1997 SATURN SC Problems & Recalls
Detailed safety information and owner complaints
Problem Breakdown
Compare to Other Years
Common Problems
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 ...
Mileage: 103,000
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 BATT...
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 L...
Mileage: 173,411
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 L...
Mileage: 173,411
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 L...
Mileage: 173,411
I WAS DRIVING MY 1997 SC SATURN NORTH BOUND FL TURNPIKE WHEN THE ROAD FELT REALLY BUMPY AND SUDDENLY THE ENGINE ELECTRICAL (CABLES/WIRES)COMPONENTS FLEW & SPLASH AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD BLOCKING MY VIEW, "OH MY GOD" I IMMEDIATELY EDGE TO THE LEFT SHOULDER, GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO ASSESS THE SITUATI...
Mileage: 171,411
I WAS DRIVING MY 1997 SC SATURN NORTH BOUND FL TURNPIKE WHEN THE ROAD FELT REALLY BUMPY AND SUDDENLY THE ENGINE ELECTRICAL (CABLES/WIRES)COMPONENTS FLEW & SPLASH AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD BLOCKING MY VIEW, "OH MY GOD" I IMMEDIATELY EDGE TO THE LEFT SHOULDER, GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO ASSESS THE SITUATI...
Mileage: 171,411
I TRIED BRAKING HARD AND MY PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR BEFORE THE CAR STOPPED AND THEN I HIT A CAR ON THE SIDE. I COULD HAVE AVOIDED IT IF MY BRAKES WEREN'T BAD. I HAD NEW BRAKE PADS ON ALL 4 WHEELS AND IT WAS STILL LOW. *TR
Mileage: 115,500
1997 SATURN SC. CONSUMER WRITES IN FOLLOW UP TO A REQUEST FOR ADJUSTMENT ON HIS GENERAL TIRES DUE TO PREMATURE WARE *TGW THE CONSUMER WARRANTY CLAIM WAS DENIED BASED ON THE STATED POSITION THAT THE TIRES WERE OLDER THAN THE WARRANTY COVERED; 72 MONTHS. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSIO...
I BOUGHT MY SATURN SC1 SERIES 1997 AT 83,000 MILES. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. HAD IT CHECKED AT AUTO ZONE, SECOND GEAR TO RATIO WAS OFF, A FEW THOUSAND MILES LATER, 90,000 I LOST REVERSE. I DROVE WITHOUT REVERSE FOR 2 YEARS UNTIL I COULD AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED. THE TRANSMISSION GUY TOLD ME TH...
Mileage: 90,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 SATURN SC1. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOCK FEATURE OF THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY. AS A CONSEQUENCE, HE IS NOT PROPERLY RESTRAINED IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V161000 (SEAT BELTS:FRO...
Mileage: 80,000
WHEN THE CAR WAS COMING TO A STOP, THE ENGINE WOULD START TO STALL, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD DIM AND THE ELECTRONIC DASH WOULD GO OUT AND THE CAR WOULD COMPLETELY STALL. THE CAR WOULD NOT START ON ITS OWN AND WOULD HAVE TO BE JUMPED OFF. IF THIS HAPPENED WHEN PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY, YOU COULD WAIT A...
Mileage: 114,297
WHEN KEY IS IN IGNITION AND STARTED AND STILL IN PARK THE SHIFT LOCK MECHANISM WILL NOT DISENGAGE WHEN BRAKE IS DEPRESSED. ALSO WHEN I SHUT OFF THE CAR AND TURN KEY TO OFF POSITION THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION LEAVING THE CAR SUSCEPTIBLE TO THEFT.*AK
Mileage: 100,105
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ALL OF A SUDDEN SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE BECAME SQUARELY. THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE CYLINDER HEAD, SPILLING OIL ALL OVER THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, WHICH CAUSED SMOKE AND GOT OIL ALL OVER THE TIRES. IT BLEW OUT 4 QUARTS OF OIL VERY RAPIDL...
Mileage: 80,000
WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH, THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THIS CAUSED THE PASSENGER TO SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
VEHICLE TO DATE IS ON IT'S 3RD BATTERY & ALTERNATOR WITH ONLY 36,000 MILES ON IT. DEALER SAID IT WAS A FLAW W/BATTERY/ALTERNATOR. BATTERY/ALTERNATOR 1ST REPLACED JULY - AUG 2002 APPROX 16,000 MILES, SECOND REPLACEMENT OCT 2004 BATTERY & ALTERNATOR 32,000 APPROX MILES. BATTERY PRORATED/REPLACED ALT...
Mileage: 16,000
VEHICLE TO DATE IS ON IT'S 3RD BATTERY & ALTERNATOR WITH ONLY 36,000 MILES ON IT. DEALER SAID IT WAS A FLAW W/BATTERY/ALTERNATOR. BATTERY/ALTERNATOR 1ST REPLACED JULY - AUG 2002 APPROX 16,000 MILES, SECOND REPLACEMENT OCT 2004 BATTERY & ALTERNATOR 32,000 APPROX MILES. BATTERY PRORATED/REPLACED ALT...
Mileage: 16,000
VEHICLE TO DATE IS ON IT'S 3RD BATTERY & ALTERNATOR WITH ONLY 36,000 MILES ON IT. DEALER SAID IT WAS A FLAW W/BATTERY/ALTERNATOR. BATTERY/ALTERNATOR 1ST REPLACED JULY - AUG 2002 APPROX 16,000 MILES, SECOND REPLACEMENT OCT 2004 BATTERY & ALTERNATOR 32,000 APPROX MILES. BATTERY PRORATED/REPLACED ALT...
Mileage: 16,000
I GOT MY 97 SATURN SC1 A YEAR AGO WITH 56K MILES ON IT. THE COUPLE THAT HAD IT BEFORE ME TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF IT CONSIDERING THE OBVIOUS LACK OF QUALITY FROM THE FACTORY. I'VE PUT JUST OVER 21K MILES ON IT IN THE LAST YEAR. EVERY 500-1000 MILES IT BURNS A QUART OF OIL. THIS MEANS THAT EVERY 30...
Mileage: 1
WHILE DRIVING AT 25/30 MPH VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE STARTED FROM THE REAR TAIL LIGHT.*AK
Mileage: 150,000
VEHICLE STALLS WHEN DOWNSHIFTING. ALSO, THERE IS NO HORN, AND HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT COME ON . *AK
VEHICLE STALLS WHEN DOWNSHIFTING. ALSO, THERE IS NO HORN, AND HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT COME ON . *AK
VEHICLE STALLS WHEN DOWNSHIFTING. ALSO, THERE IS NO HORN, AND HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT COME ON . *AK
WHEN CONSUMER PUSHES HORN BUTTON (S) THERE IS NO SOUND. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
THREADS STRIPPED BETWEEN THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE TIE ROD ON DRIVERS SIDE CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING. HAD THIS HAPPENED AT SPEED IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS INJURY OR FATALITY. DEALER IS INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE.*AK
ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD FAILURE WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT WARRANTY EXPIRED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAIL ON THIS MATTER. *AK
BOTH FRONT SEATS RECLINED WHEN VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND. THE DRIVERS SEAT WOULD NOT REMAIN LOCKED IN UPRIGHT POSITION AS A RESULT.*AK
WHEN DRIVING AT 55 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION, REAR END DAMAGE. VEHICLE WENT INTO AN EMBANKMENT, AND NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *AK THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED AND THE DRIVER SPUN AROUND THE FRONT END AND THE REAR END WA...
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NO DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DURING COLLISION DUE TO FAILURE OF THE SENSORS. *MJS
CONSUMER RECENTLY RECIEVED RECALL LETTER 99V-280 FROM SATURN CONCERNING SEAT BELT FAILURE, CONSUMERS CHILD WAS A PASSENGER AND WAS KILLED IN A VEHICLE COLLISION AND THE CONSUMER FEELS THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE RECALLED COMPONENT EXPERIENCED FAILURE AND COULD HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF DEATH. *ET
MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED CAUSING EXCESSIVE VIBRATIONS.
SUNROOF FAILED.
TEMPERATURE SENSOR FAILED.
ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED RESULTING IN PEDAL FALLING OFF.
SEAT BELT RECALL WORK DENIED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS.
AXLE SHAFT SEAL LEAKS.
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES AND IS NOW LOCKING UP.
SEAT BELT RECALL ON OTHER MODELS, BUT NOT THIS OWNERS MODEL. SEAT BELT BROKE THREE TIMES.
SUSPENSION ON THE REAR, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, THE REAR MAKES A LOUD NOISE, IN FOR REPAIRS, THEY FOUND NO PROBLEM , FUEL SHIFTING ON HALF FULL TANK, WILL PROVIDE THE DEALERSHIP RECORDS. *AK