FaultScore

Saturn SL airbag problems

164 of the 2,891 complaints filed about the Saturn SL are about the airbag system — 6% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1995.

164

Complaints

6%

Share of all complaints

130

Crashes

3

Fires

Airbags complaints by model year

1991 SL 1 0.6%
1992 SL 3 1.8%
1993 SL 10 6.1%
1994 SL 20 12.2%

Median failure at 162,700 miles

1995 SL 36 22.0%
1996 SL 19 11.6%

Median failure at 110,000 miles

1997 SL 20 12.2%

Median failure at 109,514 miles

1998 SL 8 4.9%

Median failure at 102,381 miles

1999 SL 20 12.2%

Median failure at 69,750 miles

2000 SL 5 3.0%

Median failure at 89,000 miles

2001 SL 13 7.9%

Median failure at 73,000 miles

2002 SL 9 5.5%

Median failure at 39,000 miles

What owners said

2002 Saturn SL High Point, NC Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

A car hit me it the front passenger side the hood of my car bent up the passenger side of my windshield cracked and my car went spinning not one air bag came out

NHTSA complaint #11530331 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Saturn SL at 120,000 miles Palmdale, CA Crash 3 injured 1 killed

AIR BAGS

HIT MOUNTAIN HEAD ON AND CAR ROLLED AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. REAR TIRE AND DRUM BROKE OFF CAR WHILE DOING 50 MILE PER HOUR

NHTSA complaint #11111100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Saturn SL at 127 miles NEW Orleans, LA Crash

AIR BAGS

I HAVE SOO MUCH PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR

NHTSA complaint #11081170 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1993 Saturn SL Stockton, MO Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1993 SATURN SL-2. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO COAST THE VEHICLE OFF TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER, BUT LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO THREE POLES. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND EJECTED THE CONTACT THROUGH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BROKEN RIBS AND A PERMANENT HEAD INJURY. THE CONTACT WAS IN A COMA ON LIFE SUPPORT FOR THREE WEEKS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED THAT IT WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 10/05/17*LJ *JS

NHTSA complaint #11006222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Saturn SL at 34,000 miles Paterson, NJ Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY RT. 80, WHEN A CAR SWERVED INTO RIGHT LANE IN FRONT OF ME FROM ENTRANCE RAMP. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROX. 45 MILES AN HOUR. AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN A FRONT END COLLISION, CAUSING LIFE ALTERING INJURY. LEFT TEMPORAL BRAIN DAMAGE, POST CONCUSSION SYNDROME AND EPILEPSY, ALSO OTHER INJURIES TO NECK, SHOULDER AND TO LOWER BACK.

NHTSA complaint #10944042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 Saturn SL Rodeo, CA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

AUTO ACCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON 07/31/2015, THE LEFT FRONT AIR BAG DEPLOYED ON ITS OWN CAUSING INJURIES TO THE PASSENGER IN OUR VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND ONCE THE KEYS WERE TAKEN OUT IS WHEN RIGHT FRONT AIR BAG WAS DISPLOYED.

NHTSA complaint #10871654 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 Saturn SL Norfolk, VA

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SATURN SL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE HORN BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING AND THE MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10676665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Saturn SL Slidell, LA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

I WAS DRIVING A PERSON RAN A STOP SIGN AND I HIT THE VEHICLE HEAD ON THE AIRBAG BLEW UP IN MY FACE SOUNDED LIKE A BOMB I HAD BURNS ON MY FACE HEAD HANDS AND FORE ARMS MY RIBS WERE BRUISED AND SOME CONTUSIONS IN BACK AND KNEES.

NHTSA complaint #10649360 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Saturn SL at 66,000 miles Island Lake, IL Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

OUR DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON 10/9/2014. A VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF HER. OUR DAUGHTER WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP IN TIME AND HIT THE VEHICLE WITH THE FRONT END OF THE SATURN TO THE DRIVERS DOOR OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BUT WE BELIEVE THEY SHOULD HAVE. OUR DAUGHTER SUSTAINED INJURIES.

