Complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | vs. typical* | Recalls | Top problem | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 25 | −32% | 2 | Transmission | Average |
| 2000 | 8 | −72% | 2 | Door Lock & Latch | Good |
| 1999 | 21 | −35% | — | Seat Belt | Average |
| 1998 | 39 | 1.3× | — | Engine | Average |
| 1997 | 61 | 2.0× | 3 | Seat Belt | Caution |
| 1996 | 39 | typical | — | Electrical | Average |
| 1995 | 59 | 2.0× | 1 | Seat | Caution |
* Complaints compared with the median SC1 year at the same age, so new and old years are judged fairly. How this works.
Most common Saturn SC1 problems
Latest Saturn SC1 recalls
Power train › Automatic transmission › Park/neutral start interlock switch
Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles, equipped with automatic transaxles, fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 114, "theft protection." these vehicles were built with an improperly adjusted automatic transaxle park lock cable assembly.
Remedy: Saturn is asking owners and retailers to perform a functional check of the automatic transaxle park lock cable assembly operation, and if necessary, to have the cable adjusted.
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 301, "fuel system integrity." these vehicles were built with an inadequate vent valve weld on the top portion of the fuel tank.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicle to ensure the fuel tank vent valve is properly welded. If necessary, dealers will replace the fuel tank assembly.
Seats
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Some front seat back recliner gear teeth May wear excessively through repeated use, and could cause the seat back to slip partially rearward when force is applied.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front seat recliner mechanisms.
Exterior lighting › Headlights
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."
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.
Seat belts › Front › Retractor
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver and front passenger safety belt retractor.
Frequently asked questions
What years of the Saturn SC1 should you avoid?
1995 and 1997 — these years have the most complaints relative to other SC1 years at the same age, led by seats problems in the 1995.
What is the best year for the Saturn SC1?
2000 has the fewest complaints compared with other SC1 years at the same age, followed by 1999 and 2001. Newer years can look better simply because fewer complaints have come in yet, so we compare like with like.
What are the most common Saturn SC1 problems?
Across all years, owners report the most problems with the engine & cooling (44), electrical system (38) and seat belts (32). Engine complaints peak in the 1998 model year.
How many recalls has the Saturn SC1 had?
6 recalls across 1995–2001. The model year with the most is 1997. See all Saturn SC1 recalls by year.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.