1995 Saturn SL

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/30/1999· AIR BAGS

  AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING A HEAD-ON COLLISION AT 35 TO 40 MILES PER HOUR.

• 12/30/1998· SEATS

  DRIVER'S SEATBACK BOLT WAS STRIPPED OFF,CAUSING THE SEAT TO FALL BACKWARDS WHILE DRIVING, WHICH MAY CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

• 12/29/2003· STEERING

  CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A STEERING COLUMN PROBLEM. CONSUMER COULD TURN THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY, BUT THE FRONT WHEELS DO NOT TURN. *AK

• 12/29/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  VEHICLE HAS BEEN USING A LOT OF OIL IN LAST YEAR AND A HALF. CURRENTLY, CONSUMER COULD SMELL OIL BURNING. SATURN TOLD CONSUMER THAT WAS BECAUSE SHE DID NOT CHANGE OIL EVERY 3000 MILES, BUT WAITED UNTIL 3200 MILES.*AK

• 12/28/2006· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  LOUD ENGINE KNOCK. ENGINE CONSUMES OIL BUT NO LEAK. TOOK TO SATURN DEALER IN FAYETTEVILLE, AR AND TOLD IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. ENGINE HAS LESS THAN 85,000 MILES ON IT. TOLD THERE WAS A BULLETIN ABOUT THIS SOMETIME IN THE PAST. ALL REGULAR MAINTENANCE DONE AS RECOMMENDED BY SATURN. COST TO REPLACE ENGINE $2600. ENGINE SHOULD NOT BE ON BRINK OF FAILURE AT 83,000 MILES. *JB

• 12/28/1995· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  DASHBOARD RATTLES. *SKD

• 12/23/2002· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  THE 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

• 12/20/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  ABS BRAKE SYSTEM LOCKS UP WHEN THEY GET WET, RESULTING IN PULLING TO THE LEFT. TT

• 12/19/2000· POWER TRAIN

  VEHICLE SLIPS OUT OF 3RD GEAR. *SLC

• 12/18/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  MY 1995 SL1 SATURN DEVELOPED A CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD AT ALMOST NINE YEARS AND ONLY 55,000 MILES. SATURN ISSUED A LETTER DATED JUNE 1999 STATING THAT THIS MAY HAPPEN BUT IT WAS NOT A RECALL AND THEY WOULD EXTEND THE WARRANTY TO 6 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES, WHICHEVER CAME FIRST (ONLY HAD 1 1/2 YEARS MORE TO GO). THE COST TO REPAIR WAS GOING TO BE $2,400. SATURN KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM AND IGNORES ANY RESPONSIBILITY TO THE CONSUMER.*AK

• 12/18/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  FRONT BRAKE PADS FAILED.

• 12/17/2004· POWER TRAIN

  HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING CAR INTO GEAR, ESPECIALLY FROM PARK TO DRIVE. FINALLY, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. TOOK TO A CAR SERVICE CENTER WHERE THEY CONNECTED TO A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE THAT RESULTED IN A BAD TRANSMISSION THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. CAR HAS A LITTLE OVER 67,500 MILES. THE CAR IS A 1995 SATURN SL1. *JB

• 12/15/1995· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  WHEN PUTTING THE CRUISE CONTROL ON IT WILL NOT DISENGAGE . TT

• 12/14/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  TOOK CAR TO SATURN OF SAN FRANCISCO WHEN IT DIED SUDDENLY FOR 120K SERVICING. MECHANICS TOLD ME ENGINE CYLINDER PLUGS #2 & #3 WERE LOADED W/OIL DEPOSITS. RECOMMENDED REBUILDING OR REPLACING ENGINE. THEY TOLD ME I SHOULD HAVE NOTICED CAR USING EXCESSIVE OIL. 10 MOS. EARLIER I TOOK CAR TO SATURN OF SANTA MARIA FOR 100K SERVICING AND TOLD MECHANICS THAT ENGINE WAS USING EXCESSIVE OIL. MECHANICS DISMISSED THE PROBLEMS AS BEING NORMAL FOR OLDER SATURNS. EARLY MAINTENANCE COULD HAVE PREVENTED ENGINE FAILURE WHICH EVENTUALLY OCCURRED. POSSIBLY A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SATURN ENGINES. I HAVE LETTER FROM OTHER SATURN OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED SAME ENGINE FAILURE PROBLEM, AND SAME PROBLEM WITH MECHANICS AT SATURN OF SANTA MARIA.*AK

• 12/14/1995· STEERING

  FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARP. ALSO PULSATION IN STEERING EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. TT

• 12/10/2002· STEERING

  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

• 12/10/2001· POWER TRAIN

  WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH VEHICLE LOST ALL GEARS. DEALER DETERMINED LINKAGE BETWEEN SHIFTER AND CABLE TO CLUTCH HAD BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

• 12/10/1997· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  IGNITION ASSEMBLY FAILURE. *AK

• 12/06/1997· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION JUMPS OUT OF THIRD/FOURTH GEARS. *AK

• 12/06/1994· SUSPENSION

  CONTINUOUS VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *SKD

• 12/05/2003· POWER TRAIN

  THIS IS THE SAME AS COMPLAINT #855328, HAVING TO DO WITH THE NEUTRAL/ PARK SWITCH ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION I ALSO CAN MOVE SHIFT LEVER WITH CAR OFF AND NO FOOT ON THE BREAK. *JB

• 12/05/2001· SEATS

  WHILE STARTING DRIVER SEATBACK RECLINERS BROKE AND FELL BACK. THERE IS RECALL99V450000, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED DUE TO VIN. *AK

• 12/05/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CASTING OF CYLINDER HEAD WAS CRACKED. THIS CAUSED ENGINE TO STALL OUT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT PROBLEM WAS A FACTORY DEFECT IN CASTING OF CYLINDER HEAD. IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

• 12/05/1997· POWER TRAIN

  VALVE BODY IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING HESITATION AND LOUD NOISE.

• 12/05/1996· SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHEN APPLYING ABS BRAKES EXPERIENCES ERRACTIC OPERATION, VEHICLE PULLS TO LEFT, PEDAL PULSATES AND STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES. DEALER REALIGNED FRONT SUSPENSION TWICE, BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES. *AK

• 12/04/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  1995 SATURN SL1 - CRACK IN CYLINDER HEAD CAUSING OIL TO LEAK INTO COOLING SYSTEM. I HAD TO PURCHASE NEW HEAD AND GASKET SET, OIL PUMP AND VARIOUS OTHER MISC. PARTS IN ORDER TO FIX THIS. SATURN HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAS NOT CORRECTED IT-I AM A VERY UNHAPPY SATURN OWNER. UP UNTIL THIS POINT, I WAS HAPPY WITH THE CAR. *NLM

• 12/04/1998· VISIBILITY

  WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE WHILE DRIVING, DUE TO FAILURE OF WINDSHIELD WIPER RETAINING NUT ON LINKAGE ASSEMBLY. DEALERSHIP CONTACTED.

• 12/01/1995· STEERING

  STEERING WHEEL SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY OVER 40 MPH. *DSH

• 11/29/2000· STEERING

  VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THAT SAME DEFECT AS INDICATED IN NHTSA RECALL 94V170000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 7149 CONCERNING STEERING: MANUAL GEAR BOX FRACTURING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. MANUFACTURER ADVISED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK CONSUMER PAID FOR REPLACEMENT COSTS AND REPLACED PART WAS ALSO DEFECTIVE, DEALER REPLACED THIS PART AT NO COST TO CONSUMER, BUT STILL STATED THE PART WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. *JB

• 11/29/1999· SEATSCrash

  VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION, CAUSING DRIVER'S SEABACKT REST TO COLLAPSE; SITUATION ALMOST CAUSED DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL. DRIVER SUSTAINED LOWER BACK INJURY AND NUMBNESS IN LEFT LEG. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO ACCEPT VEHICLE AS PART OF MFR. RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

• 11/29/1999· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION FAILED.

