RecallMyCar

Saturn SL Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 15 safety recalls and 2,218 owner complaints across 12 model years of the Saturn SL (1991–2002). The most-complained-about year is 1995.

15
safety recalls, all years
2,218
owner complaints, all years
2000
year with most recalls
1995
year with most complaints

Pick your Saturn SL model year

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2002 Saturn SL0131
2001 Saturn SL2111
2000 Saturn SL7148
1999 Saturn SL1178
1998 Saturn SL0168
1997 Saturn SL2227
1996 Saturn SL1287
1995 Saturn SL3355
1994 Saturn SL1286
1993 Saturn SL2175
1992 Saturn SL2123
1991 Saturn SL129

What Saturn SL owners complain about

Across all model years, owners have filed 2,218 complaints with NHTSA. The 1995 model year has the most, with 355.

All Saturn SL recalls (15)

Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Saturn SL, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.

  1. Tank assembly (fuel system)

    NHTSA 00V309000 Reported 6,092 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 301, "fuel system integrity." these vehicles were built with an inadequate vent valve weld on the top portion of the fuel tank.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicle to ensure the fuel tank vent valve is properly welded. If necessary, dealers will replace the fuel tank assembly.

    Model years: 2000, 2001

  2. Park/neutral start interlock switch (power train)

    NHTSA 00V310000 Reported 65,000 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles, equipped with automatic transaxles, fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 114, "theft protection." these vehicles were built with an improperly adjusted automatic transaxle park lock cable assembly. If improperly adjusted, it is possible to shift from the "park" position with…

    Remedy: Saturn is asking owners and retailers to perform a functional check of the automatic transaxle park lock cable assembly operation, and if necessary, to have the cable adjusted. If owners are not comfortable performing…

    Model years: 2000, 2001

  3. Body (structure)

    NHTSA 99V297000 Reported 7,505 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with a console armrest fail to comply with requirements of FMVSS no. 201, "occupant protection in interior impacts." the armrests were produced with a latch that will not withstand the vertical force requirements of the standard.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the console armrest latch.

    Model years: 2000

  4. Anchorage (seat belts)

    NHTSA 99V280000 Reported 265,698 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles do not comply with requirements of FMVSS no. 210, "seat belt assembly anchorages." some of the vehicles were produced with seat belt shoulder guide anchor bolts that were not adequately tightened at the center pillar and could fall out, making the seat belt inoperative.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect these vehicles for proper installation and torque of the seat belt shoulder guide anchor bolts.

    Model years: 1999, 2000

  5. Foundation components (service brakes)

    NHTSA 99V231000 Reported 5,373 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles do not comply with requirements of FMVSS no. 135, "passenger car brake systems." these vehicles were produced with brake pipe attachment nuts that may not be tightened to specifications.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the brake pipe nuts for leakage, verify they are tightened to specifications, and replace the brake pipes if needed.

    Model years: 2000

  6. Unknown or other

    NHTSA 99V230000 Reported 2,692 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles do not comply with requirements of FMVSS no. 208, "occupant crash protection." some of these vehicles were manufactured with welds in the instrument panel carrier assembly that do not meet saturn quality standards.

    Remedy: Dealers will repair the vehicle's instrument panel carrier assembly.

    Model years: 2000

  7. Bumpers (structure)

    NHTSA 99V232000 Reported 1,592 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles do not comply with requirements of FMVSS no. 581, "bumper standard." these vehicles were produced with rear bumper fasteners that may be loose or missing.

    Remedy: Dealers will verify that the rear bumper beam fasteners are present and properly tightened and, if missing, install new fasteners.

    Model years: 2000

  8. Seats

    NHTSA 99V045000 Reported 138,691 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the front seat recliner mechanisms.

    Model years: 1994, 1995

  9. Seats

    NHTSA 97V155000 Reported 5 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Vehicle description: passsenger vehicles. These vehicles were built with suspect cold welds on the right side in the tunnel area of the floor pan. This does not comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 210, "seat belt anchorage."

    Remedy: Dealers will repair these vehicles.

    Model years: 1997

  10. Gear box (other than rack and pinion) (steering)

    NHTSA 97V138000 Reported 14,580 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with manual steering. The pinion bearing cage in the steering gear can separate under high steering system load conditions, such as parking lot or similar low speed maneuvers.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the manual steering gear assembly.

    Model years: 1996, 1997

  11. Pedal/hand lever(motorcycle) (power train)

    NHTSA 94V217000 Reported 20,518 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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."

    Remedy: Consumers are being asked to inspect the park lock cable. If it does not perform correctly, dealers will make the necessary adjustments.

    Model years: 1995

  12. Gear box (other than rack and pinion) (steering)

    NHTSA 94V170000 Reported 931 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The steering gear pinion shaft was improperly heat treated causing the shaft to fracture during vehicle operation.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the manual steering assembly.

    Model years: 1995

  13. Alternator/generator/regulator (electrical system)

    NHTSA 93V132000 Reported 352,833 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The generator electrical wiring is not protected against excessive current flow which may be caused by an electrical short circuit in the generator.

    Remedy: The generator wiring harness will be replaced with one that will open as a fuse would under certain excessive current flow conditions.

    Model years: 1991, 1992, 1993

  14. Cables (electrical system)

    NHTSA 93V094000 Reported 14,459 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The positive battery cable terminal at the starter solenoid may be formed incorrectly. Incorrectly formed terminals can contact the starter solenoid housing and cause an electric short circuit.

    Remedy: Inspect and, if necessary, adjust the clearance between the positive battery cable terminal so that it does not contact the starter solenoid housing.

    Model years: 1993

  15. Power train

    NHTSA 92V098000 Reported 633 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The transaxle valve assemblies were improperly machined. Vehicles may not properly engage in neutral or park, even though the gear selector indicates the vehicle is in neutral or park.

    Remedy: Replace the defective valve bodies.

    Model years: 1992

Other Saturn models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.