1997 Saturn SL problems
Owners have filed 286 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Saturn SL. Engine is the most reported problem area, at 13% of complaints. After that come electrical system (11%) and brakes (9%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 286 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 13% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 38 and 10
- Injuries and deaths
- 37 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 85,000 miles 45 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 1 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 3 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 9 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 8 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 4 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 10 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 5 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 4 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Among the 45 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 85,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 38 complaints mention a crash; 10 complaints mention a fire; 37 injuries reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 87% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1997 ranks 4th most-complained-about out of 12 model years of the Saturn SL with enough data (176 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
We were hit stopped in traffic and rear-ended by someone going about 45 MPH. During the accident my front seats collapsed and both my fiance and I suffered from soreness and neck pain. Each day we are getting better but I was concerned about the fact that the seats collapsed.
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.
While driving apprx. 55MPH the vehicle was in a head-on collision, the air bags deployed, burned the shoulder strap of driver's side restraint belt.
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 car before coming to a stop. The car was filled with smoke and fume from the deployed airbags. My arms were chemically burned and knuckles on left hand from holding steering wheel.
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 rusted.