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 10, 1998
Air BagsSeat BeltsSeatsCrashInjury
VEHICLE WAS REAR-ENDED AND PUSHED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF CONSUMER. HAD BOTH FRON TAND RAE IMPACT. DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY, AND SHOULDER BELT DID NOT LOCK IN TIME TO PREVENT DRIVER FROM FALLING FORWARD, HITTING HEAD ON STEERING WHEEL. ALSO, SEATBACK COLLAPSED, DRIVER FELL BACKWARDS AND HIT BACK OF HEAD. SUSTAINED I…
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VEHICLE WAS REAR-ENDED AND PUSHED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF CONSUMER. HAD BOTH FRON TAND RAE IMPACT. DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY, AND SHOULDER BELT DID NOT LOCK IN TIME TO PREVENT DRIVER FROM FALLING FORWARD, HITTING HEAD ON STEERING WHEEL. ALSO, SEATBACK COLLAPSED, DRIVER FELL BACKWARDS AND HIT BACK OF HEAD. SUSTAINED INJURIES, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #539614
Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ABS BRAKES; WHEN APPLYING BRAKES IN NORMAL CONDITIONS THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKES FAIL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #826118
Mileage unknown · Jul 8, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE VALVES FAILED.
NHTSA ODI #537416
Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 1998
Seat Belts
THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER RESTRAINT SYSTEM HAS FAILED. BOTH HAVE INTERMITTANT PROBLEMS, THEY WILL OPEN AND CLOSE AT WILL FOR NO APPARENT REASON, SAFETY ALARM SOUNDS RANDOMLY ETC. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL SATURN (OF ESCONDIDO) DEALER AND THEY STATE THAT IT IS MAY PROBLEM AND NOT SOMETHING COVERED UNDER WARRA…
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THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER RESTRAINT SYSTEM HAS FAILED. BOTH HAVE INTERMITTANT PROBLEMS, THEY WILL OPEN AND CLOSE AT WILL FOR NO APPARENT REASON, SAFETY ALARM SOUNDS RANDOMLY ETC. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL SATURN (OF ESCONDIDO) DEALER AND THEY STATE THAT IT IS MAY PROBLEM AND NOT SOMETHING COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. HAVE OTHER SATURN OWNERS REPORTED PROBLEMS OF THIS NATURE? I HAVE CONTACTED SATURN THROUGH THEIR WEB SITE BUT HAVE NOT HEAR FROM THEM.
NHTSA ODI #537643
Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 1998
Service Brakes, HydraulicInjury
ERROR IN THE SSEMBLY OF THE UPPER FITTINGS TO THE BRAKE LINES CAUSED LOSS OF HYDROLIC PRESSURE WHICH RESULTED IN A VEHICLE COLLISION DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE.
NHTSA ODI #536982
Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 1998
Seat Belts
WHEN DRIVING THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT SHOULDER BELT BECAME VERY TIGHT, MAKING IT VERY IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE DRIVER TO MAKE ANY TYPE OF MOVEMENT WHEN DRIVING. ALSO, ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #824179
Mileage unknown · May 18, 1998
Air BagsCrash
DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ABOUT 35MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND RAN INTO THE BACK OF A VEHICLE THAT HAD STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY, AND THE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED BADLY, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVABLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #823424
Mileage unknown · Apr 29, 1998
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
ABS BRAKE PROLBEMS; WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, NO INCLEMENT WEATHER, DRY PAVEMENT. DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION WITH PLENTY OF STOPPING DISTANCE, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE DRIVER WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE, CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #822897
Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED, RESULTING IN OIL LEAK DUE TO IMPROPER MANUFACTURING.
NHTSA ODI #533747
Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 1998
Electrical SystemPower Train
TRANSMISSION BANGS INTO GEAR AND HAS TROUBLE GOING INTO REVERSE GEAR DUE TO FAILURE OF THE VALVE BODY.
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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