1993 Saturn SL Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 10about this part
- Share
- 6%of 175 total for the year
- Median mileage
- —not reported
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 10 complaints about the air bags of the 1993 Saturn SL, 6% of the 175 complaints for this model year. 9 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Vehicle was rear-ended and pushed into the car in front of consumer. Had both fron tand rae impact. Driver's air bag failed to deploy, and shoulder belt did not lock in time to prevent driver from falling forward, hitting head on steering wheel. Also, seatback collapsed, driver fell backwards and hit back of head. Sustained injuries, and vehicle was totaled.”
NHTSA complaint #539614, filed 1998-08“Driving the vehicle at about 35mph down the highway and ran into the back of a vehicle that had stopped in the middle of the highway, and the airbag didn't deploy. The front of the vehicle was damaged badly, but the vehicle was drivable.”
NHTSA complaint #823424, filed 1998-05“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #11006222, filed 2017-07“Was driving along highway north and hit a vehicle in the center. The air bag did not deploy, resulting in an injury. Vehicle is in for repairs, and dealer is waiting to hear from general motors.”
NHTSA complaint #809005, filed 1997-03“While driving in rain, applied brakes (ABS) which failed, another vehicle hit sl2(2nd crash); (1st crash occurred when consumer hit another vehicle which was making a u-turn, driver's air bag did not deploy.”
NHTSA complaint #806091, filed 1996-12Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 9 | 7% |
| 2001 | 13 | 12% |
| 2000 | 5 | 3% |
| 1999 | 20 | 11% |
| 1998 | 8 | 5% |
| 1997 | 17 | 7% |
| 1996 | 18 | 6% |
| 1995 | 31 | 9% |
| 1994 | 20 | 7% |
| 1993 | 10 | 6% |
| 1992 | 3 | 2% |
| 1991 | 1 | 3% |
Other parts of the 1993 Saturn SL
36 complaintsEngine cooling
30 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
26 complaintsSeats
21 complaintsElectrical system
19 complaintsVehicle speed control
19 complaintsSeat belts
15 complaintsTires
9 complaintsBody and structure
7 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
5 complaintsFuel system
3 complaintsOther or unknown
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1993 Saturn SL
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology