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1995 Saturn Sl

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Sl years

Owner complaints for the 1995 Saturn Sl are substantially higher than the model-year median of 171.5.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 40 of 355 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.

  • Seats. Review the 69 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 51 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

75 crash reports6 fire reports46 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

67 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentFuel/propulsion System

INSTALLED MICROGARD FUEL FILTER ON A 1995 SATURN SL1 A MONTH AGO STARTED SMELLING GAS HAD IT LOOKED AT AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL FILTER HOSE DEVELOPED A SMALL HOLE. THE HOLE IS IN THE BLACK PLASTIC, THIS PIPE ATTACHES TO THE ALUMINUM PIPE, BY THE TEST VALVE. I T RUBS ON THE EGR VALVE? (THIS FILTER HAS THE HOSE AT…

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INSTALLED MICROGARD FUEL FILTER ON A 1995 SATURN SL1 A MONTH AGO STARTED SMELLING GAS HAD IT LOOKED AT AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL FILTER HOSE DEVELOPED A SMALL HOLE. THE HOLE IS IN THE BLACK PLASTIC, THIS PIPE ATTACHES TO THE ALUMINUM PIPE, BY THE TEST VALVE. I T RUBS ON THE EGR VALVE? (THIS FILTER HAS THE HOSE ATTACHED TO IT, ALL ONE UNIT.) THIS LEAK COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A MASSIVE FIRE BECAUSE IT ABOVE THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, AND IS A HIGH PRESSURE HOSE. I BOUGHT A NEW ONE ANOTHER MICRO GARD AND PUT A THICKER HOSE AROUND THE BLACK PIPE. I STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10578963

82,000 miles · Dec 28, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

LOUD ENGINE KNOCK. ENGINE CONSUMES OIL BUT NO LEAK. TOOK TO SATURN DEALER IN FAYETTEVILLE, AR AND TOLD IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. ENGINE HAS LESS THAN 85,000 MILES ON IT. TOLD THERE WAS A BULLETIN ABOUT THIS SOMETIME IN THE PAST. ALL REGULAR MAINTENANCE DONE AS RECOMMENDED BY SATURN. COST TO REPLACE ENGINE $2600. ENGINE SHOUL…

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LOUD ENGINE KNOCK. ENGINE CONSUMES OIL BUT NO LEAK. TOOK TO SATURN DEALER IN FAYETTEVILLE, AR AND TOLD IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. ENGINE HAS LESS THAN 85,000 MILES ON IT. TOLD THERE WAS A BULLETIN ABOUT THIS SOMETIME IN THE PAST. ALL REGULAR MAINTENANCE DONE AS RECOMMENDED BY SATURN. COST TO REPLACE ENGINE $2600. ENGINE SHOULD NOT BE ON BRINK OF FAILURE AT 83,000 MILES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10177211

168,000 miles · May 18, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE ELEVATED WITHOUT WARNING. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE OIL AND ANTIFREEZE WERE MIXED TOGETHER. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS A FRACTURED ENGINE HEAD. AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE HEAD, THE PROBLEM PE…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE ELEVATED WITHOUT WARNING. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE OIL AND ANTIFREEZE WERE MIXED TOGETHER. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS A FRACTURED ENGINE HEAD. AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE HEAD, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP TO AWAIT FURTHER INSPECTION.

NHTSA ODI #10157806

150,000 miles · Feb 27, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THIS WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND THERE WAS NOWHERE TO PULL OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME AND THERE WAS STEAM COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT DETERMINED THE ACCESSORY BELT HAD COME LOOSE AND REPLACED THE BELT AND BELT TENSIONER.

NHTSA ODI #10151329

65,000 miles · Oct 9, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, USES 1 QT EVERY 500 MILES, NO LEAKS. SATURN SAYS THIS IS NORMAL! *NM

NHTSA ODI #10139145

Mileage unknown · Mar 3, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE ENGINE SEEMS TO CONSUME EXCESSIVE QUANTITIES OF OIL BETWEEN CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE. THE AVERAGE CONSUMPTION (THAT WHICH IS ACCEPTABLE >1 QT EVERY 3000MI) SO I'M TOLD... I'M CONSUMING APPROXIMATELY 1 QT EVERY 250 MI OR MORE! WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THIS? HAS THERE BEEN ANY RECALLS ON THE ENGINE OF THE 1995 SATURN SL2 LINE? I HAV…

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THE ENGINE SEEMS TO CONSUME EXCESSIVE QUANTITIES OF OIL BETWEEN CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE. THE AVERAGE CONSUMPTION (THAT WHICH IS ACCEPTABLE >1 QT EVERY 3000MI) SO I'M TOLD... I'M CONSUMING APPROXIMATELY 1 QT EVERY 250 MI OR MORE! WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THIS? HAS THERE BEEN ANY RECALLS ON THE ENGINE OF THE 1995 SATURN SL2 LINE? I HAVE BEEN LEAKING OIL AT AN ALARMING RATE ALSO. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10112483

Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE TEMPERATURE SENDER ON A SATURN 1995 DOHC ENGINE HAS FAILED 4 TIMES AS OF 106K MILES. THEY SOLD ME NEW SENDER AT DEALER, ONLY $20, BUT THEY CHANGED CONNECTOR, FOR NO GOOD REASON, SO THAT OLD CONNECTOR WON'T FIT, AND NEW CONNECTOR COSTS $30. I WONDER, DID SATURN AGREE TO SELL TEMP SENDERS CHEAP BECAUSE OF KNOWN DEFECTS, BUT T…

