RoadVitals

1995 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.
27
Latest Aug 15, 2008
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 355 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.
4
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 1995 Saturn Sl submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 27 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

The 25 most recent of 27, in the owner's own words

Electrical
Filed Aug 15, 2008

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.

NHTSA ID
10238397
Incident
Aug 14, 2008
Mileage
118,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 30, 2004

PROBLEMS WITH 1995 SATURN SL1. *MR SMOKE HAD COME FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE DASH IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CABLE HARNESS FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH MODULE THAT CONNECTED TO THE KEY/LOCK ASSEMBLY BURNED, THE BLACK WIRE HAD NO INSULATION WHICH BURNED OFF ALL THE WAY TO THE GROUNDING POINT AT THE FIREWALL, THE BLACK WIRE WAS NOT CONNECTED TO THE CHASSIS AND ALSO BURNED OFF. (THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AND SHORTED THE BATTERY AND THE BLACK WIRE/CHASSIS) *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10083911
Incident
Jul 1, 2004
Electrical
Filed May 11, 2004
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH DRIVER NOTICED THAT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE HOOD. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO A GAS STATION. OPENED THE HOOD, AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, CONSUMER NOTICED AN ORANGE GLARE FROM THE SUNROOF. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRES IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WERE NOT INSULATED. *LA

NHTSA ID
10065452
Incident
Apr 1, 2004
Electrical
Filed Apr 6, 2004

THE OWNER STATES THAT,' THE GEARSHIFT CAN ENGAGE WITHOUT THE KEY BEING IN THE IGNITION SWITCH.' THIS CAUSED THE GEARSHIFT TO FAIL. THE CONSUMER HAS MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEALER. *MR

NHTSA ID
10066630
Incident
Mar 17, 2004
ElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 16, 2002

WHILE DRIVING INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT KEPT GOING ON AND OFF.HAD VEHICLE SERVICED. ENGINE CRACKED AND OIL LEAKED INTO RADIATOR. HAD PROBLEM FIXED. HOWEVER, PROBLEM REOCCURRED.*AK *NLM

NHTSA ID
8018664
Incident
Oct 16, 1999
Mileage
75,000 mi
ElectricalSuspension
Filed Nov 4, 2001

ACTUAL PART A SMALL BUSHING CONNECTING THE SHIFTER (1-5) TO CLUTCH CABLE BROKE OFF WITH OUT ANY WARNING HAVING SPOKEN TO A NUMBER OF SATURN DEALERS THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE ON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I DISCOVERED SIMILAR RECALLS ON 1996 AND 97 MANY PEOPLE MIGHT NOT EVEN BEAWARE OF WHAT THE REAL PROBLEM WAS UNLESS THEY REMOVED THE CONSOLE LIKE I DID. SATURN CLAIMS IT IS THE SUPPLIERS FAULT AND THAT I HAVE TO AN ENTIRE TWO CABLE PACKAGED ASSEMBLY IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE CONNECTOR TOTAL COST $350-$400 DOLLARS I BELIEVE THE CONSUMER IS BEING PUT AT DELIBERATE RISK FOR THERE PROFITS.*AK

NHTSA ID
754078
Incident
Oct 19, 2001
ElectricalEngineInterior & seats+1 more
Filed Sep 25, 2001

THE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT FAILED.*YH

NHTSA ID
785591
ElectricalEngine
Filed Aug 15, 2000
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 60 MPH HEARD A RATTLE. AS CONSUMER WAS PULLING OVER, HEARD A THUMP. PISTON WENT THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK. CONSUMER OPENED HOOD AND THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY WERE NOT VERY HELPFUL. ANOTHER MECHANIC SAID HE SAW FOUR OR FIVE DIFFERENT SATURNS THAT HAD SAME PROBLEM WITHIN A MONTH. *AK

NHTSA ID
867849
Incident
Jul 3, 2000
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Aug 7, 2000

