1997 Saturn SC1: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
36 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
78,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 36 complaints (16.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 19.4% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 13.9% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 13.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 11.1% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 8.3% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 6 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 4 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 6; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 4; Electrical System: 3; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 2; Electrical System:Ignition: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 2
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 26 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 6 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
2000: 6; 2001: 6; 2002: 4; 2003: 5; 2004: 5; 2005: 3; 2006: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 2; 2012: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10008295 · 2003-03-01 (March 1, 2003)
VEHICLE HAS ONLY 37,000 MILES ON IT, ENGINE IS DEAD. WILL COST OVER $3000 FOR NEW ENGINE. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR NUMEROUS REPAIRS, MANY PROBLEMS, AND MOST WERE NEVER FIXED. I APPROACHED THE DEALERSHIP IN SUMMER 2000 ABOUT GOING TO ARBITRATION RE: HAVING VEHICLE REPLACED, AND THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE THE AREA REPRESENTATIVELY NAME AND NUMBER. I GOT IT ANYWAY AND FILED A COMPLAINT. DEALER PROMISED TO RECTIFY ALL ISSUES, AND REPAIRED SEVERAL PROBLEMS, WHICH HAVE ALL RECURRED (AND WORSE) SINCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. PROBLEMS HAVE INCLUDED ELE…
Owner-reported narrative. 37,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008295 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10024212 · 2003-06-17 (June 17, 2003)
RAINY DAYS VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE THE TECHNICAL DIAGNOSES OF CAUSE LEAKING.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10024212 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10029857 · 2003-07-22 (July 22, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING, THE MOTOR MOUNTS COLLAPSED WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE ALMOST HITTING 3 PEDESTRIANS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10029857 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031182 · 2003-08-09 (August 9, 2003)
I BOUGHT MY SATURN IN MAY OF 1999, AT 20,000 MILES. IT WAS PREVIOUSLY A LEASE VEHICLE. AT 73,000 MILES, THE ENGINE STARTED TO BURN OVER 2.5 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 3000 MILES. THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THE ENGINE WAS REBUILT. AT APPROXIMATELY 150,000 MILES THE ENGINE STARTED BURNING AGAIN. I HAVE TO HAVE MY OIL CHANGED EVERY 1500 TO 2000 MILES NOW. I HAVE BEEN TOLD, BY MULTIPLE MECHANICS, THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE SATURN SC2S. I'VE ALSO HAD THE IGNITION REPLACED. I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH STARTING IT UP AT ABOUT 45,00…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031182 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038036 · 2003-09-02 (September 2, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN HE GOT INTO VEHICLE AND TRIED TO START IT VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE AROUND THE DASH AND STEERING COLUMN. VEHICLE FILLED UP WITH SMOKE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP, WA STOLD BY TECHNICIAN THAT WIRING HARNESS HAD BEEN FRIED. *AKTHEY STATED THAT IT WAS THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS AND IT WOULD COST HIM 4-5 THOUSANDS DOLLARS TO REPAIR, AND MORE IF IT DAMAGED SOMETHING ELSE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10038036 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10048334 · 2004-02-19 (February 19, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWERVE UNCONTROLLABLY, THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, HIT THE MEDIAN AND THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED SERIOUS HEAD INJURIES. *AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10048334 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065448 · 2004-04-01 (April 1, 2004)
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A SEAT BELT RETRACTING PROBLEM. A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON THIS MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10065448 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074435 · 2004-07-06 (July 6, 2004)
AFTER STOPPING AND PARKING THE VEHICLE THE REVERSE GEAR WOULD NOT WORK. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED OVER FIFTY TIMES SINCE JULY 2003. ONCE THE VEHICLE COOLED DOWN THE REVERSE GEAR WOULD WORK PROPERLY. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION IS NEEDED. *LA *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074435 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
96V153000 · Seats
Reported: 1996-08-23 (August 23, 1996)
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."
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN SEAT MOVEMENT WITH A BELTED OCCUPANT DURING A MODERATE TO SEVERE FRONTAL IMPACT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE PASSENGER SEAT INBOARD FORE/AFT ADJUSTER.
NHTSA campaign record ↗97V161000 · Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
Reported: 1997-09-22 (September 22, 1997)
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.
Consequence: IN A RAPID DECELERATION OR VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR.
NHTSA campaign record ↗97V162000 · Exterior Lighting:Headlights
Reported: 1997-09-22 (September 22, 1997)
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."
Consequence: A VEHICLE'S HEADLAMP WOULD NOT BE PROPERLY ADJUSTED CAUSING VISIBILITY PROBLEMS TO ONCOMING VEHICLES.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