Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1995 Saturn SL, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Seats69
- Engine and engine cooling67
- Service brakes, hydraulic51
- Power train40
- Steering37
- Air bags31
- Electrical system27
- Vehicle speed control24
- Visibility16
- Tires12
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 58 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 4 variants: combined 8.6–9.6 L/100 km (about 25–27 mpg US), CO₂ 198–221 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| SL · Compact · Regular gasoline | 9.9 | 7.0 | 8.6 |
| SL · Compact · Regular gasoline | 10.3 | 7.1 | 8.9 |
| SL # · Compact · Regular gasoline | 11.2 | 7.6 | 9.6 |
| SL # · Compact · Regular gasoline | 11.2 | 7.8 | 9.6 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 1995 Saturn SL.
| 1999040 16 Mar 1999 | Seats And Restraints On certain vehicles, the front seat back recliner gear teeth may wear excessively through repeated use, and cause the seat to slip partially rearward when force… |
| 1994167 2 Nov 1994 | Powertrain Certain vehicles do not comply with CMVSS 114 - locking system. It may be possible to shift from the PARK position with the ignition key removed, or to remove t… |
| 1994142 7 Sept 1994 | Steering Certain vehicles may have been built with a steering gear pinion shaft that was improperly heat treated and could fracture in service. This could result in loss… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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."
THE STEERING GEAR PINION SHAFT WAS IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED CAUSING THE SHAFT TO FRACTURE DURING VEHICLE OPERATION.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Saturn told its dealers about the 1995 Saturn SL: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 631244 | GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLES AND TRUCKS: SUBJECT REGARDING, 2002 AND PRIOR PASSENGER CARS AND TRUCKS, CHEMICAL DAMAGE TO EXTERIOR POLYCARBONATE HEADLAMP LENSES. *SLC UPDATED *EH UPDATED 3/30/11. HEADLAMP LENS OVERHEATING WHEN COVERED AND CHEMICAL DAMAGE TO EXTERIOR POLYCARBONATE HEADLAMP LENSES. CAN CAUSE CRAZING OR CRACKING OF HEADLAMP LENS. *PE UPDATED 6/24/11. *PE UPDATED 5/14/12. INCLUDING 2013 MODEL YEAR. *PE |
| 10246631 | Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules |
| 10233364 | This service bulletin revision provides a repair procedure to Remove Debris from Evaporator Case, Disinfect evaporator or Apply Cooling coil coating and install blower motor control module to correct a customer concern of A/C Odor at start-up. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
FRONT SEAT BACK CAN RECLINE OR COLLAPSE
CRUISE CONTROL FAILURES
CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation