IllustrationSATURN ARE AN EASY CAR TO STEAL. SATURN IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE SO THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH IN THE 2000 MODELS. REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH FOR 109.46 DOLLARS.
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
What owners actually said
227 reportsWHILE DRIVING HOME CAR STARTED TO PULL TO RIGHT SIDE ,AND STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE WHEN STEPPING ON BRAKES. CONSUMER TOOK CAR TO SEARS TO CHECK TIRES SIZEP18565R15, DOT# NOT AVAILABLE. TIRES WERE ROTATED. CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER TO FIND PROBLEM IN TIRES. DEALER ROTATED TIRES AGAIN. VEHICLE STARTED DOING THE SAME THING.…
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WHILE DRIVING HOME CAR STARTED TO PULL TO RIGHT SIDE ,AND STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE WHEN STEPPING ON BRAKES. CONSUMER TOOK CAR TO SEARS TO CHECK TIRES SIZEP18565R15, DOT# NOT AVAILABLE. TIRES WERE ROTATED. CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER TO FIND PROBLEM IN TIRES. DEALER ROTATED TIRES AGAIN. VEHICLE STARTED DOING THE SAME THING. DEALER STATED LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD A DEFECT. CONSUMER CONTACTED SEARS, AND SEARS ROTATED TIRES AGAIN, AND COULDNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. WOULD NOT REPLACE TIRE. *AK THEY REPLACED THE TIRE THE NEXT DAY. *YH
CONSUMER REQUESTING THAT AN ON/OFF SWITCH BE ADDED TO THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG.
THE WHINE NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE ENGINE DIAGNOSTICS INDICATED THAT THE COOLANT PUMP WAS LEAKING AND THE SERPENTINE BELT HAD FAILED. *YH
I HAD TO HAVE CONSTANT SERVICING DONE W/CAR IN SHOP OVER A 1 YR PERIOD FOR UP TO 1 WK @ A TIME W/ FAILURE IN SYSTEMS LISTED BRAKES & TIRES NOT COVERED W/WARRANTY THOUGH ONLY 4 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE ANOTHE DEALER SERVICED CAR ORIG. DEALER WOULD NOT. *AK (TIRESIZE: 175-75-14)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 175-75-14 )
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
TRAVELING EAST ON I-75 BETWEEN NAPLES, FLORIDA AND FT. LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA AT APPROXIMATELY 6:00 P.M. I HEARD A STRANGE NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. IMMEDIATELY THE CAR BEGAN PULLING TO THE RIGHT. I LOOKED IN MY REARVIEW MIRROR TO SEE TREAD FLYING UP FROM UNDER THE CAR. I PULLED OVER AND SAW MY FRONT LEFT TIRE'S TREAD SEP…
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TRAVELING EAST ON I-75 BETWEEN NAPLES, FLORIDA AND FT. LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA AT APPROXIMATELY 6:00 P.M. I HEARD A STRANGE NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. IMMEDIATELY THE CAR BEGAN PULLING TO THE RIGHT. I LOOKED IN MY REARVIEW MIRROR TO SEE TREAD FLYING UP FROM UNDER THE CAR. I PULLED OVER AND SAW MY FRONT LEFT TIRE'S TREAD SEPARATED COMPLETELY. I COULD EVEN SEE THE STEEL RADIALS EXPOSED. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2EPBCA466 TIRESIZE: 175/70 R14)
THERE IS ALOT OF PLAY IN STEERING, AND THERES AVERY LOUD POPING NOISE WHEN TURNING WHEEL.*AK
TRUNK LID FAILS TO STAY OPEN, FALLS ON HEADS AND NECKS.. *AK
VEHICLE'S FULL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILS WHILE DRIVING, CLOCK EVEN RESETS. CAUSING CAR TO SHUT OFF. POWER STEERING/ BRAKES/ RADIO/ AIR CONDITIONER/ HEADLIGHTS, ETC. FAIL. BEGAN AROUND 30,000 MILES. BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR REPLACED, DOES NOT FIX PROBLEM.*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.