1996 SATURN SC1

0 recalls, 43 complaints - 2 TSBs

No recalls found for this vehicle.

Complaint Statistics

43 total complaints 6 crashes 1 fires 2 injuries

Top Reported Components

Component	Complaints
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY	5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN	4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE	3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS	2
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL	2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY	2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE	2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION	2

Incident date: Aug 16, 2012

HORN STARTED BLOWING ALL BY ITSELF, I COULD NOT GET IT TO STOP , THEN AN ELECTRICAL SMELL (BURNING) . MY HUSBAND DISCONNECTED THE HORN FUSE AND BATTERY , INSPECTION OF FUSE SHOWED IT HAD BLOWN . AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES WE RECONNECTED THE BATTERY ALL OK, EXCEPT HORN DOES NOT WORK NOW. THIS IS ... Read more

Incident date: Dec 25, 2010

FRAME ON PASSENGER SIDE FAILED ON SECOND SATURN. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO STOP AND MOTOR TO FAIL BELOW BOTTOM OF THE CAR. ALSO BROKE CV JOINT TO TRANSMISSION. VERY COMMON. *TR

Incident date: Jun 1, 2010

1996 SATURN SC2, WHILE DRIVING THE SUNROOF BLEW OFF INTO THE ROADWAY AND BROKE. *BF ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE BRACKETS RUSTED DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE AND SHOWED SIGNS OF DAMAGE FROM THE WEATHER. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0198-89)*JB UPDATED 08/05/10 *BF UPDATED 09/01/1... Read more

Incident date: Apr 30, 2009

I OWN 1996 SATURN SC2 PURCHASED IN 2007,IT IS SPORTY AND I FELL IN LOVE WITH IT. NOW HOWEVER I AM VERY UNHAPPY,THE STARTER WENT FIRST,THEM THE GENERATOR. THE OTHER DAY MY HUSBANDS SUBARU WAS DOWN WHILE RUNNING HIM FOR PARTS MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FLASHING THE CAR STARTED MISSING BUCKING AND L... Read more

Incident date: May 1, 2006

I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT ON THE CAR MANUFACTURER SATURN BECAUSE LIKE MANY PEOPLE WE HAVE BEEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND A LITTLE PLASTIC BUSHING THAT HOLDS THE SHIFTER AND TRANSMISSION CABLE HAS BROKEN INTO PIECES. SATURN SHOULD REPLACE THESE PLASTIC PIECES WITH MORE DURABLE AND RELIABLE ONE... Read more

Incident date: Oct 23, 2005

EMERGENCY HAND BRAKE LOCK FAILURE ON HOT DAY CAUSING THE CAR TO ROLL BACK SUDDENLY. REQUIRING CAR TO BE PLACED IN 1ST GEAR TO AVOID ROLL BACK. HAND BRAKE LEVER WILL NOT STAY IN PLACE WHEN TRIED TO REPLACE THE BUTTON THAT HAND SPRUNG FREE FROM THE LEAVER HOLE DUE TO HEAT OF CAR IN THE DAY IT WOULD ... Read more

Incident date: May 1, 2005

I PARKED MY 1996 SATURN SC2 ALONG A STREET AND WENT INTO WORK. WHEN I WAS HEADED OUT TO MY CAR A FEW HOURS LATER, I HEARD A CAR HORN THAT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS ABOUT TO FAIL. I SOON REALIZED THAT IT WAS MY CAR'S HORN THAT WAS SOUNDING. I ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND TRIED TO QUIET THE HORN BY PRESSING THE ... Read more

Incident date: Jul 7, 1997

THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH SATURN GENERALLY AND SATURN (GALLES) OF ALBUQUERQUE, NM SPECIFICALLY. 3 SEPARATE TIMES THEY HAVE WRECKED MY ENGINE! THIS HAS BEEN DUE TO OIL LEAKAGE INTO THE SPARK PLUGS AND THE VALVE GASKET COVER IS WARPED. THIS HAS YET TO HAVE BEEN CORRECTED PROPERLY BY SAT... Read more

Incident date: Jul 7, 1997

Incident date: Nov 11, 2004

AFTER ABOUT 70,000 MI I NOTICED TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE AFTER IT HEATED UP (ABOUT 50+ MI ON FWY). A TRANSMISSION SHOP TOLD ME THAT SATURNS HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE "VALVE BODY". I HAD IT REPLACED AND IT COST ABOUT $350. ABOUT 20,000 MI LATER I STARTED HAVING THE SAME TROUBLE AGAIN. IT ... Read more

