1993 Saturn SL
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
Have the VIN?
These records cover every 1993 Saturn SL. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
2 recalls name the 1993 Saturn SL. Newest first.
The generator electrical wiring IS not protected against excessive current flow which may be caused by an electrical short circuit in the generator.
Risk and remedy
Risk
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 warning.
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk
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.
Owner complaints
175 complaints24 involved a crash8 involved a fire14 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Air bags · Engine
TL* the contact owned a 1993 saturn SL-2. While driving 70 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact attempted to coast the vehicle off to the right shoulder, but lost control and crashed into three poles. The air bags failed to deploy and ejected the contact through the front…
TL* the contact owned a 1993 saturn SL-2. While driving 70 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact attempted to coast the vehicle off to the right shoulder, but lost control and crashed into three poles. The air bags failed to deploy and ejected the contact through the front windshield. A police report was filed. The contact sustained broken ribs and a permanent head injury. The contact was in a coma on life support for three weeks. The vehicle was towed and the insurance company declared that it was destroyed. The dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown. updated 10/05/17*lj *js *tr
- Unknown or other
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.
- Electrical system
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 manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 160,000.
- Electrical system · Seats · Structure › Body › Door · Visibility/wiper
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 diagnosed. The failure mileage was 60,000 and the current mileage was 172,727. updated 09/15/14*lj updated 1/13/2014 *js
- Electrical system · Engine and engine cooling
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.
- Tires
I have a temporary spare that has never been used & came with the car when I purchased it new. On november 21, 2006, I discovered my right front passenger side tire was plat & changed it, installing the emergency flat (which had never been used). I headed to the ntb tire store to purchase a new…
I have a temporary spare that has never been used & came with the car when I purchased it new. On november 21, 2006, I discovered my right front passenger side tire was plat & changed it, installing the emergency flat (which had never been used). I headed to the ntb tire store to purchase a new tire. After driving only 2 ,miles, the emergency tire exploded. I had to call aaa & be towed to the tire store. The tire that exploded: firestone tiempa spare t115/70r14 88M I had to buy a new tire. Now, I also have to buy a new rim + tire to serve as my spare. I feel that, although the car was old, the emergency spare, never used, was defective, and either gm (saturn) or firestone should be held liable for replacement. This unsafe tire should never have been installed as the original equipment spare. I have saved the tire for inspection by any party. *jb
- Seat belts › Front › Retractor
Dt*: the contact stated the front seat belts would not extract. the dealer determined both retractor modules need to be replaced.
- Engine and engine cooling
Problems with the harmonic balancer having excessive run out causing improper serpentine belt alignment which created excessive belt wear. If problem IS left unattended, serpentine belt/balancer can separate causing engine stall and loss of power steering which may cause accident. Contacted…
Problems with the harmonic balancer having excessive run out causing improper serpentine belt alignment which created excessive belt wear. If problem IS left unattended, serpentine belt/balancer can separate causing engine stall and loss of power steering which may cause accident. Contacted manufacturer but did not acknowledge a problem existed even though the balancer was redesigned. Balancer was replaced by the owner as a precautionary measure to prevent potential hazards. I also noticed several failure notices by other owners of this same brand/model of vehicle posted on the internet. Vehicle in question IS a 1993 saturn SL2 sdn w/dohc 1.9L engine could not find the proper category to classify the vehicle I the next pages.*jb
- Vehicle speed control › Cruise control
Driving on the highway with cruise control set at 65 mph and cruise control just speed up about 10 mph out of the blue. Causing the car to jerk and rpms to jump. *Jb
- Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
Any saturn key of or aroud the same year can unlosk other saturn doors.*ak
- Electrical system › 12v/24v/48v battery
While applying the brake pedal it went to the floor. Consumer pumped the brakes, and the they malfunctioned. however, consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle, and drove it home. vehicle was towed to the dealer for inspection the next day. mechanic determined that brake lines…
While applying the brake pedal it went to the floor. Consumer pumped the brakes, and the they malfunctioned. however, consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle, and drove it home. vehicle was towed to the dealer for inspection the next day. mechanic determined that brake lines needed to be replaced. *Ak it was later determined that the battery leaked acid on the brake line. the consumer believes the brake failure was due to the faulty design which located the battery over the brake lines. *nm
- Tires › Sidewall
Sidewalls cracking open prematurely. *ak
- Power train › Automatic transmission
After turning the vehicle on and placing the gear in park or neutral vehicle will jumped forward, dealer examined the vehicle, and found that the valve body assembly had to be replaced. *ak the consumer owns four other saturn vehicles. three of them have also had their valve body assemblies replaced. all of the vehicles had under 50000 miles on their odometer's. *nm
- Electrical system
Consistent problem with engine check light/abs light, and battery light coming on and off. *Ak the vehicle was taken to the dealer who indicated that nothing was wrong with the vehicle. after the consumer left the dealer all the dash lights illuminated and the vehicle shut down. *nm
- Electrical system › Alternator/generator/regulator · Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts and associated pulleys
The alternator belt broke four times since ownership. on one occasion, the consumer was driving at 50 mph and the belt broke, which caused the power steering to become inoperative, and almost resulting in an accident. dealer and the manufacturer have been informed of the problem.*ak the serpentine belt fell off while driving, dealer replaced. *Ts *jb
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
Our vehicle caught on fire while we were on our way to vacation on highway 95. No warning was given. We were approached by another vehicle that the car was on fire. At this point we saw smoke coming from under the hood of the car, and immediately, the car was filled with smoke from under the…
Our vehicle caught on fire while we were on our way to vacation on highway 95. No warning was given. We were approached by another vehicle that the car was on fire. At this point we saw smoke coming from under the hood of the car, and immediately, the car was filled with smoke from under the dashboard of the car. Visibility in the car was almost impossibile. We tried to stop the car, but we had no brakes, nor any emergency brakes. We tried putting the car in park, but the gear shift had been melted down as well. We had to cut the car completely off and let it coast towards a ditch to stop it.we jumped out and ran over a ditch. The fire department was there within two minuets from another burning car. Everthing under the hood was melted. We were told by the firemen that under the car was also melted down. *Ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
The vehicle caught on fire under the hood.*jb *ts
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline · Structure › Body › Door
Valve train seems to fail at about 95-160 thousand miles with unknown cause. Called both dealer and repair shops. Both seem to say the same. Either valve seats or piston rings fail at these points of milage. Between 95,000 to 160,000 miles with unknown cause. Some said might be the aluminum head…
Valve train seems to fail at about 95-160 thousand miles with unknown cause. Called both dealer and repair shops. Both seem to say the same. Either valve seats or piston rings fail at these points of milage. Between 95,000 to 160,000 miles with unknown cause. Some said might be the aluminum head defect, others said that there are stress cracks from the molding of the head. They all say can not really tell until taken apart and visually checked. High cost to do this. But no known recalls on the head defect or valve seat or valve train system. Also on the door hinge, the door seals let water down to the hinge and it rots out the hinge on the door, causing the door to fall or rot off.
- Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
While starting vehicle driver side seat belt will work on different occasions seat belt tends to be inoperable. has had seat belt serviced. This will be the 2ND time for service on same problem.*ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
The consumer added coolant several times but the low coolant light kept coming. The dealer determined the cause to be a cracked cylinder head which was a manufacturing defect that caused the engine oil to be contaminated with the antifreeze. *yh
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Total brake failure on braking from 40mph. brake pedal goes to the floor but does not stop vehicle.*jb
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
Vehicle caught on fire while on way to airport. No warning was given . consumer was flagged by another automobile that her vehicle was smoking. Then she stopped, got out, then almost immediately car exploded.*ak
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
ABS light was coming on and off intermittently, currently, ABS light remains on while driving, and causes ABS to be non operational. Dealer was notified. *Ak computer found error and if the code resets consumer will need to replace ABS controller. *jg
- Electrical system › Alternator/generator/regulator
The problem I listed was the first time I had the alternator die, it then happened on 7/3/00 at apx. 10900 miles, and again on 10/7/01 at apx. 130,000 miles. Then on 12/27/01 the battery died on the car. I bought the car used and I am not sure if the alternator that was in it was the original or…
The problem I listed was the first time I had the alternator die, it then happened on 7/3/00 at apx. 10900 miles, and again on 10/7/01 at apx. 130,000 miles. Then on 12/27/01 the battery died on the car. I bought the car used and I am not sure if the alternator that was in it was the original or not. But I have replaced it every time with a rebuilt one. I also do not know what the seatbelts are called but they are automatic ones on the shoulder and manual for the lap in the front. If you have any questions feel free to contact me at my home and I will return your call on the next business day. Or you can e-mail me. Thank you for your time.*ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
My biggest problems IS with the stalling of the car in the middle of traffic. I have almost been in one accident and there has been alot of times at which this car has stalled. This vehicle IS very dangerous to me and my 4 year old boy and the place at which I am still paying for this car as not been cooperative in fixing this problem which was brought to there attention from day one. anna cole. *Ak
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- 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…
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 problems were investigated and steps taken by the manufacturer to remedy their occurrences.service procedures were issued for vehicles in use, and a design modification made for new vehicles.no confirmed allegations of failure of the system to disengage upon command were identified.improved quality control procedures and design modificationsin the system were undertaken to ensure a more consistent level of system performance.the details of these findings and the resulting conclusions are contained inthe subject engineering analysis closing report.a safety-related defect trend was not identified at ehis time and further use of agency resources does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that a safety-related defect does not exist.the agency will take further action if warranted by the circumstances.
- Cruise control failure
There is no summary currently available
- Steering system lockup
There is no summary currently available
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 10246631Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
- 10233362This service bulletin revision provides a repair procedure to Remove Debris from Evaporator Case, Disinfect evaporator or Apply Cooling coil coating and install blower motor control module to correct a customer concern of A/C Odor at start-up.
Every Saturn SL model year
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