VehicleVerdict

1992 Saturn SL electrical system problems

The 1992 Saturn SL has 21 electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA — 12% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

21

Electrical System complaints

12%

Share of year

2

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Electrical System complaints by year

SL electrical system complaints by model year48 complaints1991: 3 complaints1992: 21 complaints1993: 21 complaints1994: 26 complaints1995: 31 complaints1996: 48 complaints1997: 32 complaints1998: 20 complaints1999: 23 complaints2000: 30 complaints2001: 33 complaints2002: 44 complaints
SL electrical system complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

93V132000Electrical SystemAugust 10, 1993 · 352,833 units

Defect

THE GENERATOR ELECTRICAL WIRING IS NOT PROTECTED AGAINST EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW WHICH MAY BE CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE GENERATOR.

Consequence

SHOULD AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT OCCUR IN THEGENERATOR, THE GENERATOR WIRING HARNESS WOULD EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW.UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, ENOUGH HEAT COULD BE GENERATED TO IGNITE SURROUNDINGMATERIALS. IF THIS OCCURS, AN UNDERHOOD FIRE COULD RESULT WITH OR WITHOUT THEENGINE RUNNING AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy

THE GENERATOR WIRING HARNESS WILL BE REPLACED WITH ONE THAT WILL OPEN AS A FUSE WOULD UNDER CERTAIN EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW CONDITIONS.

What owners report

THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS, CAUSING A SHORT CIRCUIT AND THE WIRING HARNESS TO MELT. CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE OFF POSITION. *AK

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · crash

Common questions

How many electrical system complaints does the 1992 Saturn SL have?

NHTSA has 21 complaints about the 1992 Saturn SL electrical system — 12% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1992 Saturn SL electrical system?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the electrical system: 93V132000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.