29 of the 481 complaints about the 1995 Saturn SL are about the electrical system — 6% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 96,500 miles.
29
Complaints
1
Crashes
4
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT'S FATHER OWNS A 1995 SATURN SL2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE THE KEY, THE KEY WOULD NOT GO BACK TO THE LOCK POSITION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 118,000.
NHTSA complaint #10238397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
PROBLEMS WITH 1995 SATURN SL1. *MR SMOKE HAD COME FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE DASH IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CABLE HARNESS FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH MODULE THAT CONNECTED TO THE KEY/LOCK ASSEMBLY BURNED, THE BLACK WIRE HAD NO INSULATION WHICH BURNED OFF ALL THE WAY TO THE GROUNDING POINT AT THE FIREWALL, THE BLACK WIRE WAS NOT CONNECTED TO THE CHASSIS AND ALSO BURNED OFF. (THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AND SHORTED THE BATTERY AND THE BLACK WIRE/CHASSIS) *SC
NHTSA complaint #10083911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE OWNER STATES THAT,' THE GEARSHIFT CAN ENGAGE WITHOUT THE KEY BEING IN THE IGNITION SWITCH.' THIS CAUSED THE GEARSHIFT TO FAIL. THE CONSUMER HAS MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #10066630 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH DRIVER NOTICED THAT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE HOOD. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO A GAS STATION. OPENED THE HOOD, AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, CONSUMER NOTICED AN ORANGE GLARE FROM THE SUNROOF. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRES IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WERE NOT INSULATED.
NHTSA complaint #10065452 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT KEPT GOING ON AND OFF.HAD VEHICLE SERVICED. ENGINE CRACKED AND OIL LEAKED INTO RADIATOR. HAD PROBLEM FIXED. HOWEVER, PROBLEM REOCCURRED.*AK *NLM
NHTSA complaint #8018664 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
ACTUAL PART A SMALL BUSHING CONNECTING THE SHIFTER (1-5) TO CLUTCH CABLE BROKE OFF WITH OUT ANY WARNING HAVING SPOKEN TO A NUMBER OF SATURN DEALERS THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE ON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I DISCOVERED SIMILAR RECALLS ON 1996 AND 97 MANY PEOPLE MIGHT NOT EVEN BEAWARE OF WHAT THE REAL PROBLEM WAS UNLESS THEY REMOVED THE CONSOLE LIKE I DID. SATURN CLAIMS IT IS THE SUPPLIERS FAULT AND THAT I HAVE TO AN ENTIRE TWO CABLE PACKAGED ASSEMBLY IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE CONNECTOR TOTAL COST $350-$400 DOLLARS I BELIEVE THE CONSUMER IS BEING PUT AT DELIBERATE RISK FOR THERE PROFITS.
NHTSA complaint #754078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
THE ALTERNATOR FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #785591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 60 MPH HEARD A RATTLE. AS CONSUMER WAS PULLING OVER, HEARD A THUMP. PISTON WENT THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK. CONSUMER OPENED HOOD AND THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY WERE NOT VERY HELPFUL. ANOTHER MECHANIC SAID HE SAW FOUR OR FIVE DIFFERENT SATURNS THAT HAD SAME PROBLEM WITHIN A MONTH.
NHTSA complaint #867849 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT START. ALL ELECTRICAL DOORS LOCKED IN POSITIONS, OCCUPANT COULD NOT EXIT VEHICLE/DOORS COULD NOT BE MANUALLY OPENED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER IN REFERENCE TO OTHER PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #866937 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ALL OF SUDDEN HEARD A BANG AND VEHICLE LOST POWER. PULLED OVER. BLACK SMOKE WAS COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONTACTED DEALER. ALTHOUGH EXACT CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED, FIRE DEPT BELIEVES THAT IT WAS ELECTRICAL, AND MAINTENANCE RELATED. *AK
NHTSA complaint #864758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
SPARK PLUGS FAILED AT 30000 MILES. REPLACED PISTON RINGS. NOW AT 70000 MILES, SAME PROBLEM. REPAIRED AT SATURN OF RENTON, NOT BELLEVUE.
NHTSA complaint #723136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING, WITHOUT WARNING, ENGINE CUTS OFF. THIS CAUSES A LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER IN THE VEHICLE. ALSO, VEHICLE HAS TO BE TURNED OFF AND STARTED BACK UP. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND CAN'T FIND CAUSE.
NHTSA complaint #858305 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE WOULD SHUT DOWN AFTER REACHING 65MPH. ALSO, INSTRUMENT LIGHTS WOULD COME ON PRIOR TO SHUTTING OFF. ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED & 2 WEEKS LATER THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT AGAIN ON THE HIGHWAY. HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED ON 27 MAY 1999 & NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND AT THAT TIME.
NHTSA complaint #843443 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
CAR HAS ONLY 38,000 MILES ON IT. IN THE LAST 30 DAYS, IT'S BEEN TOWED THREE TIMES. IT OVERHEATED, THE CLUTCH WENT OUT AND THEN THE ALTERNATOR WENT OUT.
NHTSA complaint #706513 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #535577 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
THE ALTERNATOR WORE OUT, DRAINING THE BATTERY. DEALER HAS A BACK ORDER OF THE ALTERNATORS.
NHTSA complaint #824022 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ENGINE/IGNITION/COMPUTER/SPEEDOMER/CRUISE CONTROL/REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER: ELECRICAL WIRING/WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR/DRIVER'S SEAT LATCH AND PARKING BRAKE FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #534611 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
ENGINE/IGNITION/COMPUTER/SPEEDOMER/CRUISE CONTROL/REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER: ELECRICAL WIRING/WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR/DRIVER'S SEAT LATCH AND PARKING BRAKE FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #534611 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #530268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION ASSEMBLY FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #526309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS IN A FRONT END COLLISION. ALSO IGNITION/AIR CONDITIONING AND MUFFLER REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #515318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ELECTRICAL STARTER/IGNITION MALFUNCTION.
NHTSA complaint #546702 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #601492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY DIE OUT, FOR NO REASON IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.
NHTSA complaint #983576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVEN FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND PARKED WILL NOT START, IN FOR REPAIR IGNITION MODULE REPLACEMENT, SPARK PLUG WIRES. TT
NHTSA complaint #978211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVEN FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND PARKED WILL NOT START, IN FOR REPAIR IGNITION MODULE REPLACEMENT, SPARK PLUG WIRES. TT
NHTSA complaint #978211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
STARTER FAILED. *SKD
NHTSA complaint #600357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
INTERMITTENT SUDDEN ACCELERATION DUE TO COMPUTER CHIP FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #482603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
ELECTRICAL SHORT, VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR A PERIOD OF 8 HOURS, CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE DASH. TT
NHTSA complaint #967373 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.