NHTSA complaint #10644252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Saturn SL Oroville, CA

AIR BAGS

WE HAVE A SATURN SL1 THAT HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM THAT THE CARS ON THE IGNITION RECALL LIST HAVE. THE KEY COMES OUT IN ANY POSITION - THE WHEEL LOCKS UP AND WE CAN'T GET IT TO UNLOCK - WE LIVE IN A RURAL AREA AND OUR ROADS ARE VERY ROUGH. WE FEEL THAT THE KEY MAY MOVE FROM THE RUN POSITION WHILE WE ARE DRIVING THE CAR AND THE ENGINE WILL TURN OFF AND WE WILL BE IN GREAT DANGER. WE HAVE CONTACTED GM AND THEY SAID THAT SINCE THE CAR IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST - THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO....WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU COULD INVESTIGATE THIS SITUATION. OUR CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IN OUR DRIVEWAY FOR 3 MONTHS, BECAUSE WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME -- AWAITING YOUR EARLIEST RESPONSE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10641820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 Saturn SL at 110,000 miles Yatesville, GA Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

I WAS IN A BROAD SIDE COLLISION (T-BONE) TYPE ACCIDENT WHERE I HIT ANOTHER DRIVER AFTER SHE TURNED IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING THIS COLLISION AND NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED MY SEATBELT LOCKED CAUSING ME TO HAVE SEVERE NERVE DAMAGE IN MY NECK ON THE LEFT SIDE, MY LEFT LEG NOW HAS INJURY FROM THIS ACCIDENT NEEDLESS TO SAY I WILL HAVE THIS LIFELONG PROBLEM STEMMING FROM THIS ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10633578 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Saturn SL at 115,028 miles Weldon, NC 2 injured

AIR BAGS

ON JULY 23, 2014 APPROXIMATELY 6:35P.M. I WAS ON MY WAY TO CHURCH ALONG WITH THREE OTHER PASSENGERS. MY SISTER WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND MY GRANDSON AND THE LADY THAT LIVE WITH ME WAS IN THE BACK SEAT. WITHOUT WARNING THERE WAS A BOOM OR EXPLOSION THAT CAUSE ME TO BRIEFLY LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. THE CAR WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE AND FUME FROM THE DEPLOYED AIRBAGS. MY ARMS WERE CHEMICALLY BURNED AND KNUCKLES ON LEFT HAND FROM HOLDING STEERING WHEEL. THE PASSENGER IN FRONT WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT WRISTS PAIN, ANXIETY AND CHEST PAIN IN ONE OF HER BREAST. MY GRANDSON AND THE LADY RIDING IN THE BACK WAS NOT HURT BUT WAS CHECKED AT THE EMERGENCY FOR INHALATION AND RELEASED. WE WERE ALL CHECKED AND RELEASED AFTERWARD. I LATER GOT IN TOUCH WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY THAT TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A DEFAULT. THEN I LATER CONTACT GM, THEY GAVE CLAIM NUMBER AND TOOK INFORMATION ON THE INCIDENT. LATER THEY REFERRED CLAIM SPECIALIST, I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM CLAIM SPECIALIST CONCERNING WHAT TO DO.

NHTSA complaint #10622410 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Saturn SL at 140,000 miles Hutchinson, MN Crash 4 injured

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SATURN SL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED TO PREVENT FROM CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT HAD DISOBEYED THE STOP SIGN. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE SLID AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND ROLLED INTO A SNOW EMBANKMENT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES AND THE THREE PASSENGERS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. IN ADDITION, THE KEY COULD BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WHEN DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA complaint #10609952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Saturn SL at 156,000 miles Plesant View, UT

AIR BAGS

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE AIR BAGS SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED. NO KNOWN CAUSE- POSSIBLY BAD SENSORS. IT BROKE MY THUMB AND BURNED MY ARM.

