IllustrationWHILE DRIVING HORN ACTIVATED ON IT OWN FOR LONG TIME. THEN, WHEN STOPPING HORN WAS NOT WORKING, AND HAD TO BE FIXED. *AK
1996 Saturn SC1
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 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: 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.
- Electrical System. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
39 reportsDO THE AIRBAGS HAVE TO BE REINSTALLED AFTER DEPLOYMENT? THIS VEHICLE WAS REBUILT BY MY EMPLOYER LESS THE AIR BAGS? PLEASE, PLEASE CALL ME AT HOME OR E-MAIL WITH YOUR RESPONSE AND ANY DOCUMENTATION OR REFERENCE MATERIAL I CAN USE TO CORRECT THIS MATTER.
SUNROOF FAILED TO CLOSE WHEN IT BEGAN TO RAIN WHILE DRIVING. *ET
THROTTLE STICKS UNLESS RELEASED BY USING THE BRAKE. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS 3 TIMES. DEALER SAID THAT NOTHING MAJOR WAS WRONG EXCEPT CARBON BUILD UP. THE LAST TIME WAS IN DEC. 1999, AND IT NEEDS TO BE DONE AGAIN. *AK
INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE STALLES OUT AND DIES. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, AND THE PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. *AK
WHILE EXITING AN INTERSTATE SERVICE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO FLOOR WITH NO EFFECT.
DESIGN OF SMALL HORN BUTTON IS HARD TO LOCATE WHEN NEEDED. NLM
TRANSMISSION FAILED. MJS
WHILE PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY THE TIRE BLEW OUT. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED, MAKING IT HARD TO STEER WHILE DRIVING. *AK
GAS TANK IMPLODED, AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.