Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 355 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1995 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.
Showing 1–25 of 355 · page 1 of 15
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
TL*THE CONTACT'S FATHER OWNS A 1995 SATURN SL2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE THE KEY, THE KEY WOULD NOT GO BACK TO THE LOCK POSITION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 118,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 SATURN SL1. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND CAUSED HER TO CRASH INTO A POLE. UPON IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S SEAT RETRACTED BACKWARDS TOWARDS THE FLOOR. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES TO HER BACK, NECK, AND SHOULDERS. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. SHE HAS ALL THE DOCUMENTS PERTAINING TO THE FAILURE, AND A COPY OF THE POLICE REPORT. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ALL RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V045000 (SEATS). THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 SATURN SL2. WHILE CHANGING LANES AT 10 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND CAUSED HER TO CRASH INTO A POLE. UPON IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S SEAT RETRACTED BACKWARDS TOWARDS THE FLOOR. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES TO HER BACK, NECK, AND SHOULDERS. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. SHE HAS ALL THE DOCUMENTS PERTAINING TO THE FAILURE, AND A COPY OF THE POLICE REPORT. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ALL RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V045000 (SEATS). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 107,000.
1 INCIDENT AND 1 CRASH. LEFT EMERGENCY BRAKE ON BY ACCIDENT WHEN DRIVING AND WENT TO APPLY BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN, BUT HAD NO BRAKES. COULD NOT STOP..NO ACCIDENT FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED. BUT 2ND TIME CAUSED MULTIPLE CAR ACCIDENT W/AN INJURY. AFTER I STOPPED DRIVING, THE BRAKES BEGAN WORKING AGAIN. I HAD MY BRAKES CHECKED BUT THEY DID NOT NEED REPLACED. *TR
MY CAR HAS THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V045000, AND EVEN FALLS INTO THE "CARS AFFECTED" THAT IS LISTED IN THE RECALL. HOWEVER, SATURN SAYS THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR MY CAR AND REFUSES TO FIX, DESPITE THE RECALL THAT IS ON YOUR WEBSITE. THEY TOLD ME IT DOESN'T SHOW UP IN THEIR COMPUTERS, AND I BELIEVE IT IS BECAUSE IT IS SUCH AN OLD PROBLEM AND CAR, THAT THEIR DATABASES DON'T HAVE IT ANYMORE, FOR WHATEVER REASON. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 SATURN SL1. WHILE MAKING A SHARP U-TURN AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN MADE A LOUD NOISE AND BEGAN WOBBLING EXCESSIVELY. APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES LATER, THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED COMPLETELY AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BECOME FIXATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V138000 (STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AS WELL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 116,900. UPDATED 01/03/08. *LJ IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BEARING AT THE END OF THE WORN GEAR FAILED. THE WORN GEAR SEPARATED FROM THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY, WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF STEERING.
1995 SATURN MODEL SL CUSTOMER WANTS COPIES OF ALL RECALLS **CC (LAWYER ON BEHALF OF CLIENT)*TR
EMERGENCY BRAKE BUTTON BROKE; BUTTON EJECTED WHEN USING PARKING BRAKE, PREVENTING E-BRAKE FROM BEING USED. BUTTON AND SPRING ASSEMBLY CAME OUT, WITH BUTTON HAVING TWO SMALL PLASTIC CHIPS THAT WERE BROKEN, PREVENTING REASSEMBLY. THIS EFFECTIVELY PREVENTED THE VEHICLE'S STANDARD EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT (PARKING BRAKE) FROM BEING USED. NO REPLACEMENT BUTTON WAS AVAILABLE.*AK
LOUD ENGINE KNOCK. ENGINE CONSUMES OIL BUT NO LEAK. TOOK TO SATURN DEALER IN FAYETTEVILLE, AR AND TOLD IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. ENGINE HAS LESS THAN 85,000 MILES ON IT. TOLD THERE WAS A BULLETIN ABOUT THIS SOMETIME IN THE PAST. ALL REGULAR MAINTENANCE DONE AS RECOMMENDED BY SATURN. COST TO REPLACE ENGINE $2600. ENGINE SHOULD NOT BE ON BRINK OF FAILURE AT 83,000 MILES. *JB
I WAS TURNING AROUND SLOWLY UP INTO A DRIVEWAY AND THERE WAS A COUPLE OF CLUNKING/SCRAPING TYPE NOISES STEERING WENT AWAY COMPLETELY. I HAVE CALLED SATURN REGARDING RECALL 97V138000 HOWEVER MY VEHICLE HAPPENS TO BE A 1995 SL AND MY VIN NUMBER MISSES THE RECALL STATUS. I WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE REMEDIED SO THAT I CAN HAVE MY VEHICLE FIXED UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE OF THE HIGHLY DANGEROUS NATURE OF THIS PARTICULAR RECALL/PROBLEM. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE ELEVATED WITHOUT WARNING. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE OIL AND ANTIFREEZE WERE MIXED TOGETHER. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS A FRACTURED ENGINE HEAD. AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE HEAD, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP TO AWAIT FURTHER INSPECTION.
