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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 →
61Owner complaints

Model-year median: 39

3Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
82
199459
199539
199661
199739
199821
19998
2000
Compare all SC1 years →

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

What owners reported most

Seat Belts
14Electrical System
12Power Train
12Engine And Engine Cooling
11Service Brakes, Hydraulic
7
All reported categories
Air Bags
6Visibility
6Steering
4Equipment
3Seats
3Structure
3Tires
2Unknown Or Other
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Parking Brake
1Service Brakes, Air
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: 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

Seat Belts complaints

14 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 1998
Seat Belts

WHEN PULLING OUT THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IT WOULD JAM IN THE RETRACTOR, BUT WOULD RELEASE AFTER 48 HOURS. THE WHOLE SEAT BELT WAS REPLACED ON NOVEMBER 28TH BY DEALERSHIP. THE SEAT BELT JAMMED AGAIN AND DID NOT RELEASE AT ALL. THE BELT WAS REPLACED AGAIN ON DECEMBER 23, 1997. THE SEAT BELT JAMMED AGAIN AND WAS REPLAC…

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WHEN PULLING OUT THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IT WOULD JAM IN THE RETRACTOR, BUT WOULD RELEASE AFTER 48 HOURS. THE WHOLE SEAT BELT WAS REPLACED ON NOVEMBER 28TH BY DEALERSHIP. THE SEAT BELT JAMMED AGAIN AND DID NOT RELEASE AT ALL. THE BELT WAS REPLACED AGAIN ON DECEMBER 23, 1997. THE SEAT BELT JAMMED AGAIN AND WAS REPLACED ON JAN 20, 1998 FOR THE THIRD TIME. *AK

NHTSA ODI #820891

Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 1998
Seat Belts

DRIVER'S SAFETY BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES.

NHTSA ODI #529749

Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 1997
Seat Belts

SEAT BELT TIGHTENS ON ANY TYPE OF SUDDEN MOVEMENT.

NHTSA ODI #603019

Mileage unknown · Date not reported
Seat Belts

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DOES NOT RELEASE FROM THE RETRACTOR, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALERS HAVE REPLACED PARTS IN THE SEAT BELT MECHANISM ON FOUR OCCASIONS WHICH DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #821101

Official recalls

3

97V161000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.