Total Complaints
39 filings
SATURN SATURN · model year
1997 SATURN SATURN
39 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997SATURNSATURN carries 39 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1997 SATURN is fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump with 3 filings, followed by electrical system:horn (2) and power train:manual transmission (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 14 investigation files overlapping the 1997 SATURN. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
39
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 2 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20100416ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
"ENGINE RUNS HOT & ENGINE OIL MIXED WITH COOLANT RESERVOIR (REPLACE CYLINDER HEAD ASSEMBLY)" THAT'S WHAT IT STATES ON SERVICE BULLETIN 96-T-65B. FROM WHAT I'VE READ THIS HAPPENS A LOT ON 91-97 SATURNS. OUR SATURN STARTED OFF BY HAVING CHOCOLATE MILKSHAKE COLORED FOAMY-NESS IN THE COOLANT RESERVOIR (IT'S HAD THAT SINCE WE GOT IT 2 YEARS AGO SO NOT SURE HOW LONG IT'S HAD THIS), THEN IT OVER HEATED, THEN THE LOW COOLANT & COOLANT TEMP LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING, THEN THE 2ND SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT 3 TIMES NOW (IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS)! IF SATURN KNOWS ABOUT THIS WHY HAVE THEY NOT RECALLED IT??? WE HAVE GOT THE SPARK PLUG REPAIRED NOW 3 TIMES & NOT SURE WHERE TO GO FROM HERE. *TR
Mileage: 170,000
20050128ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE CONSUMER WAS AT A STOP SIGN WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE, AND HAD NOT SERVICED IT AS OF YET. HOWEVER THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED. *AK THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED. THE #1 CYLINDER WAS SEVERELY LEAKING OIL AND CAUSED A MISFIRE IN THIS CYLINDER. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. OTHER PROBLEMS WERE: THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING, THE VALVE COVER GASKET WAS LEAKING AND WAS REPLACED AND HAD LOOSENED UP AGAIN, THE REAR BRAKES AND DRUMS NEEDED REPLACEMENT, THE SWAY BAR LINKS WERE BAD, THE MOTOR MOUNT WAS BAD, THE IDLER PULLEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE GAS PEDAL WOULD STICK, FOUR NEW TIRES WERE NEEDED AND THE HORN WAS INOPERATIVE. *SC *JB
Mileage: 135,236
20050128SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE CONSUMER WAS AT A STOP SIGN WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE, AND HAD NOT SERVICED IT AS OF YET. HOWEVER THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED. *AK THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED. THE #1 CYLINDER WAS SEVERELY LEAKING OIL AND CAUSED A MISFIRE IN THIS CYLINDER. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. OTHER PROBLEMS WERE: THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING, THE VALVE COVER GASKET WAS LEAKING AND WAS REPLACED AND HAD LOOSENED UP AGAIN, THE REAR BRAKES AND DRUMS NEEDED REPLACEMENT, THE SWAY BAR LINKS WERE BAD, THE MOTOR MOUNT WAS BAD, THE IDLER PULLEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE GAS PEDAL WOULD STICK, FOUR NEW TIRES WERE NEEDED AND THE HORN WAS INOPERATIVE. *SC *JB
Mileage: 135,236
20050128SUSPENSION
THE CONSUMER WAS AT A STOP SIGN WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE, AND HAD NOT SERVICED IT AS OF YET. HOWEVER THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED. *AK THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED. THE #1 CYLINDER WAS SEVERELY LEAKING OIL AND CAUSED A MISFIRE IN THIS CYLINDER. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. OTHER PROBLEMS WERE: THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING, THE VALVE COVER GASKET WAS LEAKING AND WAS REPLACED AND HAD LOOSENED UP AGAIN, THE REAR BRAKES AND DRUMS NEEDED REPLACEMENT, THE SWAY BAR LINKS WERE BAD, THE MOTOR MOUNT WAS BAD, THE IDLER PULLEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE GAS PEDAL WOULD STICK, FOUR NEW TIRES WERE NEEDED AND THE HORN WAS INOPERATIVE. *SC *JB
Mileage: 135,236
20050128VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
THE CONSUMER WAS AT A STOP SIGN WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE, AND HAD NOT SERVICED IT AS OF YET. HOWEVER THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED. *AK THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED. THE #1 CYLINDER WAS SEVERELY LEAKING OIL AND CAUSED A MISFIRE IN THIS CYLINDER. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. OTHER PROBLEMS WERE: THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING, THE VALVE COVER GASKET WAS LEAKING AND WAS REPLACED AND HAD LOOSENED UP AGAIN, THE REAR BRAKES AND DRUMS NEEDED REPLACEMENT, THE SWAY BAR LINKS WERE BAD, THE MOTOR MOUNT WAS BAD, THE IDLER PULLEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE GAS PEDAL WOULD STICK, FOUR NEW TIRES WERE NEEDED AND THE HORN WAS INOPERATIVE. *SC *JB
Mileage: 135,236
20050128ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
THE CONSUMER WAS AT A STOP SIGN WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE, AND HAD NOT SERVICED IT AS OF YET. HOWEVER THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED. *AK THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED. THE #1 CYLINDER WAS SEVERELY LEAKING OIL AND CAUSED A MISFIRE IN THIS CYLINDER. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. OTHER PROBLEMS WERE: THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING, THE VALVE COVER GASKET WAS LEAKING AND WAS REPLACED AND HAD LOOSENED UP AGAIN, THE REAR BRAKES AND DRUMS NEEDED REPLACEMENT, THE SWAY BAR LINKS WERE BAD, THE MOTOR MOUNT WAS BAD, THE IDLER PULLEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE GAS PEDAL WOULD STICK, FOUR NEW TIRES WERE NEEDED AND THE HORN WAS INOPERATIVE. *SC *JB
Mileage: 135,236
20040513SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
PROBLEMS WITH ROTORS AND PADS ON 1997 SATURN. *MR THE ROTORS HAD WORN. (NOT WARPED OR DISTORTED) THE ORIGINAL DISC BRAKE ROTORS LASTED UP TO 88K MILES. THE BRAKE PADS AND DISC ROTORS WERE REPLACED. THE REPLACEMENT ROTORS WERE OF INFERIOR QUALITY. *SC *JB
Mileage: 88,000
20040311CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING ON ICE, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, CRASHED AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *PH *JB
20021025FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THERE FUEL PUMP AFTER THE DEALER REPAIR THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED TS
20020912STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
CONSUMER IS WRITING ON BEHALF OF HIS WIFE WHO WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR, THIS PROBLEM WAS EXPERIENCED EARLIER WHEN SHE HAD BEEN FORCED TO CLIMB OVER THE FRONT SEAT TO EXIT FROM THE RIGHT SIDE DOOR. DEALER DISASSEMBLED THE DOOR AND FOUND THE MECHANICAL LOCK LINKAGE BROKEN. *TT
20020906SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, WITH NO WARNING, AND APPLYING THE BRAKES BRAKE PEDAL WILL GO TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
20001213TIRES:TREAD/BELT
ON 9/23/00 THE TREAD PEELED OFF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FRONT END. THE DAMAGE IS ESTIMATED AT $3,000. ON 11/30/00 THE TREAD PEELED OFF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FRONT END. THIS IS CRAZY! TWICE IN JUST OVER 2 MONTHS, BOTH BY FIRESTONE TIRES NOT IN THE PREVIOUS RECALLS. WE WERE LUCKY THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES. PLEASE HELP US IF YOU CAN. I HAVE SINCE PUT 4 GOODYEAR TIRES ON THIS CAR. THANKS, KATHRN SAN. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P195/60R15 )
20001207TIRES
