Saturn SL Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 2,218 consumer complaints across the 12 model years of the Saturn SL (1991–2002) that have at least 5 complaints. 1995 has the most, with 355. Across all years, the part named most often is engine cooling (403 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All SL model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 131 | 59,868 | 0 | 243 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2001 | 111 | 64,000 | 2 | 206 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2000 | 148 | 57,714 | 7 | 182 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1999 | 178 | 64,000 | 1 | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1998 | 168 | 66,250 | 0 | 12 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 227 | 86,300 | 2 | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 287 | 95,000 | 1 | 11 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 355 | 100,400 | 3 | 2 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 286 | 118,500 | 1 | 2 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 175 | 113,450 | 2 | 2 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 123 | 140,000 | 2 | 2 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1991 | 29 | 85,000 | 1 | 2 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Engine cooling403 20%
- Brakes318 16%
- Transmission and drivetrain307 15%
- Electrical system293 15%
- Seats226 11%
- Seat belts177 8.8%
- Air bags155 7.7%
- Vehicle speed control138 6.8%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2002: “Driving on highway rt. 80, when a car swerved into right lane in front of me from entrance ramp. I was traveling at approx. 45 miles an hour. Airbags failed to deploy in a front end collision, causing life altering injury. Left temporal brain damage, post concussion syndrome and epilepsy, also other injuries to neck, shoulder and to lower back.”
NHTSA complaint #10944042, filed 2017-01, 34,000 miles1996: “First problem is door chimes with key out of ignition. Second problem is dome light stays on in front or rear position with all doors shut. Third problem is no power at all to the cab when I tried to start car, and then my passenger opened and shut the passenger front door and the power came back on and I was able to start the car. I had to reset the clock and radio.”
NHTSA complaint #10823199, filed 2016-01, 68,577 miles2001: “Our daughter was involved in a motor vehicle accident on 10/9/2014. A vehicle pulled out in front of her. Our daughter was not able to stop in time and hit the vehicle with the front end of the Saturn to the drivers door of the other vehicle. Air bags did not deploy but we believe they should have. Our daughter sustained injuries.”
NHTSA complaint #10644252, filed 2014-10, 66,000 milesOther Saturn models
4,340 complaintsSaturn Vue
2,351 complaintsSaturn LS
1,457 complaintsSaturn Aura
1,434 complaintsSaturn Outlook
1,352 complaintsSaturn Sky
516 complaintsSaturn SC1
413 complaintsSaturn SC
296 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology