IllustrationSHIFTER CABLE END FASTENER BROKE, RENDERING THE TRANSMISSION INOPERABLE WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC.
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 reportsHEAD GASKET IS VERY POROUS CAUSING LEAKS WHICH MADE WATER FLOW INTO THE OIL AND OIL FLOW INTO THE RADIATOR.
POOR STEERING CONTROL.
AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS FAIL TO RETRACT OR CLOSE. *AK
DRIVER'S SEAT TWISTED DURING A CLASH, CAUSING BACK INJURY TO PASSENGER. ALSO, LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILURE. *AK
UPON TURNING KEY IN IGNITION, PASSENGER, OUT OF HABIT, REACHE DOVER RIGHT SHOULDER TO GRAB SEAT AND SHOULDER BELT LIKE SHE WAS IN HER OWN VEHICLE. HOWEVER MOTORIZED SHOULDER BELT WAS OPERATING AT SAME INSTANT, AND CONTACTED WITH PASSENGER'S RIGHT INDEX FINGER, PARTIALLY SEVERING THE TIP. ONCLEAR WHETHER FINGER WAS INJURED BY SO…
Read full complaint
UPON TURNING KEY IN IGNITION, PASSENGER, OUT OF HABIT, REACHE DOVER RIGHT SHOULDER TO GRAB SEAT AND SHOULDER BELT LIKE SHE WAS IN HER OWN VEHICLE. HOWEVER MOTORIZED SHOULDER BELT WAS OPERATING AT SAME INSTANT, AND CONTACTED WITH PASSENGER'S RIGHT INDEX FINGER, PARTIALLY SEVERING THE TIP. ONCLEAR WHETHER FINGER WAS INJURED BY SOMETHING ON MOTORIZED BELT OR BY SHARP EDGES AT LOCKING END OF CARRIER TRACK. *AK
THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS, CAUSING A SHORT CIRCUIT AND THE WIRING HARNESS TO MELT. CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE OFF POSITION. *AK
THE ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED, CAUSING CAR TO OVERHEAT AND OIL TO LEAK IN THE ENGINE COOLANT.
MOTORIZED LAP/SHOULDER BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE GOT STUCK IN THE TRACK. *AK
RIGHT REAR WHEEL CAME OFF. (NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE REPORT)
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