The 1996 Saturn SL has 2 safety recalls and 287 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (70 complaints).
Recalls2safety recalls
Complaints287filed by owners
Crashes · fires50 · 2reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths44 · 1reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Exterior lighting
NHTSA recall 09E012000 · Apr 7, 2009 · 16,270 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (OVSC)
Problem: SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
Steering › Gear box (other than rack and pinion)
NHTSA recall 97V138000 · Aug 29, 1997 · 14,580 vehicles
Problem: 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.
Risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PINION GEAR DISENGAGING FROM THE RACK CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE MANUAL STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
1996 Saturn SL 4-DR.
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
Not Rated
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
SL
29mpg combined
City / highway
25 / 36 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1.9 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,300/year to fuel
SL
27mpg combined
City / highway
23 / 33 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1.9 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,500/year to fuel
SL
26mpg combined
City / highway
22 / 32 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1.9 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,600/year to fuel
SL
25mpg combined
City / highway
21 / 31 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1.9 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,700/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Engine and engine cooling Engine; Engine › Gasoline
70
2
2
1
82,728 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic Foundation components; Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
50
9
0
6
—
Electrical system Horn; Ignition
45
0
0
0
115,374 mi
Power train Automatic transmission; Manual transmission
37
4
0
1
85,000 mi
Steering Steering wheel/handle bar; Rack and pinion
21
7
0
2
150,000 mi
Air bags Frontal
19
13
0
14
—
Vehicle speed control Accelerator pedal; Cruise control
18
4
0
7
100,015 mi
Visibility Windshield; Defroster/defogger/hvac system
17
0
0
1
—
Seats Front assembly › Recliner
15
11
0
9
—
Tires Tread/belt; Sidewall
15
2
0
2
—
Structure Body › Door; Body › Trunk lid
13
1
0
4
—
Suspension Front; Front › Wheel bearing
8
1
0
1
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Jan 29, 2016 · 68,577 milesElectrical system FIRST PROBLEM IS DOOR CHIMES WITH KEY OUT OF IGNITION. SECOND PROBLEM IS DOME LIGHT STAYS ON IN FRONT OR REAR POSITION WITH ALL DOORS SHUT. THIRD PROBLEM IS NO POWER AT ALL TO THE CAB WHEN I TRIED TO START CAR, AND THEN MY PASSENGER OPENED AND SHUT THE PASSENGER FRONT DOOR AND THE POWER CAME BACK ON AND I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR. I HAD TO RESET THE CLOCK AND RADIO.
Apr 21, 2015 · 166,000 miles · crash · 1 injurySteering TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SATURN SL. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED RIGHT AND LEFT INDEPENDENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MUSCULAR PAIN THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 97V138000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.
Nov 18, 2014Air bags TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SATURN SL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE HORN BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING AND THE MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Jan 13, 2014 · 103,000 milesEngine I NOTICED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD GO 3/4 TOWARDS THE RED. IF I AM STOPPING AT A LIGHT, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE KEEP GOING 3/4 TOWARDS THE RED, THEN GOES BACK VERY SLOWLY TO THE MIDDLE. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE MY GASKET. THIS WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $1,200. *TR
Aug 9, 2006 · 110,000 miles · crash · 2 injuriesAir bags I WAS IN A BROAD SIDE COLLISION (T-BONE) TYPE ACCIDENT WHERE I HIT ANOTHER DRIVER AFTER SHE TURNED IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING THIS COLLISION AND NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED MY SEATBELT LOCKED CAUSING ME TO HAVE SEVERE NERVE DAMAGE IN MY NECK ON THE LEFT SIDE, MY LEFT LEG NOW HAS INJURY FROM THIS ACCIDENT NEEDLESS TO SAY I WILL HAVE THIS LIFELONG PROBLEM STEMMING FROM THIS ACCIDENT. *TR
Apr 9, 2012 · 128,000 milesSteering TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SATURN SL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF WHEN THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V047000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.
Oct 24, 2011Electrical system › Horn THE HORN DOES NOT WORK. WHEN I LOOKED UP A RECALL THIS IS WHAT I FOUND.: RECALL DATE:12-07-1998 UNITS POTENTIALLY AFFECTED:64,199 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER:98V307000 DEFECTIVE PART OR COMPONENT:COMMUNICATIONS:HORN ASSEMBLY DESCRIPTION:VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED OR SERVICED WITH A HORN ASSEMBLY WHICH COULD FAIL. THE HORN COULD EITHER BECOME INOPERABLE OR ACTIVATE WITHOUT THE DRIVER PRESSING THE HORN BUTTON. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, HEAT CAN BUILD UP WITHIN THE ASSEMBLY AND AN UNDERHOOD FIRE COULD RESULT. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HORN ASSEMBLY. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER COLE GILMORE IN PORTAGE, MICHIGAN. I WAS TOLD THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE FOR…
Jun 1, 2010 · crash · 1 injurySuspension › Front › Macpherson strut 1996 SATURN SL2, A VEHICLE DEFECT CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL AND STRIKE THE CONCRETE BARRIER. *BF THE LEFT FRONT STRUT BROKE WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0304-91)*JB UPDATED 08/05/10 *BF
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.