1993 Saturn SL: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10009241 · 2003-02-25 (February 25, 2003)
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD.*JB *TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009241 at NHTSA ↗
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 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 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 10053882 · 2004-02-19 (February 19, 2004)
AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE ON AND PLACING THE GEAR IN PARK OR NEUTRAL VEHICLE WILL JUMPED FORWARD, DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND THAT THE VALVE BODY ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE CONSUMER OWNS FOUR OTHER SATURN VEHICLES. THREE OF THEM HAVE ALSO HAD THEIR VALVE BODY ASSEMBLIES REPLACED. ALL OF THE VEHICLES HAD UNDER 50000 MILES ON THEIR ODOMETER'S. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053882 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10056536 · 2004-02-04 (February 4, 2004)
SIDEWALLS CRACKING OPEN PREMATURELY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 209,875 miles reported. Look up ODI 10056536 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 10087011 · 2004-08-16 (August 16, 2004)
ANY SATURN KEY OF OR AROUD THE SAME YEAR CAN UNLOSK OTHER SATURN DOORS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10087011 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
93V094000 · Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables
Reported: 1993-05-25 (May 25, 1993)
THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE TERMINAL AT THE STARTER SOLENOID MAY BE FORMED INCORRECTLY. INCORRECTLY FORMED TERMINALS CAN CONTACT THE STARTER SOLENOID HOUSING AND CAUSE AN ELECTRIC SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence: AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT BETWEEN THE BATTERY CABLE ANDTHE STARTER HOUSING CAN RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, ADJUST THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE TERMINAL SO THAT IT DOES NOT CONTACT THE STARTER SOLENOID HOUSING.
NHTSA campaign record ↗93V132000 · Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
Reported: 1993-08-10 (August 10, 1993)
THE GENERATOR ELECTRICAL WIRING IS NOT PROTECTED AGAINST EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW WHICH MAY BE CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE GENERATOR.
Consequence: SHOULD AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT OCCUR IN THEGENERATOR, THE GENERATOR WIRING HARNESS WOULD EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW.UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, ENOUGH HEAT COULD BE GENERATED TO IGNITE SURROUNDINGMATERIALS. IF THIS OCCURS, AN UNDERHOOD FIRE COULD RESULT WITH OR WITHOUT THEENGINE RUNNING AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: THE GENERATOR WIRING HARNESS WILL BE REPLACED WITH ONE THAT WILL OPEN AS A FUSE WOULD UNDER CERTAIN EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW CONDITIONS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