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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 →

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 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 2000
Tires

PE00-020;WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH WHEN RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD A TREAD SEPARATION.TIRE DID NOT WENT FLAT. FIRESTONE, P175/70R14. *AK THE CUSTOMER BOUGHT NEW TIRE AND REPLACED THE FAILED ONE. *YH

NHTSA ODI #871446

Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2000
Service Brakes, Air

BRAKES DO NOT WORK SOMETIMES NO MATTER WHAT YOUR SPEED IS SOMETIMES THEY STOP AND SOMETIMES THEY HIT THE FLOOR.DEALER DOES NOT KNOW WHY,APPARENTLY THE ABS SYSTEM RUNS A CHECK WHEN YOU FIRST START YOUR CAR THAT IS WHAT IT APPEARS TO BE DOING WHEN I LOOSE MY BRAKES NO ONE KNOWS WHY

NHTSA ODI #732365

Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2000
Power Train

VALVE BODY FAILED - TROUBLE WITH GEARS ENGAGING THEN DURING TOTAL FAILURE, TANSMISSION WENT INTO 2ND GEAR WITHOUT ANY CHANGE IN INCLINE, OR POWER APPLICATION AND SURGED IN AND OUT OF SECOND GEAR (AT HIGHWAY SPEED). VALVE BODY REPLACED - DEALER READILY ADMITS A COMMON PROBELM WITH SATURNS BUILT IN EARLY 90'S. IF GEARS FAIL TO E…

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VALVE BODY FAILED - TROUBLE WITH GEARS ENGAGING THEN DURING TOTAL FAILURE, TANSMISSION WENT INTO 2ND GEAR WITHOUT ANY CHANGE IN INCLINE, OR POWER APPLICATION AND SURGED IN AND OUT OF SECOND GEAR (AT HIGHWAY SPEED). VALVE BODY REPLACED - DEALER READILY ADMITS A COMMON PROBELM WITH SATURNS BUILT IN EARLY 90'S. IF GEARS FAIL TO ENGAGE I SEE A SAFETY CONCERN - ESPECIALLY SINCE REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE DIFFERENT FROM ORIGINAL STOCK - THE A SOLUTION TO THIS HAS BEEN ENGINEERED BUT WHY NO RECALL?

NHTSA ODI #730839

Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 2000
Visibility

THE WINDSHIELD INCREASES AND SCATTERS THE SUN'S GLARE IN LATE AFTERNOONS, EARLY EVENINGS WHEN THE SUN IS LOW IN THE SKY. TWO TIMES I HAVE ALMOST HIT PEOPLE ON BICYCLES BECAUSE I WAS COMPLETELY UNABLE TO SEE THEM.

NHTSA ODI #730573

Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 2000
Unknown Or Other

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ODI #730143

Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 2000
Tires

TWO OF THE FIRESTONE MODEL FR480 TIRES EXPERIENCED BULGES IN THE TREAD CAUSING VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING. *MJS

NHTSA ODI #554251

Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2000
Tires

DUE TO THE RECENT RECALL OF SOME OF FIRESTONE TIRES I WANTED TO ALERT YOU TO THE FACT THAT MY FIRESTONE TIRES WHICH ARE NOT PART OF THE RECALL ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCE. I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 70 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE RIGHT REAR TIRES TREAD SEPERATED FROM THE TIRE AND CAUSED THE TIRE TO DEFLATE. …

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DUE TO THE RECENT RECALL OF SOME OF FIRESTONE TIRES I WANTED TO ALERT YOU TO THE FACT THAT MY FIRESTONE TIRES WHICH ARE NOT PART OF THE RECALL ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCE. I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 70 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE RIGHT REAR TIRES TREAD SEPERATED FROM THE TIRE AND CAUSED THE TIRE TO DEFLATE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE ROADSIDE BEFORE A BLOWOUT OR FURTHER INCIDENT. THE TIRE HAS ABOUT A 36 INCH LONG AND 3 INCH WIDE SECTION WHERE THE TREAD IS MISSING. THE TIRE OVERALL IS ABOUT 8 INCHES WIDE. I ALSO HAVE A FORD EXPLORER WITH WILDNERNESS AT TIRES THAT WERE NOT MADE AT THE DECATER PLANT AND THUS NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL. ALTHOUGH MY FIREHAWK TIRES HAD APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES ON THEM AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT I STILL FEEL THIS IS NOT NORMAL AND THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE. I HAVE HAD OTHER TIRES THAT RAN UNTIL THE TREAD WAS BALD AND THE TREAD NEVER SEPERATED FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE. DUE TO THE FACT THAT A FIRESTONE TIRE NOT INDICATED IN THE RECALL HAD THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES HAPPEN TO IT, I DON'T FEEL THE PROBLEM WITH THESE TIRES IS LIMITED TO THE LARGER SUV TIRES. I FEEL THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED TO INSURE OTHER FIRESTONE TIRES ARE SAFE FOR THEPEOPLE WHO HAVE THEM ON THEIR VEHICLES. MY CONFIDENCE IN FIRESTONE TIRES IS LOST AND I WILL BE REPLACING THE WILDERNESS TIRES EVEN THOUGH THEY DIDN'T COME FROM THAT PARTICULAR PLANT. I STILL HAVE THE FIREHAWK TIRE THAT HAD THE TREAD COME OFF IF YOU WOULD LIKE A PICTURE OF IT I CAN ARRANGE THAT. THE TIRES WERE MADE IN 1995. THEY WERE PURCHASED IN 07-95 IN WYOMING. OF THE 5 YEARS ON THE CAR 2 YEARS WERE IN WYO. AND 3 YEARS WERE IN FLORIDA. THE DRIVING ON THE TIRES IF A GOOD MIXTURE OF HIGHWAY AND CITY DRIVING. IF YOU NEED ANY MORE INFO PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL ME. THANK YOU.( DOT NUMBER: W2V9 TIRE SIZE: P195/60R15 )

NHTSA ODI #728431

Mileage unknown · Jul 6, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE ACCESS MOUNT COLLAPSED DUE TO AGE AND BECAUSE IT HAS WORN OUT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHAKE AND RATTLE BAD. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #864893

Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2000
Electrical System

I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY 4 TIMES SINCE 08/97 AND THE ALTERNATOR 2 TIMES SINCE 08/97. I SEE RECALL INFORMATION FOR THESE PARTS BUT SATURN SAYS THAT MY CAR IS NOT IN THE VIN SECTION COVERED. I HAVE LOGGED A COMPLAINT WITH THEM AS WELL, PLEASE RESEARCH THIS PROBELM FURTHER. AS IT MAY OR MAY NOT BE CAUSING ACCIDENTS BUT FOR SUR…

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I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY 4 TIMES SINCE 08/97 AND THE ALTERNATOR 2 TIMES SINCE 08/97. I SEE RECALL INFORMATION FOR THESE PARTS BUT SATURN SAYS THAT MY CAR IS NOT IN THE VIN SECTION COVERED. I HAVE LOGGED A COMPLAINT WITH THEM AS WELL, PLEASE RESEARCH THIS PROBELM FURTHER. AS IT MAY OR MAY NOT BE CAUSING ACCIDENTS BUT FOR SURE IT IS CAUSING FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS. I HAVE A CO-WORKER WITH THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBELMS WITH THIS CAR.

NHTSA ODI #724573

Mileage unknown · May 15, 2000
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO TECHNICIAN, AND THE GENERATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. PROBLEM WAS SIMILAR TO THE ONE DISCUSSED IN RECALL 93V132000. BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #861905

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.

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

3

EA95003 · 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