1994 Saturn SL recalls & problems

Safety recalls

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

• Electrical system

  THE FBI WAS MY FIRST CHOICE. THE CAR OVERHEATS FROM A COLD START AFTER I JUST FILLED UP THE COOLANT AND DROVE THE CAR FOR A FEW FEET IN 2 MINUTES FROM START. THE COOLANT WAS ALREADY OVERFLOWING. I NOTICED SOMETHING WAS EATING THE BATTERY LOAD WHEN THIS HAPPENED ANOTHER TIME MAKING THE CAR LOSE POWER WHEN I CHECKED THE READING ON THE CARS INSTALLED VOLTMETER. THIS AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT A MILE. THIS EXTREME HOT TEMPRETURE CAUSES THE COOLANT TO BOIL AND OVERFLOW EVEN IF I AID IT WITH A REWIRED RADIATOR FAN ON I HAVE REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT AND THE WATERPUMP A COUPLE OF TIMES. PLEASE HELP CAPTAIN AMERICA. THE RECEIPT FROM THE ATTACHED FILE IS THE LATEST.THIS CAR IS POSSESSED.

  Jan 27, 2016
• Vehicle speed control

  FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, THE CRUISE CONTROL ON THE CAR WILL TURN ITSELF OFF WHILE ENGAGED, AND, IF LEFT ALONE, WILL RANDOMLY REENGAGE TEN OR FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER WITH NO WARNING. THIS CAN CAUSE A SURGE OF ACCELERATION (AS MUCH AS ONE CAN EXPECT FROM A SATURN, ANYHOW) IF SPEED HAS SLOWED DUE TO TRAFFIC. *TR

  Jul 20, 2011 · 86,000 miles
• TiresCrash

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 SATURN SL. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH BIG O BIG O ASPEN TIRES (205/70/R14 DOT U9T9 TX30103). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASH INTO A DITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE TIRE WAS NOT REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 241,000.

  Jun 18, 2011 · 180,000 miles
• Power train

  I HAVE A 1994 SATURN SL2 VEHICLE AND WAS ALMOST IN A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHEN THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND CAUSED MY CAR TO COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN ON A HEAVILY TRAFFIC HIGHWAY. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED TO ME WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE TOTALLY REBUILT WITH A NEW TIMING CHAIN AND IT ONLY LAST 1 YEAR. I PAID OVER $1000 DOLLARS FOR THE REBUILT ENGINE INCLUDING LABOR AND THE ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN,I THINK ITS LUDICROUS BECAUSE MANY MECHANICS TOLD ME THAT SATURNS HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF ENGINE PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY TIMING BELTS. NOW I AM WITHOUT A VEHICLE ONCE AGAIN WITH NOT MANY OPTIONS. NEED SATURN TO HELP ME OUT!!!!!!!!! *TR

  Oct 25, 2009
• Seat belts

  I OWN A 1994 SATURN SL1 . THIS MODEL OF CAR EMPLOYS "AUTOMATIC" STYLE SEAT BELTS, THAT ARE BUILT INTO THE DOOR FRAME. WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOOR THE SEAT BELT IS SUPPOSED TO OPEN BY SLIDING UP THE TRACK. WHEN YOU GET IN THE CAR AND CLOSE THE DOOR, THE SEAT BELT IS SUPPOSED TO CLOSE BY SLIDING BACK ON THE TRACK. THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC OPERATION DRIVEN BY A MECHANICAL MOTOR. THE TRACK OR SOMETHING IN THE MECHANISM HAS FAILED, AND THE SEAT BELT IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL WHAT SO EVER. I FEEL THIS IS WITHOUT A DOUBT A SAFETY RELATED ISSUE! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO DRIVE AROUND A CAR WITHOUT A WORKING SEAT BELT??? SATURN IS REFUSING TO REPAIR THE ISSUE BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT ACCORDING TO THE…

  Oct 27, 2008 · 68,322 miles
• Seats

  VEHICLE DRIVER SEAT SLIPS BACKWARDS WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. IT IS THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AS THE FOLLOWING RECALL 99V045000, YET DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THIS SPECIFIC VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. *TR

  Sep 19, 2008 · 117,000 miles
• Power train › Manual transmission › Floor shift assembly

  SHIFTER CABLES BROKE WHERE IT CONNECTS TO SHIFTER. *TR

  Feb 22, 2008 · 100,230 miles
• Seats

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 SATURN SL2. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S FRONT SEAT MECHANISM FAILED SIMILAR TO THE FAILURE NOTED IN RECALL # 99V045000 (SEATS). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE'S PURCHASE DATE AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 139,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000. UPDATED 06/08/07. *JB

  Mar 7, 2007 · 134,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

• FRONT SEAT BACK CAN RECLINE OR COLLAPSEClosedLed to recall 99V045000
  RQ00005 · opened Feb 16, 2000 · closed Aug 19, 2000
• SEAT BACK FAILURESClosedLed to recall 99V045000

  IN ITS LETTER DATED MARCH 5, 1999, GENERAL MOTORS STATED THAT IT WILL RECALL 136,300 MODEL YEAR 1994 AND 1995 SATURN VEHICLE (ALL MODELS) BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1994 AND AUGUST 1994.DURING THIS PERIOD, SATURN'S SEAT SUPPLIER MANUFACTURED RECLINER ASSEMBLIES WHICH WERE OUT OF DESIGN SPECIFICATION, ALLOWING THE FRONT SEAT BACKS TO RECLINE OR COLLAPSE INADVERTENTLY.TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, SATURN DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BACK RECLINER ASSEMBLIES.SEE NHTSA'S SAFETY RECALL FILL 99V-045 FOR DETAILS.

  EA98017 · opened Jul 31, 1998 · closed Mar 16, 1999
• CRUISE CONTROL FAILURESClosed

  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…

  EA95003 · opened Feb 24, 1995 · closed May 31, 1996
• CRUISE CONTROL FAILUREClosed

  There is no summary currently available

  PE94079 · opened Nov 7, 1994 · closed Feb 24, 1995