1997 Saturn SL Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 17about this part
- Share
- 7%of 227 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 109,514miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 17 complaints about the air bags of the 1997 Saturn SL, 7% of the 227 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 109,514 miles. 12 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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. The passenger in front was complaining about wrists pain, anxiety and chest pain in one of her breast. …”
NHTSA complaint #10622410, filed 2014-08, 115,028 miles“My car was backed into in an accident which pushed the frond end back into the radiator support and buckled the hood. The car in front of me stopped as we were going down the street at about 25 MPH, then reversed at top speed into my front end. Neither airbag deployed.”
NHTSA complaint #10139819, filed 2005-10, 145,610 miles“Driver went over a speed bump while turning into a parking space and hit the parking curb just slightly while braking. Both driver & passenger side air bags deployed.”
NHTSA complaint #10150000, filed 2006-02, 71,393 miles“Vehicle was in a frontal collision while driving at 25 MPH. Upon impact, neither driver's side nor passenger's side air bags deployed. Consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealership.”
NHTSA complaint #10046330, filed 2003-11, 104,000 miles“Vehicle crashed into a telephone pole head-on, and there was no deployment of the driver's side or passenger's side air bags vehicle was totalled. Please provide any further information.”
NHTSA complaint #851742, filed 1999-10Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 9 | 7% |
| 2001 | 13 | 12% |
| 2000 | 5 | 3% |
| 1999 | 20 | 11% |
| 1998 | 8 | 5% |
| 1997 | 17 | 7% |
| 1996 | 18 | 6% |
| 1995 | 31 | 9% |
| 1994 | 20 | 7% |
| 1993 | 10 | 6% |
| 1992 | 3 | 2% |
| 1991 | 1 | 3% |
Other parts of the 1997 Saturn SL
38 complaintsElectrical system
31 complaintsSeat belts
25 complaintsBrakes
24 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
23 complaintsSeats
17 complaintsTires
16 complaintsBody and structure
13 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
11 complaintsFuel system
10 complaintsSteering
10 complaintsVehicle speed control
9 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Saturn SL
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology