Total Complaints
20 filings
SATURN SATURN · model year
1992 SATURN SATURN
20 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1992SATURNSATURN carries 20 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 8 injuries, and 1 fatality. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1992 SATURN is suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint with 3 filings, followed by air bags:frontal (2) and seats (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 14 investigation files overlapping the 1992 SATURN. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
20
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
8
Injuries
1
Deaths
Crashes Reported
3 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT | 3 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 2 |
| SEATS | 2 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 2 |
| WHEELS | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
| CHILD SEAT | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20050322WHEELS
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. DRIVER WAS GOING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS CAME OUT. THE BEARINGS SEIZED, AND THE WHEEL CAME OFF. WHAT WAS LEFT WAS LITTLE CHEWED UP PIECES OF METAL. OWNER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. *AK
Mileage: 106,200
20041207SUSPENSION:REAR
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. CONSUMER WAS GOING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN THE BEARINGS CAME OUT/SEIZED, AND THE WHEEL CAME OFF, WHICH LEFT CHEWED UP PIECES OF METAL. CONSUMER LATER CONTACTED THE DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. *AK
Mileage: 95,000
20010530POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
THE LEFT REAR AXLE BROKE CAUSING THE LEFT REAR WHEEL CAME OFF, THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND STRUCK A CONCRETE DIVIDER WALL, THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A SORE NECK (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). NLM
20010425WHEELS
WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMERS RIGHT REAR WHEEL CAME OFF (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT). NLM
20010419SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
APPLIED BRAKES STOPPED SHORT,SEAT BACK SNAPPED WHEN CAR STOPPED
20000725AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
20000623CrashSEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. WE WERE AT A COMPLETE STOP WHEN WE WERE HIT IN THE REAR. AT IMPACT THE DRIVER SEAT BROKE IN THE MIDDLE OF MY BACK. I DO HAVE DAMAGE TO MY BACK AND FURTHER TESTS ARE BEING DONE TO DETERMINE JUST HOW SEVERE. THE PASSENGER SEAT JUST DROPPED THE PASSENGER IN THE BACK SEAT.*AK
19990908SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR
DETERIORATED BRAKE ROTORS.
19990310SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT FAILED RESULTING IN COLLISION DUE TO LOSS OF CONTROL.
19980730CHILD SEAT
UNSAFE DESIGN, NO EXISTING CHILD SAFETY SEAT WILL SAFELY WORK WITH THE SEAT, SEAT BELT SYSTEM INSTALLED IN THIS AUTOMOBILE. *AK
19970926SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
THE BALL JOINT-LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT WITH INJURY.
19970926SEATS
THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS BADLY BENT IN THE ACCIDENT AND CAUSED THE BACK INJURY.
19970717SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
DEFECTIVE BALL JOINT- LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE ACCIDENT WITH INJURIES.
19970606SEAT BELTS
SEAT BELTS: THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT RETRACTOR DOES NOT WORK WHEN THE WEATHER GETS EXTREMELY COLD. WHEN THE RETRACTOR DOES NOT MOVE IT BLOWS A FUSE. *AK
19961029SEATS
VEHICLE SEATS ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH ANY FRONT FACING TODDLER'S SAFETY SEAT.
19960722CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
NO DEPLOYMENT OF PASSENGERS AIR BAG, CONTRIBUTING TO INJURIES OF PASSENGERS IN ACCIDENT.
19960722CrashFatalAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVERS AIR BAG, CAUSING DEATH IN ACCIDENT. *DH
19950622STRUCTURE:BODY
CONSOLE DESIGNED WITH PLASTIC DOOR THAT ALLOWS LIQUIDS THAT ARE SAT ON TOP OF CONSOLE TO SPILL BENEATH CONSOLE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO POWER MODULE/POWER LOSS. *AW
19950413SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS BRAKES FAILED AFTER EXPOSURE TO INCLEMENT CONDITIONS. *TW
19950203ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TOP ENGINE MOUNT COLLAPSED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO VIBRATE. *SKD
Compare 1992SATURNSATURN to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
EA11014Engineering AnalysisClosed
Electric Power Steering Failure
RQ10004Recall QueryClosed
Electric Power Steering Failure
PE09016Preliminary EvaluationClosed
OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES STICK UNLATCHED
PE08061Preliminary EvaluationClosed
TIMING CHAIN BREAKS, ENGINE STALL
DP08002Defect PetitionClosed
TIMING CHAIN FAILURE-STALL
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1992 SATURN SATURN have?▼
The 1992 SATURN SATURN has 20 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 8 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1992 SATURN SATURN?▼
The most-complained component for the 1992 SATURN SATURN is SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS:FRONTAL and SEATS.
Is the 1992 SATURN SATURN safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.