1992 Saturn SL Problems

What owners report

Owners of this 1992 Saturn SL report a wide range of problems on an older car, most often involving the motorized automatic shoulder belts and the driver or passenger seat frames. Many complaints involve a seat back that gives way during a rear impact or normal driving, and belt tracks or retractors that stop working. Cooling-system and brake complaints are also common, and most reports come in at high mileage, with many sampled complaints filed at or above 140,000 miles.

1. 1
   Seat belts

   Motorized automatic seat belts stop working

   • 19 complaints (15%)
   • typically at 5.8 yrs old
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2001

   Complaints describe the motorized shoulder-belt tracks and retractors failing so the belt stays in one position or does not move at all. Owners report that the belt gets stuck in the forward or rear position, that the buckle will not latch, and that the stitching on the webbing came apart. Some say the dealer was unwilling to do anything or had not seen the problem before, and one owner reported paying for a repair that recurred about a year later. Most reports carry no mileage figure; they span the late 1990s through 2001 on cars that were then around ten years old.

   What to check: With the key on, watch both front shoulder belts run their full track and confirm each one latches and releases. Ask whether the track units or retractors have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Motorized seatbelt restraints are inoperative on both the drivers and the passengers seats. We have not been able to use them for some time now, and we were involved in an accident recently in which we were rear ended. This has left my wife with back problems ever since, and I do believe that if the shoulder restaints were to have been working properly she would be fine.”

   NHTSA complaint #717618, filed 2000-01

   “Passive restraint system on passenger side failed without trauma, engine mount failed causing steering difficulty and loud noise, gas gauge began bouncing randomly, o-rings in A/C failed twice, despite retrofit, A/C again inoperative due to o-rings water pump leaked at 40,000 miles, battery dead in one year in arizona.”

   NHTSA complaint #720910, filed 2000-04
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Alternator and charging-system failures

   • 13 complaints (11%)
   • typically at 6.7 yrs old
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2004

   Complaints describe alternators being replaced repeatedly, batteries going dead quickly, and the engine cutting out or losing power while driving. In one case the alternator came off the car, and another owner reported smoke from the steering column and a total loss of electrical power. Dealers are described as aware of the problem but sometimes unable to duplicate it. Reported in the late 1990s and early 2000s; mileage is mostly not stated in the sample.

   Recall 93V132000

   What to check: Ask whether the 93V132000 alternator wiring recall was completed, check for a replacement alternator or battery, and look for scorched or melted wiring near the generator and harness.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving at 55 MPH noticed smoke coming from the steering column and pulled over. The consumer got out the vehicle and left the key in the ingition and the vehicle lost all power. The whole electrical system died out. The vehicle was in the shop and was repaied. The shop repaired the harness and now the electrical item's don't work.”

   NHTSA complaint #829236, filed 1998-10

   “Alternator failed two months prior to recall announced on possible fire hazard on vehicle. Due to mileage, vehicle was outside of warrenty, had to pay out of pocket for replacement. Manufacturer contacted regards to possible failure due to same reason as recall. Manufaturer stated there was no chance. (recall was for alternator/alternator failed) mechanic stated if diodes did not burnout, may have cause a fire. Recall was based on possible fire hazard in alternator system.”

   NHTSA complaint #731707, filed 2000-09
3. 3
   Seats

   Seat back collapses or frame breaks

   • 15 complaints (12%)
   • median 140,000 mi at 12.1 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2004

   Owners describe the driver or passenger seat back suddenly reclining or collapsing, in several cases when the car was rear-ended and in others during ordinary driving. Complaints mention broken welds and cracked U-channel steel in the seat frame, a seat stuck in a permanent backward slant, and frame metal pushing through the upholstery. One owner said the dealer quoted replacing the whole seat. Reported across the 1999-2005 period, with several complaints filed around 140,000 miles.

   What to check: Push each front seat back firmly and rock it while watching the frame and welds at the hinge and lower sides; look for cracks, bends, or metal showing through the fabric.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Seat frame started to break through the cloth covering. The frame eventually bent backwards near the top of the seat. Soon the frame broke on the left hand side and there is a sharp point sticking out and the cloth covering is ruined. I called the dealer to find out what needed to be done and they told me I would have to replace the whole seat which would cost me over 500 dollars.”

   NHTSA complaint #718368, filed 2000-02

   “We moved from louisiana to arizona at that time we noticed oil in coolant-replaced head gasket no noticeable cracks in head, vehicle never over heated while driving prior to this incident. Left front seat in a permanent slant backward.”

   NHTSA complaint #750970, filed 2001-08
4. 4
   Brakes

   Brake pedal fade, ABS loss, and rotor wear

   • 14 complaints (11%)
   • typically at 4.0 yrs old
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2002

   Owners describe the brake pedal going to the floor with a long stopping distance, ABS sensor cables shearing after their brackets came loose, and repeated rotor and pad replacement for noise and premature wear. One complaint reports a front rotor cracking apart, and another describes the engine speeding up when the brakes were applied, traced to a worn brake booster diaphragm and a torn check-valve grommet. Spread from 1995 to 2003; the sample gives no consistent mileage for these reports.

   What to check: Test the pedal for firmness and a hard stop from speed, look at rotor condition and thickness, and have the ABS warning light and the booster and vacuum hose checked.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Abs sensor and brake cables are attached to brackets which have fallen off, and causing cables to shear off, resulting in loss of brakes and control. Consumer adds that the vehicle has had numerous brake repairs due to wrapped rotors and pads wearing prematurely, consumer feels there should be a recall should be issued.”

   NHTSA complaint #825571, filed 1998-07

   “While driving the front brake rotor separated from center and broke into half, also the covers that protect the motorized track run in front seats on both the driver and passenger side broke off.”

   NHTSA complaint #984898, filed 1996-06
5. 5
   Engine cooling

   Oil burning and engine coolant problems

   • 17 complaints (14%)
   • typically at 5.8 yrs old
   • filed 1996–2001

   Complaints describe the engine using oil at a high rate, with owners told it could be leaking valve stems or guides and that a compression test would be needed. Others report seals and valves burning out, oil appearing in the coolant with a head gasket replacement, a serpentine belt and tensioner failing and taking the water pump with it, and a water pump leaking at 40,000 miles. Mostly late-1990s and early-2000s reports; mileage is largely not stated in the sample.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the oil level and look for blue exhaust smoke, inspect the coolant for oil residue, and ask about head gasket, water pump, and belt and tensioner history.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “After purchasing the car had an oil change and noticied engine was burning two quarts of oil from the exhaust every 2000 miles. Contacted dealer ,and was told that warranty expired. They think it could be a leaking valve stem or valve guides, but they needed to do a compression test, and it would cost about a 1,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #853589, filed 1999-12

   “Serpentine belt and tensioner failed causing power steering, anti lock brakes and water pump to fail, resulting in difficulty maintaining control of vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #542354, filed 1998-10

Buying note. On a car this old the condition of the seat frames, shoulder belts, brakes, and cooling system matters more than the mileage, so check all of them in person and ask for service records. Confirm whether the alternator wiring and transaxle recalls were done.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 54 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.