MYRModel Year Report

1994 Saturn SL

◆ Worse than typical
1994 Saturn SL
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
303
Recalls
1

Campaigns on file for 1994

Investigations
4

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Seat belts

17% of complaints

Complaints per year

1991: 29 complaints 1991 1992: 131 complaints 1993: 179 complaints 1994: 303 complaints 1994 303 1995: 356 complaints 1996: 287 complaints 1997: 227 complaints 1997 1998: 168 complaints 1999: 178 complaints 1999 2000: 148 complaints 2001: 111 complaints 2001 2002: 131 complaints
1991: 29 complaints 1991 1992: 131 complaints 1992 1993: 179 complaints 1993 1994: 303 complaints 1994 303 1995: 356 complaints 1995 1996: 287 complaints 1996 1997: 227 complaints 1997 1998: 168 complaints 1998 1999: 178 complaints 1999 2000: 148 complaints 2000 2001: 111 complaints 2001 2002: 131 complaints 2002
1991: 29 complaints 1991 1992: 131 complaints 1992 1993: 179 complaints 1993 1994: 303 complaints 1994 303 1995: 356 complaints 1995 1996: 287 complaints 1996 1997: 227 complaints 1997 1998: 168 complaints 1998 1999: 178 complaints 1999 2000: 148 complaints 2000 2001: 111 complaints 2001 2002: 131 complaints 2002

1994: 303 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
199129
1992131
1993179
1994303
1995356
1996287
1997227
1998168
1999178
2000148
2001111
2002131

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Seat belts

17% · 52 reports

Most commonly citing retractor and anchorage.

CRASHINJURY

Seats

16% · 49 reports

Most commonly citing recliner and power adjust.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Driver seat latch broke when rear ended by another car while sitting at a stop light causing the seat to recline.

NHTSA ODI report, 2003-06-25

As a result of being rear ended, the driver's seat back collapsed. *ak. The air bags did not deploy when the consumer's vehicle was pushed into another vehicle.

NHTSA ODI report, 2003-06-12

Also filed under Air bags

Vehicle struck by another vehicle traveling 25MPH causing driver and passenger seat to collapse. Air bag did not deploy. Tt

NHTSA ODI report, 1995-01-04

Also filed under Air bags

Service brakes

16% · 49 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic.

CRASHFIREINJURY

Engine and engine cooling

16% · 47 reports

Most commonly citing engine and gasoline.

Power train

13% · 39 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission and manual transmission.

CRASHINJURY

Safety timeline

1 recall · 4 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. ▮
    1994Complaint volume 303 complaints filed for this model year.
  2. I
    1994-11-07Preliminary evaluationClosed 1995-02-24 Cruise control failure
  3. I
    1995-02-24Engineering analysisClosed 1996-05-31 Cruise control failures
  4. I
    1998-07-31Engineering analysisClosed 1999-03-16 Seat back failures
  5. R
    1999-03-13Seats99V045000 Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Some front seat back recliner gear teeth may wear excessively through repeated use, and could cause the seat back to slip partially rearward when force is…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the front seat recliner mechanisms.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. I
    2000-02-16Recall queryClosed 2000-08-19 Front seat back can recline or collapse

Buy-smart checklist

1994 Saturn SL — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Seat belts: 52 reports on file for this year.
  • Seats: 49 reports on file for this year.
  • Service brakes: 49 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 99V045000 · Seats
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years1 year

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 1994 Saturn SL reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1994 Saturn SL is rated "worse than typical".
What are the most common problems with the 1994 Saturn SL?
The most-reported component is seat belts, accounting for 17% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1994 Saturn SL have?
1 recall on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-06 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.