RoadVitals

1996 Saturn S-Series

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
2
Latest Aug 3, 2011
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Mar 23, 2006
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Saturn S-Series, most frequently naming the electrical category. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 42 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical2100.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
06E026000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Mar 23, 2006
61,944 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
The risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
PRO-A MOTORS, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Electrical
Filed Aug 3, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SATURN ION S-SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, UNLESS THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND PERFORMED THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10416827
Incident
Feb 1, 2011
Mileage
97,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 19, 2006

HORN STARING BLARING WITHOUT DRIVER PRESSING THE HORN BUTTON. ONLY BY DISCONNECTING FUSE DID HORN STOP. *NM

NHTSA ID
10160130
Incident
Jun 6, 2006
Mileage
136,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

060730024

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

INFORMATION FOR DIAGNOSING AND SERVICING CUSTOMER CONCERNS OF THE VEHICLE CREEPING FORWARD IN NEUTRAL, BINDING IN REVERSE, AND/OR CLICKING OR WHINING IN ALL FORWARD GEARS AFTER TRANSAXLE SERVICE. *KB

030524001

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS

SERVICE INFORMATION REGARDING SATURN REAR DRUM WHEEL CYLINDER INSPECTIONS. *TT UPDATE. *TT

020232009

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

POWER STEERING SYSTEM NOISE AND/OR LEAK DIAGNOSIS. *TT

040730026

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION AND REMANUFACTURED VALVE BODY INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS. *TT

3116

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

REPLACEMENT SUNROOF MODULE MOTOR HARNESS CONNECTION CHANGES. *SC

000730024

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

SERVICE INFORMATION REGARDING SERVICE APPLICATIONS FOR AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE SHIFT SOLENOIDS. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Saturn S-Series by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2002300—
2001500—
2000300—
1999200—
1998200—
1997100—
1996Viewing210—
1995110—
1994310—
1993010—
1992000—
1991000—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.