The agency crash-tested this model year itself. These are its own
photographs and star ratings.
These stars come from the pre-2011 crash test programme. NHTSA
rebuilt the programme for the 2011 model year and states that
ratings either side of that change are not comparable — so do
not read these against a 2011-or-newer car's stars.
Configuration
Overall
Front
Side
Rollover
1991 Saturn SL 4-DR.
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When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jan 1995peak 2Oct 2005
NHTSA investigations into the 1991 Saturn SL
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
EA93016Opened 8 Jun 1993Closed 26 Jul 1994SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
FR SEATBACK RECLINER FAILS
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Fresno, CACrash2 injured1 killed
SEAT BELTS
RESTRAINT SYSTEM ANALYSIS WAS PERFORMED BY CHP-CENTRAL DIVISION MAIT. THE ANALYSIS INDICATED THE RESTRAINT FAILED AT THE LATCH PLATE CONNECTION TO THE MOTORIZED GUIDE PLATE. THIS REPORT IS BEING FILED FOR THE VEHICLE OWNER BY THE CHP PER OUR DEPARTMENTAL POLICY.
NHTSA complaint #735686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Westport, WAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
NONE
NHTSA complaint #715359 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palm BAY, FLCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A REAR END CRASH GOING ABOUT (20-25) MPH AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO THE SHOULDER HARNESS DID NOT LOCK. VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #809763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palm BAY, FLCrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A REAR END CRASH GOING ABOUT (20-25) MPH AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO THE SHOULDER HARNESS DID NOT LOCK. VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #809763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Trenton, OH1 injured
SEATS
DRIVER'S SEAT BACK COLLAPSED DUE TO REAR IMPACT.
NHTSA complaint #503962 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 85,000 milesWillow Grove, PA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE BRAKE PEDAL IS ALWAYS LOW AND SOME TIMES BOTTOMS OUT WHEN YOU FIRST START DRIVING THE CAR. YOU CAN'T STOP. RECORD OF COMPLAINT IS ON FILE WITH SATURN, BUT THEY JUST BLEW ME OFF BECAUSE THEY CHECK OUT THE CAR, BUT SAID IT WAS OK. I SHOWED THEM THAT BY PUMPING THE BREAKS A FEW TIMES THAT THE PEDAL WOULD BOTTOM AND BREAKING WAS LOST. THEY DUPLICATED IT BUT REFUSED TO ADMIT IT WAS A PROBLEM. NOW MY SONS ARE DRIVING AND I CAN'T LET THEM DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT EXPERIENCED ENOUGH DRIVERS AND IF THEY EVERY GET INTO A PANIC STOP SITUATION THEY NEED TO HAVE EXTRA ROOM FOR GLIDING AS THE WHEELS WON'T LOCK UP. I MADE SATURN REPLACE THE MASTER BREAK CYLINDER AND THE PROBLEM BECAME WORSE. I HAVE THE OLD MASTER BREAK CYLINDER.
NHTSA complaint #10139159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 85,000 milesWillow Grove, PA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE BRAKE PEDAL IS ALWAYS LOW AND SOME TIMES BOTTOMS OUT WHEN YOU FIRST START DRIVING THE CAR. YOU CAN'T STOP. RECORD OF COMPLAINT IS ON FILE WITH SATURN, BUT THEY JUST BLEW ME OFF BECAUSE THEY CHECK OUT THE CAR, BUT SAID IT WAS OK. I SHOWED THEM THAT BY PUMPING THE BREAKS A FEW TIMES THAT THE PEDAL WOULD BOTTOM AND BREAKING WAS LOST. THEY DUPLICATED IT BUT REFUSED TO ADMIT IT WAS A PROBLEM. NOW MY SONS ARE DRIVING AND I CAN'T LET THEM DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT EXPERIENCED ENOUGH DRIVERS AND IF THEY EVERY GET INTO A PANIC STOP SITUATION THEY NEED TO HAVE EXTRA ROOM FOR GLIDING AS THE WHEELS WON'T LOCK UP. I MADE SATURN REPLACE THE MASTER BREAK CYLINDER AND THE PROBLEM BECAME WORSE. I HAVE THE OLD MASTER BREAK CYLINDER.
NHTSA complaint #10139160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chicago, IL
SUSPENSION
DT: CONTACT STATES THE VEHICLE IS CONTINUOUSLY SHAKING, AFFECTING THE STEERING. THE SOLENOIDS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, 6 MONTHS LATER THE PROBLEM RECURRED.
NHTSA complaint #10124940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chicago, IL
SEAT BELTS
THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER PASSIVE RESTRAIN SEAT BELT LOCKS DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT SEAT BELTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10074438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 137,245 milesBloomington, MN
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE SUNROOF DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION THE MOUNTS WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. AT NO TIME THE SUNROOF HAS BEEN IMMERSED AND THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN TO A ROLL OVER. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS TO BE A RESULT OF NEGLECT ON MY PART, RATHER POOR QUALITY MATERIALS USED IN MANUFACTURE.
NHTSA complaint #10041200 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sante, CA
SEAT BELTS
FRONT PASSENGER PASSIVE RESTRAINT BELT IS LOCKED IN FORWARD POSITION, LEAVING OCCUPANT UNRESTRAINED.
NHTSA complaint #891237 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Maplewood, MN
SEAT BELTS
DRIVERS SEATBACK BROKEN AND MOTORIZED SHOULDER BELTS BIND IN TRACK AND BLOW FUSE.
NHTSA complaint #743730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Maplewood, MN
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
DRIVERS SEATBACK BROKEN AND MOTORIZED SHOULDER BELTS BIND IN TRACK AND BLOW FUSE.
NHTSA complaint #743730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fresno, CACrash2 injured1 killed
SEAT BELTS
RESTRAINT SYSTEM ANALYSIS WAS PERFORMED BY CHP-CENTRAL DIVISION MAIT. THE ANALYSIS INDICATED THE RESTRAINT FAILED AT THE LATCH PLATE CONNECTION TO THE MOTORIZED GUIDE PLATE. THIS REPORT IS BEING FILED FOR THE VEHICLE OWNER BY THE CHP PER OUR DEPARTMENTAL POLICY.
NHTSA complaint #735686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dallas, TX
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
MANUAL TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT ARM SUDDENLY WAS LOOSE. SATURN OF ASUTIN REPORTED SHIFTER CABLE BROKE AND REPLACED SAME. IF BREAK HAD OCCURRED WHILE MOVING IT LIKELY WOULD HAVE CAUSED ACCIDENT AND INJURY.
NHTSA complaint #728379 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cinti, OH
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
HAVE HAD CAR SERVICED NUMEROUS TIMES, ENGINE ALWAYS REMAINED ROUGH, CAR DIES ON US, HAS LOW UPTAKE SPEED, MECHANIC SAID ITS A SATURN ENGINE DEFECT, WILL EVENTUALLY DIE ALTOGETHER.
NHTSA complaint #721925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Norwerk, CT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
CONSUMER EXPERENCING PROBLEMS WITH REPLACING THE BATTERY. BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #855821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pasadena, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
I INQUIRED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT SATURN OF MONROVIA (MONROVIA,CA, 91016) IF THEY WERE AWARE OF THE AFOREMENTIONED PROBLEMS. THEY DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF ANY PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH ELECTRICAL WIRING UNDER THE HOOD.
NHTSA complaint #715404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Westport, WAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
NONE
NHTSA complaint #715359 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Richmond, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
THE SEAT BELTS ARE ELECTRIC AND ARE SUPPOSE TO SLIDE ALONG THE INTERIOR SURFACE. THE PASSENGER SIDE WENT OUT FIRST, AND A PERMANENT LATCH WAS PUT IN SO THAT ANY ONE SITTING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAVE TO CLAMP THE SEAT BELT EVERY TIME THE ENTER AND EXIT THE CAR. SOMETIME LATER THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WENT OUT. THE SEAT CABLE WOULD PULL THE LATCH BUT WOULD NOT SECURE THE LATCH TO LOCK. WITH THE LATCH NOT LOCKING I COULD STILL CLAMP THE SEAT BELT ON TO THE LATCH. I WOULD CLAMP THE SEAT BELT ON THE LATCH EVEN THOUGH IT WOULD NOT LOCK, TO AVOID GETTING A CITATION FOR NOT HAVING A SEAT BELT. MY MAIN CONCERN IS IF I WAS TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT WITH THE SIT BELT NOT SECURED, I AM AFRAID THAT MY SEAT BELT WILL NOT PROTECT ME.
NHTSA complaint #711409 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hillsboro, OR
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
DRIVER SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #529618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hillsboro, OR
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
THE DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #529528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Glenmont, NY
SEATS
NO SUMMARY PROVIDER BY CONSUMER.
NHTSA complaint #700883 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pico Rivera, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY VEHICLE STARTED ACCELERATING BY ITSELF. DRIVER STEPPED ON THE BRAKES TO STOP. BUT VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, AND DRIVING OVER CURVES WITHOUT STOPPING, SHE FINALLY STOPPED IT BY PULLING THE IGNITION KEY ON A MALL PARKING LOT.
NHTSA complaint #822021 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
OAK Creek, WI
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #528675 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LAS Vegas, NV
SEAT BELTS
SEAT BELT MOTOR FAILED, CAUSING FAILURE OF SHOULDER HARNESS.
NHTSA complaint #517677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hoffman Estates, IL
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
WHILE COMING TO A STOP THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL FOUR LUG: NUTS BROKE OFF, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO FALL OFF. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #813259 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Moorpark, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT TRACK DOESN'T SLIDE ON TRACK PROPERLY.
NHTSA complaint #812231 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palm BAY, FLCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A REAR END CRASH GOING ABOUT (20-25) MPH AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO THE SHOULDER HARNESS DID NOT LOCK. VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #809763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palm BAY, FLCrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A REAR END CRASH GOING ABOUT (20-25) MPH AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO THE SHOULDER HARNESS DID NOT LOCK. VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #809763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.