1995 SATURN SL2 MANUAL TRANSMISSION SHIFTER CABLE BUSHING FAILURE WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, PUSHED IN CLUTCH TO SHIFT FROM REVERSE TO FIRST GEAR AND HEARD A "POP". TRANSMISSION WENT INTO SOME GEAR (NOT FIRST), ENGINE STALLED AND GEAR SHIFT LEVER WAS LOOSE AND FLOPPY. COASTED AROUND CORNER AND PARKED NEXT TO CURB. REPAIR NOT YET MADE. DISASSEMBLED CENTER CONSOLE TO EXPOSE SHIFTER MECHANISM AND FOUND BUSHING ON LOWER SHIFT CABLE HAD FAILED AND WAS IN 3 PIECES. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP FOR AVAILABILITY AND PRICE OF BUSHING AND WAS TOLD BUSHING WAS INTEGRAL TO CABLE AND ENTIRE CABLE MUST BE REPLACED. COST OF PARTS $197.10 PLUS TAX. WILL PROBABLY END UP DRILLING THROUGH THE BALL AND BOLTING THE CABLE TO THE SHIFT LEVER ALTHOUGH THIS MAY FATIGUE SHIFTER CABLE AND ULTIMATELY REQUIRE CABLE REPLACEMENT. HAD THIS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY OR IN TRAFFIC INSTEAD OF A RESIDENTIAL STREET, THE RESULT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THIS WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND THERE WAS NOWHERE TO PULL OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME AND THERE WAS STEAM COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT DETERMINED THE ACCESSORY BELT HAD COME LOOSE AND REPLACED THE BELT AND BELT TENSIONER.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE LEFT FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT RECLINER GEAR TEETH WORE EXCESSIVELY, CAUSING THE SEAT TO PARTIALLY SLIP REARWARD WHILE DRIVING. THERE WAS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 02V307000 REGARDING THE SEATS. THE VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER. *AK UPDATED 03/09/06. *JB
DT: 1995 SATURN SL1 4 DOOR. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2005 . UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER TOOK PICTURES . HOWEVER, HAD NOT CONTACTED DEALERSHIP OR MANUFACTURER BECAUSE HE THOUGHT VEHICLE WAS TOO OLD, AND DEALERSHIP INFORMATION WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 30-35 MPH, HIT THE BRAKES, AND THEY DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS TWO FRONT AIRBAGS . CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT ON FRONT AND DRIVER SIDE OF VEHICLE AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE VEHICLE AND WAS WEARING SEAT BELTS. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS NOT ON PRIOR TO THE CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE POLICE REPORT DID NOT STATE ANYTHING ABOUT THE AIRBAGS. THE CONSUMER GAVE THE REPAIR INVOICE TO INSURANCE COMPANY, BUT COULD GET A COPY. THE ROAD THAT CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON WAS CLEAR. AFTER THE IMPACT LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED CUTS AND BRUISES BUT WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THE CHEST HIT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAUSE THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK WHEN HITTING THE BRAKES. WAS ABOUT 24 INCHES AWAY FROM STEERING WHEEL. THERE WAS NO OTHER PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE BACK BUMPER ON THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HAS ALL THE ORIGINAL PARTS.*AK
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, USES 1 QT EVERY 500 MILES, NO LEAKS. SATURN SAYS THIS IS NORMAL! *NM
IN JAN 2003 I RECEIVED A NOTICE THAT THERE MIGHT BE A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT SEAT BACK RECLINER GEAR TEETH TO WEAR EXCESSIVELY AND IF I HAD A PROBLEM I SHOULD GO TO A SATURN DEALER . LAST MONTH THE PROBLEM STARTED AND I WENT TO MY SATURN DEALER IN BRANDON, FL. THEY SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE. I WENT TO THE SATURN WEB SITE AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON A 1995 SATURN SL1 SEDAN, WHICH IS WHAT I HAVE. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN OCT. 1995, AND I PURCHASED IT USED IN AUGUST 2001. THE CAMPAIGN NUMBER :AA 99V0450000 A A A A A DATED A A 1999-MAR-12. I WENT BACK TO THE SATURN DEALER IN TASMPA, FL. TODAY AND THEY AGAIN SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. I STATED THE LETTER STATED 1994 AND 1995 VEHICLES AND I FEEL THAT MINE SHOULD BE COVERED SINCE IS WAS MANUFACTURED IN LATE 1994. WE HAVE TO [PLACE A COOLER BEHIND THE SEAT TO HOLD IT IN PLACE OR IT WILL FALL BACK. THE DEALER REFUSES TO HONOR THIS RECALL. WHAT CAN WE DO?
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .