AI DamageSaturn SL: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Saturn SL across 12 model years: 2,218 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 18% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 14% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 14% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 13% of all complaints
- 5 Seats 10% of all complaints
- 6 Seat belts 8% of all complaints
- 7 Air bags 7% of all complaints
- 8 Vehicle speed control 6% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 403 complaints (18% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 307 complaints (14% of all), 14 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 302 complaints (14% of all), 48 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 293 complaints (13% of all), 8 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Seats: 226 complaints (10% of all), 107 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.9 L · petrol · 4 cyl 1991–2002named in 3 complaints
- automatic, 4-speed 1991–2002
- manual, 5-speed 1991–2002named in 26 complaints
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 2,218 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 403 | 4 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 307 | 14 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 302 | 48 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 293 | 8 | 0 |
| Seats | 226 | 107 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 177 | 30 | 0 |
| Air bags | 155 | 121 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 138 | 15 | 0 |
| Steering | 117 | 22 | 0 |
| Visibility | 102 | 4 | 0 |
| Tires | 101 | 15 | 0 |
| Structure | 69 | 6 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 55 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 51 | 6 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The vehicle was stopped, was involved in a 3 car collision. The vehicle was hit from behind by a 1985 cadillac fleetwood traveling at at least a moderate rate of speed. The vehicle was pushed into a 2002 audi (I believe it was) suv. During the collision the drivers seat back failed and collapsed into the back seat.
Hit mountain head on and car rolled and air bags did not deploy. Rear tire and drum broke off car while doing 50 mile per hour
While driving 70 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact attempted to coast the vehicle off to the right shoulder, but lost control and crashed into three poles. The air bags failed to deploy and ejected the contact through the front windshield. A police report was filed.
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.
As a result, the contact crashed into the rear driver side of another vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained muscular pain that required medical attention. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure.
I was driving a person ran a stop sign and I hit the vehicle head on the airbag blew up in my face sounded like a bomb I had burns on my face head hands and fore arms my ribs were bruised and some contusions in back and knees.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.