Saturn Sc1 1997
Model Sc1 made in 1997 by Saturn got 32 consumer complains there are 3 recalls as well as 1 service bulletin. Consumer complaints with reference, among others things, to air bags, communications and electrical system. Technical service bulletines regarding seats. There were some recalls concerningexterior lighting, seat belts and seats.
Model 1997
Recalls
| Campaign | Manufacturer | Manufacturing date | Type | # of units affected | Date Owner notified Mfg | Recall Initiated by | Manufacturers of recalled vehicles/products | Report Recieved Date | Record Creation Date | Regulation Part Number | FMVSS Number | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING - HEADLIGHTS | ||||||||||||||||
| 97V162000 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. | from 07/01/1996 to 02/28/1997 | V (Vehicle) | 37970 | 09/22/1997 | MFR | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. | 09/22/1997 | 09/30/1997 | 571 | 108 | |||||
| Defect Summary | 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. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | A vehicle's headlamp would not be properly adjusted causing visibility problems to oncoming vehicles. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | 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. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | Owner notification began during september 1997. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact saturn at 1-800-553-6000 (prompt 3). also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-800-424-9393. | |||||||||||||||
| SEAT BELTS - FRONT - RETRACTOR | ||||||||||||||||
| 97V161000 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. | from 05/01/1996 to 11/30/1996 | V (Vehicle) | 26135 | 09/22/1997 | MFR | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. | 09/22/1997 | 09/30/1997 | |||||||
| Defect Summary | 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. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | In a rapid deceleration or vehicle crash, the occupant would not be properly restrained increasing the risk of personal injury. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | Dealers will replace the driver and front passenger safety belt retractor. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | Owner notification began during september 1997. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact saturn at 1-800-553-6000 (prompt 3). also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-800-424-9393. | |||||||||||||||
| SEATS | ||||||||||||||||
| 96V153000 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. | from 05/01/1996 to 07/31/1996 | V (Vehicle) | 3472 | 08/21/1996 | MFR | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. | 08/23/1996 | 08/27/1996 | 571 | 207 | |||||
| Defect Summary | 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. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | This condition could result in seat movement with a belted occupant during a moderate to severe frontal impact. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | Dealers will inspect and replace the passenger seat inboard fore/aft adjuster. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | Owner notification: owner notification is expected to begin during august 1996. note:owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreedupon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time, should contact saturn at 1-800-553-6000.also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-800-424-9393. | |||||||||||||||
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 - FRONTAL | |||
| 11/01/2004 | 1 | ||
| While driving 3 mph, the frontal air bags deployed inadvertently. this caused the passenger to sustained minor injuries. please provide further details. *jb | |||
| 10/10/2000 | 2 | ||
| When driving at 55 mph vehicle was involved in a head-on collision, rear end damage. vehicle went into an embankment, and neither driver's side nor passenger's side air bag deployed. vehicle was a total loss. *ak the vehicle hydroplaned and the driver spun around the front end and the rear end was damaged by hitting the highway center divide. *yh | |||
| AIR BAGS - FRONTAL - SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE | |||
| 1 | 02/01/2000 | ||
| No deployment of both frontal air bags during collision due to failure of the sensors. *mjs | |||
| COMMUNICATIONS - HORN ASSEMBLY | |||
| 09/01/2001 | 0 | ||
| Vehicle stalls when downshifting. also, there is no horn, and headlights will not come on . *ak | |||
| 08/31/2001 | 0 | ||
| When consumer pushes horn button (s) there is no sound. dealership is aware of problem. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | |||
| 02/25/2008 | 114297 | 5 | |
| When the car was coming to a stop, the engine would start to stall, the interior lights would dim and the electronic dash would go out and the car would completely stall. the car would not start on its own and would have to be jumped off. if this happened when pulling into driveway, you could wait an hour and the car would start as if nothing happened. when you took off again the same things would start up again with the stalling and the no starts. *tr | |||
| 10/14/2004 | 16000 | 2 | |
| Vehicle to date is on it's 3rd battery & alternator with only 36,000 miles on it. dealer said it was a flaw w/battery/alternator. battery/alternator 1st replaced july - aug 2002 approx 16,000 miles, second replacement oct 2004 battery & alternator 32,000 approx miles. battery prorated/replaced alternator - owner must pay for full repairs. also, ignition has been replaced twice and repaired once.*ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY | |||
| 10/14/2004 | 16000 | 2 | |
| Vehicle to date is on it's 3rd battery & alternator with only 36,000 miles on it. dealer said it was a flaw w/battery/alternator. battery/alternator 1st replaced july - aug 2002 approx 16,000 miles, second replacement oct 2004 battery & alternator 32,000 approx miles. battery prorated/replaced alternator - owner must pay for full repairs. also, ignition has been replaced twice and repaired once.*ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - ANTI-THEFT CONTROLLER | |||
| 08/10/2004 | 100105 | 2 | 01/30/2001 |
| When key is in ignition and started and still in park the shift lock mechanism will not disengage when brake is depressed. also when i shut off the car and turn key to off position the key gets stuck in the ignition leaving the car susceptible to theft.*ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - MODULE | |||
