1993 Saturn SL problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
110 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
113,450 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1993 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 110 complaints (14.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 22 | 20.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 13 | 11.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 6.4% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 4.5% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 1.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 16 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 9 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 7 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 5 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 16; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 9; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 7; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 5; Electrical System: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 2
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 98 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 40 |
| 1996 | 14 |
| 2000 | 19 |
| 2001 | 13 |
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
1995: 40; 1996: 14; 2000: 19; 2001: 13; 2002: 7; 2003: 3; 2004: 5; 2005: 2; 2006: 2; 2014: 3; 2015: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 22 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 13 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10026096 · 2003-07-15 (July 15, 2003)
OUR VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO VACATION ON HIGHWAY 95. NO WARNING WAS GIVEN. WE WERE APPROACHED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. AT THIS POINT WE SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR, AND IMMEDIATELY, THE CAR WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD OF THE CAR. VISIBILITY IN THE CAR WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBILE. WE TRIED TO STOP THE CAR, BUT WE HAD NO BRAKES, NOR ANY EMERGENCY BRAKES. WE TRIED PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK, BUT THE GEAR SHIFT HAD BEEN MELTED DOWN AS WELL. WE HAD TO CUT THE CAR COMPLET…
Owner-reported narrative. 131,788 miles reported. Look up ODI 10026096 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10042763 · 2004-02-26 (February 26, 2004)
CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH ENGINE CHECK LIGHT/ABS LIGHT, AND BATTERY LIGHT COMING ON AND OFF. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE CONSUMER LEFT THE DEALER ALL THE DASH LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10042763 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 503532 · 1996-04-01 (April 1, 1996)
TRANSMISSION FLUID RESERVOIR GASKET LEAKS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 503532 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 716817 · 2000-01-03 (January 3, 2000)
ENGINE BLOCK HAS SPLIT NEAR THE LOCATION OF ALTERNATOR ,CAUSING IT TO BE LOSE AND CUT INTO THE BELT. THE BLOCK BUSTED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION HAS A PROBLEM WHEN SHIFTING, AND SATURN HAS TOLD ME THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING ODD ABOUT IT. NOR IS THERE ANYTHING ODD ABOUT THE ENGINE OVERHEATING DURING BARELY WARM DAYS IN THE SUMMER. POSSIBLY CONNECTED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 716817 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10081573 · 2004-08-12 (August 12, 2004)
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER PUMPED THE BRAKES, AND THE THEY MALFUNCTIONED. HOWEVER, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT HOME. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION THE NEXT DAY. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE BATTERY LEAKED ACID ON THE BRAKE LINE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE BRAKE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE FAULTY DESIGN WHICH LOCATED THE BATTERY OVER THE BRAKE LINES. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10081573 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10131997 · 2005-08-08 (August 8, 2005)
PROBLEMS WITH THE HARMONIC BALANCER HAVING EXCESSIVE RUN OUT CAUSING IMPROPER SERPENTINE BELT ALIGNMENT WHICH CREATED EXCESSIVE BELT WEAR. IF PROBLEM IS LEFT UNATTENDED, SERPENTINE BELT/BALANCER CAN SEPARATE CAUSING ENGINE STALL AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHICH MAY CAUSE ACCIDENT. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER BUT DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM EXISTED EVEN THOUGH THE BALANCER WAS REDESIGNED. BALANCER WAS REPLACED BY THE OWNER AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE TO PREVENT POTENTIAL HAZARDS. I ALSO NOTICED SEVERAL FAILURE NOTICES BY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS SAME BR…
Owner-reported narrative. 106,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10131997 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11006222 · 2017-07-18 (July 18, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1993 SATURN SL-2. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO COAST THE VEHICLE OFF TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER, BUT LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO THREE POLES. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND EJECTED THE CONTACT THROUGH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BROKEN RIBS AND A PERMANENT HEAD INJURY. THE CONTACT WAS IN A COMA ON LIFE SUPPORT FOR THREE WEEKS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED THAT IT WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER WAS NOT …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11006222 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10042105 · 2003-10-24 (October 24, 2003)
THE ALTERNATOR BELT BROKE FOUR TIMES SINCE OWNERSHIP. ON ONE OCCASION, THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 50 MPH AND THE BELT BROKE, WHICH CAUSED THE POWER STEERING TO BECOME INOPERATIVE, AND ALMOST RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM.*AK THE SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING, DEALER REPLACED. *TS *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10042105 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 959883 · 1995-02-10 (February 10, 1995)
REPLACED FUEL INJECTOR. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 959883 at NHTSA ↗