IllustrationWINDOWS FOGGED UP ON THE INSIDE. THIS RESULTED IN POOR VISIBILITY. TSB 619868 WAS ISSUED ON THIS PROBLEM. *AK
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 →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: 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
Visibility complaints
16 reports1995 SATURN SL-2 SUNROOF FAILURE. TOOK IT INTO A SATURN, AND THEY QUOTED 776.00 TO REPLACE THE GUIDES AND STOP BUMBERS. THE RETAIL COST OF THE PARTS (I LOOKED IT UP) WAS 264.38. THEIR PRICE FOR PARTS WAS 398.00. THE REMAINING WAS LABOUR - 3.6 HOURS!**AK PREVIOUSLY, I TOOK THIS CAR TO A SATURN DEALER WHO QUOTED ME $360.00 …
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1995 SATURN SL-2 SUNROOF FAILURE. TOOK IT INTO A SATURN, AND THEY QUOTED 776.00 TO REPLACE THE GUIDES AND STOP BUMBERS. THE RETAIL COST OF THE PARTS (I LOOKED IT UP) WAS 264.38. THEIR PRICE FOR PARTS WAS 398.00. THE REMAINING WAS LABOUR - 3.6 HOURS!**AK PREVIOUSLY, I TOOK THIS CAR TO A SATURN DEALER WHO QUOTED ME $360.00 TO REPLACE THE TEMP SENSOR -- A $12.00 PART. I TOOK IT TO PEP BOYS WHO REPLACED THE PART FOR 20.00. SATURN'S REPAIR DEPT'S PRICES ARE HIGHLY INFLATED
THE VEHICLE HAS CAUSED ME NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS, IT EATS OIL WITHOUT ANY SIGN OF WHERE IT IS GOING. THE AUTO BELT TIGHTENER IS NOT WORKING AND COST AN ARM AND A LEG TO FIX. SUNROOF BROKE WITHOUT ANY NOTICE OR CAUSE, THE FAN SWITCH NEVER DID OPERATE CORRECTLY, NOW IT IS SHIFTING REAL HARD ALL THE TIME WHILE YOUR DRIVING, ONCE IT…
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THE VEHICLE HAS CAUSED ME NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS, IT EATS OIL WITHOUT ANY SIGN OF WHERE IT IS GOING. THE AUTO BELT TIGHTENER IS NOT WORKING AND COST AN ARM AND A LEG TO FIX. SUNROOF BROKE WITHOUT ANY NOTICE OR CAUSE, THE FAN SWITCH NEVER DID OPERATE CORRECTLY, NOW IT IS SHIFTING REAL HARD ALL THE TIME WHILE YOUR DRIVING, ONCE IT IS WARMED UP. THIS VEHICLE IS DEFINITELY A LEMON. AK SCC ***DIMSII IVOQ POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****744336
REAR WINDOW SHATTERED BY ITSELF, THROWING GLASS BOTH INWARD AND OUTWARD OF VEHICLE WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED INJURIES. REAR WINDOW WAS NOT TAMPERED WITH AND NO DEFROSTER/ HEATER OR AIR CONDITIONER WAS BEING USED AT THE TIME. CONSUMER STATED THAT IT ALMOST FELT LIKE IT EXPLODED.*AK
THE REAR DEFROSTER FAILED CAUSING, WINDOWS TO FROST.
AFTER BARELY TWO YEARS, THE CRUISE CONTROL BEGAN WORKING ONLY INTERMITTENTLY; IT NOW SELDOM WORKS. BEFORE THE CAR HAD 50,000 MILES, THE SUNROOF WOULD GET STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION WHENEVER IT WAS USED. EVENTUALLY, AFTER A SATURN DEALER CLAIMED IT COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THE SUNROOF BECAME PERMANENTLY STUCK IN THE OPEN …
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AFTER BARELY TWO YEARS, THE CRUISE CONTROL BEGAN WORKING ONLY INTERMITTENTLY; IT NOW SELDOM WORKS. BEFORE THE CAR HAD 50,000 MILES, THE SUNROOF WOULD GET STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION WHENEVER IT WAS USED. EVENTUALLY, AFTER A SATURN DEALER CLAIMED IT COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THE SUNROOF BECAME PERMANENTLY STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE WHILE DRIVING, DUE TO FAILURE OF WINDSHIELD WIPER RETAINING NUT ON LINKAGE ASSEMBLY. DEALERSHIP CONTACTED.
LOCATOR SWITCH ON SUNROOF FAILED CAUSING CABLES TO FAIL AND GUIDES TO BREAK. SUNROODF IS RARELY USED THIS FAILURE SHOULD NOT OCCUR. COST OF PARTS IS WAY OVERPRICED. SUNROOF REPAIR IS ESTIMATED AT $650.00 PLUS TAX. VALVE BODY ASSEMBLY ON TRANSMISSION IS FAILLING AS TRANSMISSION DELAYS AND SHIFTS HARD THROUGH THE GEARS. PA…
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LOCATOR SWITCH ON SUNROOF FAILED CAUSING CABLES TO FAIL AND GUIDES TO BREAK. SUNROODF IS RARELY USED THIS FAILURE SHOULD NOT OCCUR. COST OF PARTS IS WAY OVERPRICED. SUNROOF REPAIR IS ESTIMATED AT $650.00 PLUS TAX. VALVE BODY ASSEMBLY ON TRANSMISSION IS FAILLING AS TRANSMISSION DELAYS AND SHIFTS HARD THROUGH THE GEARS. PART CONTROLS THE FLOW OF TRANSMISSION FLUID TO THE GEARS.
WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN. DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
POWER WINDOW MOTOR BURNED OUT.
Official recalls
399V045000 · 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
3RQ00005 · 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