ON 9/23/00 THE TREAD PEELED OFF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FRONT END. THE DAMAGE IS ESTIMATED AT $3,000. ON 11/30/00 THE TREAD PEELED OFF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FRONT END. THIS IS CRAZY! TWICE IN JUST OVER 2 MONTHS, BOTH BY FIRESTONE TIRES NOT IN THE PREVIOUS RECALLS. WE WERE LUCKY THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES. PLEASE HELP US IF YOU CAN. I HAVE SINCE PUT 4 GOODYEAR TIRES ON THIS CAR. THANKS, KATHRN SAN (TIRESIZE: P195/60R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P195/60R15 )
20001128ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
VEHICLE STALLED BECAUSE THE BATTERY CABLES WERE LOOSE, AS SOON AS THE CABLES WERE TIGHTENED, THE VEHICLE HAD NO PROBLEMS. *SLC
20001030CrashSEATS
I WAS A PASSENGER IN MY FRIEND'S SATURN. WE WERE STOPPED AT A LIGHT, AND AN EXPLORER REAR-ENDED US AT ABOUT 55MPH. BOTH OF OUR SEATS FAILED. AFTER IMPACT, THE TWO FRONT SEATS WERE LAYING DOWN. WE WERE BOTH INJURED WHICH REQUIRED MONTHS OF PHYSICAL THERAPY.*AK
20000606FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER ON FUEL PUMP. DEALER EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 70 MILES. CONSUMER FELT LIKE SHE WAITING ON A TIMING BOMB TO EXPLODE. *AK
20000322STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
POWER STEERING FAILED, CAUSING HOSES TO LEAKS.
19991105SUSPENSION:FRONT
FRONT END OF CAR IS VERY LOOSE. WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP IT FEELS LIKE THE WHOLE FRONT IS GOING TO FALL OFF. CONSUMER ALMOST LOST CONTROL. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID THE FRONT END WAS FINE. WHEN STARTING UP THE CAR THE BRAKES GO TO THE FLOOR, AND WHEN THEY CATCH, IT SOUNDS LIKE A GRINDING NOISE LIKE METAL TO METAL. THERE ARE ALSO FUMES COMING INTHE CAR TO POINT WERE ITS HARD TO BREATH. ALSO, VEHICLEDOES NOT IDLE CORRECTLY, IT MAKES IT HARD TO STEER. *AK
19991105VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
FRONT END OF CAR IS VERY LOOSE. WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP IT FEELS LIKE THE WHOLE FRONT IS GOING TO FALL OFF. CONSUMER ALMOST LOST CONTROL. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID THE FRONT END WAS FINE. WHEN STARTING UP THE CAR THE BRAKES GO TO THE FLOOR, AND WHEN THEY CATCH, IT SOUNDS LIKE A GRINDING NOISE LIKE METAL TO METAL. THERE ARE ALSO FUMES COMING INTHE CAR TO POINT WERE ITS HARD TO BREATH. ALSO, VEHICLEDOES NOT IDLE CORRECTLY, IT MAKES IT HARD TO STEER. *AK
19991105ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
FRONT END OF CAR IS VERY LOOSE. WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP IT FEELS LIKE THE WHOLE FRONT IS GOING TO FALL OFF. CONSUMER ALMOST LOST CONTROL. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID THE FRONT END WAS FINE. WHEN STARTING UP THE CAR THE BRAKES GO TO THE FLOOR, AND WHEN THEY CATCH, IT SOUNDS LIKE A GRINDING NOISE LIKE METAL TO METAL. THERE ARE ALSO FUMES COMING INTHE CAR TO POINT WERE ITS HARD TO BREATH. ALSO, VEHICLEDOES NOT IDLE CORRECTLY, IT MAKES IT HARD TO STEER. *AK
Compare 1997SATURNSATURN to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
EA11014Engineering AnalysisClosed
Electric Power Steering Failure
RQ10004Recall QueryClosed
Electric Power Steering Failure
PE09016Preliminary EvaluationClosed
OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES STICK UNLATCHED
PE08061Preliminary EvaluationClosed
TIMING CHAIN BREAKS, ENGINE STALL
DP08002Defect PetitionClosed
TIMING CHAIN FAILURE-STALL
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1997 SATURN SATURN have?▼
The 1997 SATURN SATURN has 39 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 SATURN SATURN?▼
The most-complained component for the 1997 SATURN SATURN is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN and POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION.
Is the 1997 SATURN SATURN safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.