Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1997 Saturn SC1, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Seat belts14
- Power train12
- Electrical system12
- Engine and engine cooling11
- Service brakes, hydraulic7
- Visibility6
- Air bags6
- Steering4
- Equipment3
- Structure3
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 6 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 1997 Saturn SC1.
| 1997163 29 Sept 1997 | Seats And Restraints On certain vehicles, if the driver or front passenger safety belt is pulled out much faster than normal a number of times, the lock-up feature of the retractor … |
| 1997164 29 Sept 1997 | Lights And Instruments Certain vehicles do not comply with CMVSS 108 - Lighting. The section titled "horizontal aim" in the owner's handbook does not specifically instruct how to adj… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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."
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.
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."
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Saturn told its dealers about the 1997 Saturn SC1: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 604334 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF DAMAGE IN THE MIDDLE SECTION(S) OF THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S FRONT SEAT BACK COVER AND/OR WHEN REPLACING A FRONT SEAT BACK COVER THE LISTING POCKETS ARE MISSING. *TT |
| 600228 | EXPERIENCING A RATTLE OR CLICK NOISE FROM THE REAR OF VEHICLE WHEN TURNING AT SLOW SPEEDS AND/OR DRIVING OVER UNEVEN SURFACES. *YC |
| 50624 | THE VALVE STEM OUTER RUBBER SHEATHING IS GROOVED OR CHAFED (REPLACE TIRE VALVE STEM AND WHEEL COVERS). *TW |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)