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 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2000
Tires
NOT FOR SURE IF ORIGINAL TIRES. APPROXIMATELY 6/32" OF TREAD ON THE TIRES. THEY ARE RATED TRACTION "A". ON WET ROADS THEY ARE EXTREMELY SLIPPERY. THIS COMPLAINT COMES FROM EXPERIENCE AFTER THE STREET HAS WASHED OFF THE TOP OIL. WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED A "MILD" STOP, THE TIRES WILL BREAK LOOSE AND SLIDE. ON CURVES, THE REAR WHE…
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NOT FOR SURE IF ORIGINAL TIRES. APPROXIMATELY 6/32" OF TREAD ON THE TIRES. THEY ARE RATED TRACTION "A". ON WET ROADS THEY ARE EXTREMELY SLIPPERY. THIS COMPLAINT COMES FROM EXPERIENCE AFTER THE STREET HAS WASHED OFF THE TOP OIL. WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED A "MILD" STOP, THE TIRES WILL BREAK LOOSE AND SLIDE. ON CURVES, THE REAR WHEELS WILL SLIDE IN THE DIRECTION OF THE CYNTRIPHICAL FORCE. UPON ACCELERATION FROM A STOP SIGN IN WET WEATHER, THE FRONT WHEELS WILL SPIN WITH OUT MUCH ACCELLERATION. THIS CONDITION HAS BEEN PRESENT WITH THE CAR SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED USED IN 1998. IT APPEARES THE "A" RATING FOR TRACTION IN WET WEATHER, HAS BEEN MISREPRESENTED. I HAVE THREE OTHER VEHICLES IN THE HOUSEHOLD WHICH I TYPICALLY USE "B" RATED TRACTION TIRES OF ANOTHER BRAND, AND NEVER HAVE THESE PROBLEMS. I HAVE NOT REPLACED THEM, BUT WILL WAIT UNTILL COMMENTS FROM THIS COMPLAINT.*AK (TIRESIZE: P195/60R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P195/60R15 )
NHTSA ODI #734938
Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
FRONT ROTORS WENT OUT. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS PER CONSUMER'S COST. DEALER HAS ADVISED CONSUMER THAT ROTORS WERE DEFECTIVE. THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE CAUSED AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #866523
Mileage unknown · Jun 29, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE STALLED ON SIX DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AT AT 25,300 MILES. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER'S REPAIR SHOP THREE TIMES, BUT PROBLEM CONTINUED TO REOCCUR. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #864478
Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2000
Seat BeltsSeats
PASSENGER SEAT ROCKED BACKWARD AND FORTH. ALSO, SEAT BELT SHOOK AND RELEASED, THEN PUT ON AGAIN. CONSUMER HAD CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER.*AK
NHTSA ODI #864239
Mileage unknown · May 24, 2000
Steering
WHILE DRIVING NOISE OCCURRED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. BOLTS DISENGAGED FROM THE STEEERING COLUMN, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #862425
Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 2000
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury
WHEN DRIVING AT 50 MPH AND UPON MAKING A NORMAL STOP BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, AND RESULTING IN VEHICLE RUNNING INTO A FIELD OVER A RAILROAD. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK *ML
NHTSA ODI #861129
Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 1999
Air Bags
START CAR UP AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAY ON. AIRBAG MODULE WAS THE DEFECT.
NHTSA ODI #715501
Mileage unknown · Nov 8, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
AT 21,000 MILES THE BRAKES STARTED TO PULSATE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WARPED ROTORS AND SCORED PADS. AT 42, 000 MILES THE SAME THING OCCURRED HOWEVER THE DEALER WOULD ONLY PAY HALF OF THE COST. THEY REPLACED THE ROTORS AND SAID THE PADS WERE FINE. NOW AT 51,000 MILES THE BRAKES ARE AGAIN BEGINNING TO PULSATE
NHTSA ODI #714494
Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 1999
Power TrainService Brakes, AirVisibilityCrash
THE TRANSMISSION WAS VERY HARD TO SHIFT INTO 1ST, 2ND AND 3RD GEARS, VERY HARD TO GET INTO 1ST GEAR FROM A COMPLETE STOP ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. THE SUNROOF HAS STUCK OPEN TO ABOUT 10 TIMES, IT HAS NEVER SEATED INTO THE ROOF CORRECTLY THE BACK STICKS UP ABOUT A 1/4 INCH IN THE REAR OF THE SUNROOF EXPECIALLY THE DRIVER SIDE REAR CORN…
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THE TRANSMISSION WAS VERY HARD TO SHIFT INTO 1ST, 2ND AND 3RD GEARS, VERY HARD TO GET INTO 1ST GEAR FROM A COMPLETE STOP ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. THE SUNROOF HAS STUCK OPEN TO ABOUT 10 TIMES, IT HAS NEVER SEATED INTO THE ROOF CORRECTLY THE BACK STICKS UP ABOUT A 1/4 INCH IN THE REAR OF THE SUNROOF EXPECIALLY THE DRIVER SIDE REAR CORNER THEY SAID THEY COMPLETLY REPLACED IT BUT IT STILL WILL NOT SEAT COMPLETLY. THE BRAKES MAKE A WHINING SOUND ALL THE TIME.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 19560R15 )
NHTSA ODI #712407
Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 1999
Air BagsInjury
VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG CAUSED CHEST INJURIES TO DRIVER. NLM
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.
1997 Saturn SC1 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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