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U.S. public vehicle records

1999 Saturn SC1 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

18 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

61,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 18 complaints (11.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior211.1%
Transmission and shifting15.6%
Engine operation15.6%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Air Bags
2
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
2
Seats
2
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner
2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
2
Air Bags:Frontal
1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags2
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor2
Seats2
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip2
Air Bags:Frontal1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control1

Air Bags: 2; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 2; Seats: 2; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
1
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9991
75,000 to 99,9991
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 15 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2000
1
2001
1
2002
9
2003
3
2004
3
2006
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20001
20011
20029
20033
20043
20061

2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2002: 9; 2003: 3; 2004: 3; 2006: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 567756 · 2002-10-08 (October 8, 2002)

WHILE IN MOTION, CONSUMER PLACED THE VEHICLE IN CRUISE CONTROL, MAINTAINING A SPEED OF 66 MPH. CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER FELT THE BRAKES CATCH, THEN THERE WAS A LETTING GO FEELING. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISHTAIL FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS UNRESPONSIVE TO THE BRAKING EFFORTS. CONSUMER TRIED TO EXIT THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE HIT THE RISING OF THE MEDIAN AND FLIPPED ONTO ITS ROOF. CONSUMER SUFFERED VARIOUS BODILY INJURIES. CONSUMER REQUESTS THE DEFECTS ENDURED BE INVESTIGATED, CONSUMER L…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 567756 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 8019984 · 2002-10-01 (October 1, 2002)

THE BRAKE FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *YH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8019984 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10168000 · 2006-08-29 (August 29, 2006)

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

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10168000 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 8012110 · 2002-06-19 (June 19, 2002)

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THERE WAS A CLUNK TYPE NOISE AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE STALLED. DEALER NOTICED VALVE SPRING WAS BROKEN. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE CONTACTED. *AK DEALER FOUND SPRING VALVE BROKE, CAUSING THE PISTON TO HIT THE VALVE AND BEND THE VALVE. MECHANIC STATES THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A RESULT OF A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. SATURN FINALLY AGREED TO PAY A PORTION OF COST TO INSTALL NEW ENGINE. *TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8012110 at NHTSA ↗