1996 Ford Contour vs 1996 Saturn SL
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1996 Ford Contour | 1996 Saturn SL |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 563 | 287 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 223 | 14 |
| Investigations | 5 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 35 | 50 |
| Fire reports | 24 | 2 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21–25 | 25–29 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 91,500 mi | 95,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Contour | Saturn SL |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 123 | 63 |
| Electrical System | 119 | 40 |
| Power Train | 77 | 37 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 44 | 41 |
| Exterior Lighting | 64 | 5 |
| Visibility | 41 | 16 |
| Steering | 30 | 20 |
| Equipment | 41 | 7 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 44 | 5 |
| Electrical failures | 35 | 0 |
| Overheating | 24 | 6 |
| Vibration / shaking | 14 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 10 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 10 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 8 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 8 | 8 |
1996 Ford Contour
1996 Saturn SL
Compare all Ford Contour vs Saturn SL years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.