IllustrationDT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BUCKLE BETWEEN THE LEGS FOR THE HARNESS WILL UNLATCH WHEN PULLED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED. THIS IS AN EVENFLO 3252245P1 MANUFACTURED MAY 25, 2005.
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
What owners actually said
286 reports1. NORMAL DRIVING, THE VIBRATION FROM NORMAL ROAD BUMPS OR POT HOLES. 2. WINDSHIELD CRACKS ON THE LOWER SIDES WHERE EXTREME STRESS EXHISTS, DANGER EXHISTS OF WEAKENED ROOF SUPPORT AND GLASS INJURY IF A COLLISION OCCURS. 3. MUST BUY NEW WINSHIELD BECAUSE ALL THE USED VEHICLES IN THE AREA HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEM. THE DESIGN WAS US…
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1. NORMAL DRIVING, THE VIBRATION FROM NORMAL ROAD BUMPS OR POT HOLES. 2. WINDSHIELD CRACKS ON THE LOWER SIDES WHERE EXTREME STRESS EXHISTS, DANGER EXHISTS OF WEAKENED ROOF SUPPORT AND GLASS INJURY IF A COLLISION OCCURS. 3. MUST BUY NEW WINSHIELD BECAUSE ALL THE USED VEHICLES IN THE AREA HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEM. THE DESIGN WAS USED FOR ONLY THAT YEAR MODEL AND THE WINSHIELD WRAPS AROUND THE SIDE OF THE AUTO RESULTING IN A WEAK DESIGN. THE WINSHIELD PRICE IS HIGHER THAN THE AVERAGE WINSHIELD.
IN JAN. 1998 MY TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND CRACKED MY ENGINE AND VALVE COVER. PRIOR TO THIS I DID TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALER WHO STATES TIMING CHAIN REPLACEMENT OR NEW ENGINE IF TIMING CHAIN BREAKS. BEING THAT MY SATURN SL2 WAS A 1994 IT WAS FUNNY THAT SO SOON TIMING CHAIN PROBLEMS OCCURRED. MY TIMING CHAIN DID BREAK, AND I WAS UNABL…
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IN JAN. 1998 MY TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND CRACKED MY ENGINE AND VALVE COVER. PRIOR TO THIS I DID TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALER WHO STATES TIMING CHAIN REPLACEMENT OR NEW ENGINE IF TIMING CHAIN BREAKS. BEING THAT MY SATURN SL2 WAS A 1994 IT WAS FUNNY THAT SO SOON TIMING CHAIN PROBLEMS OCCURRED. MY TIMING CHAIN DID BREAK, AND I WAS UNABLE TO GET IT REPAIRED INTIL 2001 BY THE LOCAL DEALER WITH A USED ENGINE THAT LEAKED OIL EVERY WHERE I PARKED, MY COMPLAINTS YIELDED NO RESULTS. NEEDLESS TO SAY I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE CAR WHICH BEGAN TO OVERHEAT, COOLING FAN FAILED AND IN AUGUST 2004, THE TIMING CHAIN ON THE OTHER USED ENGINE STARTED TO RATTLE AND ALSO BROKE, SO TODAY I AM CARLESS AND DON'T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE SATURN TIMING CHAINS. IS THERE AN INVESTIGATION ONGOING?*AK
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, AND CHILD SITTING IN A CHILD SAFETY SEAT TOLD THE FATHER THAT THE SEAT BELT CAME COMPLETELY OUT OF THE BACK OF THE SEAT. HOWEVER, ALL SEAT BELTS IN THE BACK SEAT REMAINED UNSTITCHED. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK
AIR BAG LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING, REPLACED 2 OF THE COMPONENETS UNDER THE DASH ONE UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE UP IN THE CORNER AND THE OTHER UP BEHIND THE GLOVE BOX. COOLING FAN DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY MUST KEEP THE AC ON FOR THE FAN TO WORK. A FRIEND OF MINE HAS THE SAME CAR AND HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. TRIED TO FIX BY REPLACING THE…
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AIR BAG LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING, REPLACED 2 OF THE COMPONENETS UNDER THE DASH ONE UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE UP IN THE CORNER AND THE OTHER UP BEHIND THE GLOVE BOX. COOLING FAN DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY MUST KEEP THE AC ON FOR THE FAN TO WORK. A FRIEND OF MINE HAS THE SAME CAR AND HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. TRIED TO FIX BY REPLACING THE SENSORS HAD A MECHANIC TRY TO TROUBLE SHOOT, CAN'T FIND A REASON SO IT IS NOT FIXED JUST KEEP AC ON ALWAYS. CAR VIBRATES AND CAN'T FIND A REASON STILL LOOKING FOR PROBLEM, VIBRATES SO MUCH BODY PARTS ON FRONT ARE BECOMING MISALIGNED! AND IT SEEMS THE AUTO-TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FUNNY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES AND THEN STAYS ON AFTER DRIVING APX. 1 MILE. CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. MY FRIEND HAS ALL THE SAME COMPLAINTS. *NM
WHILE SLOWING FOR A STOP LIGHT THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS SLAMMED FORWARD THEN BACKWARDS INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT CAUSING THE SEAT TO COLLAPSE ONTO THE REAR SEAT. *MR THE VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *NM
DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH A SPEED OF 50-55 M.P.H. *JB
THE VEHICLE FAILED NEW YORK STATE INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THE DRIVER SEAT BELT MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
EMAIL FWD FM FHWA INQUIRING HOW TO HAVE A 1994 SATURN SL2 INSPECTED TO FIND OUT WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A HEAD ON COLLISION, HER DAUGHTER WAS INJURIED.*MR *CB *JB
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT WARNING BOTH SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RETRACT . DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK
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