Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 12 of 33 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Electrical System. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seat Belts. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
33 reports
114,297 miles · Apr 13, 2008
Electrical System
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 AN HOUR AND THE CAR WOULD START…
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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 AN HOUR AND THE CAR WOULD START AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. WHEN YOU TOOK OFF AGAIN THE SAME THINGS WOULD START UP AGAIN WITH THE STALLING AND THE NO STARTS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10224370
100,105 miles · Dec 16, 2004
Electrical System
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
NHTSA ODI #10103068
80,000 miles · Nov 17, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
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 RAPIDLY, CAUSING THE FRONT OF THE VE…
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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 RAPIDLY, CAUSING THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE TO SWIRL ALL OVER THE ROAD. THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH OIL SMOKE, MAKING VISIBILITY VERY DANGEROUS. THERE WAS A VERTICAL CRACK ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CYLINDER HEAD THAT WENT ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE MIDDLE OF THE CYLINDER HEAD WHICH HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM. IT ONLY EFFECTED THE OIL. THIS DEFECT WAS NEXT TO THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR. THE CASTING DID NOT LOOK LIKE VERY GOOD QUALITY. IT WAS NOT REINFORCED AS IT SHOULD BE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10101232
Mileage unknown · Nov 2, 2004
Air BagsInjury
WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH, THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THIS CAUSED THE PASSENGER TO SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10099237
16,000 miles · Oct 15, 2004
Electrical System
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 ALTERNATOR - OWNER MUST PAY FOR F…
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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 ALTERNATOR - OWNER MUST PAY FOR FULL REPAIRS. ALSO, IGNITION HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND REPAIRED ONCE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10095808
1 miles · Apr 3, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
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 3000 MILES I HAVE TO GIVE IT TWO…
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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 3000 MILES I HAVE TO GIVE IT TWO OIL CHANGES, ONE THE NORMAL WAY, AND ONE EVERY TIME I FILL IT WITH GAS. THE JOKE HAS BECOME "FILL THE OIL AND CHECK THE GAS." *NM
NHTSA ODI #10064451
150,000 miles · Jun 9, 2003
Exterior LightingFire
WHILE DRIVING AT 25/30 MPH VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE STARTED FROM THE REAR TAIL LIGHT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10022646
Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 2001
Electrical SystemExterior LightingPower Train
VEHICLE STALLS WHEN DOWNSHIFTING. ALSO, THERE IS NO HORN, AND HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT COME ON . *AK
NHTSA ODI #897082
Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2001
Electrical System
WHEN CONSUMER PUSHES HORN BUTTON (S) THERE IS NO SOUND. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #896364
Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 2001
SteeringCrash
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
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 & remedy
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.
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 & remedy
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.
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 & remedy
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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