IllustrationWHILE DRIVING STEERING LINKAGE SEPARATED FORM VEHICLE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED VEHICLE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS BROKE AND STOPPED TURNING THE FRONT WHEELS. ALSO, THE SIR COIL WAS BROKE. *YH
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 reportsCRACKS IN BOTH FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS "ON THE INNER PAD CONTACT SURFACE" WERE DISCOVERED BY THE MECHANIC WHILE HAVING MY CAR SERVICED AT HIS STATION. MY BRAKES WERE NOT IN DISREPAIR AND AS FAR AS I CAN SEE THESE CRACKS DEVELOPED OVER "NORMAL" USE. I DO HAVE TO POINT OUT THAT MY EXAMINATION OF THESE ROTORS SHOW THAT THE INNER BR…
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CRACKS IN BOTH FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS "ON THE INNER PAD CONTACT SURFACE" WERE DISCOVERED BY THE MECHANIC WHILE HAVING MY CAR SERVICED AT HIS STATION. MY BRAKES WERE NOT IN DISREPAIR AND AS FAR AS I CAN SEE THESE CRACKS DEVELOPED OVER "NORMAL" USE. I DO HAVE TO POINT OUT THAT MY EXAMINATION OF THESE ROTORS SHOW THAT THE INNER BRAKE PAD DISC ROTOR AREA HAS A MUCH SMALLER SURFACE AREA THAN THE OUTER BRAKE PAD ROTOR SURFACE AREA (WHICH HAD NO CRACKS) AND ALSO THE INNER ROTOR PAD SURFACE AREA IS ALSO LESS ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY AND SAFELY HANDLE THE HEAT AND STRESS GENERATED BY BRAKING ACTION. IN MY OPINION, THE INNER PAD ROTOR AREA ON MY SATURN FRONT DISC BRAKES IS POORLY DESIGNED AND VERY PRONE TO CRACKING AND INDEED A SAFETY HAZARD. SINCE THESE CRACKS WERE IN "BOTH" MY FRONT BRAKE ROTORS, I WOULD NOT BE A BIT SURPRISED IF THERE WERE MANY MORE OUT THERE WITH THESE SAME CRACKS.*AK
WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT 35 MPH PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, AND RESULTING IN A REAR END COLLISION. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFROMATION.*AK
THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT RECLINES WHENEVER FORCE OR WEIGHT IS APPLIED TO THE SEAT. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BOTH AT REST AND WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. TO DATE, THIS PROBLEM HAS HURT THE BACKS OF TWO PEOPLE (FOR THIS VEHICLE). THE PROBLEM FOR THIS SPECIFIC VEHICLE HAS CAUSED NO DEATHS, TO DATE. I HAVE TAKEN…
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THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT RECLINES WHENEVER FORCE OR WEIGHT IS APPLIED TO THE SEAT. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BOTH AT REST AND WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. TO DATE, THIS PROBLEM HAS HURT THE BACKS OF TWO PEOPLE (FOR THIS VEHICLE). THE PROBLEM FOR THIS SPECIFIC VEHICLE HAS CAUSED NO DEATHS, TO DATE. I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO SATURN OF HENDERSON AND REQUESTED THAT THE PROBLEM BE FIXED UNDER THE RECALL ISSUED IN 1999. HOWEVER, THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED UNDER THE SPECIFIED VIN NUMBERS OF SAID RECALL. I AM AWAITING SPECIAL AUTHORIZATION FROM CORPORATE SATURN FOR THE DEALER TO FIX MY VEHICLE. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER IN APRIL 1999 FOR RECALL 99V045000 REPAIRS. DEALER SAID VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED BY RECALL, AND REFUSED RECALL REPAIRS. ON JUNE 1, 2002 VEHICLE WAS REARENDED, AND DRIVER 'S SEATBACK BROKE.*AK
DRIVER SEATBACK KEEPS FALLING BACK INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING.*AK *YH
NHTSA RECALL 99V045000/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 99006; VEHICLE WAS SITTING STILL WHEN IT WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND. SEATBACK RECLINED BACKWARDS. THIS WILL BE SECOND INCCIDENT DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE PARKING VEHICLE, HEARD A CLUNK NOISE FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING STEERING WENT OUT. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK. CONSUMER STATES THE PROBLEM WAS AN INTERNAL FRACTURE IN THE STEERING BOX, THERE WAS A PREVIOUS RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER CONSUMERS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. *JB
THE DRIVER SEATBACK FAILED AND FELL BACKWARD TO A FLAT POSITION AS I WAS STARTING TO MOVE FORWARD AT AN INTERSECTION. I HAD TO PROP THE SEAT IN POSITION SO THAT I COULD FINISH THE TRIP. I HAD THE SEAT BACK REPLACED AT A SATURN RETAILER. THE INCIDENT MADE ME DECIDE TO TRADE IN THE VEHICLE. WHEN I WENT TO MY INSURANCE WEB SITE…
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THE DRIVER SEATBACK FAILED AND FELL BACKWARD TO A FLAT POSITION AS I WAS STARTING TO MOVE FORWARD AT AN INTERSECTION. I HAD TO PROP THE SEAT IN POSITION SO THAT I COULD FINISH THE TRIP. I HAD THE SEAT BACK REPLACED AT A SATURN RETAILER. THE INCIDENT MADE ME DECIDE TO TRADE IN THE VEHICLE. WHEN I WENT TO MY INSURANCE WEB SITE TO REGISTER MY NEW CAR, A LINK CAME UP TO CHECK THE SAFETY PROBLEMS OF MY VEHICLE - THE 1995 SATURN. THE ONE RECALL MENTIONED WAS THE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT FALLING BACKWARD. I CONTACTED SATURN AND ASKED WHY I HADN'T RECEIVED A NOTICE AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT ONE WITH A PROBLEM. THERE HAVE BEEN NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS SEAT BACK, IT WAS DUE TO AGE AND MILEAGE. I WANT THE INFORMATION ON RECORD FOR FUTURE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. *AK
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