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 · Jul 5, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
WHILE IN MOTION MOVING APPOXIMATELY 25 MPH, CONSUMER PRESSED ON BRAKES TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION, AND BRAKE PEDAL HIT THE FLOOR. VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. CONSUMER USED EMERGENCY BRAKES, AND LOST POWER STEERING. VEHICLE STOPPED BY RUNNING INTO A HOUSE. PEDAL HAS RECOVERED, AND DEALER DID NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES. …
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WHILE IN MOTION MOVING APPOXIMATELY 25 MPH, CONSUMER PRESSED ON BRAKES TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION, AND BRAKE PEDAL HIT THE FLOOR. VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. CONSUMER USED EMERGENCY BRAKES, AND LOST POWER STEERING. VEHICLE STOPPED BY RUNNING INTO A HOUSE. PEDAL HAS RECOVERED, AND DEALER DID NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #892062
Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, PEDAL WENT SOFT AND THEN WENT TO THE FLOOR, VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN 200 MILES ON A HOT DAY PRIOR TO ANY PROBLEM, CONSUMER FEELS HEAT MAY HAVE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FAILURE, DEALER FOUND THE MASTER CYLINDER COMPLETELY FAILED. *ET
NHTSA ODI #561883
Mileage unknown · May 30, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashFireInjury
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH STEPPED ON BRAKE PEDAL AND VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, NOR REDUCED SPEED. VEHICLE ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES. AFTER THAT MASTER CYLINDER DID NOT WORK. *AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE ALSO CAUGHT ON FIRE, CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #889424
Mileage unknown · May 28, 2001
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicUnknown Or OtherCrash
WHEN I BRAKE IT BRAKES THEN LETS GO AND THEN BRAKES AGAIN AND KEEPS DOING THAT UNTIL I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. ALSO WHEN I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MY TRANSMISSION I THINK JERKS MY WHOLE CAR. AND THAT ALSO HAPPENS WHEN I PUT THYE CAR IN REVERSE. I HAVE TALKED TO 4 OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE A '9194 SATURN SL2 AND THEY HAVE ALL THE S…
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WHEN I BRAKE IT BRAKES THEN LETS GO AND THEN BRAKES AGAIN AND KEEPS DOING THAT UNTIL I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. ALSO WHEN I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MY TRANSMISSION I THINK JERKS MY WHOLE CAR. AND THAT ALSO HAPPENS WHEN I PUT THYE CAR IN REVERSE. I HAVE TALKED TO 4 OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE A '9194 SATURN SL2 AND THEY HAVE ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS. I ALSO GOT TO DRIVE ONE OF THEM AND THERE CAR DOES EVERYTHING MINE DOES AND BOTH OF OUR GLOVE BOX LATCH HAS BROKE AND DOES NOT LATCH.*AK
NHTSA ODI #746010
Mileage unknown · May 10, 2001
Seats
DRIVER SEAT BACK SLIPS REARWARD, THERE IS RECALL 99V045000/ SEATBACK RECLINERS, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK
NHTSA ODI #887956
Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2001
Power TrainSeat Belts
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
NHTSA ODI #883590
Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
VEHICLE OVERHEATS AND CONSUMES OIL BECAUSE A HEATING CHIP HAS MELTED DUE TO OVERHEATING. MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #883521
Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 2001
Seat Belts
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 …
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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
NHTSA ODI #741029
Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 2001
Power Train
ODOMETER HAS STOPPED WORKING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND ADMITTED TO CONSUMER THAT THEY KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM IN ODOMETERS FROM 1991-1994.*AK
NHTSA ODI #877995
Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 2001
SeatsCrashInjury
HEAD ON COLLISION. MY SPEED 25 MPH, OPPOSING CAR 35-40 MPH. TWO 20 LB SUIT CASES IN TRUNK. LEFT REAR SEAT BACK LATCH FAILED, ALLOWING ONE BAG TO COME FORWARD AND CONTACT DRIVERS SEAT BACK.
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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