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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

What owners actually said

287 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 1996
Power Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WHILE ENGAGED IN DRIVE ROLLS BACK ON AN INCLINE, DEALER SAID THAT IS NORMAL. TT

NHTSA ODI #978063

Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 1996
Visibility

FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED AFTER STARTING AND WARMING UP; NO DAMAGE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE; CRACK 1 1/2 FT LONG; BELIEVED TO BE MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. TT

NHTSA ODI #977956

Mileage unknown · Dec 26, 1995
Structure

ON THE EDGE OF DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE FINGERS CAN BECOME INJURED, THE EDGES ARE VERY SHARP. TT

NHTSA ODI #976939

Mileage unknown · Dec 18, 1995
Seat Belts

WHEN DRIVING THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT LOCK UP . TT

NHTSA ODI #976730

Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 1995
SteeringSuspension

THE CAR SHIMMIES AND CAUSES LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ODI #972993

Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 1995
Power TrainCrash

CAR WILL NOT HOLD IN FIFTH GEAR WHEN PUTTING IT IN FIFTH GEAR IT SLIPS OUT . TT

NHTSA ODI #972294

Mileage unknown · Date not reported
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

BRAKE PADS REPLACED FOUR TIMES, BRAKE ROTORS FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #538969

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.