1999 Saturn SC1 recalls & problems

Safety recalls

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

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

Recent owner complaints

• Power train › Manual transmission › Floor shift assembly

  CONSUMER COMPLAINT CONCERNING THE 1999 SATURN SC2 SHIFTER ASSEMBLY DESIGN DEFECT. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT WHEN HE LOST THE ABILITY TO SHIFT GEARS. UPON INSPECTION, THE FAILURE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO A BUSHING THAT CONNECTS THE LOWER OF THE STICK SHIFT TO THE CABLES ATTACHED TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE PART WAS MADE OF PLASTIC OR VINYL AND IT SPLIT APART AROUND THE ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENCE, THUS ALLOWING THE CABLES TO COME OFF THE SHIFTER. *JB

  Jan 1, 1901
• Suspension › Rear

  REAR SWAY BAR LINK ON 99' SC2 COUPE GONE DRY AT 85,000 MILES. MAKING LOUD ANNOYING CREAKING NOISE. THESE UNITS ARE SEALED AND NOT MENT FOR PERIODIC LUBRICATION. WHEN CALL WAS PLACED TO SATURN PARTS DEPARTMENT TO PRICE REPLACEMENT PART, PARTS CLERK KNEW RIGHT AWAY OFF THE TOP OF HIS HEAD THAT IT WAS $80.00 PER LINK. THINK THEY SELL MANY OF THESE FOR CLERK TO KNOW PRICE WITHOUT LOOKUP. THINK THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM THAT SATURN IS NOT WILLING TO ADMIT.

  Feb 18, 2004 · 85,500 miles
• Seats › Front assembly › ReclinerCrash2 injuries

  I WAS REAR-ENDED AT 65MPH ON 12-19. MY SEAT BACK COMPLETELY RECLINED AND PINNED MY 9 YEAR OLD SON. HE WAS UNCONCIOUS FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AND SUFFERED A CONCUSSION AND NECK PAIN. I SUFFERED NECK AND BACK INJURIES.*AK

  Dec 19, 2003 · 49,000 miles
• Parking brake

  THE PLASTIC BUTTON THAT ATTACHES TO THE SPRING TO LOCK THE EMERGENCY BREAK INTO PLACE BROKE. THIS PIECE IS APPROXIMATELY ONE OUNCE AT MOST AND IT BROKE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNOCCUPIED AND NOT ON AN INCLINE. HAD THE VEHICLE BEEN ON A HILL, IT WOULD HAVE GREATLY INCREASED THE CHANCES OF INJURIES AND/OR FATALITIES. WHEN I CONTACTED SATURN, I WAS ADVISED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $250 AND THAT IT WAS COMMON ENOUGH TO WHICH IT HAD BEEN SEEN MULTIPLE TIMES BY THE MECHANICAL REPRESENTATIVE TO WHICH I WAS SPEAKING. I WAS FURTHER ADVISED THAT SINCE AN EMERGENCY BREAK IS NOT A SAFETY MECHANISM, IT WOULD NOT BE SUBJECT TO A RECALL OR A RECALL RELATED INVESTIGATION.*AK

  Oct 11, 2003 · 61,000 miles
• Seats › Front assembly › ReclinerCrash1 injury

  DRIVER'S SEAT COMPLETELY RECLINED DURING REAR END COLLISION, RESULTING IN NECK AND BACK INJURIES.*AK

  Jul 3, 2003
• Seat belts › Front › Retractor

  THE SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT. IT TAKES OVER 10 MINUTES FOR THEM TO RETRACT ONCE YOU UNFASTEN THEM. MY SEAT BELTS WERE REPLACED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AND THE PROBLEM WAS STILL NOT CORRECTED. I WAS TOLD "THAT IS HOW THEY WORK". I AM NOW HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEM LOCKING WHILE DRIVING. THE LOCKING IS NOT TRIGGERED BY ANYTHING THAT WE HAVE FOUND IT JUST WON'T MOVE WHEN YOU TRY TO. YOU CAN'T MOVE UNLESS YOU UNDO THE SEAT BELT WAIT FOR IT TO RETRACT AND THEN REFASTEN IT. WHEN YOU UNFASTEN IT THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE AS IT RETRACTS. THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THEM WANTING TO HANG UP WHEN YOU PULL ON IT TO PUT IT ON. THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE JUST A FEW MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE…

  Jun 1, 1999
• Air bagsCrash

  CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HER AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING. ALSO STATED THAT SHE WAS INVOLVED ON A FRONTAL COLLISION. MANUFACTURE WAS NOT CONTACTED.

  Jan 7, 2003
• Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly

  THE SUN ROOF FAILED, AND TO HAVE IT FIXED COST 1200 DOLLARS. I CONTACTED SATURN OF CARY AND SATURN CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AT 18005536000 AND TALKED TO PEGGY. SHE SAID SINCE IT WAS NOT FIXED AT A SATURN DEALER THEY WOULD NOT CONSIDER IT. I TOLD HER OF MY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WITH MY PREVIOUS SATURN BURNING UP ALL BY ITSELF, AFTER THEY REPLACED A VALVE COVER GASKET, AND THE CAR BEING TOTALED. THEY DID NOTHING ABOUT THAT, EITHER. I HAD THE SUN ROOF FIXED BY TECHNIQUEST OF CARY, WHO SUGGESTED I GET SATURN TO HELP ME WITH THE COST OF THIS, AS 1200 DOLLARS TO REPAIR THIS, AND SATURN SURPRIZINGLY KEEPING PLENTY OF THIS ITEMS IN STOCK, POINT OT A PROBLEM SATURN DOES NOT WANT TO ADMIT TO. MR

  Oct 12, 2002

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