1997 Saturn SL Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 1997 Saturn SL, and owners have filed 227 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 1997 Saturn SL
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Seats
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."
Remedy: Dealers will repair these vehicles.
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Gear box (other than rack and pinion) (steering)
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the manual steering gear assembly.
227 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1997 Saturn SL have filed 227 complaints with NHTSA; 30 describe a crash and 9 describe a fire. Reports cite 28 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 94,412 miles. Complaints peaked in 2000 with 41 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 16, 2016 · Unknown or other
“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 b”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, November 12, 2014 · Suspension
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1997 Saturn SL. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 25–28 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 21–24 / 31–36 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.9 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Saturn SL model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Saturn SL model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 Saturn SL | 1 | 29 |
| 1992 Saturn SL | 2 | 123 |
| 1993 Saturn SL | 2 | 175 |
| 1994 Saturn SL | 1 | 286 |
| 1995 Saturn SL | 3 | 355 |
| 1996 Saturn SL | 1 | 287 |
| 1997 Saturn SL | 2 | 227 |
| 1998 Saturn SL | 0 | 168 |
| 1999 Saturn SL | 1 | 178 |
| 2000 Saturn SL | 7 | 148 |
| 2001 Saturn SL | 2 | 111 |
| 2002 Saturn SL | 0 | 131 |
Checking a specific 1997 Saturn SL
How do I know if my 1997 Saturn SL has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 1997 Saturn SL; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Saturn dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 97V138000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Saturn models
- Ion4,343 complaints
- Vue2,351 complaints
- LS1,458 complaints
- Aura1,439 complaints
- Outlook1,352 complaints
- Sky516 complaints
- SC1413 complaints
- Sc296 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.