IllustrationMOTORIZED RETRACTOR FAILS TO RETRACT THE SHOULDER SAFETY BELT.*AK
1994 Saturn Sl
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1994 Saturn Sl do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 171.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sl years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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: 16 of 286 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.
- Seat Belts. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seats. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
51 crash reports4 fire reports32 injury reports
Seat Belts complaints
49 reportsTHE ELECTRONICS FOR THE MOTORIZED SEATBELTS ARE LOCATED IN THE CENTER CONSOLE DIRECTLY BENEATH THE DRINK HOLDER. WHAT I AM SURE HAPPENED IS THAT CONDENSATION FROM THE DRINK DRIPPED DOWN AND ENTERED THE PANEL FOR THE SEATBELTS RENDERING THEM INOPERABLE. THEY ARE NOW STUCK IN THE POSITION THAT THEY WERE AT THE TIME AND THERE IS …
Read full complaint
THE ELECTRONICS FOR THE MOTORIZED SEATBELTS ARE LOCATED IN THE CENTER CONSOLE DIRECTLY BENEATH THE DRINK HOLDER. WHAT I AM SURE HAPPENED IS THAT CONDENSATION FROM THE DRINK DRIPPED DOWN AND ENTERED THE PANEL FOR THE SEATBELTS RENDERING THEM INOPERABLE. THEY ARE NOW STUCK IN THE POSITION THAT THEY WERE AT THE TIME AND THERE IS NO MANUAL OVERIDE TO GET THEM BACK TO THE FULLY BACK POSITION. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A GREAT RISK TO MYSELF AND THOSE WHO RIDE IN MY CAR. I WENT TO A SATURN DEALERSHIP TO ASK THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THAT IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME...THAT IS ALL I NEEDED TO HEAR. THEY SAID THAT IT WOULD COST ROUGHLY 350 DOLLARS TO FIX THE PROBLEM WHICH I FEEL LIKE IS A DESIGN FLAW. I REALLY THINK THAT THIS IS NOT MY FAULT AND IS THE MANUFACTURERS RESPONSABILITY.*AK
MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS ON PASSENGER SIDE AND DRIVER'S SIDE HAVE MALFUNCTIONED. WHILE DRIVING SEAT BELTS BECAME DISENGAGED, NO PRIOR WARNINGS. HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER.*AK
DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS DO NOT ALWAYS RETRACT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATES BELTS HAVE ALSO RETRACTED WHILE DRIVING. *SLC
AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT WAS DESIGNED WITHOUT A SAFETY FEATURE TO RETRACT BACKWARDS WHEN IT HITS AN OBJECT. ODOMETER WAS FAILING TO REGISTER CORRECT MILEAGE. MECHANIC REFUSED TO DO ANY REPAIRS DUE TO VEHICLE BEING OUT OF WARRANTY.*AK
THE PASSIVE SHOULDER HARNESS MOTOR HAS FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN THE DOORS WERE EITHER OPENED OR CLOSED INTERMITANLY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICAL FOR SOME TIME NOW. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM BUT SAID THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND IT WAS EXPENSIVE SO TRY TO LIVE WITH IT UNTIL IT FAILED COMPLETELY. NOW THE …
Read full complaint
THE PASSIVE SHOULDER HARNESS MOTOR HAS FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN THE DOORS WERE EITHER OPENED OR CLOSED INTERMITANLY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICAL FOR SOME TIME NOW. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM BUT SAID THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND IT WAS EXPENSIVE SO TRY TO LIVE WITH IT UNTIL IT FAILED COMPLETELY. NOW THE DRIVERS SIDE SHOULDER BELT DOES NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACK WITHOUT IT BEING PUSHED OR PULLED ALONG THE TRACK MANUALLY. THE THE MOTOR DOES RUN BUT THE BELT JUST DOESN'T MOVE. I HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTUER ABOUT ANY TSB'S OR SILENT RECALLS ON THIS ISSUE AND AM AWAITING A REPLY AT THIS TIME.*AK
DRIVER'S SIDE RESTRAINT WILL NOT RETRACT BACK INTO POSITION. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
DEALER SAYS THAT THIS SYSTEM FAILS OFTEN, BECAUSE THE ELECTONING CONTROLER IS UNDER THE SPOT FOR THE CUP HOLDER AND IS NOT WATERPROOF. IF THIS IS FAILING AND SEAT BELTS ARE NOT WORKING ON A LOT OF THESE CARS, I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT AND MAKE THEM FIX THE ONES, LIKE MINE, THAT HAVE FAILED. *AK
DRIVER'S SIDE MOTORIZED SHOULDER BELT WILL NOT RETRACT BACK INTO POSTION,IT IS STUCK IN MIDDLE OF TRACK, CAUSING LOSS OF PROTECTION. *AK
TIMING CHAIN FAILED. NLM
Official recalls
199V045000 · Seats
Mar 12, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME FRONT SEAT BACK RECLINER GEAR TEETH MAY WEAR EXCESSIVELY THROUGH REPEATED USE, AND COULD CAUSE THE SEAT BACK TO SLIP PARTIALLY REARWARD WHEN FORCE IS APPLIED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, IT COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SEAT RECLINER MECHANISMS.
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
4RQ00005 · Front Seat Back Can Recline Or Collapse
Opened Feb 16, 2000 · Closed Aug 19, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats:front Assembly:recliner
No summary supplied.
EA98017 · Seat Back Failures
Opened Jul 31, 1998 · Closed Mar 16, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
IN ITS LETTER DATED MARCH 5, 1999, GENERAL MOTORS STATED THAT IT WILL RECALL 136,300 MODEL YEAR 1994 AND 1995 SATURN VEHICLE (ALL MODELS) BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1994 AND AUGUST 1994.DURING THIS PERIOD, SATURN'S SEAT SUPPLIER MANUFACTURED RECLINER ASSEMBLIES WHICH WERE OUT OF DESIGN SPECIFICATION, ALLOWING THE FRONT SEAT BACKS TO RECLINE OR COLLAPSE INADVERTENTLY.TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, SATURN DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BACK RECLINER ASSEMBLIES.SEE NHTSA'S SAFETY RECALL FILL 99V-045 FOR DETAILS.
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