IllustrationFUEL GAUGE SENDING UNIT. *YC
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 reportsSEAT BELT RETRACTOR EXPERIENCING FAILURE. *YC
THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE HAS RAISED REAR STRUCTURE CAUSING POOR VISIBILTY THROUGH BACK WINDOW. YH
TWO TIRES WORN PREMATURELY, FIRESTONE FR680P175/70R1. YH
ENGINE SERVICE INDICATOR FAILED. YH
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
TRANSMISSION HAS NO POWER, THE GAS LEVEL IS VERY POOR ON A HILL, SOMETIMES WILL NOT GO UP HILL AT ALL, LOSING RPMS. DEALER CONTACTED, AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
TRUNK LATCH FAILED, CAUSING TRUNK TO UNEXPECTEDLY SLAM SHUT ON HEAD OF PERSON WHILE THAT PERSON WAS USING THE TRUNK.
THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING ACCUMULATION OF MOISTURE IN THE A/C SYSTEM WHICH RESULTED IN AMILDEW SMELL WHICH TRIGGERED THE OCCUPANT'S ASTHMA. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
I WAS STRUCK IN THE REAR OF MY CAR WHICH CAUSED BOTH FRONT BUCKET SEATS TO SNAP TO A FULL RECLINE POSITION. AS A RESULT OF LAYING FLAT ON MY BACK I COULD NOT TAKE ANY EVASIVE ACTION. BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. I HAVE SUFFERED SEVERE BACK INJURIES.
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.