Model year record

1997 Saturn SC1 recalls & problems

The 1997 Saturn SC1 has 3 safety recalls and 61 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (16 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints61filed by owners

Crashes · fires7 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths6 · 0reported 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.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Electrical systemIgnition › Switch; Ignition	16	0	0	—
Seat beltsFront › Retractor; Front › Anchorage	15	2	2	87,500 mi
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Manual transmission	13	1	0	75,000 mi
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Engine › Gasoline	11	0	0	—
VisibilityWindshield; Glass, side/rear	9	1	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Disc › Rotor; Foundation components	7	3	2	—
Air bagsFrontal; Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module	6	3	3	—
SteeringHydraulic power assist › Pump; Steering wheel/handle bar	4	0	0	—
EquipmentAppliance › Air conditioner; Electrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc.	3	0	0	—
StructureBody › Trunk lid; Body › Door	3	0	0	—
SeatsFront assembly › Recliner	3	1	1	—
Vehicle speed control	2	1	0	—

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

Recent owner complaints

Seat belts
DRIVERS SEAT SLIDES BACKWARDS WITHOUT USING THE "ADJUSTMENT LEVER". SOMETIMES JUST BACKING UP AT 3-5 MPH, ALSO AT HWY SPEEDS. ALSO SLIDES BACKWARDS AFTER BEING ADJUSTED BY THE DRIVER-ALWAYS ADJUSTED WHILE PARKED, NEVER MOVING. ALSO, SEATBELTS WORKED FINE UNTIL RECALL NOTICE (99-2000/"REPAIRED" BY JIM BUTLER SOUTH COUNTY SATURN, ST LOUIS, MO) THEN WOULD NOT RETRACT, MUST FEED BELTS BACK INTO SLOT; WILL NOT RETURN TO DEALER, AS TOO MANY BAD EXPERIENCES W/THIS DEALERSHIP. APPROX 2002-03 (APPROX 80-100K MILES) STARTED USING 2 QTS OIL PER MONTH, NOW USES 3+ QTS PER MONTH MINIMUM. APPROX 2009 STARTED USING ENIGINE COOLANT EXCESSIVELY; MUST CARRY EXTRA QTS OIL, 1 GALLON ENGINE COOLANT IN CAR AT…
Jan 1, 2009
Electrical system
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 SATURN SC2. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. HE MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE KEY RELEASED; HOWEVER, THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION. THE DRIVER MANEUVERED THE KEY IN DIFFERENT POSITIONS FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE TO TEN MINUTES. SUDDENLY, THE IGNITION KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE DESIGNATED OFF POSITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND THEY DISCOVERED RECALL NUMBER 97-C02 (IGNITION CYLINDER). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT…
Feb 28, 2008 · 216,000 miles
Seat belts › Front › Retractor
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 SATURN SC2. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WOULD NOT RETRACT PROPERLY WHEN THE FRONT SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE SEAT BELT IS UNABLE TO BE USED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT A RECALL REPAIR HAD BEEN PERFORMED IN 1997. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO REPAIR WAS MADE BECAUSE SHE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY PAPERWORK SHOWING THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD TAKE 10% OFF OF THE REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000. UPDATED 3/19/09 *CN UPDATED 03/23/09. *JB
Feb 13, 2009 · 109,000 miles
Tires
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 SATURN SC2. THE VEHICLE HAS SEARS GUARSDMAN TIRES. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE FRONT PASSENGER AND REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRES HAD A COMPLETE BLOW OUT. A THIRD TIRE HAS A BULGE THAT CAN BE PUSHED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND TIRE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 128,000. UPDATED 11/17/08 *BF UPDATED 11/18/08. *JB
Aug 3, 2008
Power train › Manual transmission
WE BOUGHT A USED SATURN 2 YEARS AGO FROM A DEALERSHIP. SINCE THE DAY WE GOT THE CAR HOME WE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. MAINLY WHEN MY WIFE WOULD DRIVE IT TO GET OUR SMALL CHILDREN TO DAY CARE, AND SHE WOULD GO TO WORK. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WARMED UP IT GAVE HER A HARD TIME GETTING IT INTO GEAR. COUNTLESS TIMES OF SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION WAITING TO TURN THE LIGHT TURNED RED AND THE OPPOSITE TRAFFIC GOT GREEN AND STARTED HEADING TOWARD HER HONKING, SHE WAS FRANTICLY TRYING TO GET THE CAR INTO GEAR. THEN SHE WOULD HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO HAVE TO INJURE HER HAND TO SLAM IT INTO GEAR TO GET OUT OF THE WAY AS MY LITTLE ONES WERE CRYING IN THE BACK AND SHE WAS SHAKING AND UPSET.…
Mar 31, 2005 · 75,000 miles
Seats › Front assembly › ReclinerCrash1 injury
I WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. MY VEHICLE IS A 1998 SATURN VIN[XXX]. I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP WHEN A LARGE UTILITY VAN STRUCK MY VEHICLE. THE IMPACT SPEED WOULD BE AROUND 30MPH. UPON IMPACT, THE DRIVER SEAT FAILED - SHIFTING ME BACK TO THE REAR SEAT AND THEN I WAS JOLTED FORWARD AND HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE SEATBELT SYSTEM FAILED TO CONSTRICT MY BODY TO THE CAR SEAT. THE FRONT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I SUFFERED HEAD, NECK, AND SOFT TISSUE DAMAGE TO MY SHOULDER AND MID BACK AREA. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Oct 12, 2006 · 33,750 miles
Seat belts › Front › Retractor
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTOR JAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALER DETERMINED THE RETRACTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 97V161000 CONCERNING THE SEAT BELTS: FRONT: RETRACTOR. THE VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.
Mar 1, 2006 · 95,000 miles
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
DROVE THE CAR 2 WEEKS, DEFECTIVE CRANK SHAFT, BANGING IN THE MOTOR, I CAN'T DRIVE MY CAR. WANT SATURN TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE PART. *JB
Mar 28, 2005 · 75,999 miles

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