RoadVitals

1997 Saturn Sl Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Dec 17, 2004
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 227 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Saturn Sl submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

SteeringTires & wheels
Filed Dec 17, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONSUMER LOST STEERING CONTROL. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO HIT A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ID
10105021
Incident
Nov 29, 2004
Mileage
72,844 mi
Steering
Filed Apr 30, 2001

THERE IS ALOT OF PLAY IN STEERING, AND THERES AVERY LOUD POPING NOISE WHEN TURNING WHEEL.*AK

NHTSA ID
887089
Incident
Feb 1, 1999
Body & structureBrakesEngine+1 more
Filed Mar 20, 2001

HEAD GASKET, WATER PUMP, OIL PAN GASKET, SERPENTINE DRIVE BELT, AND COOLANT LIGHT ON, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ALSO ON, WORK COMPLETED BY DEALER. *JB

NHTSA ID
785360
Incident
Mar 13, 2001
ElectricalSteering
Filed Jul 12, 2000

AS OF TODAY'S DATE, 7/12/00 THE SATURN AUTO IS WITH THE DEALER IN SANTA ANA, CA. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID
725335
Incident
Mar 1, 2000
Steering
Filed Jun 9, 2000

WHILE DRIVING ON ROUGH ROADS OR MAKING A TURN AROUND A CORNER CONSUMER HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE OR SOMETHING LOOSE. TOOK TO DEALER , AND THEY COULD NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK.

NHTSA ID
863333
Incident
Jun 1, 2000
BrakesEngineSteering
Filed Aug 9, 1999

DEFECTIVE FAN BELT TENSIONER ASSEMBLY FAILED, CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND ABS WHILE MAKING U-TURN. *AK

NHTSA ID
844630
Steering
Filed Jul 21, 1998

WHEN TRAVELING 35 MPH AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, CONSUMER NOTICED THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO OPERATE DUE TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP WHICH WENT OUT AND NEEDED REPLACING. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA ID
825655
Incident
Jun 1, 1998
Steering
Filed Jun 20, 1997

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CONSUMER HEARD A CLICKING NOISE THEN PULLED VEHICLE IHNTO A PARKING LOT. CONSUMER HAD NO CONTROL OF STEERING, AND STEERING WHEEL HAD NO CONNECTION TO COLUMN. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
813309
Incident
Jun 19, 1997
Steering
Filed May 21, 1997

TRAVELING ABOUT 5 MPH THERE WAS TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING, RESULTING IN STEERING LOCK UP DIAGNOSIS, THE RETAINING CLIP OMITTED DURING ASSEMBLY. *AK

NHTSA ID
812434
Incident
May 19, 1997
Steering
Filed Mar 3, 1997

STEERING WHEEL CAME COMPLETELY APART WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING. *AK

NHTSA ID
809623
Incident
Feb 28, 1996

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .