IllustrationI WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM COULD POSSIBLY BE WITH THE VALVE GUILDES AND TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL BECAUSE IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH OLDER SATURNS. I CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING ON THIS AND HOPE YOU CAN HELP. *AK
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 reportsTHE HEATER CONTROLS STARTED TO SMOKE AND FLAMES BURSTED WHICH CAUSED A FIRE. NO PRIOR WARNING. NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THIS SYSTEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES HEATER SPARKED UP SMALL FLAME AND LOTS OF FOUL SMELLING SMOKE. *JB
SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN 1996, I HAVE HAD TO HAVE A NUMBER OF REPAIRS DONE TO AVERGING $200. OR MORE . I AM HAVING REPAIRS DONE ABOUT EVERY TWO MONTHS. I GOT THE HISTORY OF MY CAR AND FOUND THAT IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE THE DAY IT WAS READY TO BE SOLD. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK
TRANSMISSION HESITATES BEFORE GOING INTO REVERSE AND LURCHES BACKWARD WHEN IT DOES.
I HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT TIME PUTTING CAR IN REVERSE, I BELEIVE BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION...THE REVERSE GEAR TAKES A WHILE TO "KICK-IN". THERE IS A LOUD NOISE (COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION). THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED WHEN I WAS UNDER MY 60DAY WARRANTY ABOUT THE REVERSE PROBLEM (THERE WAS NO NOISE YET) AND HE TOOK IT FOR A RIDE …
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I HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT TIME PUTTING CAR IN REVERSE, I BELEIVE BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION...THE REVERSE GEAR TAKES A WHILE TO "KICK-IN". THERE IS A LOUD NOISE (COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION). THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED WHEN I WAS UNDER MY 60DAY WARRANTY ABOUT THE REVERSE PROBLEM (THERE WAS NO NOISE YET) AND HE TOOK IT FOR A RIDE AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG (IT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERYTIME). NOW, I CALLED HIM AND SAID THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED TO THE TRANSMISSION AND HE SAYS HE DOESN'T REMEMBER ..AND THE WARRANTY IS UP.
ENGINE BLOCK HAS SPLIT NEAR THE LOCATION OF ALTERNATOR ,CAUSING IT TO BE LOSE AND CUT INTO THE BELT. THE BLOCK BUSTED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION HAS A PROBLEM WHEN SHIFTING, AND SATURN HAS TOLD ME THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING ODD ABOUT IT. NOR IS THERE ANYTHING ODD ABOUT THE ENGINE OVERHEATING DURING BARELY WARM DAYS …
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ENGINE BLOCK HAS SPLIT NEAR THE LOCATION OF ALTERNATOR ,CAUSING IT TO BE LOSE AND CUT INTO THE BELT. THE BLOCK BUSTED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION HAS A PROBLEM WHEN SHIFTING, AND SATURN HAS TOLD ME THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING ODD ABOUT IT. NOR IS THERE ANYTHING ODD ABOUT THE ENGINE OVERHEATING DURING BARELY WARM DAYS IN THE SUMMER. POSSIBLY CONNECTED. *AK
ALUMINUM ENGINE CRACKED AT MOUNTS ON RIGHT SIDE -- ENGINE IS HANGING
THE SHOULDER BELT RETRACTORS ARE JAMMED ON DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDES, LEAVING OCCUPANTS UNPROTECTED. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN. *AK
WITHOUT WARNING CONSUMER WENT TO STOP AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES, AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. CONSUMER HAD TO JUMP CURB TO AVOID HITTING VEHICLE THAT WAS AT A STOP LIGHT. ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN, BUT THERE WAS A BRICK IN THE WAY, CAR WENT INTO A PEDESTRIAN WALK AREA, AND CRASHED HEAD-ON INTO A VAN. THEN VEHICLE STOP…
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WITHOUT WARNING CONSUMER WENT TO STOP AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES, AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. CONSUMER HAD TO JUMP CURB TO AVOID HITTING VEHICLE THAT WAS AT A STOP LIGHT. ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN, BUT THERE WAS A BRICK IN THE WAY, CAR WENT INTO A PEDESTRIAN WALK AREA, AND CRASHED HEAD-ON INTO A VAN. THEN VEHICLE STOPPED. *AK
TRANSMISSION DELAYS THEN SLAMES INTO REVERSE WHEN HOT. THE VALVE BODY WAS REPLACED FOUR TIMES BY THE SAME DEALER. NOW THE DEALER WANTS TO TAKE THE TRANS. APART WITH A FIVE HOUR LABOR CHARGE. THE COST WOULD ABOUT $500. JUST TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG ALL THE LONG. WITH NO REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE FIRST FOUR VALVE BODIES.
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