1996 Saturn SL Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 1996 Saturn SL, and owners have filed 287 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 1996 Saturn SL
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Gear box (other than rack and pinion) (steering)
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the manual steering gear assembly.
287 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1996 Saturn SL have filed 287 complaints with NHTSA; 50 describe a crash and 2 describe a fire. Reports cite 44 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 99,463 miles. Complaints peaked in 1997 with 56 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 30, 2016 · Electrical system
“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 anothe”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 4, 2015 · Steering
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1996 Saturn SL. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 25–29 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 21–25 / 31–36 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.9 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Saturn SL model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Saturn SL model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 Saturn SL | 1 | 29 |
| 1992 Saturn SL | 2 | 123 |
| 1993 Saturn SL | 2 | 175 |
| 1994 Saturn SL | 1 | 286 |
| 1995 Saturn SL | 3 | 355 |
| 1996 Saturn SL | 1 | 287 |
| 1997 Saturn SL | 2 | 227 |
| 1998 Saturn SL | 0 | 168 |
| 1999 Saturn SL | 1 | 178 |
| 2000 Saturn SL | 7 | 148 |
| 2001 Saturn SL | 2 | 111 |
| 2002 Saturn SL | 0 | 131 |
Checking a specific 1996 Saturn SL
How do I know if my 1996 Saturn SL has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 1996 Saturn SL; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Saturn dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 97V138000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Saturn models
- Ion4,343 complaints
- Vue2,351 complaints
- LS1,458 complaints
- Aura1,439 complaints
- Outlook1,352 complaints
- Sky516 complaints
- SC1413 complaints
- Sc296 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.