- The problem
- 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 risk
- If this happens while the vehicle is being driven, it could cause a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the front seat recliner mechanisms.
Vehicle safety record
1994 Saturn SL Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 339 complaints about the 1994 Saturn SL with NHTSA, most often about the seats & seat belts (116) and the brakes (49). Those complaints describe 61 crashes, 4 fires, 53 injuries and 1 death. It is covered by 1 recall, the latest in March 1999 for the seats. For comparison, the 1993 has 198 and the 1995 has 357.
NHTSA data checked
DMore problems than a typical SL year, for its age
#13 most complained-about 1994 vehicle
- Complaints
- 339
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes
- 61
- Fires
- 4
- Injuries
- 53
- Deaths
- 1
Most common 1994 Saturn SL problems
Share of all 339 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
1994 Saturn SL recalls 1
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
What owners say
Be the first SL owner to share.
Problems or none - your experience is exactly what the next buyer is looking for. Write it now
339 complaints about the 1994 Saturn SL
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 14.
The fbi was my first choice. The car overheats from a cold start after I just filled up the coolant and drove the car for a few feet in 2 minutes from start. The coolant was already overflowing. I noticed something was eating the battery load when this happened another time making the car lose power when I checked the reading on the cars installed voltmeter. This after driving for about a mile. This extreme hot tempreture causes the coolant to boil and overflow even if I aid it with a rewired radiator fan on I have replaced the thermostat and the waterpump a couple of times. Please help captain america. The receipt from the attached file is the latest.This car is possessed.
For several years now, the cruise control on the car will turn itself off while engaged, and, if left alone, will randomly reengage ten or fifteen minutes later with no warning. This can cause a surge of acceleration (as much as one can expect from a saturn, anyhow) if speed has slowed due to traffic. *Tr
Tl* the contact owns a 1994 saturn sl. The vehicle was equipped with big o big o aspen tires (205/70/r14 dot u9t9 tx30103). While driving approximately 75 mph the rear drivers side tire tread separated causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle and crash into a ditch. The vehicle was towed to his residence. The tire was not replaced. The approximate failure mileage was 241,000.
I have a 1994 saturn sl2 vehicle and was almost in a horrible accident on a major highway when the timing chain broke and caused my car to completely shut down on a heavily traffic highway. This was the second time this incident happened to me with the same problem. Had to have the engine totally rebuilt with a new timing chain and it only last 1 year. I paid over $1000 dollars for the rebuilt engine including labor and the issue happened again,i think its ludicrous because many mechanics told me that saturns have a long history of engine problems especially timing belts. Now I am without a vehicle once again with not many options. Need saturn to help me out!!!!!!!!! *Tr
I own a 1994 saturn sl1 . This model of car employs "automatic" style seat belts, that are built into the door frame. When you open the door the seat belt is supposed to open by sliding up the track. When you get in the car and close the door, the seat belt is supposed to close by sliding back on the track. This is an automatic operation driven by a mechanical motor. The track or something in the mechanism has failed, and the seat belt is no longer functional what so ever. I feel this is without a doubt a...
Read the full complaint
safety related issue! How am I supposed to drive around a car without a working seat belt??? Saturn is refusing to repair the issue because the car is out of warranty, but according to the nhtsa "if a safety-related defect exists in a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment, the manufacturer must fix it at no cost to the owner." They want to charge me an exorbitant amount of money to fix the issue, and are refusing to cooperate with me. In the meantime I am driving around a car without a seat belt!!! What should I do to have this corrected? I have tried to contact saturn directly as well to no avail! *Tr
Vehicle driver seat slips backwards while operating the vehicle. It is the same exact problem as the following recall 99v045000, yet dealer was contacted and this specific vehicle is not part of the recall. *Tr
Shifter cables broke where it connects to shifter. *Tr
Tl*the contact owns a 1994 saturn sl2. While driving 35 mph, the vehicle's front seat mechanism failed similar to the failure noted in recall # 99v045000 (seats). The manufacturer stated that the vehicle was excluded from the recall. The vehicle's purchase date and engine size were unavailable. The current mileage is 139,000 and failure mileage was 134,000. Updated 06/08/07. *Jb
Automatic shoulder belt on driver and passenger side is not working. Only the lap belt is operational. *Jb
Manual transmission - gear shift linkage to shift cable -- broken bushing at the bottom of the manual floor shifter where it attaches to the shift cable. The cable falls off the shifter linkage. Saturn parts (oem) wants to sell me the entire shift cable assembly for ~$200 (plus 3 hours labor to install it) -- should be a $5 fix for the broken plastic bushing. Apparently this is a very common problem among saturn owners. (See http://www.Chaosmagnet.Com/blog/archives/000112.Html ). *Jb
Dt*: the contact stated the buckle between the legs for the harness will unlatch when pulled. The manufacturer has been alerted. This is an evenflo 3252245p1 manufactured may 25, 2005.
Dt*: the contacts stated while attempting to apply brake pressure, the brakes were difficult to press. This occurred on normal roads, during normal braking without prior warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealership for inspection. It was determined the brakes needed to be cleaned due to corrosion. Also, while driving over speed bumps, a grinding noise was heard from the suspension. The dealership inspected and lubricated the suspension, but the problem still exist. The manufacturer was not alerted and no additional repairs were made. Updated 03/09/06. *Jb
1. Normal driving, the vibration from normal road bumps or pot holes. 2. Windshield cracks on the lower sides where extreme stress exhists, danger exhists of weakened roof support and glass injury if a collision occurs. 3. Must buy new winshield because all the used vehicles in the area have similar problem. The design was used for only that year model and the winshield wraps around the side of the auto resulting in a weak design. The winshield price is higher than the average winshield.
