1997 Saturn Z Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Z years
- Not enough data 1st of 4 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 1997 Saturn Z. That is the most of any Z model year in the database (4 years). The most reported problem area is electrical system (1 complaints, 100%), typically at around 168,000 miles. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 1owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Saturn Z 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 1 | 100% | 168,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
1997 Saturn Z recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system:horn
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles were produced or serviced with a horn assembly which could fail. The horn could either become inoperable or activate without the driver pressing the horn button.
Risk: Under certain conditions, heat can build up within the assembly and an underhood fire could result.
Fix: Dealers will replace the horn assembly.
Electrical system:ignition:switch
Problem: It is possible to remove the ignition key while the cylinder is in the run position. This does not comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 114, "theft protection."
Risk: The ignition key must be reinserted in the ignition cylinder to turn the engine off.
Fix: Dealers will perform a functional check of the ignition cylinder and, if necessary, to have the vehicle's ignition cylinder re-coded. Owners can perform this functional check themselves if they so desire.
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.
Horn was sounding with no one in the car. Smoke was coming from the horn, under the hood. Unplugged the horn. Same problem as seen in recall 98v307000. *tr
Other Saturn Z years
See all Saturn Z problems by year, every Saturn model, or the VIN decoder.
Similar Saturn models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Saturn Z?
Owners most often report electrical system problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 1 complaint.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Saturn Z?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 Saturn Z a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Z model years, the 1997 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.