RoadVitals

1994 Saturn Sl Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints 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.
24
Latest Jun 26, 2016
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
8%
of 286 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1994 Saturn Sl submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 24 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 26, 2016

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.

NHTSA ID
10876661
Incident
Jan 27, 2016
Body & structureDriver assistanceElectrical+2 more
Filed Oct 11, 2004

AIR BAG LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING, REPLACED 2 OF THE COMPONENETS UNDER THE DASH ONE UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE UP IN THE CORNER AND THE OTHER UP BEHIND THE GLOVE BOX. COOLING FAN DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY MUST KEEP THE AC ON FOR THE FAN TO WORK. A FRIEND OF MINE HAS THE SAME CAR AND HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. TRIED TO FIX BY REPLACING THE SENSORS HAD A MECHANIC TRY TO TROUBLE SHOOT, CAN'T FIND A REASON SO IT IS NOT FIXED JUST KEEP AC ON ALWAYS. CAR VIBRATES AND CAN'T FIND A REASON STILL LOOKING FOR PROBLEM, VIBRATES SO MUCH BODY PARTS ON FRONT ARE BECOMING MISALIGNED! AND IT SEEMS THE AUTO-TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FUNNY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES AND THEN STAYS ON AFTER DRIVING APX. 1 MILE. CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. MY FRIEND HAS ALL THE SAME COMPLAINTS. *NM

NHTSA ID
10093917
Incident
Oct 10, 2004
Electrical
Filed Aug 18, 2003
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED TO THE GROUND. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10034084
Incident
Aug 13, 2003
Electrical
Filed Jul 18, 2003

THE CONSUMER WAS CLEANING THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WHEN HE SPRAYED THE HAND BRAKE AND THE SURROUNDING AREA, THE AUTOMATED SAFTETY BELT ARM STARTED TO MOVE BACKWARD AND FOWARD AND THEN LOCKED AND RETRACTED MULTIPLE TIMES WITHOUT ANY REASON OR WARNING. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS COMMON SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED WITHOUT A CUP HOLDER, IF DRINKS WERE ACCIDENTLY SPIILED INTO THE HAND BRAKE OPENING, IT WOULD CAUSE THE SEAT BELT MODULE TO MALFUNCTION. WHEN THE CONSUMER ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP, HE WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE CAME EQUIPPED WITH A TEMPORARY SEAT BELT CLIP. *TS *JB

NHTSA ID
10024189
Incident
Jun 12, 2003
Mileage
102,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 8, 2003

THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THEY STATED THE ALTERNATOR WAS BAD. *JB

NHTSA ID
10015394
Mileage
17,989 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 18, 2002

WHILE PLACING THE KEY INSIDE OF THE IGNITION THE KEY WAS STUCK INSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.. TS

NHTSA ID
8022949
Incident
Nov 16, 2002
ElectricalEngineSteering+1 more
Filed Nov 30, 2001

I FEEL THAT SATURN MADE A LEMON AND I BOUGHT IT! I HAVE BROUGHT THIS UP TO MY SALES PERSON. HE REFUSED TO TAKE MY PHONE CALLS. SATURN REFUSES TO GIVE ME THE NAMES OF THE "HIGHER-UPS" IN WHICH TO BRING MY GRIEVANCES TOO. I FEEL THERE ARE TOO MANY MAJOR REPAIRS FOR ONLY 29,000 MILES THAT I HAVE PUT ON THIS CAR. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
755106
Incident
Nov 26, 2001
BrakesElectrical
Filed Aug 23, 2000

AC DELCO BATTERY ACID IS LEAKING ON THE BRAKE CABLE, CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID
868452
Incident
Aug 14, 2000
Electrical
Filed May 12, 2000
Fire reported

ALTERNATOR SEIZED UP AND BELT CONTINUED TO TURN, RESULTING IN A FIRE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
861824
Incident
May 4, 2000
ElectricalSeat belts
Filed Mar 22, 2000

