1996 Saturn SL problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
163 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
95,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 49 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 23 of 163 complaints (14.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 19 | 11.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 13 | 8.0% |
| Steering behavior | 12 | 7.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 3.1% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 1.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 23 |
| Electrical System:Horn | 15 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 8 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 7 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 5 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 5 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 23; Electrical System:Horn: 15; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 8; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 7; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 5; Tires:Tread/Belt: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 13 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 15 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 13; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 6
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 114 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 | 4 |
| 1996 | 14 |
| 2000 | 37 |
| 2001 | 19 |
| 2002 | 20 |
| 2003 | 18 |
| 2004 | 21 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
1995: 4; 1996: 14; 2000: 37; 2001: 19; 2002: 20; 2003: 18; 2004: 21; 2005: 7; 2006: 4; 2007: 5; 2008: 5; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2014: 3; 2015: 2; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 13 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 12 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 10041569 · 2003-10-09 (October 9, 2003)
I REPLACED MY BRAKES AND ROTORS TODAY. THE MECHANIC WANTED TO SHOW ME THE MESS THAT THEY WERE. I LOOKED AT THEM AND HE POINTED OUT HOW UNUSUALLY DESTROYED THE INSIDE PADS ARE. HE SAID HE RARELY SEES ANYTHING THAT BAD. THE HORN WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO. THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND SOME DAYS I REALLY HAVE TO WORK HARD TO GET IT OUT OR GET THE STEERING WHEEL TO RELEASE SO I CAN TURN THE KEY. ALSO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM IS JUST HANGING ON BEFORE THE RUST OVERRUNS IT. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 97,770 miles reported. Look up ODI 10041569 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10115199 · 2005-03-15 (March 15, 2005)
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO STOP ON ITS ON. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STOP BY TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE FOR FIFTEEN MINUTES, THEN RESTARTED IT AND DROVE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ABS CONTROL UNIT SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10115199 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010631 · 2003-03-17 (March 17, 2003)
MANUAL TRANSMISSION POPS OUT OF GEAR AND GRINDS. SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T GET IT INTO GEAR. ALL COMPONETS OF THE CLUTCH ARE FINE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010631 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018766 · 2003-05-15 (May 15, 2003)
MANUAL TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR, AT TIMES IT MUST BE SHOVED TO GO IN TO AND OUT OF REVERSE, FIRST, AND THIRD GEARS. THIS PROBLEM IS BECOMING WORSE AND IS AT LEAST REMOTELY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT CAN TAKE AS MUCH AS 30 SECONDS OR SO TO SHIFT GEARS. THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT SEEM TO BE AFFECTED BY ANY EXTERNAL SOURCE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018766 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10089045 · 2004-09-03 (September 3, 2004)
MY SON WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY @ 65MPN. SLOWED TO EXIT AT EXIT 105. AS HE ENTERED THE EXIT, HE FELT SOMETHING BREAK, LOST STEERING, AND THE CAR SHOT TO THE RIGHT, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AND THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR SLID DOWN THE GUARD RAIL AND CAME TO A STOP JUST BEFORE IMPACTING A CONCRETE JERSEY WALL. THE INITIAL INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT SIDE SPINDLE HAD SNAPPED. THE ARM ON THE SPINDLE THAT THE TIE-ROD ATTACHES TO SNAPPED IN HALF. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 114,856 miles reported. Look up ODI 10089045 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025482 · 2003-07-06 (July 6, 2003)
UNSATISFACTORY RESPONSES FROM SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE; REPAIRS THAT SHOULD BE COVERED PER CALIFORNIAS LEMON LAW FOR OUR 1996 SATURN SL1 WITH ONLY 46K MILES. ROTE TO GM & SATURN CEO'S. THEY LIE AND DO NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR CRAPPY PRODUCT. WE WILL NEVER BUY AMERICAN AGAIN!PER MY RECENT CONVERSATIONS WITH SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE, THERE HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY NO EFFORT OF GOODWILL TO REIMBURSE AND FIX THE BELOW AFOREMENTIONED MECHANICAL PROBLEMS FROM THE INFERIOR MATERIALS USED IN BUILDING OUR SATURN VEHICLE. THE FAILURES WE NEED REIMBURSEMENT F…
Owner-reported narrative. 46,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025482 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033192 · 2003-08-20 (August 20, 2003)
REAR LIGHTS KEPT GOING OUT - SATURN DEALER SAID THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAD BEEN BUTT-SPLICED. SINCE ONLY SATURN WORKED ON THE VEHICLE, THIS WAS UNEXPLAINABLE. IT SEEMS, HOWEVER, MY CAR IS NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. APPARENTLY, THE BUTT-SPLICING IS BEING DONE BY SATURN AND BEING BLAMED ON THE CONSUMER -- AND CHARGED TO THE CONSUMER. I DISCOVERED THIS PROBLEM AFTER BEING STOPPED BY THE POLICE, TWICE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10033192 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 722958 · 2000-05-20 (May 20, 2000)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 722958 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 867495 · 2000-08-11 (August 11, 2000)
DUE TO DEFECTIVE ALTERNATOR, VEHICLE WOULD STALL UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT WARNING WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. ALSO, THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 867495 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 855203 · 2000-01-20 (January 20, 2000)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 855203 at NHTSA ↗