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 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 2000
Tires
I TOOK MY SATURN FOR IT'S YEARLY INSPECTION AT MY LOCAL SATURN DEALER. THEY TOLD ME MY DRIVERSIDE FRONT TIRE WAS WORN, BUT NOT DUE TO NORMAL WEAR, THE TREADS WERE READY TO PEEL OFF. THEY TOLD ME THE CAR WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION AS IS BECAUSE OF THE TIRE AND I HAD THEM PUT A NEW FIRESTONE TIRE ON. I THEN BROUGHT THE BAD TIRE TO …
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I TOOK MY SATURN FOR IT'S YEARLY INSPECTION AT MY LOCAL SATURN DEALER. THEY TOLD ME MY DRIVERSIDE FRONT TIRE WAS WORN, BUT NOT DUE TO NORMAL WEAR, THE TREADS WERE READY TO PEEL OFF. THEY TOLD ME THE CAR WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION AS IS BECAUSE OF THE TIRE AND I HAD THEM PUT A NEW FIRESTONE TIRE ON. I THEN BROUGHT THE BAD TIRE TO FIRESTONE AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED. THEY SAID THEY COULD ONLY REPLACE THE TIRE AND NOT GIVE A REFUND ON THE TIRE. I FEEL FIRESTONE SHOULD GIVE ME A REFUND ON THE TIRE BECAUSE THE TIRE WAS'NT WORN OUT NORMALY AND THE CAR NEEDED THAT TIRE TO PASS INSPECTION. I ALSO CALLED FIRESTONE AND THEY TOLD ME THE SAME THING AS THE MANAGER AT THERE STORE TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD'NT GIVE ME A REFUND. *AK (TIRESIZE: 17570R14)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 17570R14 )
NHTSA ODI #735584
Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 2000
Seat Belts
A DEFECTIVE LATCH ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT IS CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO FAIL TO LOCK IN PLACE, CONSUMER REQUESTS DEFECT BE REPAIRED BY DEALER. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) *SLC
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY GIVEN TIME AND SPEED VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. ALSO, WHEN AIR CONDITIONER WASON HIGH AND UPON DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THERE WAS A VERY SLOW TAKE OFF. VEHICLE DIED OUT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER STATED DUE A LARGE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE PUT ON AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR…
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WHEN DRIVING AT ANY GIVEN TIME AND SPEED VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. ALSO, WHEN AIR CONDITIONER WASON HIGH AND UPON DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THERE WAS A VERY SLOW TAKE OFF. VEHICLE DIED OUT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER STATED DUE A LARGE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE PUT ON AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR PROBLEM HAS OCCUR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #870144
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 · Sep 6, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGIN BURN ONE QUART OF OIL EVERY 1,000 MILES
NHTSA ODI #730533
Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 2000
Tires
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA ODI #729936
Mileage unknown · Aug 31, 2000
Tires
TWO REPLACEMENT TIRES IN THE FRONT OF A 1997 SATURN SL, FR480, P175/OR14-845, DOT HYEP, TREAD IS SEPARATING AT 28,000 MILES. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO MECH. HE TOOK TIRES OFF AND SAID INSIDE WAS WORSE THAN THE OUTSIDE, AND TREAD WAS GETTING READY TO SEPARATE FROM THE SIDEWALL.*AK
NHTSA ODI #869253
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 · Aug 10, 2000
Tires
PE00020; ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT ON A 1997 SATURN SL2, TIRE SIZE P18565R15, AND DOT NUMBER NOT AVAILABLE. TIRES ONLY HAD UNDER 27 THOUSAND MILES ON THEM. WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, TREAD PEALED OFF, AND CAME INTO CONTACT WITH FUEL PUMP WIRING HARNESS WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF ALL POW…
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PE00020; ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT ON A 1997 SATURN SL2, TIRE SIZE P18565R15, AND DOT NUMBER NOT AVAILABLE. TIRES ONLY HAD UNDER 27 THOUSAND MILES ON THEM. WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, TREAD PEALED OFF, AND CAME INTO CONTACT WITH FUEL PUMP WIRING HARNESS WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF ALL POWER. ENGINE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP DUE TO THE FUEL NOT CAPABLE OF REACHING ENGINE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER REPLACED THE TIRES *AK *SLC
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.
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.
1997 Saturn Sl Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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