1996 Saturn SC Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other SC years
- About as many complaints as other years 4th of 8 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 26 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Saturn SC. That ranks 4th out of 8 SC model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (6 complaints, 23%), typically at around 68,825 miles. Complaints mention 4 crashes, 5 injuries. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year.
- 26owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 4complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 Saturn SC problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 6 | 23% | 68,825 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 5 | 19% | 45,600 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 | 15% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 4 | 15% | 91,831 | — | — |
| Seats | 3 | 12% | 74,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 8% | 11,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 2 | 8% | 71,290 | — | — |
| Suspension | 2 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Child Seat | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 4% | 91,831 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 4% | 105,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 4% | 91,831 | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 4% | 33,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 4% | 888,900 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1996 Saturn SC recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 1996 Saturn SC.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Drivers seat won't stay in upright position when i lean back with slight pressure, whether i am in motion or not. This has been an ongoing problem for about a month. As a previous owner of many cars, i have never heard of this type of problem. Also the trunk latch is not operable using the cable.
Ligthly applied brake to slow down to stop at intersection; though i had foot pressing hard on brake car would not stop, entered intersection and struck a passing car; this was within an hour of picking up the car from garage where repairs had been done because of this problem; air bags did not…
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 sc1 saturn. The contact stated that the horn sounded independently while the vehicle was parked overnight. The vehicle was not equipped with an anti-theft system. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection who advised that the fuse would have to be removed in…
As the original owner of a 1996 saturn sc1 with 68,000 miles, this car has had four head gaskets replaced originating when this car was under a year old. In addition to these repeated catastrophic engine failures multiple replacements of alarm systems, radio, electrical issues and a defective front…
Tl*the contact owns a 1996 saturn sc. The contact stated that when he purchased the vehicle, the dashboard had one long crack and one short crack. The current mileage is 42,000 and failure mileage was 33,000.
Other Saturn SC years
See all Saturn SC problems by year, every Saturn model, or the VIN decoder.
Similar Saturn models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Saturn SC?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, electrical system, service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 6 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Saturn SC?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 1996 Saturn SC a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other SC model years, the 1996 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.