1997 Saturn SC1 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other SC1 years
- More complaints than other years 1st of 7 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 61 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Saturn SC1. That is the most of any SC1 model year in the database (7 years). The most reported problem area is seat belts (14 complaints, 23%), typically at around 87,500 miles. Complaints mention 7 crashes, 6 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 61owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 7complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Saturn SC1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat Belts | 14 | 23% | 87,500 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 12 | 20% | 126,550 | — | — |
| Power Train | 12 | 20% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 11 | 18% | 56,550 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 7 | 11% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 6 | 10% | 33,750 | — | — |
| Visibility | 6 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 4 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 3 | 5% | 37,100 | — | — |
| Seats | 3 | 5% | 33,750 | — | — |
| Structure | 3 | 5% | 37,100 | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Saturn SC1 recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Seat belts:front:retractor
Problem: 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.
Risk: In a rapid deceleration or vehicle crash, the occupant would not be properly restrained increasing the risk of personal injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the driver and front passenger safety belt retractor.
Exterior lighting:headlights
Problem: 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."
Risk: A vehicle's headlamp would not be properly adjusted causing visibility problems to oncoming vehicles.
Fix: 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.
Seats
Problem: 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."
Risk: This condition could result in seat movement with a belted occupant during a moderate to severe frontal impact.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the passenger seat inboard fore/aft adjuster.
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 slides backwards without using the "adjustment lever". Sometimes just backing up at 3-5 mph, also at hwy speeds. Also slides backwards after being adjusted by the driver-always adjusted while parked, never moving. Also, seatbelts worked fine until recall notice (99-2000/"repaired" by…
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 saturn sc2. The contact experienced difficulty removing the key from the ignition. He made several attempts before the key released; however, the ignition switch was in the accessory position. The driver maneuvered the key in different positions for approximately five to…
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 saturn sc2. The front passenger seat belt retractor would not retract properly when the front seat was occupied. The seat belt is unable to be used. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that a recall repair had been performed in 1997. The contact stated…
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 saturn sc2. The vehicle has sears guarsdman tires. On two separate occasions, the front passenger and rear driver's side tires had a complete blow out. A third tire has a bulge that can be pushed. The failure mileage and tire size were unknown. The current mileage was…
We bought a used saturn 2 years ago from a dealership. Since the day we got the car home we had transmission problems. Mainly when my wife would drive it to get our small children to day care, and she would go to work. When the transmission warmed up it gave her a hard time getting it into gear…
Other Saturn SC1 years
See all Saturn SC1 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 1997 Saturn SC1?
Owners most often report seat belts, electrical system, power train problems. The top one, seat belts, accounts for 14 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Saturn SC1?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 Saturn SC1 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other SC1 model years, the 1997 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.