Saturn Sc1 1996
Model Sc1 made in 1996 by Saturn got 36 consumer complains as well as 1 service bulletin. Consumer complaints with reference, among others things, to air bags and child seat. Technical service bulletines regarding seats.
Model 1996
Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEATS | |||||
| 00T38 | 07/01/2000 | 614008 | Some customers may comment about abnormal wear or a cut on the inboard edge of the driver or passenger seat back cover. *tt | 09/26/2000 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | |||
| 07/24/1997 | 1 | 10/25/1995 | |
| While in collision the air bag had no deployment, driver ended up in the back seat of vehicle. | |||
| CHILD SEAT | |||
| 09/01/1995 | |||
| Front of rear seats are high-back of seat is low-child car seats do not fit properly unless you put something under the seat to support it-which is against the law and not safe for the child-i was told by saturn they could not help me with the problem-2 men from saturn told me to put a rolled up towel under the seat to make it fit. | |||
| COMMUNICATIONS - HORN ASSEMBLY | |||
| 1 | |||
| The vehicle is currently experiencing horn problems. the fuse have to be removed in order for the horn to stop blowing. currently, vehicle is being driven without the use of the horn. dealer and manufacturer have been notified, but they insist that a recall has not been initiated. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | |||
| 06/12/2012 | |||
| 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 order to shut the horn off. in addition, the horn assembly would need replacing. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacture was contacted and stated that the contact | |||
| 06/12/2012 | 18782 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 1996 sc1 saturn. the contact stated that in the middle of the night her horn went off. she stated her vehicle does not have any alarm. she had to pull the fuse to make it stop. the vehicle was taken to the dealer the dealer stated that they had to replace the horn assembly. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacture was contacted and they stated that her vehicle is not under the recall. the failure mileage was and the current mileages was 18,782.jp | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | |||
| 06/02/1996 | 1 | 10/25/1995 | |
| Generator failure, car stopped suddenly in traffic. | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - ANTI-THEFT CONTROLLER | |||
| 11/05/2006 | 11000 | 4 | 12/05/1995 |
| 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 seat. this is what i purchased from saturn and i have all documentation. the most recent head gasket failure occurred in november | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - FRONT UNDERHOOD | |||
| 05/14/2004 | 80200 | 1 | 11/10/1999 |
| While driving down the freeway on my way to work in rush hour traffic my car began to shake. as i slowed there was a tearing sound from the drivers front tire. almost instantly parts from that part of the car, such as the fender and wheel well, began breaking off of the car. then i felt something rip out from under the dashboard at my feet and the car began to practically steer itself, i realized that i was in trouble. i was able to get the car off the road without hurting myself or anyone else. when i got out of the car i could see that from the front bumper to the front of the drivers side door the car had been stripped down to the frame. the main wiring harness that runs from the battery, through the side of the car and into the dash had been ripped out and wrapped around the front axel. this has resulted in my vehicle being a total loss. the estimate for repairs is $3,600.00 and once the car is repaired there is no guarantee that there may be further damage within the electrical system of the car. the insurance company will be picking the car up from the shop tomorrow. there is no reason why the main wiring harness for a vehicle should be wired through a fiberglass fender assembly and secured to it. this is a major design problem.*ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | |||
| 05/14/2004 | 80200 | 1 | 11/10/1999 |
| While driving down the freeway on my way to work in rush hour traffic my car began to shake. as i slowed there was a tearing sound from the drivers front tire. almost instantly parts from that part of the car, such as the fender and wheel well, began breaking off of the car. then i felt something rip out from under the dashboard at my feet and the car began to practically steer itself, i realized that i was in trouble. i was able to get the car off the road without hurting myself or anyone else. when i got out of the car i could see that from the front bumper to the front of the drivers side door the car had been stripped down to the frame. the main wiring harness that runs from the battery, through the side of the car and into the dash had been ripped out and wrapped around the front axel. this has resulted in my vehicle being a total loss. the estimate for repairs is $3,600.00 and once the car is repaired there is no guarantee that there may be further damage within the electrical system of the car. the insurance company will be picking the car up from the shop tomorrow. there is no reason why the main wiring harness for a vehicle should be wired through a fiberglass fender assembly and secured to it. this is a major design problem.*ak | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | |||
| 11/05/2006 | 11000 | 4 | 12/05/1995 |
| 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 seat. this is what i purchased from saturn and i have all documentation. the most recent head gasket failure occurred in november | |||
| 07/26/2003 | 68825 | 02/13/1996 | |
| June 1999 saturn sent a notice regarding the cylinder head defect that may occur. they extended warranty to 100,000 miles or 6 years. however knowing there is a defect in their workmanship, i attempted contact with less than 69,000 miles on my saturn when the cylinder head showed all the signs of a crack. this included oil in the radiator. saturn accepts no liability for this seeing it out of the six year warranty period. however it is well within the 100,000 mile mileage period. | |||
| 1 | |||
| Cylinder head cracked. nlm | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE | |||
| 01/01/2000 | 6 | ||
| Vehicle would stall periodically without any type of prior warning. vehicle has been taken to dealer on six different occasions, and dealer replaced cranked sensor/idle speed control motor, and turned screw for idle and etc. although repairs were done, it did not remedy the problem. also, manufacturer was contacted by dealer. *ak | |||
| 06/26/1998 | 2 | 03/01/1996 | |
| No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak | |||
| EQUIPMENT - ELECTRICAL - AIR CONDITIONER | |||
