Model year record

1997 Saturn SC1

3 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 98 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 97V162000

Exterior lighting: headlights

Component
Exterior lighting: headlights
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
37,970
Reported to NHTSA
1997-09-22
Owners notified
1997-09-22

Defect description

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."

Safety risk

A VEHICLE'S HEADLAMP WOULD NOT BE PROPERLY ADJUSTED CAUSING VISIBILITY PROBLEMS TO ONCOMING VEHICLES.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 97V161000

Seat belts: front: retractor

Component
Seat belts: front: retractor
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
26,135
Reported to NHTSA
1997-09-22
Owners notified
1997-09-22

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

IN A RAPID DECELERATION OR VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR.

Recall campaignNHTSA 96V153000

Seats

Component
Seats
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
3,472
Reported to NHTSA
1996-08-23
Owners notified
1996-08-21

Defect description

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."

Safety risk

THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN SEAT MOVEMENT WITH A BELTED OCCUPANT DURING A MODERATE TO SEVERE FRONTAL IMPACT.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE PASSENGER SEAT INBOARD FORE/AFT ADJUSTER.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Seat belts: front: retractor895,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine737,100 mi
Power train: automatic transmission546,000 mi
Air bags: frontal4—
Power train: manual transmission475,000 mi
Visibility: windshield4—
Electrical system337,100 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor3—
Visibility: glass, side/rear3—
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator2—
Electrical system: ignition2—
Electrical system: ignition: switch2—
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers2—
Engine and engine cooling2—
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner237,100 mi
Seat belts: front233,750 mi
Seat belts: front: anchorage2—
Seats2—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components2—
Steering: hydraulic power assist: pump2—
Structure: body: trunk lid237,100 mi
Unknown or other2—
Vehicle speed control2—
Air bags1—
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module133,750 mi
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery1—
Electrical system: horn1—
Electrical system: ignition: module1—
Electrical system: starter assembly1—
Electrical system: wiring1—
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline1—
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: gas recirculation valve (EGR valve)1—
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.1—
Parking brake: conventional1—
Power train1—
Power train: clutch assembly1—
Power train: driveline: differential unit1—
Power train: manual transmission: floor shift assembly1172,000 mi
Seat belts1—
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly1—
Seat belts: rear/other1—
Seats: front assembly: recliner133,750 mi
Service brakes, air: antilock1—
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip1—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc1—
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar1—
Steering: hydraulic power assist system1—
Structure: body: door1—
Tires1—
Tires: tread/belt1—
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system1—
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly1—

The 1996 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. The 1998 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Other Saturn SC1 model years

All Saturn SC1 recalls by year

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.