IllustrationWEATHER STRIPING TO VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE. WHEN THERE IS RAIN VEHICLE FILLS UP WITH WATER IN REAR. *AK
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
Structure complaints
12 reportsTRUNK LID CLOSES TOO EASILY, LID COLLAPSED ON CONSUMER ON TWO OCCASIONS RESULTING IN INJURIES TO THE HEAD.
HEAD GASKET CRACKED.
KEY REMOTE MODULE FOR KEYLESS ENTRY FAILED.
IGNITION KEY STICKING.
ALL VEHICLE DOORS CAME OPEN UPON IMPACT, OWNER LOST CONTROL, FISHTAILED ON GRAVEL ROAD, SKIDDED, HIT DITCH/EMBANKMENT, VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER. ALSO, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, VEHICLE TOTALED. SEATBELTS SAVED DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S LIVES, OWNER WILL INCLUDE VIN. *AK
DOOR HINGE SNAPPED.
EXTERIOR REAR DOOR SEAL FAILED TWICE.
DOOR CHECK LINKS BROKE SIX TIMES. *AK
TRUNK LID DOES FAILED TO STAY IN OPEN POSITION AFTER SPOILER WAS INSTALLED.
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.