1997 SATURN SC — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
44
Owner Complaints
3
Recalls
3
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1997 SATURN SC
The 1997 SATURN SC has received a total of 44 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 3 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR, SEATS. 3 technical service bulletins have been issued by General Motors, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Electrical System (5 complaints), Engine And Engine Coolingengine (3 complaints), and Seat Belts (3 complaints).
Recalls for the 1997 SATURN SC
NHTSA has recorded 3 recalls for the 1997 SATURN SC, potentially affecting up to 67,577 vehicles.
Recall 97V162000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
| 37,970 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
View full details →Recall 97V161000 — SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
| 26,135 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
View full details →Recall 96V153000 — SEATS
| 3,472 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1997 SATURN SC
44 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1997 SATURN SC. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
Right front passenger seat belt male mechanism is locked up and will not extend to lock in female mechanism. Unusable.
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
BATTERY KEPT BEING DRAINED.
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.
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 THE FUSE BOX IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OVER THE WHEEL IN THE FENDER, TO PROVIDE POWER TO VIRTUALLY EVERY ELECTRICAL COMPONENT IN THE CAR, AND WAS RIPPED OUT OF THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. A HIGHLY HAZARDOUS & DANGEROUS INCIDENT...THE PICTURES ARE EXTREMELY IMPRESSIVE! BE CAREFUL!!!! *TR
Safety Rating for the 1997 SATURN SC
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1997 SATURN SC in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1997 SATURN SC
General Motors, LLC has issued 3 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 1997 SATURN SC. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
96-T-35D — EQUIPMENT
This service bulletin revision provides a repair procedure to Remove Debris from Evaporator Case, Disinfect evaporator or Apply Cooling coil coating and install blower motor control module to correct a customer concern of A/C Odor at start-up.
96-T-35D — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This service bulletin revision provides a repair procedure to Remove Debris from Evaporator Case, Disinfect evaporator or Apply Cooling coil coating and install blower motor control module to correct a customer concern of A/C Odor at start-up.
98-T-11B — VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
This service bulletin revision provides a repair procedure to Remove Debris from Evaporator Case, Disinfect evaporator or Apply Cooling coil coating and install blower motor control module to correct a customer concern of A/C Odor at start-up.
NHTSA Investigations for the 1997 SATURN SC
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the SATURN SC
- 1992 SATURN SC — 24 complaints
- 1993 SATURN SC — 29 complaints
- 1994 SATURN SC — 59 complaints
- 1995 SATURN SC — 50 complaints
- 1996 SATURN SC — 41 complaints
- 1997 SATURN SC (current)
- 1998 SATURN SC — 17 complaints
- 1999 SATURN SC — 27 complaints
- 2000 SATURN SC — 8 complaints
- 2001 SATURN SC — 29 complaints
- 2002 SATURN SC — 45 complaints
Other SATURN Models
- SATURN ION — 5,467 total complaints
- SATURN VUE — 3,269 total complaints
- SATURN SL — 2,891 total complaints
- SATURN AURA — 2,222 total complaints
- SATURN OUTLOOK — 1,939 total complaints
- SATURN LS — 1,885 total complaints
- SATURN SKY — 623 total complaints
- SATURN SC1 — 554 total complaints