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U.S. public vehicle records

1994 Saturn SL: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

169 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

118,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1994 model year. Data snapshot: . 16 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 28 of 169 complaints (16.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior2716.0%
Transmission and shifting74.1%
Engine operation63.6%
Electrical and battery issues63.6%
Steering behavior53.0%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Vehicle Speed Control
28
Air Bags:Frontal
14
Seat Belts
11
Seats
11
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner
11
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
9
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
9
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
9
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Vehicle Speed Control28
Air Bags:Frontal14
Seat Belts11
Seats11
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner11
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine9
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor9
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components9

Vehicle Speed Control: 28; Air Bags:Frontal: 14; Seat Belts: 11; Seats: 11; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 11; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 9; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 9; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 9

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
1
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
2
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
7
150,000 and above
5
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0001
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9992
75,000 to 99,9991
100,000 to 149,9997
150,000 and above5

Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 5

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 153 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995
63
1996
22
2000
24
2001
22
2002
9
2003
10
2004
6
2005
2
2006
3
2007
1
2008
3
2009
1
2011
1
2013
1
2016
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
199563
199622
200024
200122
20029
200310
20046
20052
20063
20071
20083
20091
20111
20131
20161

1995: 63; 1996: 22; 2000: 24; 2001: 22; 2002: 9; 2003: 10; 2004: 6; 2005: 2; 2006: 3; 2007: 1; 2008: 3; 2009: 1; 2011: 1; 2013: 1; 2016: 1

Pattern summary

Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 27 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 7 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10010206 · 2003-03-10 (March 10, 2003)

MILEAGE ODOMETER STOPS WORKING, THEN STARTS WORKING, AND THEN STOPS WORKING. VARIOUS SATURN SL OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010206 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10015394 · 2003-04-08 (April 8, 2003)

THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THEY STATED THE ALTERNATOR WAS BAD. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 17,989 miles reported. Look up ODI 10015394 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10022969 · 2003-08-01 (August 1, 2003)

AS A RESULT OF BEING REAR ENDED, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK COLLAPSED. *AK. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS PUSHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 162,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10022969 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10023765 · 2003-06-25 (June 25, 2003)

DRIVER SEAT LATCH BROKE WHEN REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER CAR WHILE SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT CAUSING THE SEAT TO RECLINE. IN THE LOWERED POSITION MY WIFE,WHO WAS IN THE BACK SEAT,WAS FORCED FORWARD BY THE IMPACT RESULTING IN A HEAD INJURY ON THE HEADREST EVEN THOUGH SHE HAD HER SEAT BELT FASTEN. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10023765 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10024189 · 2003-07-18 (July 18, 2003)

THE CONSUMER WAS CLEANING THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WHEN HE SPRAYED THE HAND BRAKE AND THE SURROUNDING AREA, THE AUTOMATED SAFTETY BELT ARM STARTED TO MOVE BACKWARD AND FOWARD AND THEN LOCKED AND RETRACTED MULTIPLE TIMES WITHOUT ANY REASON OR WARNING. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS COMMON SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED WITHOUT A CUP HOLDER, IF DRINKS WERE ACCIDENTLY SPIILED INTO THE HAND BRAKE OPENING, IT WOULD CAUSE THE SEAT BELT MODULE TO MALFUNCTION. WHEN THE CONSUMER ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP,…

Owner-reported narrative. 102,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10024189 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10028575 · 2003-07-18 (July 18, 2003)

AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE HAS FAILED TO WORK. MOTORIZED PORTION DOES NOT RETRACT OVER SHOULDER AS IT SHOULD. WHY IS THIS MY PROBLEM TO FIX? IT LOOKS LIKE A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE CAR. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10028575 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10031296 · 2003-07-28 (July 28, 2003)

CONSUMER STATES WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT RETRACTOR WAS MAKING A WIERD NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, DEALER STATED THAT ELECTRICAL SEATBELT CABLE WAS BROKEN. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 115,932 miles reported. Look up ODI 10031296 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10034084 · 2003-08-18 (August 18, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED TO THE GROUND. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034084 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

99V045000 · Seats

Reported: 1999-03-12 (March 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: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