1997 SATURN SC1 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
98
Owner Complaints
3
Recalls
1
Service Bulletin
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1997 SATURN SC1
The 1997 SATURN SC1 has received a total of 98 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. 1 technical service bulletin have been issued by General Motors, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Seat Beltsfrontretractor (8 complaints), Engine And Engine Coolingengine (7 complaints), and Power Trainautomatic Transmission (5 complaints).
Recalls for the 1997 SATURN SC1
NHTSA has recorded 3 recalls for the 1997 SATURN SC1, 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 SC1
98 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1997 SATURN SC1. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
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 ALL TIMES, CHECKING AT EVERY FUEL FILL-UP OR BEFORE LEAVING HOME. BATTERY DEAD OCT 2011, REPLACED-STILL LOSES CHARGE OVERNIGHT;CHANGED SPARK PLUGS, FUSES, IGNITION-COULD REMOVE KEY WHILE CAR STILL RUNNING WHILE STOPPED. STILL SITTING IN DRIVEWAY AS CANNOT FIGURE OUT ELEC PROBLEM. 206K MI. PURCH 10-96 WITH 13 MI ON IT. *TR
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 ALL TIMES, CHECKING AT EVERY FUEL FILL-UP OR BEFORE LEAVING HOME. BATTERY DEAD OCT 2011, REPLACED-STILL LOSES CHARGE OVERNIGHT;CHANGED SPARK PLUGS, FUSES, IGNITION-COULD REMOVE KEY WHILE CAR STILL RUNNING WHILE STOPPED. STILL SITTING IN DRIVEWAY AS CANNOT FIGURE OUT ELEC PROBLEM. 206K MI. PURCH 10-96 WITH 13 MI ON IT. *TR
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 ALL TIMES, CHECKING AT EVERY FUEL FILL-UP OR BEFORE LEAVING HOME. BATTERY DEAD OCT 2011, REPLACED-STILL LOSES CHARGE OVERNIGHT;CHANGED SPARK PLUGS, FUSES, IGNITION-COULD REMOVE KEY WHILE CAR STILL RUNNING WHILE STOPPED. STILL SITTING IN DRIVEWAY AS CANNOT FIGURE OUT ELEC PROBLEM. 206K MI. PURCH 10-96 WITH 13 MI ON IT. *TR
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 MILEAGES WERE 216,000.
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
Safety Rating for the 1997 SATURN SC1
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1997 SATURN SC1 in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1997 SATURN SC1
General Motors, LLC has issued 1 technical service bulletin (TSBs) for the 1997 SATURN SC1. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
96T66 — TIRES:VALVE
THE VALVE STEM OUTER RUBBER SHEATHING IS GROOVED OR CHAFED (REPLACE TIRE VALVE STEM AND WHEEL COVERS). *TW
NHTSA Investigations for the 1997 SATURN SC1
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the SATURN SC1
- 1992 SATURN SC1 — 18 complaints
- 1993 SATURN SC1 — 85 complaints
- 1994 SATURN SC1 — 102 complaints
- 1995 SATURN SC1 — 73 complaints
- 1996 SATURN SC1 — 43 complaints
- 1997 SATURN SC1 (current)
- 1998 SATURN SC1 — 58 complaints
- 1999 SATURN SC1 — 30 complaints
- 2000 SATURN SC1 — 10 complaints
- 2001 SATURN SC1 — 29 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 SC — 379 total complaints