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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

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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

Exterior Lighting complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 1999
Exterior Lighting

WHEN DIMMING HEADLIGHTS AT NIGHT WITH ON OFF SWITCH AND DIMMER SWITCH ON SAME SWITCH EASY TO SHUT LIGHT OFF AT HIGH SPEEDS AND OPOSING TRAFFIC UNABLE TO SEE YOU AND WITH ALL INTERIOR LIGHT NOW SHUT OFF AT 55 MPH YOU ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED AND WATCH TRAFFIC AND GET LIGHTS BACK ON

NHTSA ODI #714411

Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 1998
Exterior Lighting

WHEN USING HAND BRAKE THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS GO OFF, FLASHING OF THE LIGHTS CAUSES UNINTENTIONAL SIGNAL TO THE OPPOSING TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ODI #528229

Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 1997
Electrical SystemEquipmentExterior Lighting

IGNITION KEY STICKING.

NHTSA ODI #521851

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 1997
Exterior Lighting

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA ODI #602738

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.