The 1993 Saturn Sl has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 367,292 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 228 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
THE GENERATOR ELECTRICAL WIRING IS NOT PROTECTED AGAINST EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW WHICH MAY BE CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE GENERATOR.
Consequence
SHOULD AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT OCCUR IN THEGENERATOR, THE GENERATOR WIRING HARNESS WOULD EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW.UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, ENOUGH HEAT COULD BE GENERATED TO IGNITE SURROUNDINGMATERIALS. IF THIS OCCURS, AN UNDERHOOD FIRE COULD RESULT WITH OR WITHOUT THEENGINE RUNNING AND WITHOUT PRIOR…
Remedy
THE GENERATOR WIRING HARNESS WILL BE REPLACED WITH ONE THAT WILL OPEN AS A FUSE WOULD UNDER CERTAIN EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW CONDITIONS.
THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE TERMINAL AT THE STARTER SOLENOID MAY BE FORMED INCORRECTLY. INCORRECTLY FORMED TERMINALS CAN CONTACT THE STARTER SOLENOID HOUSING AND CAUSE AN ELECTRIC SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT BETWEEN THE BATTERY CABLE ANDTHE STARTER HOUSING CAN RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy
INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, ADJUST THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE TERMINAL SO THAT IT DOES NOT CONTACT THE STARTER SOLENOID HOUSING.
Complaints by component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
19
1fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
17
2crashes1injuries
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
14
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
13
4crashes1injuries
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
12
4crashes2injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
11
1fires
SEATS
9
2crashes1injuries
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
7
7crashes5injuries
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
7
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
6
Total complaints228
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Tl* the contact owns a 1993 saturn sl. The contact stated that the electrical system failed. The contact stated that the failure was related to nhtsa campaign number: 93v132000 (electrical system) but did not confirm if the vehicle was included. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1993 saturn sl. The contact stated that the passenger side windshield wiper separated from the arm. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact also stated that the driver's seat, horn, ignition, and windows also failed. The vehicle was not repaired or…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1993 saturn sl. The contact stated that the passenger side windshield wiper separated from the arm. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact also stated that the driver's seat, horn, ignition, and windows also failed. The vehicle was not repaired or…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1993 saturn sl. The contact stated that the passenger side windshield wiper separated from the arm. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact also stated that the driver's seat, horn, ignition, and windows also failed. The vehicle was not repaired or…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1993 saturn sl. The contact stated that the passenger side windshield wiper separated from the arm. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact also stated that the driver's seat, horn, ignition, and windows also failed. The vehicle was not repaired or…”
“Key came out of ignition while going around corner, engine continued to run, everything else functioned normally. A locksmith cut a new key that is single sided, this does not fall out but also does not function on locks.”
“While driving this vehicle, the motor would just stop and then would not start until it cooled off. Had to have it towed 6 times within 6 months. Have not been able to drive it since.”
“While driving this vehicle, the motor would just stop and then would not start until it cooled off. Had to have it towed 6 times within 6 months. Have not been able to drive it since.”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA95003 Opened 1995-02-24 · closed 1996-05-31
CRUISE CONTROL FAILURES
THIS INVESTIGATION DOCUMENTED HTE FUNCTIONAL ABERATIONS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SUBJECT CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM.MOST OF THE MALFUNCTIONS INVOLVED FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM TO PROPERLY REGULATE VEHICLE SPEED WHEN ENGAGED, FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM TO ENGAGE, OR SELF-DISENGAGEMENT OF THE SYSTEM. THESE…
InvestigationPE93022 Opened 1993-04-05 · closed 1993-09-30
STEERING SYSTEM LOCKUP
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationPE94079 Opened 1994-11-07 · closed 1995-02-24
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1993 Saturn Sl as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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