1997 Saturn Sc1: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 98 complaints
98
Total Complaints
46,000mi
Median Mileage
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
Top Issue
14
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

37,100 25th Percentile
46,000 Median Mileage
87,500 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
7
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
5
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
4
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
4
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
3
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
2

Severity Assessment

14
Crashes
0
Fires
9
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"BECAUSE OF THE SMALL SIZE AND RECESS NATURE OF THE HORN BUTTONS, THE DRIVER MUST LOOK DOWN AND FIND THE BUTTON PRIOR TO HONKING THE HORN. DRIVER ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. *AK"
"UPON INITIAL START UP, AT RELEASE OF FOOT FROM ACCELERATOR PEDAL, VEHICLE STALLED OUT INTERMITTENTLY, ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 35MPH AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SLOW/STOP VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, RENDERING INOPERATIVE POWER ASSIST, DEALERS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE FAILURE. *AK"
"SEAT BELT TIGHTENS ON ANY TYPE OF SUDDEN MOVEMENT."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28