1995 Saturn SL Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other SL years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 8 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 355 complaints with NHTSA about the 1995 Saturn SL. That is the most of any SL model year in the database (8 years). The most reported problem area is seats (69 complaints, 19%), typically at around 98,112 miles. Complaints mention 77 crashes, 6 fires, 58 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.
- 355owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 3NHTSA investigations
- 77complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1995 Saturn SL problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seats problems | 69 | 19% | 98,112 | “driver seat” (35%) | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 67 | 19% | 70,000 | “cylinder head” (12%) | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 51 | 14% | 12,300 | “brake rotors” (20%) | — |
| Power Train | 40 | 11% | 67,500 | — | — |
| Steering | 37 | 10% | 113,450 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 31 | 9% | — | — | — |
| Electrical System | 27 | 8% | 96,500 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 24 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 16 | 5% | 71,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 12 | 3% | 208,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 11 | 3% | 45,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 8 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 6 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 6 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 6 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 5 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 4 | 1% | 108,650 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 1% | 103,500 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 3 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Child Seat | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 0% | 208,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1995 Saturn SL recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Seats
Problem: 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.
Risk: If this happens while the vehicle is being driven, it could cause a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the front seat recliner mechanisms.
Power train:clutch assembly:pedal/hand lever(motorcycle)
Problem: 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."
Risk: Consequence of non-compliance: unintended vehicle movement can occur which could result in an accident.
Fix: Consumers are being asked to inspect the park lock cable. If it does not perform correctly, dealers will make the necessary adjustments.
Steering:gear box (other than rack and pinion)
Problem: The steering gear pinion shaft was improperly heat treated causing the shaft to fracture during vehicle operation.
Risk: Fracture of the steering gear pinion shaft causes complete loss of steering control which can result in an accident.
Fix: Dealers will replace the manual steering assembly.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Front seat back can recline or collapse (RQ00005) — opened Feb 16, 2000, closed Aug 19, 2000, led to recall 99V045000.
- Cruise control failures (EA95003) — opened Feb 24, 1995, closed May 31, 1996.
- Cruise control failure (PE94079) — opened Nov 7, 1994, closed Feb 24, 1995.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Auto accident that occurred on 07/31/2015, the left front air bag deployed on its own causing injuries to the passenger in our vehicle. The vehicle was stationary and once the keys were taken out is when right front air bag was disployed.
Installed microgard fuel filter on a 1995 saturn sl1 a month ago started smelling gas had it looked at and it was determined that the fuel filter hose developed a small hole. The hole is in the black plastic, this pipe attaches to the aluminum pipe, by the test valve. I t rubs on the egr valve?…
After a pop noise during negotiating a curve the steering wheel suddenly appeared tilted even while going straight while driving. Car was steered with increased loss of control for a few seconds and moved to curb. Steering was unusable thereafter and car was towed for repairs. *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 1995 saturn sl sedan. The contact stated that the recliner on the front driver side seat would become loose and the contact lost support in the back while sitting. The contact was able to adjust seat but the failure recurred constantly. The contact stated the failure also…
My wife was on the way home from picking up our kids from school and the drivers seat reclining back gave way reclining the seat back all the way. I looked up a previous recall saturn had for the yr, make, and model however either due to either age or vin # series from what i had found online the…
Other Saturn SL years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 SL | 131 | 0 |
| 2001 SL | 111 | 2 |
| 2000 SL | 148 | 7 |
| 1999 SL | 178 | 1 |
| 1998 SL | 168 | 0 |
| 1997 SL | 227 | 2 |
| 1996 SL | 287 | 1 |
| 1995 | 355 | 3 |
See all Saturn SL problems by year, every Saturn model, or the VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1995 Saturn SL?
Owners most often report seats, engine and engine cooling, service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, seats, accounts for 69 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1995 Saturn SL?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1995 Saturn SL a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other SL model years, the 1995 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.