IllustrationENGINE ROD BEARINGS FAILED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAIL. *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 reportsAS OF TODAY'S DATE, 7/12/00 THE SATURN AUTO IS WITH THE DEALER IN SANTA ANA, CA. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
THE SATURN WAS STRUCK FROM THE REAR IN THE MERGE LANE WHILE PREPARING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO FUNCTION RESULTING IN DRIVER STRIKING THE STEERING WHEEL WITH HER FACE. LACERATIONS, STITCHES, BROKEN NOSE RESULTED. PASSENGER SEAT BELT FUNCTIONED PROPERLY.*AK
ALL HYDRAULIC PRESSURE DISAPPEARED BECAUSE OF FAILURE OF MASTER CYLINDER.*AK
DUE TO DESIGN REAR DISC BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING CORROSION. THIS, IN RETURN, RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH. *AK THE CALIPERS ON THE REAR DISC BRAKES CORRODE REDUCING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE REAR BRAKES. *YH
WHILE DRIVING ON ROUGH ROADS OR MAKING A TURN AROUND A CORNER CONSUMER HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE OR SOMETHING LOOSE. TOOK TO DEALER , AND THEY COULD NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK.
EXHAUST SYSTEM RUSTED OUT IN 3 YEARS--HAD TO REPLACE. CAR WAS NEVER DRIVEN IN WINTER, WAS WASHED EACH WEEK, WAS PARKED OFF-STREET. CLEARLY, INFERIOR PARTS WERE INSTALLED BY SATURN.
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH ON A ROAD AIR BAG DETONATED, BUT DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK
I HAVE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF POWER, NO START CONDITIONS,AND LONG PERIODS OF CRANK TIME,EVEN KILLING A BATTERY THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR! NOTIFIED MY DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IF THEY---DETERMINED IT WASN'T THE FUEL PUMP, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY A SERVICE CHARGE !---AND I HAVE THE BEST EXTENDED WARRANTY THEY HAVE !
THE TRUNK LID WILL SELDOM REMAIN IN THE UP POSITION WHEN PLACING ITEMS IN THE TRUNK. THE TRUNK STARTS TO CLOSE, STRIKING THE PERSON. THIS WILL HAPPEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN THE LEVEL POSITION. SATURN OF DATONA HAS REPLACED THE TRUNK LID SPRINGS, AND ASSURED THEY ARE ADJUSTED CORRECTLY FOR A SATURN WITH A FACTORY INSTALLED SPOIL…
Read full complaint
THE TRUNK LID WILL SELDOM REMAIN IN THE UP POSITION WHEN PLACING ITEMS IN THE TRUNK. THE TRUNK STARTS TO CLOSE, STRIKING THE PERSON. THIS WILL HAPPEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN THE LEVEL POSITION. SATURN OF DATONA HAS REPLACED THE TRUNK LID SPRINGS, AND ASSURED THEY ARE ADJUSTED CORRECTLY FOR A SATURN WITH A FACTORY INSTALLED SPOILER. THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. SATURN CORP., THROUGH THEIR CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER, RECOMMENDS THE REMOVAL OF THE SPOILER TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO REMOVE A FACTORY PROVIDED ITEM AND CHANGE THE VEHICLE EXTERIOR CONFIGURATION TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. IF THIS IS THE SOLUTION, HOW CAN SATURN CONTINUE TO SELL VEHICLES IN THIS CONFIGURATION? I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM AND COULD REPRESENT A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD, I.E., WOMAN BEING STRUCK IN THE HEAD, A CHILD BEING INADVERTENTLY LOCKED IN THE TRUNK. WOULD LIKE SATURN TO PRVIDE A RESONABLE SOLUTION WHICH WOULD NOT RESULT IN CHANGING THE EXTERIOR VEHICLE CONFIGURATION.*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.