1997 Saturn SL Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other SL years
- More complaints than other years 3rd of 8 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 227 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Saturn SL. That ranks 3rd out of 8 SL model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (38 complaints, 17%), typically at around 76,300 miles. Complaints mention 30 crashes, 9 fires, 29 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 227owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 30complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Saturn SL problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 38 | 17% | 76,300 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 31 | 14% | 70,722 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 25 | 11% | 66,500 | — | — |
| Power Train | 23 | 10% | 118,075 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 23 | 10% | 10 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 17 | 7% | 109,514 | — | — |
| Seats | 17 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 16 | 7% | 72,844 | — | — |
| Structure | 13 | 6% | 118,733 | — | — |
| Visibility | 11 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 10 | 4% | 72,844 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 | 4% | 341,900 | — | — |
| Equipment | 7 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 7 | 3% | 149,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 6 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 6 | 3% | 118,733 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 4 | 2% | 32,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 1% | 61,335 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Child Seat | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Saturn SL recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Seats
Problem: 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."
Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained increasing the risk of personal injury.
Fix: Dealers will repair these vehicles.
Steering:gear box (other than rack and pinion)
Problem: 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.
Risk: This could result in the pinion gear disengaging from the rack causing a loss of steering control.
Fix: Dealers will replace the manual steering gear assembly.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
While driving (vehicle in motion) the vehicle shuts down completely. At times when the key is turned in the ignition switch nothing happens; no electrical power but battery is fine and everything else checks out ok except the ignition switch. It has all the characteristics of gm vehicles that…
Severe rust out of the suspension sub-frame (engine cradle) along the left side, particularly at the lower control arm mount pocket. This condition was caught before the left front lower control arm broke loose due to the rusted sub-frame. Rust condition was confined to the left side of the…
On july 23, 2014 approximately 6:35p.m. I was on my way to church along with three other passengers. My sister was in the passenger seat and my grandson and the lady that live with me was in the back seat. Without warning there was a boom or explosion that cause me to briefly lose control of the…
During oil change discovered that front subframe was rusted through at control arm attachment point, drivers side. Car was removed from service as this is a major safety issue affecting suspension and steering. Tried to find a used subframe but all in local auto parts recyclers were just as badly…
During oil change discovered that front subframe was rusted through at control arm attachment point, drivers side. Car was removed from service as this is a major safety issue affecting suspension and steering. Tried to find a used subframe but all in local auto parts recyclers were just as badly…
Other Saturn SL years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 SL | 131 | 0 |
| 2001 SL | 111 | 2 |
| 2000 SL | 148 | 7 |
| 1999 SL | 178 | 1 |
| 1998 SL | 168 | 0 |
| 1997 | 227 | 2 |
| 1996 SL | 287 | 1 |
| 1995 SL | 355 | 3 |
See all Saturn SL problems by year, every Saturn model, or the VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Saturn SL?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, electrical system, seat belts problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 38 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Saturn SL?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 Saturn SL a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other SL model years, the 1997 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.