FaultScore

1996 Saturn SL airbag problems

19 of the 369 complaints about the 1996 Saturn SL are about the airbag system — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 110,000 miles.

F

19

Complaints

13

Crashes

0

Fires

11

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Frontal 11 57.9%
AIR Bags 8 42.1%

Airbags across every Saturn SL year

1993 10 7.2%
1994 20 14.5%
1995 36 26.1%
1996 19 13.8%
1997 20 14.5%
1999 20 14.5%
2001 13 9.4%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Norfolk, VA

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SATURN SL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE HORN BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING AND THE MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10676665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 110,000 miles Yatesville, GA Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

I WAS IN A BROAD SIDE COLLISION (T-BONE) TYPE ACCIDENT WHERE I HIT ANOTHER DRIVER AFTER SHE TURNED IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING THIS COLLISION AND NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED MY SEATBELT LOCKED CAUSING ME TO HAVE SEVERE NERVE DAMAGE IN MY NECK ON THE LEFT SIDE, MY LEFT LEG NOW HAS INJURY FROM THIS ACCIDENT NEEDLESS TO SAY I WILL HAVE THIS LIFELONG PROBLEM STEMMING FROM THIS ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10633578 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Beaumont, TX

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE PULLING INTO A GAS STATION THE LEFT FRONT TIRE STRUCK THE CURB AND THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT. THE MECHANIC CUT THE AIR BAG OUT OF STEERING WHEEL AND SHOWED CONSUMER THAT THE AIR BAG HAD OBVIOUSLY NOT DEPLOYED CORRECTLY, HALF OF THE AIR BAG HAD STAYED INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL. THE HALF THAT WAS STUCK IN THE STEERING WHEEL LOOKED LIKE IT HAD BEEN BURNED AND MELTED TOGETHER. CONSUMER FEELS THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE AIR BAG OR ITS DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM WAS FAULTY, AND SHE THINKS IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SATURN TO REPLACE IT AT NO COST.

NHTSA complaint #565422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Flushing, NY Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

DURING COLLISION AIR BAGS DEPLOYED HOWEVER DID NOT INFLATE RESULTING IN NECK AND FACIAL INJURIES.

NHTSA complaint #536489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kansas City, KS Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 27-JUL-97. WAS HIT FROM BEHIND. AS A RESULT, AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY, AND DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATBACK COLLAPSED, CAUSING THE SEATS TO FULLY RECLINE.

NHTSA complaint #844043 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Austin, TX Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

HIT A CURB AT ABOUT 5MPH, CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #824697 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NEW Market, MD Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20-25 MPH CONSUMER REAR ENDED VEHICLE IN FRONT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURIES. SEAT BELTS WERE WORN AT AT THE TIME. OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THAT AIRBAG SHOULD DEPLOY AT 15 MPH .MANUFACTURER WILL SEND SOME ONE TO INSPECT VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #823849 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Blowing RO, NC

AIR BAGS

DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG FALSLY DEPLOYED CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #531193 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Howel, NJ

AIR BAGS

AFTER HITTING THE CURB, BOTH AIR BAG DEPLOYED AT 2-3 MPH.

NHTSA complaint #511286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Suisun, CA Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

ALL VEHICLE DOORS CAME OPEN UPON IMPACT, OWNER LOST CONTROL, FISHTAILED ON GRAVEL ROAD, SKIDDED, HIT DITCH/EMBANKMENT, VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER. ALSO, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, VEHICLE TOTALED. SEATBELTS SAVED DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S LIVES, OWNER WILL INCLUDE VIN.

NHTSA complaint #812186 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Clarksville, AR Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WAS HIT ON THE LEFT SIDE AND BOTH AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY .

NHTSA complaint #807602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Smyrna, GA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, THE AIRBAG NEVER TOUCHED THE DRIVER. ALSO THE PRESSURE FROM THE AIRBAG CAUSE DMORE HARM THAN THE AIR BAG ITSELF. THE PRESSURE MADE THE SUNROOF ASSEMBLY BEND.

NHTSA complaint #808345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

E. Taunton, MA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

IN AN ACCIDENT AT 10:45 POSITION AT 30MPH CAR HIT FIRE HYDRANT AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED BUT NOT THE DRIVERS SIDE.

NHTSA complaint #807897 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bradford, MA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE WAS STROKE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE HEAD-ON AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE STROKE AN GUARD POLE WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE SWERVED IN FRONT OF HIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #807165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Holyoke, MA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVERS AIR BAG IN FRONT END COLLISION.

NHTSA complaint #506320 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pine Brook, NJ

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON CONTINUOUSLY EVEN AFTER AIR BAG REPLACED BY AREA DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP IS HAVING PROBLEMS IDENTIFYING THE SOURCE OF FAILURE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #803253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Peabody, MA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION AT 20 MPH AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #982201 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Aurora, IL Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

UPON OFF CENTER TO LEFT, FRONTAL IMPACT BETWEEN 35-40 MPH, NEITHER DUAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #980387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Aurora, IL Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

UPON OFF CENTER TO LEFT, FRONTAL IMPACT BETWEEN 35-40 MPH, NEITHER DUAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #980387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1996 Saturn SL problems

← Full 1996 Saturn SL report