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THE TEMPERATURE SENDER ON A SATURN 1995 DOHC ENGINE HAS FAILED 4 TIMES AS OF 106K MILES. THEY SOLD ME NEW SENDER AT DEALER, ONLY $20, BUT THEY CHANGED CONNECTOR, FOR NO GOOD REASON, SO THAT OLD CONNECTOR WON'T FIT, AND NEW CONNECTOR COSTS $30. I WONDER, DID SATURN AGREE TO SELL TEMP SENDERS CHEAP BECAUSE OF KNOWN DEFECTS, BUT THEN MAKE CONNECTOR DIFFERENT SO THEY CAN STILL NAIL YOU? *AK

NHTSA ODI #10091227

64,750 miles · Aug 18, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

OIL CHANGE AT SATURN DEALERSHIP ON 6/10/04. CAR DRIVEN ONLY EVERY 10 DAYS AFTERWARDS, THEN DRIVEN 400 MILES TO NORTH CAROLINA. WITH NO DASH WARNING LIGHTS, OIL WAS 3 QUARTS LOW. REFILLED OIL, DROVE 1 MILE, ENGINE BLEW WITH CONNECTING ROD THROUGH BLOCK. STOPPED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON I-95. ENGINE REPLACEMENT REQUIRED, SATURN ACKNOW…

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OIL CHANGE AT SATURN DEALERSHIP ON 6/10/04. CAR DRIVEN ONLY EVERY 10 DAYS AFTERWARDS, THEN DRIVEN 400 MILES TO NORTH CAROLINA. WITH NO DASH WARNING LIGHTS, OIL WAS 3 QUARTS LOW. REFILLED OIL, DROVE 1 MILE, ENGINE BLEW WITH CONNECTING ROD THROUGH BLOCK. STOPPED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON I-95. ENGINE REPLACEMENT REQUIRED, SATURN ACKNOWLEDGED NO RESPONSIBILITY AS CAR NOT MAINTAINED IN THEIR SYSTEM. CAR HAD 64,000 MILES AND OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY 6 MONTHS. SUGGEST THAT SATURN HAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN ENGINE BLOCK, LUBRICATION OR CONNECTING RODS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10088154

100,000 miles · Mar 12, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCKING THEN A BANG NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. THIS OCCURRED WHILE GOING UP AN INCLINE AT 30 MPH. THE NOISE WAS FOLLOWED BY SMOKE. THE CONSUMER THEN PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND WITHIN SECONDS THE ENGINE WAS IN FLAMES. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT THERE WAS KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE, AND DEALERSHIP REPLACED A CYLINDER BECAUSE…

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CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCKING THEN A BANG NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. THIS OCCURRED WHILE GOING UP AN INCLINE AT 30 MPH. THE NOISE WAS FOLLOWED BY SMOKE. THE CONSUMER THEN PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND WITHIN SECONDS THE ENGINE WAS IN FLAMES. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT THERE WAS KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE, AND DEALERSHIP REPLACED A CYLINDER BECAUSE IT WAS BAD.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10063100

49,000 miles · Feb 11, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE CARIS A 1995 SATURN SL1 WAS BOUGHT IN OCT OF 2002 IT HAD ONLY 38,962 ACTUAL MILES ON IT, WHEN I SEEN THE OVERALL SHAPE OF THIS VEHICLE IT WAS AWESOME, THE LOW MILEAGE WAS THE ULTIMATE REASON FOR BUYING THE CAR ( SINCE ALL I HEARD WAS HOW GREAT THESE CARS RUN) FROM A LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP IN THE AREA IT HAS A SOHC 4CYC…

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THE CARIS A 1995 SATURN SL1 WAS BOUGHT IN OCT OF 2002 IT HAD ONLY 38,962 ACTUAL MILES ON IT, WHEN I SEEN THE OVERALL SHAPE OF THIS VEHICLE IT WAS AWESOME, THE LOW MILEAGE WAS THE ULTIMATE REASON FOR BUYING THE CAR ( SINCE ALL I HEARD WAS HOW GREAT THESE CARS RUN) FROM A LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP IN THE AREA IT HAS A SOHC 4CYC. MOTOR,WITHIN 10K MILES OF DRIVING THIS CAR IT STARTED DRINKING OIL UNCONTROLABLY, NOW THE CAR HAS 84K ONIT AND EVERY MONTH IT NEEDS A FRESH SET OF PLUGS IN IT BECAUSE THE OIL CONSUMPTION THAT BLOWS PAST THE PISTONS FOULS OUT THE PLUGS.IN 1000 MILES OF DRIVING THIS CAR IT WILL CONSUME 3.5 QUARTS OF OIL,THE CAR HAS REGULAR OIL CHAGES AT EVERY 2000 MILES(ALONG WITH A CASE OF OIL IN THE TRUNK) NEEDLESS TO SAY THE CAR STILL LOOKS AWESOME...BUT LOVES THAT OIL.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10057006

Official recalls

3

99V045000 · 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.

94V217000 · Power Train:clutch Assembly:pedal/hand Lever(motorcycle)

Nov 8, 1994

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE PARK LOCK CABLE ASSEMBLY WAS IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO SHIFT FROM THE "PARK" POSITION WITH THE IGNITION KEY REMOVED, OR REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY WITH THE SHIFT LEVER IN A POSITION OTHER THAN "PARK." THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 114, "THEFT PROTECTION."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT CAN OCCUR WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: CONSUMERS ARE BEING ASKED TO INSPECT THE PARK LOCK CABLE. IF IT DOES NOT PERFORM CORRECTLY, DEALERS WILL MAKE THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS.

94V170000 · Steering:gear Box (other Than Rack And Pinion)

Sep 14, 1994

THE STEERING GEAR PINION SHAFT WAS IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED CAUSING THE SHAFT TO FRACTURE DURING VEHICLE OPERATION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FRACTURE OF THE STEERING GEAR PINION SHAFT CAUSES COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHICH CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE MANUAL STEERING ASSEMBLY.

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

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.

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