I was parked at a shopping center, when I turned my car on, it would not start. After trying a couple of times,it made a pop sound and smoke flooded inside the car. I turned off the key, took it to a dealer and they could not find anything wrong with it. The windows would not work as well. I replaced the fuse for the windows, and the car started, but now only the drivers side window works.
1997 Saturn SL: won't start
5 of the 226 complaints about the 1997 Saturn SL describe won't start.
- owner complaints
- 5
- of this car's complaints
- 2%
- recalls
- 0
Is there a fix? 1 service bulletin covers this area of the car. See below
Won't start by model year
- 20022
- 20015
- 20002
- 19992
- 19975
- 19961
- 19952
- 19931
What owners say
Started my car, it ran a few seconds, then died. Before I could restart it, smoke started pouring out of the steering column and I smelled an electrical fire. I didn't start it again but found help to disconnect my battery. It's on it's way to the nearby saturn dealer who refuses to provide me with a loan car. I think this is a very unusual problem, and I've driven a lot of clunkers in the past without having to deal with anything like this.
1997 sl2 saturn would not start. Battery would not hold charge. Had early electrical system problems (accessories would not function, no dash lights).
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 !
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.
Service bulletins that may apply
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the 1997 Saturn SL won't start
Is won't start a common problem on the 1997 Saturn SL?
5 of 226 owner complaints about the 1997 Saturn SL (2%) mention won't start. The model year with the most reports is 1997.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 1997 Saturn SL?
There are 0 recalls and 1 service bulletin for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 1997 Saturn SL
Seat belt 18Oil consumption 7Tire blowout 7Fuel pump 6Stalling 6Adaptive cruise 5Brake failure 5Harsh shifting 5
VIN decoder
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