1996 Saturn SL Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other SL years
- More complaints than other years 2nd of 8 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 287 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Saturn SL. That ranks 2nd out of 8 SL model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (63 complaints, 22%), typically at around 82,729 miles. Complaints mention 50 crashes, 2 fires, 45 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
- 287owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 50complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 Saturn SL problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 63 | 22% | 82,729 | “cylinder head” (17%) | $3,750 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 41 | 14% | 74,885 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 40 | 14% | 117,687 | — | — |
| Power Train | 37 | 13% | 85,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 20 | 7% | 150,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 18 | 6% | 110,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 17 | 6% | 88,420 | — | — |
| Visibility | 16 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 15 | 5% | 46,500 | — | — |
| Tires | 13 | 5% | 65,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 12 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 8 | 3% | 125,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 7 | 2% | 141,500 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 6 | 2% | 155,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 6 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 5 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Child Seat | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 0% | 103,000 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 0% | 138,650 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1996 Saturn SL recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Steering:gear box (other than rack and pinion)
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with manual steering. The pinion bearing cage in the steering gear can separate under high steering system load conditions, such as parking lot or similar low speed maneuvers.
Risk: This could result in the pinion gear disengaging from the rack causing a loss of steering control.
Fix: Dealers will replace the manual steering gear assembly.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
First problem is door chimes with key out of ignition. Second problem is dome light stays on in front or rear position with all doors shut. Third problem is no power at all to the cab when i tried to start car, and then my passenger opened and shut the passenger front door and the power came back…
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 saturn sl. While making a right turn at 20 mph, the steering wheel turned right and left independently. As a result, the contact crashed into the rear driver side of another vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained muscular pain that required…
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 saturn sl. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 mph, the air bag warning light illuminated and the horn became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the clock spring and the module needed to be replaced. The…
I noticed that the temperature gauge would go 3/4 towards the red. If i am stopping at a light, the temperature gauge keep going 3/4 towards the red, then goes back very slowly to the middle. I have been informed that i would need to replace my gasket. This would cost approximately $1,200. *tr
I was in a broad side collision (t-bone) type accident where i hit another driver after she turned in front of me causing this collision and no air bags deployed my seatbelt locked causing me to have severe nerve damage in my neck on the left side, my left leg now has injury from this accident…
Other Saturn SL years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 SL | 131 | 0 |
| 2001 SL | 111 | 2 |
| 2000 SL | 148 | 7 |
| 1999 SL | 178 | 1 |
| 1998 SL | 168 | 0 |
| 1997 SL | 227 | 2 |
| 1996 | 287 | 1 |
| 1995 SL | 355 | 3 |
See all Saturn SL problems by year, every Saturn model, or the VIN decoder.
Similar Saturn models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Saturn SL?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, service brakes, hydraulic, electrical system problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 63 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Saturn SL?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1996 Saturn SL a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other SL model years, the 1996 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.