IllustrationCONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THREE PEOPLE WERE IN CAR, SEAT BELT DIDN'T RESTRAINT AND SEAT BROKE , PLEASE DESCRIBE . *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 reportsTOOK THE CAR TO BE REPAIRED THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOOSE,(ABS) THE FRONT ROTORS ON THE BRAKES WERE CORRODED. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILS. 8AK
DRIVERS SEATBACK COLLAPSED DURING REAR END COLLISION. *AK
HOLE IN PLASTIC GAS LINE UNDERNEATH VEHICLE WHEN STRUCK BY OBJECT IN ROADWAY, CAUSING GAS LEAK.
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION AT 20 MPH AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING UP HILL APPLIED BRAKES TO NO AVAIL, RESULTING IN HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK
ABS BRAKES; POOR PERFORMACE OF THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES IS HEATING UP AND ALSO MAKING A LOUD NOISE. *AK
BRAKES GRIND.
UPON OFF CENTER TO LEFT, FRONTAL IMPACT BETWEEN 35-40 MPH, NEITHER DUAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
IN COLD WEATHER, WINDSHIELD WASHER DOES NOT SPRAY, WIPERS SMEAR WHATEVER IS ON WINDSHIELD, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *DSH
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.