IllustrationWHILE SITTING INSIDE OF HER VEHICLE THE FRONT SEAT DRIVER SIDE RECLINE BACKWARDS AND NEVER COME BACK TO ORIGINAL STATE. PLEASE FURNISH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER. PH
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 reportsTHE TURN SIGNAL HAD BROKEN WHILE DRIVING, AND CAUSED THE SIGNALS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. TS THE STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE MOVED IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE SWITCH, BUT SEIZED ONTO THE COLUMN. THE COLUMN WHEEL HAD TO BE REPLACED. SCC
CONSUMER STATES THE STEERING SYSTEM FAILED. SPECIFICALLY, THE MECHANICAL CONNECTION IN THE MANUAL GEAR BOX FAILED CAUSING STEERING TO BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE WHEEL. TS
THE VEHICLE HAS DEVELOPED A SMOKE EMMISION FROM THE TAIL PIPE DUE TO OIL LEAKAGE IN THE ENGINE BECASUE OF A DEFECTIVE RING ON A PISTON IN THE NO.1 CYLINDER. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXAMINED BY SEVERAL LOCAL MECHANICS BUT NO ONE WANTS TO TAKE ON SUCH A BIG RESPONSIBILITY. IT WAS ADVISED THAT A REPLACEMENT ENGINE WAS THE ONLY REMED…
Read full complaint
THE VEHICLE HAS DEVELOPED A SMOKE EMMISION FROM THE TAIL PIPE DUE TO OIL LEAKAGE IN THE ENGINE BECASUE OF A DEFECTIVE RING ON A PISTON IN THE NO.1 CYLINDER. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXAMINED BY SEVERAL LOCAL MECHANICS BUT NO ONE WANTS TO TAKE ON SUCH A BIG RESPONSIBILITY. IT WAS ADVISED THAT A REPLACEMENT ENGINE WAS THE ONLY REMEDY. CONSUMER FEELS SATURN SHOULD RESOLE THIS AT NO COST TO CONSUMER. *JG
WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE THE CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, WHILE DRIVING ANOTHER 2.5 MILES THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *TS *NLM
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE RACK AND PINION SNAPPED CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE STEERING CONTROL. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *TS *NLM
WHILE DRIVING INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT KEPT GOING ON AND OFF.HAD VEHICLE SERVICED. ENGINE CRACKED AND OIL LEAKED INTO RADIATOR. HAD PROBLEM FIXED. HOWEVER, PROBLEM REOCCURRED.*AK *NLM
LOST TREAD ON 2 FRONT TIRES BUT TIRES DID NOT DEFLATE. CAR DAMAGE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BUMPER AND LOWER SIDE PANELS BEHIND FRONT TIRES. NLM
WITH NO WARNING, CONSUMER LOST STEERING CONTROL. IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE MANUAL STEERING GEAR PINION SHAFT HAD FRACTURED.*JB
WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION PUMP FAILED. *YH
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