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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.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

Visibility complaints

6 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 2002
SteeringVisibility

CONSUMER STATES THE POWER STEERING SEAL BLEW AND LEAKED ON TO THE GENERATOR. *YD

NHTSA ODI #564997

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…

Read full complaint

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 · Apr 28, 1998
Electrical SystemEquipmentPower Train

WINDSHIELD GLASS IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT OF DUE TO DESIGN OF GLASS.

NHTSA ODI #534816

Mileage unknown · Jan 20, 1998
Visibility

REAR WINDOW EXTERIOR CLIPS, LOCATED AT THE BASE OF THE GLASS, SOUNDS LIKE A SQUEAKY MATTRESS.

NHTSA ODI #529507

Mileage unknown · Jan 20, 1998
Visibility

REAR WINDOW EXTERIOR CLIPS, LOCATED AT THE BASE OF THE GLASS, SOUNDS LIKE A SQUEAKY MATTRESS.

NHTSA ODI #529506

Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 1997
Visibility

WINDSHIELD GLASS CREATES FLUFFY SPOTS WHEN HUMIDITY IS HIGH, IMPAIRING DRIVER'S VISION. SPOTS FAILED TO BE REMOVED EVEN WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS. MANUFACTURER DOESN'T FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY FACTOR, NO REMEDY TO CONSIDER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #819305

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.