IllustrationI REALLY FEEL THAT A CAR THAT IS WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND HAVE ONLY 47000 MILES SHOULDN'T HAVE NEED A NEW ENGINE IN IT.
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
What owners actually said
287 reportsENGINE RPM WILL INCREASE TO 3500 WHETHER AT IDLE OR DRIVING AT 55 MPH. THIS HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS. IF THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF , THE CAR WILLN'T START UNLESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS PRESSED TO THE FLOUR. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CARS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM MAY FIND IT DIFFICULT TO SLOW THE CAR UPON BRAKING UNLESS THEY WERE …
Read full complaint
ENGINE RPM WILL INCREASE TO 3500 WHETHER AT IDLE OR DRIVING AT 55 MPH. THIS HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS. IF THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF , THE CAR WILLN'T START UNLESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS PRESSED TO THE FLOUR. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CARS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM MAY FIND IT DIFFICULT TO SLOW THE CAR UPON BRAKING UNLESS THEY WERE TO SHIFT THE CAR INTO NUETRAL. IT IS HIGHLY POSSIBLE THAT SOME SATURN OWNERS AREN'T AWARE OF THE PROBLEM IF THEY OWN AN AUTOMATIC. IN THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (COMPLAINTS DATABASE) THERE WERE 8 OR 9 CASES OF BRAKE FAILURE . WERE THESE FAILURES AS A RESULT OF UNCONTROLLED RPM MOTOR SPEED? ODI ID 816070 INDICATED A PROBLEM WHICH MAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO THIS CONDITION. THIS PROBLEM IN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CARS WILL LEAD TO PREMATURE BRAKE ROTOR AND PAD WEAR NOT TO MENTION THE FAILURE OF THE CAR TO STOP WITHIN THE ASSURRED NORMAL DISTANCE.
SPEEDOMETER CABLE AND PLUG FAILED.
BRAKE ADJUSTER BENT.
DRIVER WAS DRIVING AND SET CRUISE CONTROL AT FREEWAY SPEED, BEGAN TO EXIT, TOUCHED THE BREAK TO SHUT CRUISE OFF, CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT SHUT OFF. STOOD ON BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW VEHICLE, REMOVED PRESSURE MOMENTARILY AND VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE TO SET CRUISE SPEED, TURNED OFF CRUISE AT MAIN SWITCH, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, H…
Read full complaint
DRIVER WAS DRIVING AND SET CRUISE CONTROL AT FREEWAY SPEED, BEGAN TO EXIT, TOUCHED THE BREAK TO SHUT CRUISE OFF, CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT SHUT OFF. STOOD ON BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW VEHICLE, REMOVED PRESSURE MOMENTARILY AND VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE TO SET CRUISE SPEED, TURNED OFF CRUISE AT MAIN SWITCH, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, HIT GUARDRAIL, AND VEHICLE SPUN AROUND AND HAD APPROXIMATELY 55MPH IMPACT TO REAR FROM THE GUARDRAIL.
DURING VEHICLE COLLISION SEAT LATCH FAILED CAUSING SEAT BACK TO COLLAPSE RESULTING IN INJURY TO THE DRIVER LOOSING SIGHT OF THE ROAD THEREFOR LOOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
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
WHILE DRVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE REAR DOORS WOULD SWING OPEN FOR NO REASON. WOULD HAVE LOCKS (CHILD PROOF ALSO) ON. THE LOCK, SOMETIMES, FAILS TO KEEP THE DOOR LOCKED. HAD NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER FOR PARTS. WAS INFORMED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR LOCKS. *AK
WHEN TURNING ON CRUISE CONTROL, THE THROTTLE STUCK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO INCREASE SPEED, AND WOULD NOT DECREASE SPEED WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. CONSUMER TRIED TO ENGAGE / DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL, BUT ENGINE CONTINUE TO RUN AT HIGH RPMS. CONSUMER RESULTED TO USING HEAVY BRAKING TO CONTROL VEHICLE SPEED. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO DEALE…
Read full complaint
WHEN TURNING ON CRUISE CONTROL, THE THROTTLE STUCK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO INCREASE SPEED, AND WOULD NOT DECREASE SPEED WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. CONSUMER TRIED TO ENGAGE / DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL, BUT ENGINE CONTINUE TO RUN AT HIGH RPMS. CONSUMER RESULTED TO USING HEAVY BRAKING TO CONTROL VEHICLE SPEED. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO DEALER, WHERE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO FORCE THROTTLE AND REPLACED CRUISE CONTROL. *AK *TT
TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY FAILED. QCAW
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.