IllustrationHIT A CURB AT ABOUT 5MPH, CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *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
What owners actually said
287 reportsDURING COLLISION AIR BAGS DEPLOYED HOWEVER DID NOT INFLATE RESULTING IN NECK AND FACIAL INJURIES.
DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20-25 MPH CONSUMER REAR ENDED VEHICLE IN FRONT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURIES. SEAT BELTS WERE WORN AT AT THE TIME. OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THAT AIRBAG SHOULD DEPLOY AT 15 MPH .MANUFACTURER WILL SEND SOME ONE TO INSPECT VEHICLE. *AK
FRONT ROTORS WARPED. MANUFACTURER REPLACED WITH A REDESIGNED MODEL AND THEY WARPED ALSO.
CAR WITH WARRANTY OF 36,000 MILES. DEALER WOULD NOT HONOR WARRANTY. WHAT IS NORMAL LIFE OF A CLUTCH IN THIS TYPE OF CAR?
HEAD GASKET CRACKED.
FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED/REPLACED.
CRACKED ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD. *AK
DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG FALSLY DEPLOYED CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE.
CYLINDER HEAD COVER FAILURE.
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.