Model year record

1997 Saturn Sc recalls & problems

The 1997 Saturn Sc has 3 safety recalls and 33 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (12 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints33filed by owners

Crashes · fires4 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths1 · 1reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Exterior lightingSep 22, 1997

Headlights

Recall 97V16200037,970 vehicles

Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SECTION OF THE OWNER'S HANDBOOK TITLED "HORIZONTAL AIM" DOES NOT SPECIFICALLY INSTRUCT AN OWNER HOW TO ADJUST THE HEADLAMP HORIZONTAL AIM. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Risk: A VEHICLE'S HEADLAMP WOULD NOT BE PROPERLY ADJUSTED CAUSING VISIBILITY PROBLEMS TO ONCOMING VEHICLES.
Fix: OWNERS ARE BEING PROVIDED WITH A LABEL WITH THE CORRECT INFORMATION ON HEADLAMP HORIZONTAL AIM TO BE PLACED OVER THE EXISTING TEXT IN THE OWNER'S HANDBOOK. IF AN OWNER DESIRES, THEIR DEALER CAN PLACE THE STICKER IN THE OWNER'S HANDBOOK FOR THEM.

Seat beltsSep 22, 1997

Front › Retractor

Recall 97V16100026,135 vehicles

Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE DRIVER OR FRONT PASSENGER SAFETY BELT IS PULLED OUT MUCH FASTER THAN NORMAL, A NUMBER OF TIME, THE LOCK-UP FEATURE OF THE RETRACTOR WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY.
Risk: IN A RAPID DECELERATION OR VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR.

SeatsAug 23, 1996

Seats

Recall 96V1530003,472 vehicles

Problem: THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATS HAVE LESS LOCK PAWL ENGAGEMENT ON THE INBOARD FORE/AFT ADJUSTER THAN SPECIFIED. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS."
Risk: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN SEAT MOVEMENT WITH A BELTED OCCUPANT DURING A MODERATE TO SEVERE FRONTAL IMPACT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE PASSENGER SEAT INBOARD FORE/AFT ADJUSTER.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Fuel economy

SC

28mpg combined

City / highway	24 / 36 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.9 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,400/year to fuel

SC

27mpg combined

City / highway	23 / 33 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.9 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,500/year to fuel

SC

27mpg combined

City / highway	23 / 33 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.9 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,500/year to fuel

SC

25mpg combined

City / highway	21 / 31 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.9 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,700/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Electrical systemHorn; Alternator/generator/regulator	12	0	0	0	101,552 mi
Seat beltsFront › Anchorage; Front	6	0	0	0	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Engine › Gasoline	6	0	0	0	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Axle assembly › Axle shaft › Seal	3	0	0	0	—
Air bagsFrontal; Frontal › Sensor/control module	3	1	0	1	—
Tires	3	0	0	0	—
VisibilitySun/moon roof assembly; Power window devices and controls	2	0	0	0	—
Exterior lightingHeadlights; Tail lights	2	0	1	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Drum	1	0	0	0	—
Vehicle speed controlAccelerator pedal	1	0	0	0	—
StructureBody › Door	1	0	0	0	—
Seats	1	1	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Seat belts
Right front passenger seat belt male mechanism is locked up and will not extend to lock in female mechanism. Unusable.
Mar 15, 2022
Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 SATURN SC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN THERE WERE NUMEROUS KEYS ON THE KEY RING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. *TT *TR
Jul 10, 2014 · 103,000 miles
Electrical system
I HAVE 2 SATURNS (SC AND SL) BOTH ARE 1997'S. BOTH HAVE SAME ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WHERE BATTERY WILL NOT HOLD CHARGE. SOMETHING SEEMS TO BE DRAINING THE POWER BUT NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT. BOTH CARS START WITH A JUMP AND RUN FINE IF DRIVEN OFTEN. BUT IF THE CAR SITS FOR MORE THAN A DAY, THE BATTERY IS DRAINED.
Jul 21, 2013
Electrical system
BATTERY KEPT BEING DRAINED.
Aug 1, 2012
Tires
I WAS DRIVING MY 1997 SC SATURN NORTH BOUND FL TURNPIKE WHEN THE ROAD FELT REALLY BUMPY AND SUDDENLY THE ENGINE ELECTRICAL (CABLES/WIRES)COMPONENTS FLEW & SPLASH AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD BLOCKING MY VIEW, "OH MY GOD" I IMMEDIATELY EDGE TO THE LEFT SHOULDER, GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO ASSESS THE SITUATION, CONTACTED GEICO ROAD SERVICE. I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THAT ONE OF THE LEMANS TIRE (RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE) TREAD HAD COMPLETELY PEELED & BLOWN OFF. APPARENTLY, AS THE TIRE BEGAN TO FAIL THE STEEL BELTS FROM THE TIRE DESTROYED THE INNER FENDER, THE OUTER FENDER AND RIPPED OUT THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS THAT PROVIDED POWER TO ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT SUCH AS DOOR…
Jul 4, 2013 · 171,411 miles
Electrical system
I WAS DRIVING THE ABOVE MENTIONED VEHICLE (SATURN SC1 1997) NORTH BOUND ON FL TURNPIKE WHEN THE ROAD FELT REALLY BUMPY AND SUDDENLY PIECES OF DEBRIS STARTED FLYING BY THE WINDOW AND A LARGE BUNDLE OF WIRES WAS FLAPPING ON THE HOOD, COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR; WHICH I HAD TO EASED OVER TO THE LEFT SHOULDER, GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY AND CONTACTED GEICO ROAD SERVICE. APPARENTLY, THE CHAIN OF EVENTS THAT OCCURRED WERE AS FOLLOWS: THE LEMANS/BRIDGESTONE TIRE (P195-60R15) TREAD COMPLETED PEELED OFF THE TIRE WITH SUCH FORCE..THAT IT GOT SHREDDED THE FENDER AND RIPPED OUT A LARGE BUNDLE OF ELECTRICAL CABLES THAT WAS IN THE FENDER. THE TIRE REMAINED INFLATED, THE WIRE CABLE RAN FROM…
Jul 4, 2013 · 173,411 miles
Service brakesCrash
I TRIED BRAKING HARD AND MY PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR BEFORE THE CAR STOPPED AND THEN I HIT A CAR ON THE SIDE. I COULD HAVE AVOIDED IT IF MY BRAKES WEREN'T BAD. I HAD NEW BRAKE PADS ON ALL 4 WHEELS AND IT WAS STILL LOW. *TR
Mar 8, 2013 · 115,500 miles
Tires
1997 SATURN SC. CONSUMER WRITES IN FOLLOW UP TO A REQUEST FOR ADJUSTMENT ON HIS GENERAL TIRES DUE TO PREMATURE WARE *TGW THE CONSUMER WARRANTY CLAIM WAS DENIED BASED ON THE STATED POSITION THAT THE TIRES WERE OLDER THAN THE WARRANTY COVERED; 72 MONTHS. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THE TIRES WERE NEW WHEN HE PURCHASED THEM ON NOVEMBER 18, 2006. HE WAS NOT INFORMED THAT THE TIRES HAD BEEN SITTING ON THE SHELF FOR 3 YEARS. *JB
Feb 1, 2011

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.