diff --git a/litellm/llms/sambanova/chat.py b/litellm/llms/sambanova/chat.py
index 0e7dadf7062..c849d52e744 100644
--- a/litellm/llms/sambanova/chat.py
+++ b/litellm/llms/sambanova/chat.py
@@ -8,12 +8,31 @@ from collections.abc import Coroutine
 from typing import Any, Final, Literal, overload
 
 from litellm.litellm_core_utils.prompt_templates.common_utils import (
-    handle_messages_with_content_list_to_str_conversion,
+    convert_content_list_to_str,
 )
 from litellm.llms.openai.chat.gpt_transformation import OpenAIGPTConfig
 from litellm.types.llms.openai import AllMessageValues
 
 
+def _flatten_text_only_messages(
+    messages: list[AllMessageValues],
+) -> list[AllMessageValues]:
+    """
+    Flatten a message's content list to a plain string only when it contains
+    text alone. A content list that carries any non-text part (e.g. image_url)
+    is left as a list so that part still reaches the SambaNova API, which
+    accepts content lists for vision-capable models. Flattening those would
+    drop the image and silently return a text-only answer.
+    """
+    for message in messages:
+        content = message.get("content")
+        if isinstance(content, list) and all(isinstance(part, dict) and part.get("type") == "text" for part in content):
+            texts = convert_content_list_to_str(message=message)
+            if texts:
+                message["content"] = texts
+    return messages
+
+
 class SambanovaConfig(OpenAIGPTConfig):
     """
     Reference: https://docs.sambanova.ai/cloud/api-reference/
@@ -117,14 +136,15 @@ class SambanovaConfig(OpenAIGPTConfig):
         """
         Transform messages to handle content list conversion.
 
-        SambaNova API doesn't support content as a list - only string content.
-        This converts content lists like [{"type": "text", "text": "..."}] to strings.
+        Text-only content lists like [{"type": "text", "text": "..."}] are
+        flattened to a plain string. Content lists that carry non-text parts
+        (e.g. image_url) are left intact so those parts still reach the
+        SambaNova API, which accepts content lists for vision-capable models.
         """
 
         async def _async_transform():
-            return handle_messages_with_content_list_to_str_conversion(messages)
+            return _flatten_text_only_messages(messages)
 
         if is_async:
             return _async_transform()
-        messages = handle_messages_with_content_list_to_str_conversion(messages)
-        return messages
+        return _flatten_text_only_messages(messages)
diff --git a/tests/llm_translation/test_sambanova_chat_transformation.py b/tests/llm_translation/test_sambanova_chat_transformation.py
index c2938d530c5..8c58ec6d0e8 100644
--- a/tests/llm_translation/test_sambanova_chat_transformation.py
+++ b/tests/llm_translation/test_sambanova_chat_transformation.py
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 Unit tests for SambaNova chat message transformation
 """
 
-import pytest
 from litellm.llms.sambanova.chat import SambanovaConfig
 
 
@@ -102,3 +101,34 @@ class TestSambanovaContentListHandling:
         assert transformed_messages[1]["content"] == "What is the weather?"
         assert transformed_messages[2]["content"] == "I need your location."
         assert transformed_messages[3]["content"] == "I'm in San Francisco"
+
+    def test_content_list_with_image_url_is_preserved(self):
+        """
+        A content list carrying a non-text part (image_url) must stay a list so
+        the image reaches the SambaNova API, instead of being flattened to a
+        text-only string that silently drops the image.
+        """
+        config = SambanovaConfig()
+
+        image_part = {
+            "type": "image_url",
+            "image_url": {"url": "data:image/png;base64,aGVsbG8="},
+        }
+        messages = [
+            {
+                "role": "user",
+                "content": [
+                    {"type": "text", "text": "What colors are in this image?"},
+                    image_part,
+                ],
+            }
+        ]
+
+        transformed_messages = config._transform_messages(
+            messages=messages, model="sambanova/gpt-oss-120b", is_async=False
+        )
+
+        content = transformed_messages[0]["content"]
+        assert isinstance(content, list)
+        assert image_part in content
+        assert any(part.get("type") == "image_url" for part in content)