IllustrationCONSUMER STATES WHEN VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM THE BACK THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BACK RECLINED BACKWARD.DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO REACH BRAKE PEDAL,CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLAM INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THEM.RESULTING IN BACK INJURIES. MR
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
Seats complaints
17 reportsSEATBACK FAILED, CAUSING DRIVER TO BE PUT IN THE RECLINEPOSITION/ UNABLE TO CONTROL CAR.*AK
MANUAL SEAT TRACK WILL NOT LOCKING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS TAKE OFF AND BRAKING WOULD CAUSE IT TO LOCK IN PLACE. I WAS ADJUSTING IT THE OTHER DAY BEFORE DRIVING AND IT BROKE. NOW IT CANNOT BE ADJUSTED AT ALL.*AK
THE SUBMARINE SEATING MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO PROPERLY INSTALL CAR SEATS. MANUALS DO NOT GIVE SUGGESTIONS OR NUMBER TO CONTACT TO HAVE SEAT INSTALLED PROPERLY. ALSO, FOR SMALLER ADULTS, THE REAR SEATS ARE DIPPED SO THAT THE SEAT BELTS DON'T GIVE A PROPER FIT.*AK
I WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR-END COLLISION WHERE A SUV HIT ME WHILE I WAS STOPPED. THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT FORCED ME INTO THE CAR IN FRONT CAUSING MAJOR FRONT AND REAR DAMAGE TO MY CAR. THE DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED DURING THE REAR IMPACT CAUSING ME TO BE THROWN TO THE BACK SEAT AND CAUSING ABDOMINAL AND BACK INJURIES. I WAS WEARING M…
Read full complaint
I WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR-END COLLISION WHERE A SUV HIT ME WHILE I WAS STOPPED. THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT FORCED ME INTO THE CAR IN FRONT CAUSING MAJOR FRONT AND REAR DAMAGE TO MY CAR. THE DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED DURING THE REAR IMPACT CAUSING ME TO BE THROWN TO THE BACK SEAT AND CAUSING ABDOMINAL AND BACK INJURIES. I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. *AK
CONSUMER WAS REARENDED AND WAS SMASHED IN BETWEEN TOW CARS. AT POINT OF IMPACT, DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARDS INTO BACK SEAT, CAUSING NECK INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHEN THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS ADJUSTED THE RIGHT SIDE DOES NOT LOCK. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS APPLIED THE SEAT WILL JERK . MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEATS AND SHOULDER BELTS DO NOT LOCK UP, AND ALLOW OCCUPANTS TO MOVE FORWARD EXCESSIVELY. BACK SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. MECHANIC HAS SEEN VEHICLE. *AK *ML
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
THE BACK OF THE REAR SEAT COLLAPSED FORWARD AFTER A SUDDEN STOP.
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.