IllustrationTHE FUEL LINE IN THIS CAR IS EXPOSED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR, AND TWICE NOW (ON 11/3/05 AND EARLIER IN 12/2003) THE FUEL LINE HAS RIPPED AND GASOLINE HAS SPILLED ONTO THE GROUND WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR. THE GASOLINE SPILL OBVIOUSLY CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD. *NM
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
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
6 reportsTHE ALTERNATOR FAILED.
REPLACING FUEL TANK @27862MI FUEL TANK SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. I AM NOTIFYING YOU, BECAUSE OF A POTENTIAL LOSS OF POWER. I THINK THAT I ALSO SHOULD BE REIMBURSED MY $50 DEDUCTIBLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, TRAVELLING ABOUT 50MPH AT NIGHT, ALL OF SUDDEN THE VEHICLE CUT OFF. CONTACTED DEALER, ANDWAS TOLD THAT A SPIDER GOT INTO THE FUEL LINE AND BLOCKED THE LINE WHERE THE PUMP DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH VENTILATION, AND FUEL TANK COLLASPED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED OF 55MPH, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE DECREASED ITS SPEED DOWN TO 10MPH, THEN INCREASED ITS SPEED BACK TO 55MPH. CAUSE UNKNOWN.
HOLE IN PLASTIC GAS LINE UNDERNEATH VEHICLE WHEN STRUCK BY OBJECT IN ROADWAY, CAUSING GAS LEAK.
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.