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1995 Saturn SL seats problems

68 complaints (19% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 100,000. 27 crashes reported.

owner complaints
68
of this car's complaints
19%
typical mileage
100,000
crashes
27
recalls
1

Which part fails

  • Front assembly: recliner
    37

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Saturn SL seats problems in other years

199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002

Related recalls

SeatsReported March 12, 1999 · 138,691 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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 applied.
Risk
If this happens while the vehicle is being driven, it could cause a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the front seat recliner mechanisms.

Recall number 99V045000 · Recall details

Related investigations

Front seat back can recline or collapseOpened February 16, 2000, closed August 19, 2000

RQ00005

What 1995 Saturn SL owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Jun 21, 2012 · Seats · 110,000 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 1995 saturn sl sedan. The contact stated that the recliner on the front driver side seat would become loose and the contact lost support in the back while sitting. The contact was able to adjust seat but the failure recurred constantly. The contact stated the failure also occurred when attempting to exit the vehicle. The contact had to adjust seat every time he entered the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to dealer for inspection or repairs. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign id number: 99v045000 (seats), but the VIN was not included. The current mileage was 125,000. The failure mileage was 110,000.

Filed Apr 30, 2012 · Seats · 78,600 miles · WI

My wife was on the way home from picking up our kids from school and the drivers seat reclining back gave way reclining the seat back all the way. I looked up a previous recall saturn had for the yr, make, and model however either due to either age or VIN # series from what I had found online the dealer will not honor the warranty. I also contacted a young lady with gm customer assistance who also could not find any information on the recall even though I read off the recall numbers found on the federal safety agency's website. Dealer wants me to come in for a diagnostic however will not let me know of a price? This could have been a very severe incident as both my children were also in the car at the time of the incident which luckily she was able to keep control of the vehicle.

Filed Apr 14, 2011 · Seats · 200,000 miles · NJ

Tl* the contact owns a 1995 saturn sl1. The contact stated that the front driver seat began to recline abnormally. The vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified and the contact was told that the vehicle was not included in the recall associated with the federal safety agency campaign id number 99v045000 (seats). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 200,000. Updated 06/03/11 *bf updated 09/19/11

Filed Jul 11, 2008 · Seats · 100,000 miles · NJ · crash · 1 injury

Tl*the contact owns a 1995 saturn sl1. While approaching a stop sign, the contact's vehicle was rear ended and caused her to crash into a pole. Upon impact, the driver's seat retracted backwards towards the floor. The contact sustained severe injuries to her back, neck, and shoulders. The vehicle was completely destroyed. She has all the documents pertaining to the failure, and a copy of the police report. The manufacturer denied all responsibility because her VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign id number 99v045000 (seats). The speed was unknown. The failure and current mileages were 100,000.

Filed Jul 11, 2008 · Seats · 107,000 miles · NJ · crash · 1 injury

Tl*the contact owns a 1995 saturn sl2. While changing lanes at 10 MPH, the contact's vehicle was rear ended and caused her to crash into a pole. Upon impact, the driver's seat retracted backwards towards the floor. The contact sustained severe injuries to her back, neck, and shoulders. The vehicle was completely destroyed. She has all the documents pertaining to the failure, and a copy of the police report. The manufacturer denied all responsibility because her VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign id number 99v045000 (seats). The failure and current mileages were 107,000.

Filed Mar 19, 2008 · Seats · MI

My car has the problem described in the federal safety agency campaign id number 99v045000, and even falls into the "cars affected" that is listed in the recall. However, saturn says that there are no recalls for my car and refuses to fix, despite the recall that is on your website. They told me it doesn't show up in their computers, and I believe it is because it is such an old problem and car, that their databases don't have it anymore, for whatever reason.

Filed Jan 12, 2006 · Seats · 76,000 miles · CA

Dt*: the contact stated the left front driver's seat recliner gear teeth wore excessively, causing the seat to partially slip rearward while driving. There was the federal safety agency recall campaign 02v307000 regarding the seats. The vehicle had the same problems as indicated in the recall; however, it was not included in the recall due to the VIN. Although the dealer was contacted the vehicle was not seen by a dealer. *ak updated 03/09/06.

Filed Sep 9, 2005 · Seats · 96,224 miles · FL

In jan 2003 I received a notice that there might be a problem with the front seat back recliner gear teeth to wear excessively and if I had a problem I should go to a saturn dealer . Last month the problem started and I went to my saturn dealer in brandon, fl. They said there were no recalls on my vehicle. I went to the saturn web site and discovered that there is a recall on a 1995 saturn sl1 sedan, which is what I have. This car was purchased new in oct. 1995, and I purchased it used in august 2001. The campaign number :aa 99v0450000 a a a a a dated a a 1999-mar-12. I went back to the saturn dealer in tasmpa, fl. Today and they again said there was no recall on my vehicle. I stated the letter stated 1994 and 1995 vehicles and I feel that mine should be covered since is was manufactured in late 1994. We have to [place a cooler behind the seat to hold it in place or it will fall back. The dealer refuses to honor this recall. What can we do?

Filed Apr 20, 2004 · Seats · FL

While driving driver's seat slid backwards. The seat did not lock in place, and lock system failed intermittently.

Filed Nov 3, 2003 · Seats · 96,000 miles · WA · crash · 1 injury

Below are excerpts from the letter I wrote to saturn. They basically blew me off: president and ceo saturn corporation on july 5, 2000, I was rear-ended by a late model ford mustang while I was stopped at a red light in my 1995 saturn sl-1. When I was hit, my driver's seat back failed and I was thrown into the back seat of my car and sprained my lower back. After almost two months, my back is still in pain and I am undergoing physical therapy. A year or so ago, I saw a television news report that stated saturn was recalling all 1995 sl-series sedans because of an inherent fault in the design that would cause the seat back to fail in the event of a rear-end collision. I contacted saturn of bellevue in bellevue, washington and after typing my vehicle identification number into their computer, they told me my car was not involved in the recall. When I asked if my car was safe, they assured me it was. It is now painfully obvious that my car was not safe. I am upset and disappointed with the saturn corporation for telling me it was safe to continue driving a car with an inherent safety design fault. I recently called saturn of bellevue to get an address where I could write to you, and during the course of the conversation, the salesman I spoke with told me that seat back failure in a rear-end collision was a common occurrence and he didn't understand what my problem was. I subsequently spoke with two insurance adjusters who assured me that this was not a common occurrence. At this point, I am asking that you direct saturn of bellevue or saturn of renton in washington state to re-fit my obviously defective front seats (both driver and passenger) with which ever safety device you installed in the 1995 saturn vehicles that were covered by your recall.

Questions about the 1995 Saturn SL seats

Does the 1995 Saturn SL have seats problems?

Owners have filed 68 complaints about the seats of the 1995 Saturn SL, 19% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.

At what mileage do 1995 Saturn SL seats problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 100,000 miles.

Was there a recall on the 1995 Saturn SL seats?

Yes, 1 recall: 99V045000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

What year does the Saturn SL have bad seats?

The Saturn SL model years with the most seats complaints are 1995 (68 complaints), 1994 (48 complaints) and 1993 (21 complaints).

Other 1995 Saturn SL problems

Engine 68Brakes 56Transmission 40Steering 37Airbags 31Electrical 27Acceleration 24Visibility 16Tires 12Seat belts 11Body 8Fuel system 7Suspension 6Lights 4Locks 3Wheels 1

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