Stats focus on model years from 1960 onwards.
Earlier years appear in the detailed table below where data exists.
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Get plain-language explanations of recalls and complaints for the
Saturn SL. Powered by AI, backed by NHTSA data.
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Important: This assistant provides context from aggregated NHTSA data.
Always check your specific VIN on
NHTSA.gov
for vehicle-specific recall information.
Key Takeaways
A quick scan of where recalls and complaints concentrate for the Saturn SL,
based on aggregated NHTSA counts and campaign metadata.
Coverage spans model years 1991–2002 with 22 recall campaigns and 2891 complaints in NHTSA data.
Years with the most recall activity: 2000 (7), 1995 (3), and 2001 (2).
Years with the most complaint volume: 1995 (481), 1994 (376), and 1996 (369).
Top recall themes: Powertrain, Seats and restraints, and Electrical.
Most reported complaint areas (across all years): Engine and engine cooling:engine, Power train:automatic transmission, Seats:front assembly:recliner.
Complaints are not proof of a defect, but repeated themes can be useful signals when researching a used vehicle.
Always check your specific VIN for open recalls (open recalls are VIN-specific and can change over time).
Recall Themes
Instead of listing long campaign narratives, this groups recall campaigns into a few recurring areas.
Each theme links back to official notices as evidence.
Powertrain
3 campaigns · Years: 1992, 1995, 2000–2001
These campaigns relate to drivetrain or transmission components that can affect shifting, power delivery, or control.
Official notices (evidence):
00V310000
· Power train: Park/neutral start interlock switch
94V217000
· Power train: Pedal/hand lever(motorcycle)
Across all model years, the most frequently reported areas for the
Saturn SL in NHTSA complaint data are
Engine and engine cooling:engine, Power train:automatic transmission, Seats:front assembly:recliner.
Jump to Model Year
Year-by-Year Overview
Each row shows how often this model appears in NHTSA recalls and consumer
complaints for a given model year. These are counts of campaigns and
complaints, not risk predictions.
Model Year
Recalls
Complaints
Details
2002
0
154
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Power train:automatic transmission, Electrical system:ignition.
2001
2
137
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Power train:automatic transmission, Electrical system, Air bags:frontal.
2000
7
202
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Power train:automatic transmission, Tires, Engine and engine cooling.
1999
1
232
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling:engine, Air bags:frontal, Power train:automatic transmission.
1998
0
222
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Power train:automatic transmission, Engine and engine cooling:engine, Tires.
1997
2
286
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling:engine, Air bags:frontal, Tires.
1996
1
369
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling:engine, Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline, Electrical system:horn.
1995
3
481
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Seats:front assembly:recliner, Engine and engine cooling:engine, Seats.
1994
1
376
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Vehicle speed control, Engine and engine cooling:engine, Seats:front assembly:recliner.
1993
2
228
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling:engine, Vehicle speed control, Power train:automatic transmission.
1992
2
173
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling:engine, Seat belts, Seats.
1991
1
31
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Seat belts, Seat belts:front:webbing, Seats.
What to Do Next
Check open recalls by VIN on the official NHTSA site (open recalls are VIN-specific).
If buying used, ask for proof of recall remedy completion (dealer paperwork helps).
If symptoms match common complaint themes, consider a mechanic inspection before purchase or long trips.
A compact evidence view of recall campaigns that include this model.
The default text is an original summary line, with official notice text available on demand.
Most common areas involved:
Power train
, Electrical system
and Steering
Show recall evidence by year
2001
Fuel system, gasoline: Tank assembly:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 301, "Fuel system integrity." These vehicles were built with an inadequate vent valve weld on the top portion of the fuel tank.
Power train: Park/neutral start interlock switch:
Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles, equipped with automatic transaxles, fail to comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 114, "Theft protection." These vehicles were built with an improperly adjusted automatic transaxle park lock cable assembly. If improperly adjusted, it is possibl
2000
Fuel system, gasoline: Tank assembly:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 301, "Fuel system integrity." These vehicles were built with an inadequate vent valve weld on the top portion of the fuel tank.
