FaultScore

1993 Saturn SL seat problems

21 of the 228 complaints about the 1993 Saturn SL are about the seats — 9% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 60,000 miles.

F

21

Complaints

6

Crashes

0

Fires

3

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Recliner 12 57.1%
Seats 9 42.9%

Seats across every Saturn SL year

1992 18 9.3%
1993 21 10.9%
1994 49 25.4%
1995 72 37.3%
1996 15 7.8%
1997 18 9.3%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 60,000 miles OAK Park, MI Crash 1 injured

SEATS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 SATURN SL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER SEPARATED FROM THE ARM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT, HORN, IGNITION, AND WINDOWS ALSO FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 172,727. UPDATED 09/15/14*LJ UPDATED 1/13/2014

NHTSA complaint #10585967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Falls Church, VA

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

DRIVER'S SEATBACK FRAME BROKE AT MEET POINTS BETWEEN THE 2 DIFFERENT SEATBACK FRAME COMPONENTS.

NHTSA complaint #755604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Saavannah, OH

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

WHEN ADJUSTING FRONT SEAT, SEATS GOES BACKWARD, CONSUMER CAN HEAR SEAT CLICKING AS IT CHANGES POSITIONS, AND IT FALLS TO THE BACK, CONTACTED DEALER.*AK CONSUMER STATES THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING ALSO. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #896446 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EL Cajon, CA

SEATS

DRIVER'S SEAT IS BECOMING DISTORTED AND TOGETHER LIKE AN ACCORDIAN. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF DEFECT, BUT WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO REPAIR SEAT BECAUSE IT IS NOT ON WARRANTY. FRAME IN BACK OF SEAT COLLAPSED. *AK *SLC

NHTSA complaint #886838 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rockville Center, NY

SEATS

METAL FRAGMENT INSIDE FABRIC HAS PUNCTURED THROUGH IT ON DRIVER'S SIDE. METAL FRAGMENT JAMS INTO BACK OF DRIVER WHILE DRIVING. IT'S EXPOSED & HARD TO RECESS BACK WITHOUT RIPPING FABRIC. HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA complaint #877008 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lake Sherwood, MO

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

FRONT SEATBACK REPLACED, AT OWNERS EXPENSE.

NHTSA complaint #732906 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Oakland, CA

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

THERE IS A RECALL IN EFFECT FOR THE SEAT RECLINER FAILURE IN 1994, 1995 AND SOME 1993 SATURNS. MY SEAT RECLINER FAILED IN 1995, BUT MY VIN IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT ISN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL WHEN IT IS A FAILED PART FROM THE SAME RECLINER MANUFACTURER. OVER THE YEARS I HAVE ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT IT A COUPLE OF TIMES AND CHOSE NOT TO GET IT FIXED BECAUSE IT COST $250. RECENTLY I HEARD ABOUT THE RECALL AND THOUGHT THAT FINALLY THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. BUT MY CAR ISN'T INCLUDED. WHY?

NHTSA complaint #708919 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Water Hallow, CT

SEATS

INCORRECT SEAT BASE WELDS ON DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATS, CAUSING FAILURE OF THE SEAT BASE. VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NUMBER 91V038000 DUE TO VIN#. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #838545 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Silver Spring, MD

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

WHEN DRIVER STEPPED ON THE BRAKES OR WHEN HE PUT PRESSURE ON SEAT, SEAT FELL BACK INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE ONTO THE REAR SEAT. THIS PROBLEM HAPPEN ALL THE TIME.

NHTSA complaint #838570 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Snellville, GA

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

GEARS THAT HOLD DRIVER'S SEATBACK UP BROKE, CAUSING SEAT TO RECLINE WITH SLIGHTEST MOVEMENT. SEAT HAS BEEN REPAIRED BY THE DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA complaint #838429 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Victorville, CA

SEATS

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT FRAME BROKE AT WELD WHEN STOPPING SUDDENLY.

NHTSA complaint #544488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Milwaukee, WI Crash 1 injured

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

VEHICLE WAS REAR-ENDED AND PUSHED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF CONSUMER. HAD BOTH FRON TAND RAE IMPACT. DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY, AND SHOULDER BELT DID NOT LOCK IN TIME TO PREVENT DRIVER FROM FALLING FORWARD, HITTING HEAD ON STEERING WHEEL. ALSO, SEATBACK COLLAPSED, DRIVER FELL BACKWARDS AND HIT BACK OF HEAD. SUSTAINED INJURIES, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.

NHTSA complaint #539614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brooklyn, NY

SEATS

WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 50MPH WHEN THE DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARDS. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE DRIVER'S VIEW WAS OBSTRUCTED. HAD TRIED TO RAISE SEAT, BUT BAR IN RECLINER WAS BENT. HAS TAKEN TO DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #834128 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Milford, OH Crash

SEATS

CONSUMER WAS STOPPING AT A LIGHT WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED CONSUMER, CAUSING THE VEHICLE SEATBACK REST TO COLLAPSE. DEALER/ MFR. NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #831522 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sewickley, PA

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK FRAME FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #781538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tampa, FL Crash

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

IN A HIGH SPEED ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE OCCUPANT WAS REAR ENDED, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATBACKS FELL BACK, CAUSING INJURIES. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #829808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Staten Island, NY Crash

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

DURING REAR IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO COLLAPSE BACKWARDS, RESULTING IN CONSUMER LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #820329 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Austin, TX

SEATS

DRIVER SEAT COLLAPSED INTO THE REAR SEAT DURING A REAR END COLLISION, NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.

NHTSA complaint #522591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lynchburg, VA

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

SEATBACK MADE IN TWO PIECES; TOP PART NOT WELDED ALL THE WAY, THE TOP OF THE SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARDS. HAD VEHICLE REPAIRED.

NHTSA complaint #809648 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

N. Bellmore, NY

SEATS

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BROKE WHILE DRIVING.*AK *SLC

NHTSA complaint #802108 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Silver Sprin, MD Crash 1 injured

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

DRIVER'S SEATBACK COLLAPSED UPON BEING REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING AT 45 MPH

NHTSA complaint #983110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1993 Saturn SL problems

← Full 1993 Saturn SL report