DEALER SAYS THAT THIS SYSTEM FAILS OFTEN, BECAUSE THE ELECTONING CONTROLER IS UNDER THE SPOT FOR THE CUP HOLDER AND IS NOT WATERPROOF. IF THIS IS FAILING AND SEAT BELTS ARE NOT WORKING ON A LOT OF THESE CARS, I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT AND MAKE THEM FIX THE ONES, LIKE MINE, THAT HAVE FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID
720450
Incident
May 1, 1999
Electrical
Filed Jan 20, 2000

IN A LITTLE OVER THREE YEARS WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR THREE TIMES.NOW THIS WILL BE THE FOURTH.IT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE UNDER WARRANTIES. IT IS STILL UNDER WARR.,BUT SHOULD I NEED TO KEEP REPLACING IT? ANY INFOMATION YOU HAVE WOULD HELP ME OUT. THANKS,GERALD FRANKLIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
717587
Incident
Jan 19, 2000
Body & structureElectricalSeat belts+1 more
Filed Jan 29, 1999

AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT DOESN'T WORK AND THE SEAT BELT WON'T COME ACROSS THE CONSUMER'S CHEST. ALSO, THERE IS A LEAK COMING FROM THE SUN ROOF, THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DOORS, AND THE BATTERY DIE OUT. *AK

NHTSA ID
834234
Incident
Nov 14, 1998
Electrical
Filed Oct 30, 1998

SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE NEW IN 1996, CONSUMER HAD TO PURCHASE 3 BATTERIES AND 2 ALTERNATORS. BOTH ONLY LASTED APPROXIMATELY 12 TO 15 MONTHS. SATURN MECHANIC IN FLORIDA STATED THAT THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR ARE BUILT TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
829852
Incident
Jun 6, 1996
Electrical
Filed Aug 20, 1998

ALTERNATOR IS DEFECTIVE. IT HAS BEEN REPLACED, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
827016
Incident
Aug 3, 1998
Electrical
Filed Dec 23, 1997

AFTER STOPPING FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT, VEHICLE LOST POWER DUE TO ALTERNATOR MALFUNCTIONING. *AK

NHTSA ID
523367
Incident
Sep 19, 1997
BrakesElectricalSeat belts+1 more
Filed Sep 4, 1997

LIGHTER FELL OUT OF SOCKET, THE VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE SHIFTS HARD INTO GEAR AND HAS NO REVERSE GEAR THE DEALER REMOVED ANF RECONDITIONED THE TRANSMISSION, THE SEATBELT PULLED BACK WHILE THE DOOR WAS OPED AND THE SEATBELT FAILED TO PROPERLY RESTRAIN THE DRIVER DURING AN ACCIDENT CAUSING HIM TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL, THE BRAKE PEDAL FEELS LOW DEALER RESURFACED THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS, THE BRAKES ALSO MAKE NOISE, THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM BEING MOVED, HORN FAILED. *NLM

NHTSA ID
817087
Electrical
Filed Nov 5, 1996

DURING VEHICLE OPERATION THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAS BEEN A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM AND THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM OR SOLUTION. *AK

NHTSA ID
804603
Incident
Jan 23, 1996
BrakesElectrical
Filed Sep 19, 1996

COMPUTER FAILED, CAUSING INTERMITTENT STALLING. *AK

NHTSA ID
508817
Incident
Jan 1, 1996
Electrical
Filed Sep 10, 1996

ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID
508376
Incident
Sep 4, 1996
Electrical
Filed May 24, 1996

DOORS AND IGNITION SWITCH CAN BE STARTED WITH A PAIR OF SCISSORS. *AK

NHTSA ID
984829
Incident
May 18, 1996
Electrical
Filed Feb 22, 1996

VEHICLE WILL STALL AT ANY SPEED WHILE DRIVING, STOP AND WAITING AND RESTART. *AK

NHTSA ID
979582
Incident
Feb 19, 1996
Electrical
Filed Jan 29, 1996

WHEN COMING TO STOP SIGN AND LIGHT VEHICLE STALLS OUT. TT

NHTSA ID
978343
Incident
Oct 21, 1994
Electrical
Filed Jan 18, 1995

STALLS ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING. TT

NHTSA ID
958795
Incident
Dec 12, 1994
Electrical
Filed Jan 12, 1995

ENGINE OFTEN DIES EARLY IN THE MORNING. TT

NHTSA ID
958615
Incident
Mar 3, 1994

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .