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 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 1998
Power TrainVisibility
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…
Read full complaint
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.
NHTSA ODI #700285
Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 1998
Air BagsSeatsCrashInjury
COPY OF E-MAIL TO SATURN: DEAR SATURN REPRESENTATIVE, MY HUSBAND AND I ARE CONSIDERING BUYING ANOTHER SATURN SL2. HOWEVER, WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY. MY PREVIOUS SL2 (1995, #[XXX]) WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY A CHEVY TAHOE ON 5/3/97. I WAS PUSHED INTO ANOTHER CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THAT VEHICLE (A TOYOTA) ENDED UP ON TOP OF MY…
Read full complaint
COPY OF E-MAIL TO SATURN: DEAR SATURN REPRESENTATIVE, MY HUSBAND AND I ARE CONSIDERING BUYING ANOTHER SATURN SL2. HOWEVER, WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY. MY PREVIOUS SL2 (1995, #[XXX]) WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY A CHEVY TAHOE ON 5/3/97. I WAS PUSHED INTO ANOTHER CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THAT VEHICLE (A TOYOTA) ENDED UP ON TOP OF MY SATURN. MY SL2 WAS A TOTAL LOSS. I SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK MUSCLE INJURIES. I CONTINUE TO UNDERGO TREATMENTS FOR RECURRING PAIN. THE CAB COMPARTMENT OF THE SL2 HELD UP WELL. HOWEVER, THE DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED AND FELL BACK AGAINST THE BACK SEAT. IT SEEMS THIS LACK OF SUPPORT MAY HAVE ADDED TO MY MUSCLE STRAIN. ALSO, THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. SHOULDN'T IT HAVE DEPLOYED AS THE SL2 WAS PUSHED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT? ARE THESE DESIGN ISSUES OR WERE THEY POSSIBLY DEFECTS IN OUR CAR? WOULD THE '98 VEHICLES BE SAFER IN THESE RESPECTS? IF HELPFUL, WE COULD SEND PICTURES OF THE SL2 AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THANK YOU - [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #700016
Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKE ROTORS, DRUMS, PADS FAILED
NHTSA ODI #542078
Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. ALSO VEHICLE WAS LOSING 11/2 QUARTS PER OIL CHANGE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #781281
Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 1998
Air BagsCrashInjury
CONSUMER WAS IN A VERY BAD ACCIDENT. SHE WAS HIT BY A TRUCK GOING ABOUT 50 MPH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND CONSUMER WAS INJURED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #828803
Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 1998
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury
NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING HEAD ON COLLISION, SEAT BELTS DID NOT RESTRAIN PROPERLY CAUSING CONSUMER TO HIT HEAD.
NHTSA ODI #541436
Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 1998
Service Brakes, AirService Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKES, PADS, ROTORS FAILED.
NHTSA ODI #541383
Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 1998
Suspension
STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION DURING NORMAL BRAKING AT 30-40 MPH AND SEVERE VIBRATION DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING AT HIGHWAY SPPEDS.
NHTSA ODI #541771
Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling
TIMING CHAIN WORE PREMATURELY.
NHTSA ODI #540907
Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 1998
Power Train
CONSUMER EXPERIENCING CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION SLAMMING INTO GEAR WHEN ENGAGED. THIS CONDITION BELIEVED TO CAUSE THE MOTOR MOUNTS TO COLLAPSE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
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.
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.
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
1995 Saturn Sl Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration