIRECTLY AS WELL TO NO AVAIL! *TR
VEHICLE DRIVER SEAT SLIPS BACKWARDS WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. IT IS THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AS THE FOLLOWING RECALL 99V045000, YET DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THIS SPECIFIC VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. *TR
SHIFTER CABLES BROKE WHERE IT CONNECTS TO SHIFTER. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 SATURN SL2. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S FRONT SEAT MECHANISM FAILED SIMILAR TO THE FAILURE NOTED IN RECALL # 99V045000 (SEATS). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE'S PURCHASE DATE AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 139,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000. UPDATED 06/08/07. *JB
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT; VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
This service bulletin revision provides a repair procedure to Remove Debris from Evaporator Case, Disinfect evaporator or Apply Cooling coil coating and install blower motor control module to correct a customer concern of A/C Odor at start-up.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)
Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.