| 06/05/1996 | 2 | 10/25/1995 | |
| A/c system failed. | |||
| EQUIPMENT - ELECTRICAL - RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. | |||
| 11/05/2006 | 11000 | 4 | 12/05/1995 |
| 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 seat. this is what i purchased from saturn and i have all documentation. the most recent head gasket failure occurred in november | |||
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | |||
| 10/24/2004 | 105000 | 1 | 05/10/2004 |
| I drive a 1996 saturn sc-1. while trying to back out of the driveway yesterday, the gearshift went limp and i was unable to put the car into gear and drive. i removed the center console, and found that what i later found out to be the shifter linkage bushing had broken in half, and would need to be replaced. should have been a simple fix. after two auto parts stores, the saturn dealership, and a lot of online research, i find out that saturn decided to stop making that part, and that the only way to fix the problem is to replace the entire cable assembly going into the transmission. so, for a .50 cent part, i would be forced to pay several hundred dollars to get this fixed, as replacing a bushing is something i am capable of doing at home, but cracking open the transmission is not. i am appalled that saturn doesn't make or carry the parts to replace an item on a car that is only 8 years old. i realize they still have a fix for this, but i would categorize that fix as extortion. i thought i was alo0ne with this problem, but it is well documented on the web by other saturn owners. here is a good link to a forum discussing this: http://www.chaosmagnet.com/blog/archives/000112.html i am currently using zip ties to keep the linkage in place because i refuse to pay four or five hundred dollars, (the part alone cost almost $200) to fix this. i pray there is something the nhtsa can do about this, because i can't make enough waves on my own to get anything done about this. thank you in advance.*ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | |||
| 12/01/2000 | |||
| Apparently saturn and gm knew that the valve body assembly in this model was wrong. i have taken it to two different saturn dealers and was never told of this recurring problem. my car is in the shop for the second time to have this problem specifically adressed. the car thuds into reverse and has trouble going into gear. it also tugs when shifting. mr | |||
| SEAT BELTS - FRONT - ANCHORAGE | |||
| 07/24/1997 | 1 | 10/25/1995 | |
| While in collision, the seat belt tore loose and did not protect consumer. | |||
| SEATS | |||
| 11/05/2006 | 11000 | 4 | 12/05/1995 |
| 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 seat. this is what i purchased from saturn and i have all documentation. the most recent head gasket failure occurred in november | |||
| SEATS - FRONT ASSEMBLY - RECLINER | |||
| 1 | |||
| During collision seat back collapsed. | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - ANTILOCK | |||
| 1 | |||
| During rainy weather anti-lock brakes locked up causing vehicle to rear-end another vehicle. *tt | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DISC | |||
| 05/13/1997 | 1 | 10/25/1995 | |
| Brake system completely failed. | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DISC - ROTOR | |||
| 05/31/1996 | 1 | ||
| Glazed rotors cause brakes to squeal. | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - MASTER CYLINDER | |||
| 06/24/1998 | 03/01/1996 | ||
| Cylinder head cracked at 52000, second port developed a crack allowing oil into cooling system. | |||
| STEERING - WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR | |||
| 04/01/1996 | 1 | ||
| Steering column makes clicking noise when turning left. *dh | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY | |||
| 05/14/2004 | 80200 | 1 | 11/10/1999 |
| While driving down the freeway on my way to work in rush hour traffic my car began to shake. as i slowed there was a tearing sound from the drivers front tire. almost instantly parts from that part of the car, such as the fender and wheel well, began breaking off of the car. then i felt something rip out from under the dashboard at my feet and the car began to practically steer itself, i realized that i was in trouble. i was able to get the car off the road without hurting myself or anyone else. when i got out of the car i could see that from the front bumper to the front of the drivers side door the car had been stripped down to the frame. the main wiring harness that runs from the battery, through the side of the car and into the dash had been ripped out and wrapped around the front axel. this has resulted in my vehicle being a total loss. the estimate for repairs is $3,600.00 and once the car is repaired there is no guarantee that there may be further damage within the electrical system of the car. the insurance company will be picking the car up from the shop tomorrow. there is no reason why the main wiring harness for a vehicle should be wired through a fiberglass fender assembly and secured to it. this is a major design problem.*ak | |||
| STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS | |||
| 01/07/1998 | 3 | ||
| Vehicle continually leaks water into vehicle causing damage to the electrical system as well as carpeting etc. | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT | |||
| Vehicle has poor stability,pulling either sides due to right wheel being bent causing frame to shift, vehicle purchased in this condition on 01/03/96. *ak | |||
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | |||
| 09/30/1999 | |||
| While driving cruise control automatically took off, causing sudden acceleration up to 90 mp. ,consumer tried taking the car out of gear, but nothing solved the problem save cutting the car off. *ak | |||
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL - CRUISE CONTROL | |||
| 01/01/2000 | 6 | ||
| Vehicle would stall periodically without any type of prior warning. vehicle has been taken to dealer on six different occasions, and dealer replaced cranked sensor/idle speed control motor, and turned screw for idle and etc. although repairs were done, it did not remedy the problem. also, manufacturer was contacted by dealer. *ak | |||
| VISIBILITY - WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER - SWITCH/WIRING | |||
| 06/19/2004 | 888900 | 10 | 04/11/2002 |
| Windshield wipers turn on in the off position. i must turn on the wipers in order to turn them off. no delay wiper speed.*ak | |||
Car dealers selling
| State | City | Zip | Name | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MI | MACOMB | 48044 | SATURN OF LAKESIDE | 586-286-0200 |
| NY | HUNTINGTON STATION | 11746 | SATURN OF HUNTINGTON STATION | |
| NY | STATEN ISLAND | SATURN OF STATEN ISLAND | 718-979-8900 | |
| TN | SPRING HILL | 37174 | SATURN |