IllustrationROLLOVERS WITH SATURNS/ IN LOOKING FOR PARTS I HAVE FOUND OVER TEN SATURNS AT JUNK YARDS. THE OPERATORS OF THESE YARDS HAVE SEEN MANY SATURNS AS ROLLOVERS AND SAY IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM -
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sl years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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
What owners actually said
123 reportsCONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S SEATBACK RELEASED AND COLLAPSED INTO A RECLINING POSITION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
ALTERNATOR FAILED TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO RECALL ANNOUNCED ON POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD ON VEHICLE. DUE TO MILEAGE, VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE OF WARRENTY, HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR REPLACEMENT. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED REGARDS TO POSSIBLE FAILURE DUE TO SAME REASON AS RECALL. MANUFATURER STATED THERE WAS NO CHANCE. (RECALL WAS FOR ALTERNATOR…
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ALTERNATOR FAILED TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO RECALL ANNOUNCED ON POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD ON VEHICLE. DUE TO MILEAGE, VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE OF WARRENTY, HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR REPLACEMENT. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED REGARDS TO POSSIBLE FAILURE DUE TO SAME REASON AS RECALL. MANUFATURER STATED THERE WAS NO CHANCE. (RECALL WAS FOR ALTERNATOR/ALTERNATOR FAILED) MECHANIC STATED IF DIODES DID NOT BURNOUT, MAY HAVE CAUSE A FIRE. RECALL WAS BASED ON POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD IN ALTERNATOR SYSTEM.
NO SUMMARY
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
MOTORIZED SEAT BELT IS NOT WORKING ANY MORE. JUST GAVE UP ON CONSUMER WHERE NEITHER OF THE FRONT MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS ARE WORKING. *AK
PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM ON PASSENGER SIDE FAILED WITHOUT TRAUMA, ENGINE MOUNT FAILED CAUSING STEERING DIFFICULTY AND LOUD NOISE, GAS GAUGE BEGAN BOUNCING RANDOMLY, O-RINGS IN A/C FAILED TWICE, DESPITE RETROFIT, A/C AGAIN INOPERATIVE DUE TO "O-RINGS" WATER PUMP LEAKED AT 40,000 MILES, BATTERY DEAD IN ONE YEAR IN ARIZONA. *AK
LEFT REAR WHEEL SNAPPED OFF AXLE CAUSING CAR TO SLIDE ACROSS GRASSED
SEAT FRAME STARTED TO BREAK THROUGH THE CLOTH COVERING. THE FRAME EVENTUALLY BENT BACKWARDS NEAR THE TOP OF THE SEAT. SOON THE FRAME BROKE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE AND THERE IS A SHARP POINT STICKING OUT AND THE CLOTH COVERING IS RUINED. I CALLED THE DEALER TO FIND OUT WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE AND THEY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO REPL…
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SEAT FRAME STARTED TO BREAK THROUGH THE CLOTH COVERING. THE FRAME EVENTUALLY BENT BACKWARDS NEAR THE TOP OF THE SEAT. SOON THE FRAME BROKE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE AND THERE IS A SHARP POINT STICKING OUT AND THE CLOTH COVERING IS RUINED. I CALLED THE DEALER TO FIND OUT WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE AND THEY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE SEAT WHICH WOULD COST ME OVER 500 DOLLARS. *AK
MOTORIZED SEATBELT RESTRAINTS ARE INOPERATIVE ON BOTH THE DRIVERS AND THE PASSENGERS SEATS. WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO USE THEM FOR SOME TIME NOW, AND WE WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT RECENTLY IN WHICH WE WERE REAR ENDED. THIS HAS LEFT MY WIFE WITH BACK PROBLEMS EVER SINCE, AND I DO BELIEVE THAT IF THE SHOULDER RESTAINTS WERE TO HA…
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MOTORIZED SEATBELT RESTRAINTS ARE INOPERATIVE ON BOTH THE DRIVERS AND THE PASSENGERS SEATS. WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO USE THEM FOR SOME TIME NOW, AND WE WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT RECENTLY IN WHICH WE WERE REAR ENDED. THIS HAS LEFT MY WIFE WITH BACK PROBLEMS EVER SINCE, AND I DO BELIEVE THAT IF THE SHOULDER RESTAINTS WERE TO HAVE BEEN WORKING PROPERLY SHE WOULD BE FINE. *AK
Official recalls
293V132000 · 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
3EA93016 · 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