FaultScore

1997 Saturn SL fuel system problems

10 of the 286 complaints about the 1997 Saturn SL are about the fuel system — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 32,000 miles.

C

10

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Fuel Pump 2 20.0%
Fuel Injection System 2 20.0%
Delivery 1 10.0%
Tank Assembly 1 10.0%
Fuel System, Other 1 10.0%
Injectors 1 10.0%
Fuel Injection System 1 10.0%
Fuel Gauge System 1 10.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 32,000 miles Runnemede, NJ

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

EVERY FEW MONTHS SINCE I'VE HAD MY CAR, FOR NO APPARENT REASON, IT WILL START, BUT WILL IDLE LOW. IF I TRY TO PUT IT IN GEAR, IT WILL STALL. IF I TRY TO RESTART IT AND GIVE IT GAS IT WILL IMEDIATELY CUT OFF. I'VE HAD IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC NUMEROUS TIMES AND NO ONE CAN DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I'VE HAD THE FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER, OXYGEN SENSOR (TWICE), WIRES, SPARK PLUGS, ETC. REPLACED COSTING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. ONE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IT WAS "THE WAY I WAS DRIVING THE CAR!" THE MOST RECENT TIME I HAD MY 2 MONTH OLD IN THE CAR AND IT STALLED WHEN I WAS IN THE INTERSECTION, TO MAKE IT THROUGH I HAD TO ACCELERATE ALMOST RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. THERE IS NO PATTERN TO THE PROBLEM LIKE THE WEATHER, SO IT IS HARD TO PINPOINT.

NHTSA complaint #10086383 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Olney, MD

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

RANDOMLY, USUALLY ABOUT EVERY FEW MONTHS, I WILL START MY CAR. IT WILL START, BUT IT STARTS "FUNNY." IT DOESN'T HIT THE USUAL HIGH RPMS AND WILL IDLE LOW. IF I ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THE CAR, IT WILL USUALLY RUN WITH LOW RPMS. WHEN THE CAR COMES TO A STOP, IT WILL IDLE LOW AND SOMETIMES STALL. THE PROBLEM OCCURS IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS AND TEMPERATURES. IT ALSO OCCURS WHEN THE ENGINE IS HOT OR COLD. SOMETIMES IT TAKES 5-10 TRIES TO START THE CAR AT ALL. OF COURSE, MECHANICS ARE UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM AND SAY NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. I HAVE HAD THE CAR CHECKED BY SATURN OF GAITHERSBURG, SATURN OF SILVER SPRING, AND GRAEVES AUTO IN OLNEY.

NHTSA complaint #10031052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fredreick, MD

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS

THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE FUEL INJECTOR LEAKING FUEL ONTO THE ENGINE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER HAS SOLVED THE PROBLEM. *AK *SCC

NHTSA complaint #8015812 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bridgewater, NJ

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

I HAVE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF POWER, NO START CONDITIONS,AND LONG PERIODS OF CRANK TIME,EVEN KILLING A BATTERY THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR! NOTIFIED MY DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IF THEY---DETERMINED IT WASN'T THE FUEL PUMP, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY A SERVICE CHARGE !---AND I HAVE THE BEST EXTENDED WARRANTY THEY HAVE !

NHTSA complaint #722797 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Duluth, GA Crash 1 injured

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

DURING COLLESION DUE TO POOR DESIGN OF GAS TANK ASSEMBLY CAP CAME OFF AND REAR WHEEL BED AND TANK WRAPPED AROUND EACH OTHER RESULTING IN LEAKAGE. YH

NHTSA complaint #550684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wildwood, FL

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

WHEN TURNING IGNITION VEHICLE WOULD TURN OVER, BUT IT WOULDN'T START. OWNER HAS TO START VEHICLE A NUMBER OF TIMES TO IN ORDER TO RUN. DEALER SAYS ITS DUE TO A FAULTY FUEL PUMP. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP.

NHTSA complaint #857388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Olympia, WA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

VEHICLE FLOODS AND FAILS TO START HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO SATURN DEALERSHIP. DEALER STATED IT WAS A DESIGN FEATURE.

NHTSA complaint #717175 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ontario, CA

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM

FUEL GAUGE SENDING UNIT.

NHTSA complaint #606820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mechanicsville, VA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

FIRST INCIDENT WAS AT 3600 MILES ON THE CAR. ON INTERSTATE TRAVELLING AT 55+ CAR LOSES POWER WILL NOT ACCELERATE. MUST PULL OFF ROAD WHERE CAR STALLS OUT. NO IDIOT LIGHTS AND AT DEALER NO COMPUTER CODES. CAR RETURNED TO ME DEALER UNABLE TO DUPLICATE.I GET 15 MILES CAR AGAIN HAS PROBLEM. FINALLY DEALER REPLACES FUEL PUMP.AT 5900 MILES AGAIN CAR HAS SAME PROBLEM 1.5 HOURS FROM HOME 55+MPH ON INTERSTATE.DEALER AGAIN REPLACES FUEL PUMP.AT 24000 MILES ON INTERSTATE AGAIN SAME SYMPTOMS AT 70+ MPH.AFTER 3 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS IN TWO DIFFERENT STATES AGAIN FUEL PUMP IS REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #704599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Richmond, VA

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

GAS GUAGE MALFUNCTIONED.

NHTSA complaint #526294 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 Saturn SL problems

← Full 1997 Saturn SL report