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1992 Saturn Sl

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1992 Saturn Sl do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 171.5.

About this comparison →
123Owner complaints

Model-year median: 171.5

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

3Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
29
1991123
1992175
1993286
1994355
1995
Compare all Sl years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Seat Belts
29Engine And Engine Cooling
24Service Brakes, Hydraulic
19Seats
18Electrical System
16
All reported categories
Power Train
13Vehicle Speed Control
6Steering
5Visibility
4Wheels
4Air Bags
3Equipment
3Suspension
3Unknown Or Other
3Latches/locks/linkages
2Fuel System, Gasoline
1Fuel System, Other
1Structure
1Tires
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 5 of 123 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Seat Belts. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

18 crash reports2 fire reports19 injury reports

Power Train complaints

13 reports
Clear category filter
148,000 miles · Aug 17, 2008
Latches/locks/linkagesPower TrainInjury

SHIFT CABLE LINKAGE BROKE AT SHIFTER WHILE SHIFTING DURING ACCELERATION ,MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO NO POWER AT WHEELS NEAR MISS OF BIG RIG. HAD TO DRIVE ON SIDEWALK-AND LAWN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10238598

Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2002
Power Train

SHIFTER CABLE END FASTNER BROKE RENDERING SHIFTER INOPERABLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #762689

Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 2001
Power TrainVisibility

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #749444

Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2000
Power Train

WHEN CHANGING GEARS VEHICLE HESITATES BEFORE ENGAGING THE GEAR. IF DRIVER'S FOOT IS NOT ON BRAKE PEDAL, AT THIS TIME, VEHICLE WOULD TAKE OFF. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT 8 OR 9 MONTHS AGO. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #873601

Mileage unknown · Feb 2, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolinePower Train

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #702844

Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 1998
Power Train

SHIFTER CABLE END FASTENER BROKE RENDERING SHIFTER INOPERABLE

NHTSA ODI #534370

Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 1998
Power Train

SHIFTER CABLE END FASTENER BROKE, RENDERING THE TRANSMISSION INOPERABLE WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ODI #539390

Mileage unknown · Dec 30, 1996
Power Train

POOR TRACTION ON WET PAVEMENT.

NHTSA ODI #513269

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 1996
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

DRIVER REPLACED BATTERIES 4 TIMES, TRANSMISSION SLIPPING IN 2ND GEAR, REPLACED GENERATOR WIRING AS PER SERVICE RECALL, ALSO REPLACED MOTOR MOUNTS AND BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #507374

Mileage unknown · May 22, 1996
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

RIGHT FRONT BRAKE ROTOR WARPED.

NHTSA ODI #504634

Official recalls

2

93V132000 · Electrical System:alternator/generator/regulator

Aug 10, 1993

THE GENERATOR ELECTRICAL WIRING IS NOT PROTECTED AGAINST EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW WHICH MAY BE CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE GENERATOR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: SHOULD AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT OCCUR IN THEGENERATOR, THE GENERATOR WIRING HARNESS WOULD EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW.UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, ENOUGH HEAT COULD BE GENERATED TO IGNITE SURROUNDINGMATERIALS. IF THIS OCCURS, AN UNDERHOOD FIRE COULD RESULT WITH OR WITHOUT THEENGINE RUNNING AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: THE GENERATOR WIRING HARNESS WILL BE REPLACED WITH ONE THAT WILL OPEN AS A FUSE WOULD UNDER CERTAIN EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW CONDITIONS.

92V098000 · Power Train

Jul 8, 1992

THE TRANSAXLE VALVE ASSEMBLIES WERE IMPROPERLY MACHINED. VEHICLES MAY NOT PROPERLY ENGAGE IN NEUTRAL OR PARK, EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SELECTOR INDICATES THE VEHICLE IS IN NEUTRAL OR PARK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE GEAR SELECTOR INDICATES THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK ORNEUTRAL, IT COULD BE IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE CAR COULD STARTIN REVERSE OR DRIVE, OR MIGHT MOVE UNEXPECTEDLY, WHICH MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLECRASH OR INJURY TO PERSONS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE, WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE VALVE BODIES.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

3

EA93016 · Fr Seatback Recliner Fails

Opened Jun 8, 1993 · Closed Jul 26, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats:front Assembly:recliner

There is no summary currently available

PE93022 · Steering System Lockup

Opened Apr 5, 1993 · Closed Sep 30, 1993

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

There is no summary currently available

PE93004 · Seatback Failure

Opened Feb 5, 1993 · Closed Jun 8, 1993

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats

There is no summary currently available