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 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 2003
Tires
I OWN A 1994 SATURN, WHICH I PURCHASED IN OCTOBER 1993. THE SPARE TIRE IN THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN USED. IT STILL HAS THE LITTLE BAR THINGS ON IT WHICH STICK UP. I RECENTLY HAD TO GO OUT OF TOWN AND CHECKED THE SPARE AND OTHER TIRES AND WHEN I OPENED THE TRUNK AND LIFTED OUT THE SPARE, IT HAD BLOWN UP. THE RUBBER WAS SHREDDED …
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I OWN A 1994 SATURN, WHICH I PURCHASED IN OCTOBER 1993. THE SPARE TIRE IN THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN USED. IT STILL HAS THE LITTLE BAR THINGS ON IT WHICH STICK UP. I RECENTLY HAD TO GO OUT OF TOWN AND CHECKED THE SPARE AND OTHER TIRES AND WHEN I OPENED THE TRUNK AND LIFTED OUT THE SPARE, IT HAD BLOWN UP. THE RUBBER WAS SHREDDED AROUND THE PLACE IT EXPLODED. WE TALKED TO SATURN ABOUT THIS AND THEY SAID TOO BAD ESSENTIALLY. SO I THOUGHT I'D WRITE TO YOU. LIKE I SAID, THE TIRE HAS NEVER BEEN USED. YES, I KNOW ITS HOT IN PHOENIX, BUT JUST THINKING ABOUT THE DANGER I COULD HAVE BEEN IN IF I DID NOT TO CHECK THE TIRE AND BROKE DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY LEAVES ME KINDA SHAKY. THE TIRE IS ONE OF THOSE SMALLER DOUGHNUT ONES, # 1115 70R/14, RADIAL TEMPA SPARE. I STILL HAVE IT. I HAD TO PURCHASE ANOTHER ONE FROM SATURN THOUGH, TO BE SAFE. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT ON THIS. WHEN YOU TEST THESE FOR QUALITY CONTROL, DO YOU EXPOSE THEM TO HIGH TEMPERATURES FOR PROLONGED PERIODS OF TIME? THIS PROBABLY DOES NOT HAPPEN VERY OFTEN, THOUGH SATURN SAID THEY HAD SEEN A FEW OF THESE. I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF THEY HAD NOT TOLD YOU ABOUT IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS. BETTY GREGAR 3623 E WINCHCOMB PHOENIX, AZ. 85032 602-971-7128 OCTOBER 7, 2003. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10041265
Mileage unknown · Aug 18, 2003
Electrical SystemFire
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED TO THE GROUND. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10034084
162,700 miles · Aug 1, 2003
Air BagsSeatsCrashInjury
AS A RESULT OF BEING REAR ENDED, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK COLLAPSED. *AK. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS PUSHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10022969
115,932 miles · Jul 28, 2003
Seat Belts
CONSUMER STATES WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT RETRACTOR WAS MAKING A WIERD NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, DEALER STATED THAT ELECTRICAL SEATBELT CABLE WAS BROKEN. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10031296
125,000 miles · Jul 18, 2003
Seat Belts
AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE HAS FAILED TO WORK. MOTORIZED PORTION DOES NOT RETRACT OVER SHOULDER AS IT SHOULD. WHY IS THIS MY PROBLEM TO FIX? IT LOOKS LIKE A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE CAR. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10028575
102,000 miles · Jul 18, 2003
Electrical System
THE CONSUMER WAS CLEANING THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WHEN HE SPRAYED THE HAND BRAKE AND THE SURROUNDING AREA, THE AUTOMATED SAFTETY BELT ARM STARTED TO MOVE BACKWARD AND FOWARD AND THEN LOCKED AND RETRACTED MULTIPLE TIMES WITHOUT ANY REASON OR WARNING. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS…
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THE CONSUMER WAS CLEANING THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WHEN HE SPRAYED THE HAND BRAKE AND THE SURROUNDING AREA, THE AUTOMATED SAFTETY BELT ARM STARTED TO MOVE BACKWARD AND FOWARD AND THEN LOCKED AND RETRACTED MULTIPLE TIMES WITHOUT ANY REASON OR WARNING. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS COMMON SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED WITHOUT A CUP HOLDER, IF DRINKS WERE ACCIDENTLY SPIILED INTO THE HAND BRAKE OPENING, IT WOULD CAUSE THE SEAT BELT MODULE TO MALFUNCTION. WHEN THE CONSUMER ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP, HE WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE CAME EQUIPPED WITH A TEMPORARY SEAT BELT CLIP. *TS *JB
NHTSA ODI #10024189
Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 2003
SeatsCrashInjury
DRIVER SEAT LATCH BROKE WHEN REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER CAR WHILE SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT CAUSING THE SEAT TO RECLINE. IN THE LOWERED POSITION MY WIFE,WHO WAS IN THE BACK SEAT,WAS FORCED FORWARD BY THE IMPACT RESULTING IN A HEAD INJURY ON THE HEADREST EVEN THOUGH SHE HAD HER SEAT BELT FASTEN. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10023765
17,989 miles · Apr 8, 2003
Electrical System
THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THEY STATED THE ALTERNATOR WAS BAD. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10015394
Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 2003
Unknown Or Other
MILEAGE ODOMETER STOPS WORKING, THEN STARTS WORKING, AND THEN STOPS WORKING. VARIOUS SATURN SL OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10010206
Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 2002
Electrical System
WHILE PLACING THE KEY INSIDE OF THE IGNITION THE KEY WAS STUCK INSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.. TS
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
4
RQ00005 · 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
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