Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 12 of 175 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
24 crash reports8 fire reports13 injury reports
What owners actually said
175 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 2001
Power Train
WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH TRANSMISSION BLEW UP, AND SOME PIECES FLEW INTO CAR*AK CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION IS A 5 SPEED MANUAL, THE DIFFERENTIAL WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THE INTERNAL PARTS TO VIOLENTLY PUNCTURE THE TRANSMISSION CASE MAKING THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL, THE TRANSMISSION SHI…
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WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH TRANSMISSION BLEW UP, AND SOME PIECES FLEW INTO CAR*AK CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION IS A 5 SPEED MANUAL, THE DIFFERENTIAL WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THE INTERNAL PARTS TO VIOLENTLY PUNCTURE THE TRANSMISSION CASE MAKING THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WAS JAMMED AND UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS.*JB
NHTSA ODI #894798
Mileage unknown · Jul 11, 2001
Vehicle Speed Control
WAS GOING 64MPH AND HAD CRUISE CONTROL ON. WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS TOUCHED CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO RELEASE. CRUISE CONTROL HAD BECOME STUCK. FINALLY ABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF GEAR AND TAPPED ON BRAKES. CRUISE CONTROL RELEASED AFTER VEHICLE HIT TWO OTHER VEHICLES. TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC …
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WAS GOING 64MPH AND HAD CRUISE CONTROL ON. WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS TOUCHED CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO RELEASE. CRUISE CONTROL HAD BECOME STUCK. FINALLY ABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF GEAR AND TAPPED ON BRAKES. CRUISE CONTROL RELEASED AFTER VEHICLE HIT TWO OTHER VEHICLES. TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT CABLE TO CONTROL MODULE WAS LOOSE AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #892497
Mileage unknown · May 29, 2001
Seat Belts
DRIVER'S SIDE RESTRAINT DOES NOT RETRACT, LEAVING DRIVER UNRESTRAINED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK *SLC
NHTSA ODI #889302
Mileage unknown · Apr 27, 2001
Air BagsElectrical System
PLASTIC AROUND AIR BAG MODULE IS WARPED AND IS PUSHING AGAINST HORN ASSEMBLY, CAUSING HORN TO BECOME INOPERABLE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #886927
Mileage unknown · Apr 26, 2001
Seats
DRIVER'S SEAT IS BECOMING DISTORTED AND TOGETHER LIKE AN ACCORDIAN. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF DEFECT, BUT WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO REPAIR SEAT BECAUSE IT IS NOT ON WARRANTY. FRAME IN BACK OF SEAT COLLAPSED. *AK *SLC
NHTSA ODI #886838
Mileage unknown · Feb 26, 2001
Power Train
THIRD GEAR ACTUATOR IS BURNED OUT DUE TO A SHORT CIRCUIT IN COMPUTER CONTROL.*AK
NHTSA ODI #881411
Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolinePower Train
TIMING CHAIN AND GUIDES FAILED. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #785264
Mileage unknown · Dec 26, 2000
Seats
METAL FRAGMENT INSIDE FABRIC HAS PUNCTURED THROUGH IT ON DRIVER'S SIDE. METAL FRAGMENT JAMS INTO BACK OF DRIVER WHILE DRIVING. IT'S EXPOSED & HARD TO RECESS BACK WITHOUT RIPPING FABRIC. HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH MANUFACTURER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #877008
Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2000
Seats
FRONT SEATBACK REPLACED, AT OWNERS EXPENSE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #732906
Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 2000
Tires
JUST WANTED THIS IN THE RECORD BOOKS IN CASE OTHERS EXPERIENCED IT. TWICE THIS YEAR, I HAD BLOW-OUTS OF MY FIRESTONE TIRE ON THE FREEWAY GOING 65MPH. BOTH TIMES THE BLOWOUT WAS CAUSED BY THE TREADS FALLING OFF THE TIRE. I DID NOT THINK ANYTHING OF IT UNTIL RECENTLY AND JUST REPLACED THE TIRES. I AM LOOKING FOR NO COMPENSATION…
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JUST WANTED THIS IN THE RECORD BOOKS IN CASE OTHERS EXPERIENCED IT. TWICE THIS YEAR, I HAD BLOW-OUTS OF MY FIRESTONE TIRE ON THE FREEWAY GOING 65MPH. BOTH TIMES THE BLOWOUT WAS CAUSED BY THE TREADS FALLING OFF THE TIRE. I DID NOT THINK ANYTHING OF IT UNTIL RECENTLY AND JUST REPLACED THE TIRES. I AM LOOKING FOR NO COMPENSATION. I JUST WANT TO LET OTHERS KNOW THAT I HAD THIS PROBLEM ON MY LITTLE SATURN CAR WITH ITS FIRESTONE TIRES.*AK (TIRESIZE: P175 70R14)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P175 70R14 )
THE GENERATOR ELECTRICAL WIRING IS NOT PROTECTED AGAINST EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW WHICH MAY BE CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE GENERATOR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SHOULD AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT OCCUR IN THEGENERATOR, THE GENERATOR WIRING HARNESS WOULD EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW.UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, ENOUGH HEAT COULD BE GENERATED TO IGNITE SURROUNDINGMATERIALS. IF THIS OCCURS, AN UNDERHOOD FIRE COULD RESULT WITH OR WITHOUT THEENGINE RUNNING AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: THE GENERATOR WIRING HARNESS WILL BE REPLACED WITH ONE THAT WILL OPEN AS A FUSE WOULD UNDER CERTAIN EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW CONDITIONS.
THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE TERMINAL AT THE STARTER SOLENOID MAY BE FORMED INCORRECTLY. INCORRECTLY FORMED TERMINALS CAN CONTACT THE STARTER SOLENOID HOUSING AND CAUSE AN ELECTRIC SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT BETWEEN THE BATTERY CABLE ANDTHE STARTER HOUSING CAN RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, ADJUST THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE TERMINAL SO THAT IT DOES NOT CONTACT THE STARTER SOLENOID HOUSING.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3
EA95003 · Cruise Control Failures
Opened Feb 24, 1995 · Closed May 31, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment
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.
PE94079 · Cruise Control Failure
Opened Nov 7, 1994 · Closed Feb 24, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment
There is no summary currently available
PE93022 · Steering System Lockup
Opened Apr 5, 1993 · Closed Sep 30, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
1993 Saturn Sl Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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