Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 355 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1995 Saturn Sl, most frequently naming the interior & seats, engine and brakes categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 3 NHTSA investigations name it; and 3 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 2001 | 2 | 260 |
| Sep 2001 | 4 | 264 |
| Oct 2001 | 3 | 267 |
| Nov 2001 | 1 | 268 |
| Dec 2001 | 2 | 270 |
| Jan 2002 | 3 | 273 |
| Feb 2002 | 2 | 275 |
| Mar 2002 | 2 | 277 |
| May 2002 | 1 | 278 |
| Jun 2002 | 7 | 285 |
| Jul 2002 | 2 | 287 |
| Sep 2002 | 2 | 289 |
| Oct 2002 | 1 | 290 |
| Nov 2002 | 2 | 292 |
| Dec 2002 | 2 | 294 |
| Jan 2003 | 2 | 296 |
| Feb 2003 | 1 | 297 |
| Mar 2003 | 3 | 300 |
| May 2003 | 1 | 301 |
| Jun 2003 | 1 | 302 |
| Jul 2003 | 1 | 303 |
| Sep 2003 | 2 | 305 |
| Oct 2003 | 1 | 306 |
| Nov 2003 | 3 | 309 |
| Dec 2003 | 4 | 313 |
| Jan 2004 | 2 | 315 |
| Feb 2004 | 1 | 316 |
| Mar 2004 | 1 | 317 |
| Apr 2004 | 4 | 321 |
| May 2004 | 1 | 322 |
| Jul 2004 | 1 | 323 |
| Aug 2004 | 2 | 325 |
| Sep 2004 | 1 | 326 |
| Dec 2004 | 1 | 327 |
| Jan 2005 | 1 | 328 |
| Mar 2005 | 1 | 329 |
| Aug 2005 | 1 | 330 |
| Sep 2005 | 1 | 331 |
| Oct 2005 | 2 | 333 |
| Jan 2006 | 1 | 334 |
| Feb 2006 | 1 | 335 |
| Apr 2006 | 1 | 336 |
| May 2006 | 1 | 337 |
| Jun 2006 | 1 | 338 |
| Dec 2006 | 1 | 339 |
| Apr 2007 | 1 | 340 |
| May 2007 | 1 | 341 |
| Nov 2007 | 1 | 342 |
| Mar 2008 | 1 | 343 |
| May 2008 | 1 | 344 |
| Jul 2008 | 2 | 346 |
| Aug 2008 | 1 | 347 |
| Sep 2008 | 1 | 348 |
| Apr 2011 | 1 | 349 |
| Sep 2011 | 1 | 350 |
| Apr 2012 | 1 | 351 |
| Jun 2012 | 1 | 352 |
| Aug 2012 | 1 | 353 |
| Apr 2014 | 1 | 354 |
| May 2016 | 1 | 355 |
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.
3 campaigns 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
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
FRONT SEAT BACK CAN RECLINE OR COLLAPSE
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
AUTO ACCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON 07/31/2015, THE LEFT FRONT AIR BAG DEPLOYED ON ITS OWN CAUSING INJURIES TO THE PASSENGER IN OUR VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND ONCE THE KEYS WERE TAKEN OUT IS WHEN RIGHT FRONT AIR BAG WAS DISPLOYED.
INSTALLED MICROGARD FUEL FILTER ON A 1995 SATURN SL1 A MONTH AGO STARTED SMELLING GAS HAD IT LOOKED AT AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL FILTER HOSE DEVELOPED A SMALL HOLE. THE HOLE IS IN THE BLACK PLASTIC, THIS PIPE ATTACHES TO THE ALUMINUM PIPE, BY THE TEST VALVE. I T RUBS ON THE EGR VALVE? (THIS FILTER HAS THE HOSE ATTACHED TO IT, ALL ONE UNIT.) THIS LEAK COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A MASSIVE FIRE BECAUSE IT ABOVE THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, AND IS A HIGH PRESSURE HOSE. I BOUGHT A NEW ONE ANOTHER MICRO GARD AND PUT A THICKER HOSE AROUND THE BLACK PIPE. I STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL. *TR
AFTER A POP NOISE DURING NEGOTIATING A CURVE THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY APPEARED TILTED EVEN WHILE GOING STRAIGHT WHILE DRIVING. CAR WAS STEERED WITH INCREASED LOSS OF CONTROL FOR A FEW SECONDS AND MOVED TO CURB. STEERING WAS UNUSABLE THEREAFTER AND CAR WAS TOWED FOR REPAIRS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 SATURN SL SEDAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECLINER ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT WOULD BECOME LOOSE AND THE CONTACT LOST SUPPORT IN THE BACK WHILE SITTING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO ADJUST SEAT BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED CONSTANTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO ADJUST SEAT EVERY TIME HE ENTERED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V045000 (SEATS), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
MY WIFE WAS ON THE WAY HOME FROM PICKING UP OUR KIDS FROM SCHOOL AND THE DRIVERS SEAT RECLINING BACK GAVE WAY RECLINING THE SEAT BACK ALL THE WAY. I LOOKED UP A PREVIOUS RECALL SATURN HAD FOR THE YR, MAKE, AND MODEL HOWEVER EITHER DUE TO EITHER AGE OR VIN # SERIES FROM WHAT I HAD FOUND ONLINE THE DEALER WILL NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY. I ALSO CONTACTED A YOUNG LADY WITH GM CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE WHO ALSO COULD NOT FIND ANY INFORMATION ON THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH I READ OFF THE RECALL NUMBERS FOUND ON NHTSA'S WEBSITE. DEALER WANTS ME TO COME IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC HOWEVER WILL NOT LET ME KNOW OF A PRICE? THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SEVERE INCIDENT AS BOTH MY CHILDREN WERE ALSO IN THE CAR AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT WHICH LUCKILY SHE WAS ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *JS
MY COMPLAINT IS WITH A DAYTON QUADRA SE TIRE, SIZE P175/70R14 THE TIRE IS 2 YEARS OLD WITH 20,000 MILES AND HAS NEVER BEEN PLUGGED OR PATCHED. IT HAS NEVER BEEN FLAT OR LOW ON AIR PRESSURE. ON SEPT 1 2011 WHILE DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE 40 NEAR THE FORSYTH-DAVIE COUNTY LINE IN NORTH CAROLINA A PIECE OF THE TIRE'S TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE CORE OF THE TIRE SIMILAR TO THE WAY RECAPPED TIRES DO. THE SEPARATED PIECE IS STILL ATTACHED TO THE TIRE AT ONE POINT BUT THREW ENOUGH RUBBER OFF THAT IT ACTUALLY KNOCKED A HOLE IN THE SATURN'S LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL. A CRACK NEARLY 5 INCHES LONG. I BELIEVE THIS WAS SIMILAR ISSUE TO THE FIRESTONE TIRES SEPARATING AND BEING BLAMED FOR SUV ACCIDENTS 10 YEARS OR SO AGO. THE TIRE CAUSED NO PERSONAL INJURY BUT I DID LOSE CONTROL DUE TO THE POUNDING CAUSED BY THE LOOSE RUBBER. THE TIRE NEVER LOST AIR PRESSURE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 SATURN SL1. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT BEGAN TO RECLINE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V045000 (SEATS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 200,000. UPDATED 06/03/11 *BF UPDATED 09/19/11
DRIVING MY 1995 SATURN SL1 AT 65MPH, MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE IMMEDIATELY WENT FLAT. I WAS ABLE TO GUIDE THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER IN LESS THAN 200 YARDS AND CHANGE THE TIRE. THE LOCAL SHOP SAID THE VALVE STEM WAS "DRY ROTTED" AND SO THEY REPLACED IT. VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE OTHER TIRE VALVE STEMS SHOWS CRACKS. THE TIRES WERE INSTALLED AT WAL MART IN SUMMER 2007. *TR
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
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLES AND TRUCKS: SUBJECT REGARDING, 2002 AND PRIOR PASSENGER CARS AND TRUCKS, CHEMICAL DAMAGE TO EXTERIOR POLYCARBONATE HEADLAMP LENSES. *SLC UPDATED *EH UPDATED 3/30/11. HEADLAMP LENS OVERHEATING WHEN COVERED AND CHEMICAL DAMAGE TO EXTERIOR POLYCARBONATE HEADLAMP LENSES. CAN CAUSE CRAZING OR CRACKING OF HEADLAMP LENS. *PE UPDATED 6/24/11. *PE UPDATED 5/14/12. INCLUDING 2013 MODEL YEAR. *PE
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.