IllustrationBRAKE ROTORS ARE PREMATURELY WEARING CAUSED BY A DEFECT IN THE BRAKE PADS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *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
What owners actually said
355 reportsWHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 45MPH AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, ON ITS OWN ACCORD, WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. HAD TO TURN OFF IGNITION SWITCH TO SHUT VEHICLE OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
DRIVER IS ABLE TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER IN ANY POSITON WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKES WITH OR WITHOUT THE IGNITIN BEING ON. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING A HEAD-ON COLLISION AT 35 TO 40 MILES PER HOUR.
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION, CAUSING DRIVER'S SEABACKT REST TO COLLAPSE; SITUATION ALMOST CAUSED DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL. DRIVER SUSTAINED LOWER BACK INJURY AND NUMBNESS IN LEFT LEG. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO ACCEPT VEHICLE AS PART OF MFR. RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
THE REAR DEFROSTER FAILED CAUSING, WINDOWS TO FROST.
CAR LOSES POWER /A SLIGHT GAS SMELL /CAR CUTS OUT/ CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON/ STARTS AGAIN AFTER A FEW TRIES/ CAR HAS BEENSERVICED 4 TIMES/IT RUNS WELL SOMETIMES/ THEN IT DOES IT AGAIN/MECHANIC DOES NOT KNOW WHAT IT IS/WHEN HE HAS CAR IT DOES NOT DO IT/HE DOES SEE GAS ALL OVER ENGINE A FEW TIMES/
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.
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE BRAKE WEAR . THE DELAER HAS CHANGED THE ROTORS AND BRAKES FIVE TIMES. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. WHEN WE TOOK IT TO SATURN THEY TOLD US THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH 3RD GEAR AND THAT IT WOULD COST $1600. TO FIX. WE WENT FOR A SECOND OPINION AT THE HEMET CA. AAMCO. THEY VEIFIED THE PROBLEM AND "REPAIRED" IT FOR $1000. AT THE TIME IT SATIFIED US AS SATURN TOLD US IT WOULD BE $1…
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THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. WHEN WE TOOK IT TO SATURN THEY TOLD US THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH 3RD GEAR AND THAT IT WOULD COST $1600. TO FIX. WE WENT FOR A SECOND OPINION AT THE HEMET CA. AAMCO. THEY VEIFIED THE PROBLEM AND "REPAIRED" IT FOR $1000. AT THE TIME IT SATIFIED US AS SATURN TOLD US IT WOULD BE $1600. JUST TO LOOK AND MORE IF THE PROBLEM WAS BIG. UNFORTUNATELY THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEGUN TO SLIP AGAIN. WE HAVEN'T CALLED AAMCO YET. WE DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU TO SEE IF THIS IS AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH THE SATURN VEHICLE! WE GOT THE IMPRESSION FROM THE AAMCO PEOPLE THAT THIS WASN'T AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM THAT THEY HAD RUN UP AGAINST. I AM SOMEWHAT DISATISFIED WITH THE SATURN CAR AND PEOPLE AS WE'VE HAD TO DO A LOT MORE WORK ON THE CAR THAN EXPECTED AND DEFINATELY MORE THAN THEY LEAD YOU TO BELIEVE IN THEIR ADVERTISING. SHAME ON ME FOR BELEIVING THEM! WE HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY 3 TIMES WITH NO EXPLANATION, REPLACE A MOTOR MOUNT, AND REPLACE A BELT TENSIONER. AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE MILES IT IS NOT HEAVILY USED. PLEASE SEND ANY INFO YOU CAN. THANKS!
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