In jan. 1998 My timing chain broke and cracked my engine and valve cover. Prior to this I did take my car to the dealer who states timing chain replacement or new engine if timing chain breaks. Being that my saturn sl2 was a 1994 it was funny that so soon timing chain problems occurred. My timing chain did break, and I was unable to get it repaired intil 2001 by the local dealer with a used engine that leaked oil every where I parked, my complaints yielded no results. Needless to say I was able to continue driving...
Read the full complaint
the car which began to overheat, cooling fan failed and in august 2004, the timing chain on the other used engine started to rattle and also broke, so today I am carless and don't know where to begin. Obviously there is a problem with these saturn timing chains. Is there an investigation ongoing?*Ak
While driving consumer stopped at a stop sign, and child sitting in a child safety seat told the father that the seat belt came completely out of the back of the seat. However, all seat belts in the back seat remained unstitched. Consumer contacted the dealer. *Ak
Air bag light was not working, replaced 2 of the componenets under the dash one under the drivers side up in the corner and the other up behind the glove box. Cooling fan does not function properly must keep the ac on for the fan to work. A friend of mine has the same car and has the same problem. Tried to fix by replacing the sensors had a mechanic try to trouble shoot, can't find a reason so it is not fixed just keep ac on always. Car vibrates and can't find a reason still looking for problem, vibrates so much...
Read the full complaint
body parts on front are becoming misaligned! And it seems the auto-transmission shifts funny. Check engine light comes and then stays on after driving apx. 1 Mile. Cruise control does not work properly. My friend has all the same complaints. *Nm
While slowing for a stop light the consumers vehicle was rear ended by another vehicle. The consumer was slammed forward then backwards into the driver's seat causing the seat to collapse onto the rear seat. *Mr the vehicle was considered a total loss by the insurance company. *Nm
Driver side airbag did not deploy in head-on collision with a speed of 50-55 m.P.H. *Jb
The vehicle failed new york state inspection. The technician indicated that the driver seat belt mechanism needed to be replaced. Please provide any additional information. *Nm
Email fwd fm fhwa inquiring how to have a 1994 saturn sl2 inspected to find out why the airbags did not deploy in a head on collision, her daughter was injuried.*Mr *cb *jb
While driving 60 mph on the highway and without warning both seat belts failed to retract . Driver took vehicle to the dealership. The mechanic told him that motor had to be replaced. *Ak
I own a 1994 saturn, which I purchased in october 1993. The spare tire in the car has never been used. It still has the little bar things on it which stick up. I recently had to go out of town and checked the spare and other tires and when I opened the trunk and lifted out the spare, it had blown up. The rubber was shredded around the place it exploded. We talked to saturn about this and they said too bad essentially. So I thought I'd write to you. Like I said, the tire has never been used. Yes, I know...
Read the full complaint
its hot in phoenix, but just thinking about the danger I could have been in if I did not to check the tire and broke down on the highway leaves me kinda shaky. The tire is one of those smaller doughnut ones, # 1115 70r/14, radial tempa spare. I still have it. I had to purchase another one from saturn though, to be safe. I would appreciate your input on this. When you test these for quality control, do you expose them to high temperatures for prolonged periods of time? This probably does not happen very often, though saturn said they had seen a few of these. I would be surprised if they had not told you about it. Thank you for your attention to this. Betty gregar 3623 e winchcomb phoenix, az. 85032 602-971-7128 October 7, 2003. *Jb
While driving vehicle caught on fire and burned to the ground. Dealer notified. *Ak
As a result of being rear ended, the driver's seat back collapsed. *Ak. The air bags did not deploy when the consumer's vehicle was pushed into another vehicle. *Jb
Consumer states while pulling into the driveway driver's side seatbelt retractor was making a wierd noise. Took vehicle to dealer, dealer stated that electrical seatbelt cable was broken. *Ak
Saturn SL: every year compared
All SL years1994 Saturn SL vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 Saturn SL | 339 | 1 | D | |
| 1994 Saturn SC1 | 82 | 1 | F | Compare |
| 1994 Saturn SC | 51 | 1 | F | Compare |
| 1994 Saturn SW | 30 | 1 | D | Compare |
| 1994 Saturn S-Series Coupe | 1 | 0 | B | Compare |
| 1994 Saturn S-Series Wagon | 1 | 0 | - | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 1994 Saturn SL
Does the 1994 Saturn SL have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 1994 Saturn SL: seats (March 1999). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 Saturn SL?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the seats & seat belts (116), brakes (49), engine & cooling (43).
How many complaints has the 1994 Saturn SL had?
339 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on July 11, 1994 and the latest on June 26, 2016. Of these, 61 describe a crash and 4 a fire, and together they report 53 injuries and 1 death.
Is the 1994 Saturn SL a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 27 out of 100 (grade D: more problems than a typical Saturn SL year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Saturn SL years have the most complaints?
1995 (357), 1994 (339), 1996 (315). See every Saturn SL year compared.
What should I do if my 1994 Saturn SL has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data