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1992 Saturn Sl

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1992 Saturn Sl do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 171.5.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 5 of 123 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.

  • Seat Belts. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

18 crash reports2 fire reports19 injury reports

Steering complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
15,900 miles · Jan 3, 2007
SteeringCrash

WE WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 70 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL CAME LOOSE AND FELL OFF CAUSING ME TO LOSE COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE CAR. WE WERE IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE OF THREE LANES AND THE CAR PULLED US ACROSS THE OTHER TWO LANES, DOWN A VERY STEEP DITCH AND INTO THE MEDIAN WHERE WE HIT MANY SMALL TREES. BEFORE THE ACCIDEN…

Read full complaint

WE WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 70 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL CAME LOOSE AND FELL OFF CAUSING ME TO LOSE COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE CAR. WE WERE IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE OF THREE LANES AND THE CAR PULLED US ACROSS THE OTHER TWO LANES, DOWN A VERY STEEP DITCH AND INTO THE MEDIAN WHERE WE HIT MANY SMALL TREES. BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL, NOR DID WE EVER TAMPER WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DRIVERS SIDE IS GETTING THE BACK DOOR AND PANEL REPLACED AND THE BACK BUMPER ALSO NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE STEERING WHEEL. NONETHELESS, MY WIFE AND I NEARLY LOST OUR LIVES BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10177692

Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2002
Steering

WHILE DRIVING STEERING LINKAGE SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8013208

Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 1999
Steering

DEFECTIVE STEERING RACK IS CAUSING STEERING TO BECOME STUCK IN EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT POSITION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #850513

Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 1998
SteeringInjury

STEERING KNUCKLE SNAPPED CAUSING ACCIDENT AND INJURY TO PASSENGER AND DRIVER. QCAW

NHTSA ODI #542341

Mileage unknown · May 21, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentService Brakes, Hydraulic

SERPENTINE BELT REPLACED DUE TO STIFF POWER STEERING.

NHTSA ODI #535222

Official recalls

2

93V132000 · Electrical System:alternator/generator/regulator

Aug 10, 1993

THE GENERATOR ELECTRICAL WIRING IS NOT PROTECTED AGAINST EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW WHICH MAY BE CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE GENERATOR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: SHOULD AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT OCCUR IN THEGENERATOR, THE GENERATOR WIRING HARNESS WOULD EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW.UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, ENOUGH HEAT COULD BE GENERATED TO IGNITE SURROUNDINGMATERIALS. IF THIS OCCURS, AN UNDERHOOD FIRE COULD RESULT WITH OR WITHOUT THEENGINE RUNNING AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: THE GENERATOR WIRING HARNESS WILL BE REPLACED WITH ONE THAT WILL OPEN AS A FUSE WOULD UNDER CERTAIN EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW CONDITIONS.

92V098000 · Power Train

Jul 8, 1992

THE TRANSAXLE VALVE ASSEMBLIES WERE IMPROPERLY MACHINED. VEHICLES MAY NOT PROPERLY ENGAGE IN NEUTRAL OR PARK, EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SELECTOR INDICATES THE VEHICLE IS IN NEUTRAL OR PARK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE GEAR SELECTOR INDICATES THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK ORNEUTRAL, IT COULD BE IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE CAR COULD STARTIN REVERSE OR DRIVE, OR MIGHT MOVE UNEXPECTEDLY, WHICH MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLECRASH OR INJURY TO PERSONS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE, WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE VALVE BODIES.

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

3

EA93016 · Fr Seatback Recliner Fails

Opened Jun 8, 1993 · Closed Jul 26, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats:front Assembly:recliner

There is no summary currently available

PE93022 · Steering System Lockup

Opened Apr 5, 1993 · Closed Sep 30, 1993

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

There is no summary currently available

PE93004 · Seatback Failure

Opened Feb 5, 1993 · Closed Jun 8, 1993

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats

There is no summary currently available