IllustrationVALVE BODY IN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE CANNOT BE PUT INTO REVERSE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sl years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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
Power Train complaints
23 reportsWAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50MPH AND WAS MERGING INTO TRAFFIC WHEN TRANSMISSION LOCKED IN GEAR AND FAILED TO CHANGE.*AK CONSUMER STATED PRIOR TO PURCHASING VEHICLE SHE COMPLAINED OF A CLUNK NOISE WHEN CHANGED GEARS INTO REVERSE, ALSO THE DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT IS INOPERABLE, ALSO THE RIGHT SIDE MIRROR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, ENG…
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WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50MPH AND WAS MERGING INTO TRAFFIC WHEN TRANSMISSION LOCKED IN GEAR AND FAILED TO CHANGE.*AK CONSUMER STATED PRIOR TO PURCHASING VEHICLE SHE COMPLAINED OF A CLUNK NOISE WHEN CHANGED GEARS INTO REVERSE, ALSO THE DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT IS INOPERABLE, ALSO THE RIGHT SIDE MIRROR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, ENGINE MOUNTS WERE REPLACED,BRAKES WERE REPLACED, SERPENTINE BELT WAS CRACKED, ENGINE OVERHEATS.*SLC
DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION, WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE INTO GEAR THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE. AN ADDITIONAL PROBLEM WAS THE FORWARD GEARS WHICH FAILED AND WERE NOT WORKING. DEALSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
LEAK DISCOVERED WHEN GETTING OIL CHANGED. TOOK IT TO DEALER, ADVISED NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, REPLACED SHIFT GEAR.. 5 MONTHS LATER LEAKS AGAIN. *AK
ONGOING PROBEM WITH TRANSMISSION NOT CHANGING GEARS PROPERLY ON ANY SPEED, AND SLOW RESPONDING FROM A STOP POSITION/TAKE OFF, HESITATION. ALSO, BRAKE PEDAL WOULD INTERMITTENTLY GO TO THE FLOOR BEFORE VEHICLE STOPPED. DEALER NOTIFIED ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND WAS INFORMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THIS …
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ONGOING PROBEM WITH TRANSMISSION NOT CHANGING GEARS PROPERLY ON ANY SPEED, AND SLOW RESPONDING FROM A STOP POSITION/TAKE OFF, HESITATION. ALSO, BRAKE PEDAL WOULD INTERMITTENTLY GO TO THE FLOOR BEFORE VEHICLE STOPPED. DEALER NOTIFIED ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND WAS INFORMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO OPERATE, AND WILL BE TRADING IT IN WITHIN A FEW MONT ASKING NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER BEFORE PASSING IT ON . *AK
DURING MINOR IMPACT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED VIOLENTLY CAUSING FACIAL INJURY AND JAW PAIN TO PASSENGER. NLM
TRANSMISSION--BUSHING WENT OUT. SPARK MISFIRE--COMPUTER MODULE WAS REPLACED BY DEALER.
I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE IS LATENT DAMAGE TO MY TRANSMISSION THAT HAS NOT BEEN DETECTED.
THE E- CLIP ON STICK SHIFT THAT HOLDS THE SHIFT CABLE KEEPS DISMOUNTING. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE VEHICLE IS NOT ABLE TO BE PUT INTO GEAR. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
TRANSMISSION REQUIRED REPAIR ON THREE OCCASIONS, VALVE BODY, CONNECTOR AND GASKET, FAILURES CAUSING SLIPPING. MJS
Official recalls
297V155000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.