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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

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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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED X2 RESULTING IN MY REAR ENDING A JEEP. THE REPAIR COST TO THE CAR AND TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDER COST ME OVER $1500 OUT OF POCKET . THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED IN LESS THAN 70,000 MILES. THE 2ND TIME IT WENT OUT I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND FORTUNATELY WAS ABLE TO GET OFF AND USE MY EMERGENCY…

Read full complaint

THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED X2 RESULTING IN MY REAR ENDING A JEEP. THE REPAIR COST TO THE CAR AND TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDER COST ME OVER $1500 OUT OF POCKET . THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED IN LESS THAN 70,000 MILES. THE 2ND TIME IT WENT OUT I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND FORTUNATELY WAS ABLE TO GET OFF AND USE MY EMERGENCY BRAKE TO GET IT TO THE SHOP. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AS SATURN IS SUPPOSED TO BE A RELIABLE CAR. TO HAVE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IN A CAR WITH APPROX 26K ON IT IS JUST NOT AN OPTIONL.

NHTSA ODI #752800

Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I'M FROM CANADA. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #726116

Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 1998
SeatsService Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

APPLIED BRAKES ON RAINY ROAD. VEHICLE SLID THROUGH RED LIGHT & BROADSIDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. DRIVER HIT SIDE LEFT WINDOW & STEERING WHEEL. THEN HIT LIGHT POLE. AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER WAS UNCONSCIENCE. THE REAR SEAT COLLAPSED FORWARD AFTER BEING HIT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #822282

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.