NHTSA complaint #10494953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Saturn SL at 148,763 miles Lakeland, FL Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

I WAS A PASSENGER IN THE 1998 SATURN SL1, WHILE APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION "TWO CARS BEHIND THE LEAD CAR ABOUT TO GO THROUGH INTERSECTION" THE DRIVER IN THE ON-COMING LANE DECIDE LAST MINUTE TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN AT THE INTERSECTION IN FRONT OF THE LEAD CAR IN ARE LANE. WHICH CAUSED A CHAIN REACTION OF ACCIDENTS. WHILE THE 1998 SATURN SL WAS INDEED THE LAST CAR TO HIT THE "PILE UP" UPON IMPACT I EXHALED AND TRIED TO RELAX MY BODY FOR IMPACT "LIKE I OBSERVED ON DISCOVERY'S MYTH BUSTERS" AFTER IMPACT AS I WAS ASKING MY FRIEND "DRIVER" IF SHE WAS OK. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED LATE! ... IF THIS WILL HAPPEN TO ME A 300PD GROWN MAN ID HATE TO SEE THE OUT COME IF A PERSON NOT OF MY MASS HAD THIS HAPPEN TO THEM. I FEEL AS IF THEY WOULD HAVE GONE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD... LIFE THREATENING INJURY'S WOULD OF MOST CERTAINLY OCCURRED.

NHTSA complaint #10453980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Saturn SL at 133,000 miles Columbus, OH Crash

AIR BAGS

I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON JULY 18 2009 A LADY PULLED OUT OF A SIDE STREET AND WE HIT. I COULD NOT AVOID HER. IM NOT SURE WHAT SPEED I WAS GOING AT IMPACT BUT I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES AT 40 MPH. MY FRONT END HIT HER SIDE.MOST PASSENGERS ME, THE FRONT PASSENGER AND TWO OTHERS WERE INJURED. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. IM NOT SURE IF THEY SHOULD HAVE BUT AT THAT SPEED AND THE IMPACT I FEEL THEY DEFINITELY SHOULD HAVE. MY DAUGHTER AND I FLEW FORWARD AND SHE HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND I WENT INTO THE STEERING WHEEL COMING VERY CLOSE TO THE WINDSHIELD. THE CAR IN TOTALED.

NHTSA complaint #10278294 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Saturn SL at 111,445 miles Jacksonville, FL

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I MADE A RIGHT TURN AND TURNED TO CLOSE TO THE CURB AND BUMPED IT AND BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE DEALER SAYS IT'S NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX, THAT I SHOULD CALL MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND MAKE A CLAIM. MY INSURANCE SAYS THAT IF I MAKE A CLAIM I COULD BE CANCELED SINCE I HAVE TWO PRIOR CLAIMS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED. ALL I DID WAS CATCH THE CURB WITH THE SIDE OF MY FRONT TIRE. THE DEALER SAYS IT WILL COST $2,100.00 TO REPAIR. THE CAR IS A 1999 SATURN SL AND IS NOT WORTH THAT. EVEN IF I COULD FILE WITH MY INSURANCE THEY WOULD TOTAL THE CAR BECAUSE IT WOULD COST MORE TO REPAIR THAN IT IS WORTH. I BOUGHT THE CAR 11/26/08 AND HAVE ALREADY HAD TO PUT A NEW WATER PUMP IN IT AND NOW THIS.

NHTSA complaint #10259406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Saturn SL Albuquerque, NM

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

LTR FROM SENATOR BINGAMAN ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT, RE FRONT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN HER 2001 SATURN SL1. *NJ THE AIR BAD DEPLOYED WHEN THE CONSUMER SON EXITED THE VEHICLE AFTER FIRMLY CLOSING THE DOOR. THE CONSUMER HAD AN OUTSIDE CONTRACTOR INSPECT THE VEHICLE, AND HE STATED THE VEHICLES COMPUTER REGISTERED AN EVENT THAT OCCURRED PRIOR TO THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.

NHTSA complaint #10242594 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Saturn SL Albuquerque, NM

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

MALFUNCTION OF PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG ON 2001 SATURN SL1. *NJ THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHEN THE CONSUMER'S SON EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP WITH THE ENGINE IDLING.

NHTSA complaint #10238268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Saturn SL at 82,176 miles Lancaster, CA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

SIDEWALL EXPLODED WHILE ENTERING A DRIVEWAY. BOUGHT THE SAME TIRE AS A REPLACEMENT AND IT DEVELOPED A GIANT SIDEWALL BUBBLE IN A FEW THOUSAND MILES THAT JUST RUPTURED...THE TWO TIRES BOTH WENT BAD IN ONLY 11333 MILES...ABOUT 5666 MILES EACH!!

NHTSA complaint #10237300 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Saturn SL problems