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Saturn SLYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 2,218 NHTSA owner complaints across 12 model years, no Saturn SL year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 1991, 1992, 2000 and 2001. The SL has 15 safety recalls on record.

Saturn SL
Years to avoidNoneUse caution: 1994, 1995, 1996Best years'91 '92 '00 '01Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints2,218Top: Engine and engine coolingSafety recalls151991–2002 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.

Best & worst years

Saturn SL years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the SL median. Tap a year for its full report.

'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2002Solid55/100131 complaints · 0 recalls2001Solid62/100111 complaints · 2 recalls2000Solid58/100148 complaints · 7 recalls1999Solid50/100178 complaints · 1 recall1998Solid50/100168 complaints · 0 recalls1997Solid42/100227 complaints · 2 recalls1996Caution36/100287 complaints · 1 recall1995Caution30/100355 complaints · 3 recalls1994Caution36/100286 complaints · 1 recall1993Solid50/100175 complaints · 2 recalls1992Solid57/100123 complaints · 2 recalls1991Best86/10029 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Saturn SL problems

All model years combined: 2,218 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling40316
Power train30720
Electrical system29331
Service brakes, hydraulic28954
Seats226119
Seat belts17736
Air bags155125
Vehicle speed control13815
Steering11727
19 other systems54960
15 recalls

Saturn SL recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Storage: tank assembly00V-309 · 2000–2001 · Oct 12, 2000 · 6,092 vehicles–Automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch00V-310 · 2000–2001 · Oct 12, 2000 · 65,000 vehicles–Structure: body99V-297 · 2000 · Oct 27, 1999 · 7,505 vehicles–Front: anchorage99V-280 · 1999–2000 · Oct 20, 1999 · 265,698 vehicles–Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components99V-231 · 2000 · Aug 24, 1999 · 5,373 vehicles–Body: bumpers99V-232 · 2000 · Aug 23, 1999 · 1,592 vehicles–Unknown or other99V-230 · 2000 · Aug 23, 1999 · 2,692 vehicles–Seats99V-045 · 1994–1995 · Mar 12, 1999 · 138,691 vehicles–Seats97V-155 · 1997 · Sep 12, 1997 · 5 vehicles–Steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)97V-138 · 1996–1997 · Aug 29, 1997 · 14,580 vehicles–Clutch assembly: pedal/hand lever(motorcycle)94V-217 · 1995 · Nov 8, 1994 · 20,518 vehicles–Steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)94V-170 · 1995 · Sep 14, 1994 · 931 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 15 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

7 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the SL

  1. FRONT SEAT BACK CAN RECLINE OR COLLAPSERQ00005 · 1994–1995 · closed Aug 19, 2000
    Led to recall 99V-045
  2. SEAT BACK FAILURESEA98017 · 1994 · closed Mar 16, 1999
    Led to recall 99V-045
  3. CRUISE CONTROL FAILURESEA95003 · 1993–1995 · closed May 31, 1996
    No recall
  4. CRUISE CONTROL FAILUREPE94079 · 1993–1995 · closed Feb 24, 1995
    No recall
  5. FR SEATBACK RECLINER FAILSEA93016 · 1991–1992 · closed Jul 26, 1994
    No recall
  6. STEERING SYSTEM LOCKUPPE93022 · 1992–1993 · closed Sep 30, 1993
    No recall
  7. SEATBACK FAILUREPE93004 · 1992 · closed Jun 8, 1993
    No recall