IllustrationSPARK PLUGS AND WIRES REPLACED DUE TO IMPROPER GAPPING FROM FACTORY.*ET
1996 Saturn Sl
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 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: 49 of 287 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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 63 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
50 crash reports2 fire reports34 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
40 reportsMUFFLER AND PIPES RUSTED AND SEVERAL OTHER PARTS HAVE FAILED.*ET
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES FAILED AND WEREN'T STOPPING THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. ALSO, THERE IS VIRBRATION WITHIN THE STEERING AND A SHORT WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *AK
WHEN PULLING OUT FROM A STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLE JUST DIES. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, DEALER STATED THAT PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A BAD ALTERNATOR WHICH DESTROYED THE BATTERY. THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. BATTERY REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK
IGNITION KEY STICKING.
KEY WILL NOT RELEASE FROM IGNITION SWITCH.
DIFFICULTY ACCESSING HORN BUTTONS IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, BUTTONS ARE TOO SMALL.
COMPUTER GENERATES A STRONG SIGNAL ON THE INTERNATIONAL CALLING FREQUENCY ON THE 2 METER AMTEUR BAND, MAKING ANY EMERGENCY CALL ON THAT FREQUENCY UNWORKABLE IN/NEAR THE VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THAN BACKFIRED, FINALLY THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START UP WHEN IT SHUTS DOWN, THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT ANY NOTICE AND ANYWHERE. *AK
BRAKE PADS REPLACED FOUR TIMES, BRAKE ROTORS FAILED.
Official recalls
197V138000 · Steering:gear Box (other Than Rack And Pinion)
Aug 29, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL STEERING. THE PINION BEARING CAGE IN THE STEERING GEAR CAN SEPARATE UNDER HIGH STEERING SYSTEM LOAD CONDITIONS, SUCH AS PARKING LOT OR SIMILAR LOW SPEED MANEUVERS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PINION GEAR DISENGAGING FROM THE RACK CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE MANUAL STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.