Power train: Park/neutral start interlock switch:
Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles, equipped with automatic transaxles, fail to comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 114, "Theft protection." These vehicles were built with an improperly adjusted automatic transaxle park lock cable assembly. If improperly adjusted, it is possibl
Unknown or other:
Safety recall involving the unknown or other area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles do not comply with requirements of fmvss no. 208, "Occupant crash protection." Some of these vehicles were manufactured with welds in the instrument panel carrier assembly that do not meet saturn quality standards.
Service brakes, hydraulic: Foundation components:
Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles do not comply with requirements of fmvss no. 135, "Passenger car brake systems." These vehicles were produced with brake pipe attachment nuts that may not be tightened to specifications.
Structure: Bumpers:
Safety recall involving the structure area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles do not comply with requirements of fmvss no. 581, "Bumper standard." These vehicles were produced with rear bumper fasteners that may be loose or missing.
Seat belts: Anchorage:
Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles do not comply with requirements of fmvss no. 210, "Seat belt assembly anchorages." Some of the vehicles were produced with seat belt shoulder guide anchor bolts that were not adequately tightened at the center pillar and could fall out, maki
Structure: Body:
Safety recall involving the structure area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with a console armrest fail to comply with requirements of fmvss no. 201, "Occupant protection in interior impacts." The armrests were produced with a latch that will not withstand the vertical force requirements of the standard.
1999
Seat belts: Anchorage:
Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles do not comply with requirements of fmvss no. 210, "Seat belt assembly anchorages." Some of the vehicles were produced with seat belt shoulder guide anchor bolts that were not adequately tightened at the center pillar and could fall out, maki
1997
Steering: Gear box (other than rack and pinion):
Safety recall involving the steering area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with manual steering. The pinion bearing cage in the steering gear can separate under high steering system load conditions, such as parking lot or similar low speed maneuvers.
Seats:
Safety recall involving the seats area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: passsenger vehicles. These vehicles were built with suspect cold welds on the right side in the tunnel area of the floor pan. This does not comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 210, "Seat belt anchorage."
1996
Steering: Gear box (other than rack and pinion):
Safety recall involving the steering area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with manual steering. The pinion bearing cage in the steering gear can separate under high steering system load conditions, such as parking lot or similar low speed maneuvers.
1995
Steering: Gear box (other than rack and pinion):
Safety recall involving the steering area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The steering gear pinion shaft was improperly heat treated causing the shaft to fracture during vehicle operation.
Power train: Pedal/hand lever(motorcycle):
Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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 pr
Seats:
Safety recall involving the seats area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
1994
Seats:
Safety recall involving the seats area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
1993
Electrical system: Cables:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The positive battery cable terminal at the starter solenoid may be formed incorrectly. Incorrectly formed terminals can contact the starter solenoid housing and cause an electric short circuit.
Electrical system: Alternator/generator/regulator:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The generator electrical wiring is not protected against excessive current flow which may be caused by an electrical short circuit in the generator.
1992
Power train:
Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The transaxle valve assemblies were improperly machined. Vehicles may not properly engage in neutral or park, even though the gear selector indicates the vehicle is in neutral or park.
Electrical system: Alternator/generator/regulator:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The generator electrical wiring is not protected against excessive current flow which may be caused by an electrical short circuit in the generator.
1991
Electrical system: Alternator/generator/regulator:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The generator electrical wiring is not protected against excessive current flow which may be caused by an electrical short circuit in the generator.
Other Saturn Models
Explore recall and complaint data for other Saturn models.
Recall Explained provides independent analysis of official NHTSA data.
This site does not replace the official NHTSA VIN lookup and should not be
treated as legal or safety advice for your specific vehicle.
For any safety concerns: Always check your VIN on the official
NHTSA site and contact an authorized dealer.
