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Saturn SC1Years to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 413 NHTSA owner complaints across 11 model years, no Saturn SC1 year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 1996, 1997, 1998 and 2001. The SC1 has 8 safety recalls on record.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years'96 '97 '98 '01Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints413Top: SeatsSafety recalls81991–2001 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Saturn SC1 years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the SC1 median. Tap a year for its full report.

'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2001Best69/10025 complaints · 2 recalls2000Not rated–/1008 complaints · 2 recalls1999Not rated–/10021 complaints · 0 recalls1998Solid61/10039 complaints · 0 recalls1997Solid50/10061 complaints · 3 recalls1996Solid60/10039 complaints · 0 recalls1995Solid47/10059 complaints · 1 recall1994Solid42/10082 complaints · 1 recall1993Solid47/10058 complaints · 2 recalls1992Not rated–/10015 complaints · 1 recall1991Not rated–/1006 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Saturn SC1 problems

All model years combined: 413 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Seats7520
Engine and engine cooling692
Seat belts586
Electrical system536
Service brakes, hydraulic4517
Power train382
Air bags2621
Visibility251
Vehicle speed control244
12 other systems9515
8 recalls

Saturn SC1 recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Storage: tank assembly00V-309 · 2000–2001 · Oct 12, 2000 · 6,092 vehicles–Automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch00V-310 · 2000–2001 · Oct 12, 2000 · 65,000 vehicles–Seats99V-045 · 1994–1995 · Mar 12, 1999 · 138,691 vehicles–Front: retractor97V-161 · 1997 · Sep 22, 1997 · 26,135 vehicles–Exterior lighting: headlights97V-162 · 1997 · Sep 22, 1997 · 37,970 vehicles–Seats96V-153 · 1997 · Aug 23, 1996 · 3,472 vehicles–Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator93V-132 · 1991–1993 · Aug 10, 1993 · 352,833 vehicles–12v/24v/48v battery: cables93V-094 · 1993 · May 25, 1993 · 14,459 vehicles
5 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the SC1

  1. FRONT SEAT BACK CAN RECLINE OR COLLAPSERQ00005 · 1994–1995 · closed Aug 19, 2000
    Led to recall 99V-045
  2. SEAT BACK FAILURESEA98017 · 1994 · closed Mar 16, 1999
    Led to recall 99V-045
  3. CRUISE CONTROL FAILURESEA95003 · 1993–1995 · closed May 31, 1996
    No recall
  4. CRUISE CONTROL FAILUREPE94079 · 1993–1995 · closed Feb 24, 1995
    No recall
  5. SEATBACK FAILUREPE93004 · 1992 · closed Jun 8, 1993
    No recall