• 11/29/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE BRAKES ARE GRINDING, HAD TO REPLACE BRAKE PADS 3 TIMES. *AK

• 11/28/2007· STEERING

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 SATURN SL1. WHILE MAKING A SHARP U-TURN AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN MADE A LOUD NOISE AND BEGAN WOBBLING EXCESSIVELY. APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES LATER, THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED COMPLETELY AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BECOME FIXATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V138000 (STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AS WELL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 116,900. UPDATED 01/03/08. *LJ IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BEARING AT THE END OF THE WORN GEAR FAILED. THE WORN GEAR SEPARATED FROM THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY, WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF STEERING.

• 11/28/2003· VISIBILITY

  WINDOWS FOGGED UP ON THE INSIDE. THIS RESULTED IN POOR VISIBILITY. TSB 619868 WAS ISSUED ON THIS PROBLEM. *AK

• 11/28/1999· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  CAR LOSES POWER /A SLIGHT GAS SMELL /CAR CUTS OUT/ CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON/ STARTS AGAIN AFTER A FEW TRIES/ CAR HAS BEENSERVICED 4 TIMES/IT RUNS WELL SOMETIMES/ THEN IT DOES IT AGAIN/MECHANIC DOES NOT KNOW WHAT IT IS/WHEN HE HAS CAR IT DOES NOT DO IT/HE DOES SEE GAS ALL OVER ENGINE A FEW TIMES/

• 11/28/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash

  THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE WHEN BRAKE WAS APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

• 11/27/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  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

• 11/25/2002· STEERING

  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

• 11/24/1997· STEERING,AIR BAGSCrash

  WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE RIGHT FRONT SPINDLE FAILED, RESULTING IN VEHICLE LOSING THE WHEEL AND HITTING CURB. DRIVER'S AIR BAG ALSO DIDN'T DEPLOY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

• 11/22/1996· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  SERVICE ENGINE SOON OR OIL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, ENGINE DIED AND WOULD NOT RESTART, REMOVE ENGINE AND REPLACE NUMBER OF CYLINDER AND CYLINDER RINGS.

• 11/21/1995· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. TT

• 11/20/1995· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  PASSENGERS DOOR OPENS IF BUMPED.

• 11/19/1996· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED.

• 11/18/2003· POWER TRAIN

  WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SMOKED AND LEAKED TRANSMISSION FLUID. A TECHNICIAN SERVICED THE VEHICLE, AND INDICATED THAT TRANSMISSION CASE CRACKED. *AK

• 11/14/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  VEHICLE LOSES POWER AND MAKES NOISE DUE TO ENGINE FAILURE.

• 11/13/1996· TIRES

  BOTH FRONT TIRES BLEW OUT, CAUSING ACCIDENT/INJURY.

• 11/07/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKE PROBLEMS; INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30-35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, DURING NORMAL BRAKING AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL TRAVELS TO THE FLOOR AND THERE IS NO BRAKES. THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT ABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK

• 11/07/1996· AIR BAGSCrash

  CONSUMER HAD A FRONT-END COLLISION AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING CONSUMER TO GET HURT. *AK

• 11/07/1995· AIR BAGSCrash

  FRONTAL COLLISION IMPACT 12:00 POSITION SPEED 50 MPH, DRIVERS AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. TT

• 11/06/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,EQUIPMENT

  WHILE TRAVELING, CONSUEMR HEARD A CLANKING NOISE WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE A CRACK IN THE CYLINDER HEAD, CUSTOMER IS UPSET DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS FAILURE HAPPENED AFTER 100000 MILES WHICH WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER SATURNS SPECIAL POLICY REGARDING AN EXTRA COVERAGE FOR 6 YEARS OR 100000 MILES. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM HAS A DEGRADABLE O-RING CONNECTION WHICH CAUSES MASSIVE FREON LEAKS. *SLC