SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

1998 Saturn SC1

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Saturn SC1 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 39.

About this comparison →
39Owner complaints

Model-year median: 39

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
59
199539
199661
199739
199821
19998
200025
2001
Compare all SC1 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
13Seat Belts
10Visibility
5Electrical System
4Power Train
3
All reported categories
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Vehicle Speed Control
3Air Bags
2Latches/locks/linkages
2Seats
2Structure
2Suspension
2Tires
2Fuel System, Gasoline
1Unknown Or Other
1

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: 11 of 39 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. 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.

5 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

13 reports
Clear category filter
91,000 miles · Dec 18, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

OIL PRESSURE SUDDENLY CHANGED AND FUMES CAME FROM UNDER HOOD. I PULLED CAR OFF INTERSTATE IMMEDIATELY AND CHECKED UNDER HOOD. UPON CHECKING OIL, FOUND THAT IT WAS COMPLETELY DRY. I HAVE KEPT REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON CAR, AS CAN BE VERIFIED BY SATURN. WAS TOLD THAT ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR IS A 1998 SATURN SC2 WITH…

Read full complaint

OIL PRESSURE SUDDENLY CHANGED AND FUMES CAME FROM UNDER HOOD. I PULLED CAR OFF INTERSTATE IMMEDIATELY AND CHECKED UNDER HOOD. UPON CHECKING OIL, FOUND THAT IT WAS COMPLETELY DRY. I HAVE KEPT REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON CAR, AS CAN BE VERIFIED BY SATURN. WAS TOLD THAT ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR IS A 1998 SATURN SC2 WITH 91,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #10000215

Mileage unknown · May 4, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

INTERMITTENT STALLING WHENEVER VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP OR CRUISES ALONG WITHOUT FOOT PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED ON ONE OCCASION, AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #837458

Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN AT 65 MPH RESULTING IN NO BRAKES, NO POWER, NO POWER STEERING.

NHTSA ODI #533079

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.