IllustrationWITH THE CRUISE CONTROL IN THE OFF POSITION, THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AND WENT TO FULL THROTTLE. WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THE CRUISE CONTROL DIS-ENGAGED. THIS HAPPENED FIVE TIMES, THE CRUISE CONTROL UNIT HAS SINCE BEEN DISABLED. *TR
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
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
9 reportsTHE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. *NLM
FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL MODULE CAUSED THE CRUISE CONTROL TO RE-ENGAGE AFTER THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WAS MOVED TO THE OFF POSITION. NLM
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HAD CRUISE CONTROL ON, CRUISE CONTROL WOULDN'T LET UP. SHE TURNED CRUISE CONTROL OFF, AND SHE APPLIED BRAKES. IT TOOK TEN MINUTES TO STOP.*AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE W/EMERGENCY BRAKES ON OF HAD NO KNOWLEDGE. WAS COMING OFF FREEWAY & WAS APPLYING BRAKES, VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP. STARTED TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE. TURNED VEHICLE OFF. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER & FOUND BACK BRAKES BURNT OUT. ORGINIAL BRAKES CHECKED & WAS NOT BURNT OUT. OWNER HAS BRAKE PARTS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AND APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION VEHICLE COMMENCED TO ACCELERATE. CONSUMER HAD TO DO SOME TRICKY DRIVING TO AVOID HITTING OTHER VEHICLES. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE OR MORE BEFORE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET IT UNDER CONTROL. ALSO NO BRAKES WERE AVAILABLE AT THAT TIME. FORGOT TO ASK IF SPEED …
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WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AND APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION VEHICLE COMMENCED TO ACCELERATE. CONSUMER HAD TO DO SOME TRICKY DRIVING TO AVOID HITTING OTHER VEHICLES. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE OR MORE BEFORE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET IT UNDER CONTROL. ALSO NO BRAKES WERE AVAILABLE AT THAT TIME. FORGOT TO ASK IF SPEED CONTROL WAS ENGAGED. PLEASE RESPOND TO THAT QUESTION.. DEALER/ MFR. WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THAT TIME. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK
FOR APPROX. 7 MONTH PERIOD, CRUISE CONTROL ERRATIC. WHEN ON HIGHWAY, WITH CRUISE POWER ON, AND PRESS SET SPEED, CAR RAPIDLY ACCELERATES TO APPROX. 72+ MPH AND CRUISE WOULD DISENGAGE SPONTANEOUSLY. AFTER EACH INCIDENT LIKE THIS, CRUISE WOULD NOT FUNCTION AT ALL UNTIL CAR IS TURNED OFF AND ON AGAIN. TYPICAL BEHAVIOR: GET ON HIG…
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FOR APPROX. 7 MONTH PERIOD, CRUISE CONTROL ERRATIC. WHEN ON HIGHWAY, WITH CRUISE POWER ON, AND PRESS SET SPEED, CAR RAPIDLY ACCELERATES TO APPROX. 72+ MPH AND CRUISE WOULD DISENGAGE SPONTANEOUSLY. AFTER EACH INCIDENT LIKE THIS, CRUISE WOULD NOT FUNCTION AT ALL UNTIL CAR IS TURNED OFF AND ON AGAIN. TYPICAL BEHAVIOR: GET ON HIGHWAY, GET TO 60 - 65 MPH, TURN CRUISE CONTROL POWER ON, PRESS TO SET SPEED, AND CAR ACCELERATES RAPIDLY. ALL THIS BEHAVIOR STOPPED SPONTANEOUSLY IN DECEMBER, AND NOW CRUISE FUNCTIONS NORMALLY. I AM WORRIED THAT BEHAVIOR, WHICH LASTED 7 MONTHS, WILL RE-OCCUR IN THE FUTURE.
VEHICLE PARKED OVER NIGHT. GOT IN & STARTED VEHICLE. THE THROTTLE OPENED WIDE. HAD NOT SHIFTED INTO GEAR. THE RPMS REVVED UP HIGH. THROTTLE DID NOT SHUT DOWN AFTER DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR PEDAL. HAD TO TURN VEHICLE OFF. *AK
WHILE DRIVING IN A PARKING SPACE THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND WENT ONTO THE SIDEWALK AND BENT THE RIM . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
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.