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT START. ALL ELECTRICAL DOORS LOCKED IN POSITIONS, OCCUPANT COULD NOT EXIT VEHICLE/DOORS COULD NOT BE MANUALLY OPENED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER IN REFERENCE TO OTHER PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
866937
Electrical
Filed Jul 5, 2000
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ALL OF SUDDEN HEARD A BANG AND VEHICLE LOST POWER. PULLED OVER. BLACK SMOKE WAS COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONTACTED DEALER. ALTHOUGH EXACT CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED, FIRE DEPT BELIEVES THAT IT WAS ELECTRICAL, AND MAINTENANCE RELATED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
864758
Incident
Jun 21, 2000
ElectricalEngine
Filed May 24, 2000

SPARK PLUGS FAILED AT 30000 MILES. REPLACED PISTON RINGS. NOW AT 70000 MILES, SAME PROBLEM. REPAIRED AT SATURN OF RENTON, NOT BELLEVUE. *AK

NHTSA ID
723136
ElectricalEngine
Filed Mar 10, 2000

WHILE DRIVING, WITHOUT WARNING, ENGINE CUTS OFF. THIS CAUSES A LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER IN THE VEHICLE. ALSO, VEHICLE HAS TO BE TURNED OFF AND STARTED BACK UP. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND CAN'T FIND CAUSE. *AK

NHTSA ID
858305
ElectricalEngineInterior & seats
Filed Jul 26, 1999

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE WOULD SHUT DOWN AFTER REACHING 65MPH. ALSO, INSTRUMENT LIGHTS WOULD COME ON PRIOR TO SHUTTING OFF. ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED & 2 WEEKS LATER THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT AGAIN ON THE HIGHWAY. HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED ON 27 MAY 1999 & NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND AT THAT TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID
843443
Incident
Mar 26, 1999
ElectricalEngineTransmission
Filed May 14, 1999

CAR HAS ONLY 38,000 MILES ON IT. IN THE LAST 30 DAYS, IT'S BEEN TOWED THREE TIMES. IT OVERHEATED, THE CLUTCH WENT OUT AND THEN THE ALTERNATOR WENT OUT.

NHTSA ID
706513
Incident
Apr 30, 1999
Electrical
Filed Jun 29, 1998

THE ALTERNATOR WORE OUT, DRAINING THE BATTERY. DEALER HAS A BACK ORDER OF THE ALTERNATORS. *AK

NHTSA ID
824022
Incident
Apr 1, 1998
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+1 more
Filed May 15, 1998

EGR VALVE WAS STICKING CAUSING THE SES LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND THE VEHICLE TO HESITATE/STALL.

NHTSA ID
535577
Incident
Mar 17, 1997
BrakesElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Apr 18, 1998

ENGINE/IGNITION/COMPUTER/SPEEDOMER/CRUISE CONTROL/REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER: ELECRICAL WIRING/WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR/DRIVER'S SEAT LATCH AND PARKING BRAKE FAILED.

NHTSA ID
534611
Incident
Mar 1, 1998
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Feb 11, 1998

BRAKES FAILED CAUSING A COLLISION.

NHTSA ID
530268
Incident
Nov 11, 1997
Electrical
Filed Dec 10, 1997

IGNITION ASSEMBLY FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID
526309
Incident
Dec 4, 1997
AirbagsHeating & air conditioningElectrical+1 more
Filed Mar 20, 1997
Crash reported

NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS IN A FRONT END COLLISION. ALSO IGNITION/AIR CONDITIONING AND MUFFLER REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
515318
Electrical
Filed Feb 12, 1997

ELECTRICAL STARTER/IGNITION MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA ID
546702
Incident
Jan 16, 1997
Electrical
Filed Apr 26, 1996

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY DIE OUT, FOR NO REASON IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. *AK

NHTSA ID
983576
Incident
Apr 21, 1996
Electrical
Filed Jan 25, 1996

WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVEN FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND PARKED WILL NOT START, IN FOR REPAIR IGNITION MODULE REPLACEMENT, SPARK PLUG WIRES. TT

NHTSA ID
978211
Incident
Jan 25, 1996
ElectricalTransmission
Filed Oct 1, 1995

IGNITION FAILED.

NHTSA ID
601492
Incident
Dec 20, 1994
Electrical
Filed Aug 17, 1995

STARTER FAILED. *SKD

NHTSA ID
600357
Incident
Dec 28, 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.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .