IllustrationPARKING BRAKE BUTTON MOST OF THE TIME FAILS TO ENGAGE. *AK
1997 Saturn SC1
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1997 Saturn SC1 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 39.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all SC1 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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: 10 of 61 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.
- Seat Belts. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports0 fire reports5 injury reports
What owners actually said
61 reportsCONSUMER STATES THE POWER STEERING SEAL BLEW AND LEAKED ON TO THE GENERATOR. *YD
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH ON HIGHWAY AND UPON DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE , AND RESULTING IN VEHICLE VEERING INTO ANOTHER LANE. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. *AK
SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM VEHICLE WHILE PULLING OUT FROM A DRIVEWAY. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED GROUND WIRE FOR IGNITION HAD BURNED OUT AND MELTED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT SMOKE ORIGINATED UNDER DASH, THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED CAUSING GROUND WIRE TO SHORT OUT AND MELT, THIS IS WHAT CAUSED THE SMOKE, THE 30 …
Read full complaint
SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM VEHICLE WHILE PULLING OUT FROM A DRIVEWAY. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED GROUND WIRE FOR IGNITION HAD BURNED OUT AND MELTED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT SMOKE ORIGINATED UNDER DASH, THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED CAUSING GROUND WIRE TO SHORT OUT AND MELT, THIS IS WHAT CAUSED THE SMOKE, THE 30 AMP FUSE UNDER THE HOOD TRIPPED AS DESIGNED, CAUSING ENGINE TO STOP. *JB
POWER STEERING FLUID PUMP LEAKED, CAUSING GENERATOR TO BECOME INOPERABLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE DEALER PAID HIM BACK $150. PCV VALVE REPLACED. *SLC
REPORTING NO FUSE WAS IN FUSE RECEPTICLE FOR REAR BRAKE LIGHT WHEN DRIVING OFF DEALER'S LOT. *AK *SLC
DIFFERENTIAL PIN IN TRANSMISSION PUT A HOLE THROUGH TRANSMISSION CASE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
VEHICLE WILL NOT ENGAGE IN 1ST,2ND AND 3RD GEARS EASILY,IT IS VERY DIFFICULT. DEALER REPLACED 5 TIMES TRANSMISSION HOUSING ASSEMBLY/SHIFTER CABLE/SHIFTBOARD, AND CLUTCH, BUT DEFECT STILL EXISTS. *AK
PASSENGER SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR DOES NOT FUNCTION AND REPLACEMENT RUBBER MOULDING ON DOOR MELTS ALSO. *AK
VEHICLE STALLED ON FIVE OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING. BEEN INTO DEALER SHOP ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND UNABLE TO LOCATE CAUSE. *AK THE PROBLEM WAS FOUND TO BE AS A FAULTY CRANK ANGLE SENSOR AND BATTERY. LATER ON, THE SAME VEHICLE WAS REPARIED FOR MOTOR MOUNTS AND STEERING PUMP PROBLEM. *YH
Official recalls
397V161000 · Seat Belts:front:retractor
Sep 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 & 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.
97V162000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights
Sep 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 & 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.
96V153000 · Seats
Aug 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 & 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.