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1997 Saturn Sl

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Saturn Sl do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 171.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 38 of 227 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

29 crash reports9 fire reports23 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

17 reports
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115,028 miles · Aug 14, 2014
Air BagsInjury

ON JULY 23, 2014 APPROXIMATELY 6:35P.M. I WAS ON MY WAY TO CHURCH ALONG WITH THREE OTHER PASSENGERS. MY SISTER WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND MY GRANDSON AND THE LADY THAT LIVE WITH ME WAS IN THE BACK SEAT. WITHOUT WARNING THERE WAS A BOOM OR EXPLOSION THAT CAUSE ME TO BRIEFLY LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. TH…

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ON JULY 23, 2014 APPROXIMATELY 6:35P.M. I WAS ON MY WAY TO CHURCH ALONG WITH THREE OTHER PASSENGERS. MY SISTER WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND MY GRANDSON AND THE LADY THAT LIVE WITH ME WAS IN THE BACK SEAT. WITHOUT WARNING THERE WAS A BOOM OR EXPLOSION THAT CAUSE ME TO BRIEFLY LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. THE CAR WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE AND FUME FROM THE DEPLOYED AIRBAGS. MY ARMS WERE CHEMICALLY BURNED AND KNUCKLES ON LEFT HAND FROM HOLDING STEERING WHEEL. THE PASSENGER IN FRONT WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT WRISTS PAIN, ANXIETY AND CHEST PAIN IN ONE OF HER BREAST. MY GRANDSON AND THE LADY RIDING IN THE BACK WAS NOT HURT BUT WAS CHECKED AT THE EMERGENCY FOR INHALATION AND RELEASED. WE WERE ALL CHECKED AND RELEASED AFTERWARD. I LATER GOT IN TOUCH WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY THAT TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A DEFAULT. THEN I LATER CONTACT GM, THEY GAVE CLAIM NUMBER AND TOOK INFORMATION ON THE INCIDENT. LATER THEY REFERRED CLAIM SPECIALIST, I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM CLAIM SPECIALIST CONCERNING WHAT TO DO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10622410

71,393 miles · Feb 10, 2006
Air BagsInjury

DRIVER WENT OVER A SPEED BUMP WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND HIT THE PARKING CURB JUST SLIGHTLY WHILE BRAKING. BOTH DRIVER & PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10150000

145,610 miles · Oct 16, 2005
Air BagsCrashInjury

MY CAR WAS BACKED INTO IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH PUSHED THE FROND END BACK INTO THE RADIATOR SUPPORT AND BUCKLED THE HOOD. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED AS WE WERE GOING DOWN THE STREET AT ABOUT 25 MPH, THEN REVERSED AT TOP SPEED INTO MY FRONT END. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10139819

104,000 miles · Nov 4, 2003
Air BagsCrash

VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10046330

Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 2002
Air BagsCrash

VEHICLE HIT A CURVE AT 10 MPH CAUSING AIR BAGS TO UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8001758

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 2000
Air BagsCrashInjury

THE DEFECTIVE AIR BAG ON THE DRIVER SIDE FAILED TO DEPLOY PROPERLY IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. IT ONLY BEGAN TO OPEN ABOUT 1/4 OF THE WAY AND STOPPED. AS A RESULT, I SUFFERED SEVERE INJURY TO MY LIVER, RIBS, RIGHT LEG AND MY HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD.

NHTSA ODI #730762

Mileage unknown · Aug 11, 2000
Air BagsCrash

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION AT 35 MPH, AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #867548

Mileage unknown · May 31, 2000
Air Bags

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH ON A ROAD AIR BAG DETONATED, BUT DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #862841

Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 2000
Air BagsFuel System, GasolineSeatsCrashInjury

ABS BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS, NO DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH AIR BAGS DURING COLLISION, PASSENGER SEAT COLLAPSED DURING IMPACT INJURIES DUE TO FAILURES. YH

NHTSA ODI #550684

Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 1999
Air BagsCrash

VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE HEAD-ON, AND THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #851742

Official recalls

2

97V155000 · Seats

Sep 12, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH SUSPECT COLD WELDS ON THE RIGHT SIDE IN THE TUNNEL AREA OF THE FLOOR PAN. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THESE VEHICLES.

97V138000 · Steering:gear Box (other Than Rack And Pinion)

Aug 29, 1997

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PINION GEAR DISENGAGING FROM THE RACK CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE MANUAL STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.