IllustrationTOTAL BRAKE FAILURE ON BRAKING FROM 40MPH. BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR BUT DOES NOT STOP VEHICLE.*JB
1993 Saturn Sl
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1993 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: 12 of 175 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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
24 crash reports8 fire reports13 injury reports
What owners actually said
175 reportsVEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE ON WAY TO AIRPORT. NO WARNING WAS GIVEN . CONSUMER WAS FLAGGED BY ANOTHER AUTOMOBILE THAT HER VEHICLE WAS SMOKING. THEN SHE STOPPED, GOT OUT, THEN ALMOST IMMEDIATELY CAR EXPLODED.*AK
ABS LIGHT WAS COMING ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY, CURRENTLY, ABS LIGHT REMAINS ON WHILE DRIVING, AND CAUSES ABS TO BE NON OPERATIONAL. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK COMPUTER FOUND ERROR AND IF THE CODE RESETS CONSUMER WILL NEED TO REPLACE ABS CONTROLLER. *JG
THE PROBLEM I LISTED WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAD THE ALTERNATOR DIE, IT THEN HAPPENED ON 7/3/00 AT APX. 10900 MILES, AND AGAIN ON 10/7/01 AT APX. 130,000 MILES. THEN ON 12/27/01 THE BATTERY DIED ON THE CAR. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED AND I AM NOT SURE IF THE ALTERNATOR THAT WAS IN IT WAS THE ORIGINAL OR NOT. BUT I HAVE REPLACED IT EVERY…
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THE PROBLEM I LISTED WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAD THE ALTERNATOR DIE, IT THEN HAPPENED ON 7/3/00 AT APX. 10900 MILES, AND AGAIN ON 10/7/01 AT APX. 130,000 MILES. THEN ON 12/27/01 THE BATTERY DIED ON THE CAR. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED AND I AM NOT SURE IF THE ALTERNATOR THAT WAS IN IT WAS THE ORIGINAL OR NOT. BUT I HAVE REPLACED IT EVERY TIME WITH A REBUILT ONE. I ALSO DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE SEATBELTS ARE CALLED BUT THEY ARE AUTOMATIC ONES ON THE SHOULDER AND MANUAL FOR THE LAP IN THE FRONT. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AT MY HOME AND I WILL RETURN YOUR CALL ON THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY. OR YOU CAN E-MAIL ME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.*AK
MY BIGGEST PROBLEMS IS WITH THE STALLING OF THE CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN ONE ACCIDENT AND THERE HAS BEEN ALOT OF TIMES AT WHICH THIS CAR HAS STALLED. THIS VEHICLE IS VERY DANGEROUS TO ME AND MY 4 YEAR OLD BOY AND THE PLACE AT WHICH I AM STILL PAYING FOR THIS CAR AS NOT BEEN COOPERATIVE IN FIXING THIS P…
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MY BIGGEST PROBLEMS IS WITH THE STALLING OF THE CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN ONE ACCIDENT AND THERE HAS BEEN ALOT OF TIMES AT WHICH THIS CAR HAS STALLED. THIS VEHICLE IS VERY DANGEROUS TO ME AND MY 4 YEAR OLD BOY AND THE PLACE AT WHICH I AM STILL PAYING FOR THIS CAR AS NOT BEEN COOPERATIVE IN FIXING THIS PROBLEM WHICH WAS BROUGHT TO THERE ATTENTION FROM DAY ONE. ANNA COLE. *AK
DRIVER'S SEATBACK FRAME BROKE AT MEET POINTS BETWEEN THE 2 DIFFERENT SEATBACK FRAME COMPONENTS. *AK
CAR FIRE AFTER CAR WAS OFF FOR 1.8 HOURS. *AK
WHEN ADJUSTING FRONT SEAT, SEATS GOES BACKWARD, CONSUMER CAN HEAR SEAT CLICKING AS IT CHANGES POSITIONS, AND IT FALLS TO THE BACK, CONTACTED DEALER.*AK CONSUMER STATES THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING ALSO. *SLC
UPON EXITING VEHICLE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION.*AK
TRANSMISSION EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING CAUSED BY A PIN COMING LOOSE FROM WITHIN, AND FORCING IT THROUGH TRANSMISSION CASE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER.*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.
93V094000 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery:cables
May 25, 1993
THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE TERMINAL AT THE STARTER SOLENOID MAY BE FORMED INCORRECTLY. INCORRECTLY FORMED TERMINALS CAN CONTACT THE STARTER SOLENOID HOUSING AND CAUSE AN ELECTRIC SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT BETWEEN THE BATTERY CABLE ANDTHE STARTER HOUSING CAN RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, ADJUST THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE TERMINAL SO THAT IT DOES NOT CONTACT THE STARTER SOLENOID HOUSING.
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
3EA95003 · Cruise Control Failures
Opened Feb 24, 1995 · Closed May 31, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment
THIS INVESTIGATION DOCUMENTED HTE FUNCTIONAL ABERATIONS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SUBJECT CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM.MOST OF THE MALFUNCTIONS INVOLVED FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM TO PROPERLY REGULATE VEHICLE SPEED WHEN ENGAGED, FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM TO ENGAGE, OR SELF-DISENGAGEMENT OF THE SYSTEM. THESE PROBLEMS WERE INVESTIGATED AND STEPS TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER TO REMEDY THEIR OCCURRENCES.SERVICE PROCEDURES WERE ISSUED FOR VEHICLES IN USE, AND A DESIGN MODIFICATION MADE FOR NEW VEHICLES.NO CONFIRMED ALLEGATIONS OF FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISENGAGE UPON COMMAND WERE IDENTIFIED.IMPROVED QUALITY CONTROL PROCEDURES AND DESIGN MODIFICATIONSIN THE SYSTEM WERE UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE A MORE CONSISTENT LEVEL OF SYSTEM PERFORMANCE.THE DETAILS OF THESE FINDINGS AND THE RESULTING CONCLUSIONS ARE CONTAINED INTHE SUBJECT ENGINEERING ANALYSIS CLOSING REPORT.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND WAS NOT IDENTIFIED AT EHIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
PE94079 · Cruise Control Failure
Opened Nov 7, 1994 · Closed Feb 24, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment
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