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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 →

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 · Mar 18, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD HAD A CRACK, AND THIS WAS CAUSING OIL TO LEAK INTO RADIATOR FLUID. CONSUMER FELT ENGINE COULD BURN UP. *AK *YH

NHTSA ODI #8005802

Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2002
Power Train

VALVE BODY IN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE CANNOT BE PUT INTO REVERSE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8004668

Mileage unknown · Feb 2, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility

WE GOT CAR FROM SATURN OF WARWICK LEASED THEN BOUGHT OUTRIGHT . THE SERVICE ISSUE WE ARE ABOUT TO TELL WAS DONE AT THE SATURN OF SEEKONK LOC. IT IS ACTUALLY CLOSER TO OUR HOUSE. ON JAN, 16, 2002 WE HAD TO BRING THE SATURN IN FOR SERVICE BECAUSE WE STARTED THAT DAY LOOSING ANTI FREEZE QUICKLY THEN THE CAR BEGAN TO RUN HOT BUT D…

Read full complaint

WE GOT CAR FROM SATURN OF WARWICK LEASED THEN BOUGHT OUTRIGHT . THE SERVICE ISSUE WE ARE ABOUT TO TELL WAS DONE AT THE SATURN OF SEEKONK LOC. IT IS ACTUALLY CLOSER TO OUR HOUSE. ON JAN, 16, 2002 WE HAD TO BRING THE SATURN IN FOR SERVICE BECAUSE WE STARTED THAT DAY LOOSING ANTI FREEZE QUICKLY THEN THE CAR BEGAN TO RUN HOT BUT DID NOT OVER HEAT, MEANWHILE THE REGULAR HEAT CONTROL DIDNT WORK 3 DAYS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT AND WE HAD IT SHEDULED FOR SERVICE THAT COMING SAT. WE DROP IT OFF, CAR RUNNING HOT BUT NEVER OVERHEATED THE TECH ONLY PUT THAT IN HIS REPORT . KEEP IN MIND WE HAD NO SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED BY DEALER LETTING US KNOW THAT WE WERE HAVING PROBLEMS LIKE RUN SLUGGISH, NOT STARTING AT ALL ETC. WE HAD JUST DRIVEN 900 MILES UP AND BACK OVER THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS. THE TECH CONTACTS DAVID MY HUSBAND THE NEXT DAY TO TELL HIM THE PROBLEM . THE TECH STATES WE HAVE A CRACKED HEAD AND EVEN THOUGH ITS OUT OF MANF. WARRANTY SATURN WOULD FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY SUDDENLY I GET A CALL AT MY WORK THE SERVICE TECH SAYS FOUND MORE DAMAGE UNDERNEATH ENGINE THAT IT HAD BEEN BURN OIL AND TRANSMISSION FLUID TOGETHER WHICH NO EVIDENCE OF THIS EXISTED, DIDNT SEEM RIGHT STATING WE REALLY NEED A NEW ENGINE WHICH RUNSABOUT $3200.00 AND THEY SAY THEY WONT REPLACE IT INSTEAD REBUILD IT IF WE MAKE A DONATION OF $600. TO SATURN. WE KNOW THIS WASN'T RIGHT FROM THE START THEY COULD'NT TELL US WHAT CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN INSTEAD BLAMED IT ON POOR MAINT. AND CLAIMED TO BE DOING US A FAVOR BY ONLY CHARGING 600.00 TO REBUILD ENGINE WHICH WE KNOW WAS THE COST OF THE NEW HEAD DEALER COVERING UP. THIS IS WHY THEY MADE IT LOOK LIKE THEY WERE DOING A FAVOR THE CAR WAS MAINT. AND ENGINE HEADS JUST DONT CRACK AT 70,000 MILES. PLANT PERSON IN TENN. JUST AGREED WITH DEAIER. PLS CHECK EDMUNDS.COM SATURN REPAIR COMPL. PLSCK WE ARENT ONLY SNOW JOB REC. PLS. CAN YOU HELP US? WE WANT OUT OF THE CAR STILL OWE $4000. WHO WOULD BUY WITH THIS ISSUE CAN YOU HELP SOLVE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #757672

Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKET LEAKING - REPLACED (COST ABOUT $1200). *AK

NHTSA ODI #757203

Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

CYLINDER HEAD FAILURE BETWEEN LUBRICATION PORTS AND COOLING SYSTEM, RESULTING IN CONTAMINATION OF COOLING SYSTEM WITH OIL.

NHTSA ODI #9005491

Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 2002
Air BagsCrash

VEHICLE HIT A CURVE AT 10 MPH CAUSING AIR BAGS TO UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8001758

Mileage unknown · Dec 31, 2001
Seat Belts

THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THE PASSENGER SEATBELT ASSEMBLY BROKE, DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE ON 12/30/2001 MILEAGE 120,000. *AK

NHTSA ODI #756252

Mileage unknown · Dec 27, 2001
Visibility

WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8001113

Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE IS BURNING OIL. VEHICLE IS BURNING MORE OIL THAN REQUIRED. ALSO CONSUMER DOESN'T KNOW WHERE OIL IS GOING ,VEHICLE IS NOT LEAKING NOR SMOKING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER DID TEST ON ENGINE AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG.*AK

NHTSA ODI #6900680

Mileage unknown · Dec 6, 2001
Seats

MANUAL SEAT TRACK WILL NOT LOCKING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS TAKE OFF AND BRAKING WOULD CAUSE IT TO LOCK IN PLACE. I WAS ADJUSTING IT THE OTHER DAY BEFORE DRIVING AND IT BROKE. NOW IT CANNOT BE ADJUSTED AT ALL.*AK

NHTSA ODI #755352

Official recalls

2

97V155000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.