Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Steering reportsComplaints 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.
20
Latest May 4, 2015
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 287 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
7
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3
What this page shows
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Saturn Sl submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 20 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming steering
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Steering
Filed May 4, 2015
Crash reported1 injury reported
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 ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MUSCULAR PAIN THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 97V138000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.
NHTSA ID
10714522
Incident
Apr 21, 2015
Mileage
166,000 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed May 14, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SATURN SL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF WHEN THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V047000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.
NHTSA ID
10588358
Incident
Apr 9, 2012
Mileage
128,000 mi
Steering
Filed May 27, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SATURN SL1. WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING TIGHTENS. WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURNS, THE STEERING BECOMES LOOSE. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE SHOULD NOT HAVE DRIVEN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS VERY UNSAFE. THE GEARS FELL APART INTERNALLY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO LOCATE CHEAPER PARTS WHEN HE DISCOVERED A RECALL RELATED TO HIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO SATURN VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 150,000.
NHTSA ID
10229018
Incident
May 27, 2008
Mileage
150,000 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 3, 2007
Crash reported
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SATURN SL2. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AROUND A CURVE, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE TIE ROD END WAS REPLACED APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS BEFORE THE CRASH WITH AN AFTERMARKET PART, MANUFACTURED BY TRW AUTOMOTIVE (PART NUMBER ES3238). THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE CRASH WAS CAUSED BY THE DISENGAGEMENT OF THE TIE ROD END. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150,000. UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED BETWEEN THE BALL AND SOCKET STEERING ABILITY WAS COMPLETELY LOST. UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR
NHTSA ID
10198381
Incident
Jul 25, 2007
Mileage
150,000 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 27, 2006
RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED COMPLETELY WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. *JB
NHTSA ID
10169370
Incident
Sep 21, 2006
Mileage
150,000 mi
Steering
Filed Nov 3, 2004
Crash reported1 death reported
REQUEST A DEFECT INVESTIGATION FOR POSSIBLE RECALL OF 1990-96 SATURN SL. *BF THE WRITER'S SON WAS KILLED IN AND ACCIDENT IN WHICH, PER WITNESS STATEMENTS, HER SONS VEHICLE VEERED SHARPLY LEFT AND HIT A TREE HEAD ON. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES SOME TYPE OF DEFECT CAUSED HER SON'S ACCIDENT. *NM
NHTSA ID
10099742
Incident
Oct 9, 2003
Steering
Filed Sep 3, 2004
Crash reported
MY SON WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY @ 65MPN. SLOWED TO EXIT AT EXIT 105. AS HE ENTERED THE EXIT, HE FELT SOMETHING BREAK, LOST STEERING, AND THE CAR SHOT TO THE RIGHT, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AND THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR SLID DOWN THE GUARD RAIL AND CAME TO A STOP JUST BEFORE IMPACTING A CONCRETE JERSEY WALL. THE INITIAL INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT SIDE SPINDLE HAD SNAPPED. THE ARM ON THE SPINDLE THAT THE TIE-ROD ATTACHES TO SNAPPED IN HALF. *AK
NHTSA ID
10089045
Incident
Aug 31, 2004
Mileage
114,856 mi
Steering
Filed Feb 5, 2002
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH STEERING MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL. *AK
NHTSA ID
8003552
Incident
Feb 2, 2002
Steering
Filed Feb 4, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported
SPINDLE BROKE OFF WHILE SWITCHING LANES ON THE FREEWAY. WE SPUN ACROSS ALL LANES AND CRASHED INTO MIDDLE DIVIDER WALL.*AK
NHTSA ID
757739
Incident
Jan 6, 2002
EngineSteering
Filed Jan 3, 2001
POWER STEERING PUMP SHAFT SEAL REPLACED DUE TO A LEAK, THE INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS ON THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE SEPARATED DUE TO WEAR. *SLC
NHTSA ID
558709
Incident
Nov 29, 2000
BrakesSteering
Filed Jun 23, 1999
Crash reported
ON 6/17/99 AT 6;30PM I WAS MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN FROM RTE 73S TO ATCO JUGHANDLE. ONCE I MADE THE TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN PLACE AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. THE CAR SHUTTERED AND CRASHED INTO THE CURB. MY SPEED WAS 20MPH AND THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE DRIZZLING. *AK
NHTSA ID
707814
Incident
Jun 17, 1999
Steering
Filed Jun 18, 1999
Crash reported
WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN CONSUMER SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WITHOUT WARNING AND HIT A CURB, REASON UNKNOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA ID
840434
Incident
Jun 17, 1999
Steering
Filed Jan 12, 1998
PRE LOPE BEARINGS FELLL APART FROM THE STEERING AREA OF THE CAR. *AK
NHTSA ID
820571
Incident
Jan 7, 1998
ElectricalFuel systemSteering
Filed Sep 9, 1997
ALARM FAILED.
NHTSA ID
605358
Incident
Jun 12, 1996
Steering
Filed Jan 23, 1997
RACK AND PINION GEAR FAILURE.
NHTSA ID
514067
Incident
Jan 2, 1997
Steering
Filed Oct 15, 1996
RACK AND PINION FAILED.
NHTSA ID
509918
Incident
Jul 1, 1996
Driver assistanceSteering
Filed Oct 9, 1996
WHEN DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON THE CAR ACCELERATES . PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
NHTSA ID
803407
Steering
Filed Oct 9, 1996
WHEN DRIVING AND USING THE CRUISE CONTROL, CAR ACCELERATES, THIS IS THE SECOND CAR . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
NHTSA ID
803406
Steering
Filed Jun 6, 1996
TOOK THE CAR TO BE REPAIRED THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOOSE,(ABS) THE FRONT ROTORS ON THE BRAKES WERE CORRODED. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILS. 8AK
NHTSA ID
985316
Incident
Oct 14, 1995
SteeringSuspension
Filed Oct 5, 1995
THE CAR SHIMMIES AND CAUSES LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
NHTSA ID
972993
Incident
Sep 27, 1995
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.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own