no report yet
Steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)
Risk. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PINION GEAR DISENGAGING FROM THE RACK CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.
1996 Saturn SLProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 287 owner complaints about the 1996 Saturn SL, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It is covered by 1 safety recall.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through January 30, 2016. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 1996 Saturn SL has problems
287 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
63Engine and engine cooling5 crash/fire/injury
41Service brakes, hydraulic11 crash/fire/injury
40Electrical system
37Power train4 crash/fire/injury
20Steering
18Air bags
17Vehicle speed control
16Visibility
15Seats
7014 other systems8 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 63 | 5 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 41 | 11 |
| Electrical system | 40 | 0 |
| Power train | 37 | 4 |
| Steering | 20 | 7 |
| Air bags | 18 | 12 |
| Vehicle speed control | 17 | 4 |
| Visibility | 16 | 1 |
| Seats | 15 | 12 |
| 14 other systems | 70 | 8 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
1 recall
1996 Saturn SL recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Saturn.
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine and engine cooling
8 owners mentioned a cost$2,199median
Middle half: $1,150 – $2,725
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
1996 vs. every other SL year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the SL median. How we score
'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
1996 Saturn SL safety ratings
1996 Saturn SL 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- Stability control: No
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What SL owners report
Recent engine and engine cooling complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SATURN SL. THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL ON THE GROUND AND ALL OVER THE COOLING SYSTEM. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE KEPT FLUCTUATING INTO THE RED ZONE. THE CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRIVE DIFFERENTLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE…
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SATURN SL2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED INTERMITTENTLY AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DISCOVERED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS WERE SET AT DIFFERENT SPECIFICATIONS, WHICH WAS THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 175,000…
I AM LOSING A LOT OF OIL. I SPOKE WITH MY MECHANIC HE STATED THAT A LOT OF TIMES IT IS THE VALVE COVER GASKET, SO HE CHANGED IT. THE CAR IS STILL LOSING A LOT OF OIL. ABOUT A QUART EVERY 400 MILES. I STARTED RESEARCHING ON MY OWN AND HAVE FOUND THAT SEVERAL SATURN OWNERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE…
Own a 1996 SL?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.