SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

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 →
287Owner complaints

Model-year median: 171.5

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
175
1993286
1994355
1995287
1996227
1997168
1998178
1999
Compare all Sl years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
63Service Brakes, Hydraulic
41Electrical System
40Power Train
37Steering
20
All reported categories
Air Bags
18Vehicle Speed Control
17Visibility
16Seats
15Tires
13Structure
12Suspension
8Equipment
7Fuel System, Gasoline
6Seat Belts
6Exterior Lighting
5Latches/locks/linkages
5Fuel System, Other
2Service Brakes, Air
2Unknown Or Other
2Child Seat
1Engine
1Parking Brake
1Wheels
1

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

Power Train complaints

37 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 1999
Power Train

ODOMETER FAILED.*ET

NHTSA ODI #784284

Mileage unknown · Nov 20, 1998
Power Train

SPEEDOMETER CABLE AND PLUG FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #605087

Mileage unknown · Jul 1, 1998
Power Train

TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY FAILED. QCAW

NHTSA ODI #605223

Mileage unknown · May 27, 1998
Power Train

CAR WITH WARRANTY OF 36,000 MILES. DEALER WOULD NOT HONOR WARRANTY. WHAT IS NORMAL LIFE OF A CLUTCH IN THIS TYPE OF CAR?

NHTSA ODI #536161

Mileage unknown · Apr 13, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentPower Train

HEAD GASKET CRACKED.

NHTSA ODI #534035

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 1997
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #605566

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 1997
Power Train

SPEEDOMETER FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #605294

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 1997
Power Train

ODOMETER FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #604950

Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 1997
Power Train

SPEEDOMETER CABLE NEVER FAILED TO WORK, HOWEVER NOISE WAS REPORTED, AND THE DEALER DECIDED TO REPLACE THE UNIT.

NHTSA ODI #605031

Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 1997
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FILTER FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #604858

Official recalls

1

97V138000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.