1996 Saturn SL problems
Owners have filed 369 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Saturn SL. Engine is the most reported problem area, at 18% of complaints. After that come brakes (14%) and electrical system (12%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 369 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 18% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 56 and 2
- Injuries and deaths
- 52 and 1
- Typical mileage
- 98,000 miles 59 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 1 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 2 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 4 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 12 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 14 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 6 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 11 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 7 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Among the 59 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 98,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 90,000 miles (18 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 56 complaints mention a crash; 2 complaints mention a fire; 52 injuries reported; 1 death reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 85% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1996 ranks 3rd most-complained-about out of 12 model years of the Saturn SL with enough data (200 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Request a defect investigation for possible recall of 1990-96 saturn sl. The writer's son was killed in and accident in which, per witness statements, her sons vehicle veered sharply left and hit a tree head on. The consumer believes some type of defect caused her son's accident.
Accelerator engaged & would not disengage & steering controls failed. Vehicle continued to accelerate until approximately 75-80 MPH causing vehicle to go out of control and to crash into concrete wall.
Consumer was in an accident and three people were in car, seat belt didn't restraint and seat broke , please describe .
Tl* - the contact would like to make a complaint concerning the brakes on 1996 saturn sl2. The contact stated that she was driving 35 MPH when she was cut off by another car. She then applied the brake pedal which gave no resistance. The contact stated that before being cut off the brakes did work. The contact stated that the car finally stopped after she pumped the brakes. The contact continued to drive at approximately 5 MPH until she reached her destination and had the car towed to a saturn dealership.
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 saturn sl. The contact stated that the ignition key was very difficult to turn when the contact attempted to start the vehicle. The contact also stated that the engine would not shut off when the key was in the ignition. The failure was recurring over a two year period. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number 14v047000 (air bags, electrical system), however, the vehicle was not included.