Your vehicle report
1996 Saturn SL
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 287
- Received Sep 1995 to Jan 2016
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Head gasket leaks coolant into engine27 complaints · 9.4% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Airbags fail to deploy in crashes17 complaints · 5.9% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Seat belt fails to latch or retract15 complaints · 5.2% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #97V138000Vehicle 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.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 50 crashes, 2 fires, 45 people injured, 1 death.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 4 |
| 1996 | 33 |
| 1997 | 56 |
| 1998 | 23 |
| 1999 | 26 |
| 2000 | 37 |
| 2001 | 19 |
| 2002 | 20 |
| 2003 | 18 |
| 2004 | 21 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 287 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head gasket leaks coolant into engine | 27 | 9.4% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 17 | 5.9% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 15 | 5.2% | – | |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 14 | 4.9% | – | |
| Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines | 11 | 3.8% | – | |
| Front brake rotors warp and wear early | 11 | 3.8% | – | |
| Horn fails with airbag warning light | 10 | 3.5% | – | |
| Rear door latch fails to open or close | 9 | 3.1% | – | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 8 | 2.8% | – | |
| Cruise control fails to disengage | 7 | 2.4% | – | |
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 6 | 2.1% | – | |
| Brakes fail intermittently or repeatedly | 6 | 2.1% | – | |
| Spark plugs blow out of cylinder head | 5 | 1.7% | – | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 5 | 1.7% | – | |
| Check engine light comes on repeatedly | 5 | 1.7% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 5 | 1.7% | – | |
| Instrument cluster or speedometer fails | 5 | 1.7% | – | |
| Power steering rack leaks fluid | 5 | 1.7% | – | |
| Engine burns excessive oil between changes | 5 | 1.7% | – | |
| Transmission will not engage reverse gear | 5 | 1.7% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #97V138000August 29, 199714,580 vehicles affected
steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)
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.
This could result in the pinion gear disengaging from the rack causing a loss of steering control.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the manual steering gear assembly.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 1996 Saturn SL.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN