Saturn ยท 1996
1996 Saturn SL
Official EPA fuel economy and NHTSA recall record, best combined figure 29 MPG.
Fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Fuel | City | Highway | Combined | CO2 g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.9L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Regular | 21 | 31 | 25 | 355 |
| 1.9L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Regular | 23 | 33 | 27 | 329 |
| 1.9L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Regular | 22 | 32 | 26 | 342 |
| 1.9L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Regular | 25 | 36 | 29 | 306 |
Safety recalls (NHTSA)
2 campaigns on record for this model year. Recall repairs are free at dealers; check your exact vehicle by VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL STEERING. THE PINION BEARING CAGE IN THE STEERING GEAR CAN SEPARATE UNDER HIGH STEERING SYSTEM LOAD CONDITIONS, SUCH AS PARKING LOT OR SIMILAR LOW SPEED MANEUVERS.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Owner complaints (NHTSA)
369 complaints filed by owners for this model year (56 involving a crash, 2 a fire). Complaints are owner reports, not confirmed defects - browse them in full on nhtsa.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fuel economy of a 1996 Saturn SL?
EPA figures for the 1996 Saturn SL reach 29 MPG combined depending on configuration; the table on this page lists every tested engine and transmission combination.
Are there recalls on the 1996 Saturn SL?
NHTSA lists 2 safety recall campaigns for the 1996 Saturn SL. Check your specific vehicle by VIN on the official NHTSA site, recalls are fixed free of charge by dealers.
What are common problems with the 1996 Saturn SL?
Owners have filed 369 complaints with NHTSA for the 1996 Saturn SL, most often about: Engine And Engine Cooling, Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Electrical System. Complaint counts reflect what owners report, not confirmed defects.
Sources: EPA fueleconomy.gov, the NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings databases (all US public data), refreshed monthly. Recall texts are quoted from the official record. Details on About & Data Sources.