CONCERNS OF POSSIBLE CRACKING IN CYLINDER HEAD. *MR SATURN REPAIRED THE PART BUT WOULD NOT REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER FOR REPAIR COST DUE TO THE VEHICLE EXCEEDING THE WARRANTY. *SCC *JB

CONSUMER NOTICED WHILE TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO FOURTH GEAR.*AK

Incident date: Sep 7, 1998

AS WITH COMPLAINT 828481, MY VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND WOULDN'T RUN UNTIL I FILLED THE GAS TANK. THE GAS TANK HAD IMPLODED. THIS HAPPENED TWICE - AT APPROXIMATELY 34,000 MILES (TANK REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY -9/8/98) AND AGAIN AT APPROXIMATELY 63,000 MILES (TANK REPLACED AT MY ... Read more

Incident date: Jun 19, 2002

SUNROOF FAILED TO CLOSE WHEN IT STARTED TO RAIN....TOOK TO SATURN TO BE LOOKED AT AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE CABLES...THEY THEN TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $954.00 TO FIX, THE SUNROOF HAS BARELY BEEN USED ON THIS CAR, AS I HAVE BEEN THE ONLY OWNER AND WOULD KNOW, IT SEEMS RIDICULOUS THAT IT WOULD BREAK A... Read more

Incident date: Jul 1, 2003

THE CONSUMER NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT A PISTON ROD BROKE AND WENT THROUGH THE ENGINE, A LARGE HOLE WAS INSIDE OF THE ENGINE. *AK *SCC *JB

Incident date: Jun 9, 2003

THE BATTERY CABLES INSULATIONS SHORTED OUT BECAUSE IT RUBBED ON THE BATTERY BRACKET AND ENGINE. *AK *PH *JB

Incident date: Apr 15, 2002

I OWN A 96 SATURN SC2. I PURCHASED IT IN APRIL OF 2000, WITH 43,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. SINCE THEN, I HAVE DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 23,000 MILES, NOTICING A SIGNIFICANT OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE. WHEN ON THE HIGHWAY, IT WILL USE APPROXIMATELY A QUART EVERY 500 MILES. AROUND TOWN, I CAN SQUEEZE OUT MO... Read more

Incident date: Jul 28, 2002

AUTOMOBILE WAS NOT RUNNING AND ENGINE WAS COLD, IT HAD ONLY BEEN BACKED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY INTO THE STREET. IT HAD BEEN SITTING APPROX 10 MINNUTES BEFORE IT BURST INTO FLAMES.*AK

Fire

Incident date: Aug 20, 2001

NOTIFIED SATURN - NO RESPONSE!!! CAR SLID ON OIL SLICK ROAD, HIT GUARDRAIL. *AK

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Mar 1, 2001

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE UNDER MOIST CONDITIONS HORN WILL SUDDENLY GO OFF, AND CONSUMER HAS TO DISCONNECT BATTERY IN ORDER TO STOP HORN FROM OPERATING. CONSUMER STATED THAT IT WAS SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF RECALL 98V307000, HOWEVER MANUFACTURER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN R... Read more

4 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE OF VEHICLE, BATTERY FAILED AND WAS REPLACED, LESS THAN A YEAR LATER, THE BATTERY FAILED AGAIN AND WAS REPLACED, THIS HAPPENS EVERY YEAR. *SLC

Incident date: Dec 15, 2000

WHILE DRIVING HORN ACTIVATED ON IT OWN FOR LONG TIME. THEN, WHEN STOPPING HORN WAS NOT WORKING, AND HAD TO BE FIXED. *AK

Incident date: Jan 1, 2000

SUNROOF FAILED TO CLOSE WHEN IT BEGAN TO RAIN WHILE DRIVING. *ET

Incident date: Jan 1, 2000

SUNROOF FAILED TO CLOSE WHEN IT BEGAN TO RAIN WHILE DRIVING. *ET

DO 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.

Crash

Incident date: Dec 18, 1999

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

Incident date: Jan 12, 1996

ELECTRICAL FAILURE CAUSING MULTIPLE COMPONENT FAILURES.

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE STALLES OUT AND DIES. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, AND THE PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. *AK

DESIGN OF SMALL HORN BUTTON IS HARD TO LOCATE WHEN NEEDED. NLM

Incident date: Aug 17, 1999

WHILE EXITING AN INTERSTATE SERVICE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO FLOOR WITH NO EFFECT.

Incident date: Apr 1, 1999

TRANSMISSION FAILED. MJS

Incident date: Jan 4, 1999

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

Incident date: Jan 4, 1999

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

DESIGN OF VEHICLE MAKES IT HARD TO SEE OUT OF BACK WINDOW BECAUSE WINDOW IS TOO HIGH AND DRIVER'S SEAT IS TOO LOW.

Incident date: Sep 3, 1998

GAS TANK IMPLODED, AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

Incident date: May 13, 1998

DURING FRONTAL IMPACT AT 45 TO 50 MPH, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSNGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

Crash

THE SUN ROOF BUTTON DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY ,CAUSING THE SUN ROOF NOT TO CLOSE. *AK

Incident date: Jun 27, 1997

WHEN ENGINE STOPS/CUTS OUT ALL POWER SHUTS OFF. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT AT ANY SPEED THE ENGINE JUST CUTS OFF. ALSO, THE VEHICLE LOSES ITS POWER AND HAS TO COAST TO A STOP. CONSUMER STATED THAT A MECHANIC SAID IT COULD BE THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT'S CAUSING IT TO STALL. *AK

Incident date: Sep 21, 1996

CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF AUTO AND HIT LIGHT POLE, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES DUE TO ACCIDENT. *SLC

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Aug 17, 1996

STEERING LOCKED UP WHILE BENDING RIGHT WITH THE ROAD. PLEASE DESCRIBE IN MORE DETAILS. *AK

Crash

Incident date: Feb 15, 1996

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPLY THE BRAKE THERE WAS NO BRAKE CAUSING AN ACCIDENT HIT ANOTHER CAR . TT

Crash

Technical Service Bulletins, 1996 SATURN SC1

2 manufacturer communications from 2 unique bulletins. TSBs describe known problems and recommended fixes from the manufacturer.

Most Affected Components

Component	Bulletins
020000 SUSPENSION	1
220000 SEATS	1

220000 SEATS

CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF DAMAGE IN THE MIDDLE SECTION(S) OF THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S FRONT SEAT BACK COVER AND/OR WHEN REPLACING A FRONT SEAT BACK COVER THE LISTING POCKETS ARE MISSING. *TT

020000 SUSPENSION

EXPERIENCING A RATTLE OR CLICK NOISE FROM THE REAR OF VEHICLE WHEN TURNING AT SLOW SPEEDS AND/OR DRIVING OVER UNEVEN SURFACES. *YC

NHTSA Safety Investigations, SATURN SC1

Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.

RQ, Closed , Model Year: 1994

FRONT SEAT BACK CAN RECLINE OR COLLAPSE

EA, Closed , Model Year: 1994

SEAT BACK FAILURES

IN ITS LETTER DATED MARCH 5, 1999, GENERAL MOTORS STATED THAT IT WILL RECALL 136,300 MODEL YEAR 1994 AND 1995 SATURN VEHICLE (ALL MODELS) BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1994 AND AUGUST 1994.DURING THIS PERIOD, SATURN'S SEAT SUPPLIER MANUFACTURED RECLINER ASSEMBLIES WHICH WERE OUT OF DESIGN SPECIFICATION, ALL... Read more

EA, Closed , Model Year: 1993

CRUISE CONTROL FAILURES

THIS INVESTIGATION DOCUMENTED HTE FUNCTIONAL ABERATIONS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SUBJECT CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM.MOST OF THE MALFUNCTIONS INVOLVED FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM TO PROPERLY REGULATE VEHICLE SPEED WHEN ENGAGED, FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM TO ENGAGE, OR SELF-DISENGAGEMENT OF THE SY... Read more

PE, Closed , Model Year: 1993

CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE

There is no summary currently available

PE, Closed , Model Year: 1992

SEATBACK FAILURE

There is no summary currently available

SATURN SC1 - All Years Overview

Complete safety history for the SATURN SC1 across all model years (1991, 2001).

13 Total Recalls

554 Total Complaints

5 Investigations

93 Reported Crashes

5 Reported Fires

2 Reported Deaths

SATURN SC1 - Year by Year

Compare recalls and complaints across model years. Click any year to see full details.

Year	Recalls	Complaints
2001	2	29	View
2000	2	10	View
1999	0	30	View
1998	0	58	View
1997	3	98	View
1996 (current)	0	43
1995	1	73	View
1994	1	102	View
1993	2	85	View
1992	1	18	View
1991	1	8	View

Other SATURN Models

Model	Recalls	Complaints
ION	40	5,467	View
AURA	34	2,223	View
SL	29	2,891	View
SKY	22	623	View
OUTLOOK	21	1,939	View
SC	20	379	View
SW	17	274	View
LS	16	1,885	View

Vehicle Safety

Consumer Safety

Infrastructure

Public Health

1996 SATURN SC1

Complaint Statistics

Top Reported Components

Technical Service Bulletins, 1996 SATURN SC1

Most Affected Components

NHTSA Safety Investigations, SATURN SC1

SATURN SC1 - All Years Overview

SATURN SC1 - Year by Year

Other SATURN Models