IllustrationPOSSIBLE DESIGN FLAW IS CAUSING THE STEEL TIMING CHAIN TO BREAK RESULTING IN ENGINE FAILURE. NLM
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 reportsMY SEAT BELT LOCKS UP INTERMITTANTLY. IT APPEARS TO HAPPEN MORE IN BAD WEATHER. I THINK IT IS THE RETRACTOR SYSTEM, BUT I AM NOT SURE. I WILL CONTACT THE DEALER THIS WEEK. I HAVE SEARCHED THE NHTSA'S CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND FOUND 4 SIMILAR TO MINE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW, IF THIS IS SOMETHING SATURN SHOULD PAY FOR. *AK
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 LAP AND SHOULDER BELTS ON DRIVER'S SIDE HAVE GOTTEN STUCK, AND WILL NOT COME OUT. AS A RESULT, DRIVER CANNOT WEAR A SEATBELT. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
THE SERPENTINE BELT BECAME LOOSE AND THE AUTOMATIC BELT TENSIONER FELL APART CAUSING ALTERNATOR, WATER PUMP AND POWER STEERING INOPERABLE. YH
SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER KEPT TENSION ON THE BELT FELLED. LATER, ALTERNATER CAME ON, AND THEN CONSUMER LOST POWER STEERING. IF CONSUMER WAS TO LOSE IT ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, THERE COULD BE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. MECHANIC SAYS BELT WAS VERY POORLY DESIGNED. *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
VEHICLE FLOODS AND FAILS TO START HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO SATURN DEALERSHIP. DEALER STATED IT WAS A DESIGN FEATURE. *AK
VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE HEAD-ON, AND THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
ERRATIC PROBLEM WITH BRAKE GRINDING / SQUEAKING WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER SHOP THREE TIMES, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG, AND THAT WAS NORMAL. CONSUMER KNEW THIS WAS NOT NORMAL. ASKING NHTSA TO LOOKINTO THIS MATTER AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *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.