One problem related to ignition has been reported for the 1997 Saturn SL1. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
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.