U.S. public vehicle records

1997 Saturn SL: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

148 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

86,300 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 38 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 148 complaints (11.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	17	11.5%
Electrical and battery issues	15	10.1%
Steering behavior	15	10.1%
Transmission and shifting	12	8.1%
Fuel system concerns	7	4.7%
Engine operation	6	4.1%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

Tires

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline

Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash

Seat Belts:Front:Retractor

Seats

Air Bags:Frontal

Power Train:Manual Transmission

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	17
Tires	11
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	10
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash	7
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor	7
Seats	7
Air Bags:Frontal	6
Power Train:Manual Transmission	6

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 17; Tires: 11; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 10; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 7; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 7; Seats: 7; Air Bags:Frontal: 6; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 6

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 2

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 110 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2012

2014

2016

2000: 41; 2001: 31; 2002: 18; 2003: 14; 2004: 12; 2005: 8; 2006: 6; 2007: 3; 2008: 3; 2009: 4; 2012: 2; 2014: 5; 2016: 1

Pattern summary

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 15 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10008157 · 2003-02-26 (February 26, 2003)

I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT A SAFETY ISSUE RELATED TO MY VEHICLE. EARLIER THIS WEEK I PURCHASED A USED SATURN FROM A DEALERSHIP IN FULL WORKING CONDITION. WHEN I CAME HOME TO SHOW THE REST OF MY FAMILY THE VEHICLE, WE ALL WENT FOR A RIDE. MY BROTHER IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, AND MY MOTHER IN THE BACK SEAT. AFTER ARRIVING BACK TO MY HOUSE MY BROTHER AND I EXITED THE VEHICLE, WHILE MY MOTHER STRUGGLED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. EVERY TIME SHE PULLED THE DOOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR, THE LOCK BUTTON DIRECTLY ABOVE THE HANDLE WOULD CATC…

Owner-reported narrative. 61,335 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008157 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10015331 · 2003-04-07 (April 7, 2003)

THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015331 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10018432 · 2003-05-08 (May 8, 2003)

WE BROUGHT OUR SATURN INTO THE OAKLAND, CA DEALER FOR A TRANSMISSION DIAGNOSIS. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS DEVELOPED SOME LEAKS AND CLUTCH / GEAR ASSEMBLY PROBLEMS. INITIAL QUOTE FROM THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER FOR REPAIR IS $2600.00+. EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED 12/31/02, AND THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE 94,904 MILE MARK. AT THE 91,328 MILEAGE MARK, THE DEALER PERFORMED AN "87,000 MILE" SERVICE, NOT A "90,000 MILE" SERVICE. WHY DIDN'T THE SERVICE ADVISOR INFORM MY DAUGHTER THAT THE "90,000 MILE" SERVICE WAS DUE, WHICH INCLUDED A TRANSMISSION…

Owner-reported narrative. 91,328 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018432 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10019532 · 2003-05-08 (May 8, 2003)

THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019532 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10024477 · 2003-06-19 (June 19, 2003)

ALTERNATOR FELL OFF BROKE FROM ENGINE BRACKET. CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE IS WITHOUT WARRANTY. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10024477 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10030804 · 2003-08-05 (August 5, 2003)

WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON MY 1997 SATURN SL STOPPED AS I WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN. AD TO TO AN EMERGENCY PULL OVER WHILE NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE ANYTHING OUT MY WINDOW. LUCKY TO FIND A SPOT WHILE NOT BEING HIT BY RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10030804 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10031052 · 2003-08-08 (August 8, 2003)

RANDOMLY, USUALLY ABOUT EVERY FEW MONTHS, I WILL START MY CAR. IT WILL START, BUT IT STARTS "FUNNY." IT DOESN'T HIT THE USUAL HIGH RPMS AND WILL IDLE LOW. IF I ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THE CAR, IT WILL USUALLY RUN WITH LOW RPMS. WHEN THE CAR COMES TO A STOP, IT WILL IDLE LOW AND SOMETIMES STALL. THE PROBLEM OCCURS IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS AND TEMPERATURES. IT ALSO OCCURS WHEN THE ENGINE IS HOT OR COLD. SOMETIMES IT TAKES 5-10 TRIES TO START THE CAR AT ALL. OF COURSE, MECHANICS ARE UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM AND SAY NOTHING IS WRONG W…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031052 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10033630 · 2003-08-11 (August 11, 2003)

CONSUMER WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10033630 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

97V138000 · Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion)

Reported: 1997-08-29 (August 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: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗

97V155000 · Seats

Reported: 1997-09-12 (September 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: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