| 10/14/2004 | 16000 | 2 | |
| Vehicle to date is on it's 3rd battery & alternator with only 36,000 miles on it. dealer said it was a flaw w/battery/alternator. battery/alternator 1st replaced july - aug 2002 approx 16,000 miles, second replacement oct 2004 battery & alternator 32,000 approx miles. battery prorated/replaced alternator - owner must pay for full repairs. also, ignition has been replaced twice and repaired once.*ak | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | |||
| 09/03/1998 | 1 | 08/01/1996 | |
| Temperature sensor failed. | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE | |||
| 04/02/2004 | 1 | 1 | 04/23/2003 |
| I got my 97 saturn sc1 a year ago with 56k miles on it. the couple that had it before me took very good care of it considering the obvious lack of quality from the factory. i've put just over 21k miles on it in the last year. every 500-1000 miles it burns a quart of oil. this means that every 3000 miles i have to give it two oil changes, one the normal way, and one every time i fill it with gas. the joke has become fill the oil and check the gas. *nm | |||
| 02/12/2001 | |||
| Engine cylinder head failure while driving at 45 mph. dealer / manufacturer notified, and informed consumer that warranty expired. please feel free to provide any further detail on this matter. *ak | |||
| 1 | 08/01/1996 | ||
| Motor mounts failed causing excessive vibrations. | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE | |||
| 06/18/2000 | 1 | 07/01/1998 | |
| No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL - CATALYTIC CONVERTOR | |||
| 10/15/2004 | 80000 | 1 | |
| While driving on the freeway at approximately 55 mph all of a sudden smoke came from under the hood. vehicle became squarely. there was a crack in the cylinder head, spilling oil all over the exhaust system, which caused smoke and got oil all over the tires. it blew out 4 quarts of oil very rapidly, causing the front of the vehicle to swirl all over the road. the entire vehicle was filled with oil smoke, making visibility very dangerous. there was a vertical crack on the right side of the cylinder head that went all the way back to the middle of the cylinder head which had nothing to do with the cooling system. it only effected the oil. this defect was next to the air conditioning compressor. the casting did not look like very good quality. it was not reinforced as it should be. *ak | |||
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING - HEADLIGHTS | |||
| 09/01/2001 | 0 | ||
| Vehicle stalls when downshifting. also, there is no horn, and headlights will not come on . *ak | |||
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING - TAIL LIGHTS | |||
| 150000 | |||
| While driving at 25/30 mph vehicle caught on fire. the fire started from the rear tail light.*ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | |||
| 04/04/2006 | 90000 | 1 | |
| I bought my saturn sc1 series 1997 at 83,000 miles. the service engine light was on. had it checked at auto zone, second gear to ratio was off, a few thousand miles later, 90,000 i lost reverse. i drove without reverse for 2 years until i could afford to get it fixed. the transmission guy told me that the nut/bolt that holds the gears twisted off cracked the shell of the transmission. not good at all, i had to put a full bottle of tranny fluid in it 2-3 times a week for almost 2 years. and had to pay for it myself as it was a defect of the maker, not mine. i will never buy another saturn. ever. sad thing is, i'm still paying on it. *tr | |||
| 09/01/2001 | 0 | ||
| Vehicle stalls when downshifting. also, there is no horn, and headlights will not come on . *ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AXLE ASSEMBLY - AXLE SHAFT - SEAL | |||
| 04/04/1998 | 11/23/1997 | ||
| Axle shaft seal leaks. | |||
| SEAT BELTS | |||
| Consumer recently recieved recall letter 99v-280 from saturn concerning seat belt failure, consumers child was a passenger and was killed in a vehicle collision and the consumer feels there is a possibility that the recalled component experienced failure and could have been the cause of death. *et | |||
| 12/12/1997 | 7 | 09/18/1997 | |
| Drivers side seat belt has been replaced four times and is now locking up. | |||
| SEAT BELTS - FRONT | |||
| 05/24/1997 | |||
| Seat belt recall on other models, but not this owners model. seat belt broke three times. | |||
| SEAT BELTS - FRONT - ANCHORAGE | |||
| 06/01/1998 | 1 | ||
| Seat belt recall work denied due to lack of parts. | |||
| SEAT BELTS - FRONT - RETRACTOR | |||
| 02/26/1998 | 80000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 1997 saturn sc1. the contact stated that the lock feature of the seat belt retractor would not work properly. as a consequence, he is not properly restrained in the vehicle. the dealer stated that the vin was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 97v161000 (seat belts:front:retractor), although the failures were identical. the contact paid $400 to have the retractor replaced; however, the failure recurred shortly afterwards. the manufacturer was unable to assist. the failure mileage was 80,000 and current mileage was 104,000. | |||
| SEATS | |||
| 01/24/2001 | 1 | 01/01/1997 | |
| Both front seats reclined when vehicle was hit from behind. the drivers seat would not remain locked in upright position as a result.*ak | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DRUM | |||
| 12/18/1996 | |||
| Suspension on the rear, when applying brakes, the rear makes a loud noise, in for repairs, they found no problem , fuel shifting on half full tank, will provide the dealership records. *ak | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - DOOR | |||
| 06/12/2000 | 1 | 02/01/1997 | |
| No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak | |||
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL - ACCELERATOR PEDAL | |||
| 1 | 08/01/1996 | ||
| Accelerator pedal failed resulting in pedal falling off. | |||
| VISIBILITY - POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | |||
| 06/12/2000 | 1 | 02/01/1997 | |
| No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak | |||
| VISIBILITY - SUN ROOF ASSEMBLY | |||
| 09/03/1998 | 1 | 08/01/1996 | |
| Sunroof failed. | |||
Car dealers selling
| State | City | Zip | Name | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CA | ANAHEIM | 92806 | SATURN OF ANAHEIM | 714-999-4100 |
| IL | ROCKFORD | SATURN OF ROCKFORD | ||
| NC | CONCORD | 28027 | SATURN OF CONCORD | 7047821227 |