IllustrationSTEERING WHEEL CAME COMPLETELY APART WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING. *AK
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 reportsDRIVING VEHICLE DURING THE RAINY WEATHER REAR WINDOW WOULD BE DISTORTED OR WAVY, VISIBILITY WOULD BE VERY POOR; TOOK TO DEALERSHIP WHO CALLED IT "THE CHRISTMAS TREE EFFECT." SATURN HAS PIN-STRIPPED THE ORANGE DEFROSTER LINES BLOCK. THIS ELIMINATED "THE CHRISTMAS TREE EFFECT," BUT DARKENED THE INTERIOR OF VEHICLE. *AK
OWNER STATES THAT WHEN LOOKING INTO REARVIEW MIRROR AT NIGHT SHE SEES 24 LIGHTS FROM VEHICLE BEHIND HER AND ALSO FROM THE REFLECTION OF THE LIGHTS ON DEFROSTER PANEL IN HER OWN VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING IN A PARKING SPACE THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND WENT ONTO THE SIDEWALK AND BENT THE RIM . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
SEAT BELTS ARE DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE, THE LOCKS ARE NOT SECURE. *AK
WINDSHEILD WIPERS WILL NOT CLEAN THE WINDOWS IN WET WEATHER, CAUSING VISUAL PROBLEMS. *AK
THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR STICKS IN THE RESUME POSITION INTERMITTENTLY.*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.