Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 26 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Saturn Sc, most frequently naming the engine, electrical and interior & seats categories. 3 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1996 | 1 | 1 |
| Mar 1996 | 1 | 2 |
| Jun 1996 | 1 | 3 |
| Sep 1997 | 1 | 4 |
| Oct 1997 | 1 | 5 |
| Aug 1998 | 1 | 6 |
| Feb 1999 | 1 | 7 |
| Oct 1999 | 2 | 9 |
| Dec 2000 | 1 | 10 |
| May 2001 | 1 | 11 |
| Oct 2002 | 1 | 12 |
| Dec 2002 | 2 | 14 |
| Jul 2003 | 2 | 16 |
| Oct 2003 | 1 | 17 |
| Jan 2004 | 1 | 18 |
| May 2004 | 1 | 19 |
| Jun 2004 | 1 | 20 |
| Oct 2004 | 1 | 21 |
| Jun 2007 | 1 | 22 |
| Feb 2008 | 1 | 23 |
| Jun 2012 | 1 | 24 |
| Jan 2017 | 1 | 25 |
| Dec 2018 | 1 | 26 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
DRIVERS SEAT WON'T STAY IN UPRIGHT POSITION WHEN I LEAN BACK WITH SLIGHT PRESSURE, WHETHER I AM IN MOTION OR NOT. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A MONTH. AS A PREVIOUS OWNER OF MANY CARS, I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. ALSO THE TRUNK LATCH IS NOT OPERABLE USING THE CABLE.
LIGTHLY APPLIED BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN TO STOP AT INTERSECTION; THOUGH I HAD FOOT PRESSING HARD ON BRAKE CAR WOULD NOT STOP, ENTERED INTERSECTION AND STRUCK A PASSING CAR; THIS WAS WITHIN AN HOUR OF PICKING UP THE CAR FROM GARAGE WHERE REPAIRS HAD BEEN DONE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM; AIR BAGS DID NOT ACTIVATE AT IMPACT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SC1 SATURN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN SOUNDED INDEPENDENTLY WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AN ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHO ADVISED THAT THE FUSE WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO SHUT THE HORN OFF. IN ADDITION, THE HORN ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,782.
AS THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1996 SATURN SC1 WITH 68,000 MILES, THIS CAR HAS HAD FOUR HEAD GASKETS REPLACED ORIGINATING WHEN THIS CAR WAS UNDER A YEAR OLD. IN ADDITION TO THESE REPEATED CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURES MULTIPLE REPLACEMENTS OF ALARM SYSTEMS, RADIO, ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND A DEFECTIVE FRONT SEAT. THIS IS WHAT I PURCHASED FROM SATURN AND I HAVE ALL DOCUMENTATION. THE MOST RECENT HEAD GASKET FAILURE OCCURRED IN NOVEMBER '06. AS I WAS EXASPERATED BY SATURN AND THIS VEHICLE I WAS SOLD, I SUED THE SATURN CORPORATION IN THE RICHMOND COUNTY SMALL CLAIMS DIVISION FOR THE COST OF THE FOURTH HEAD GASKET. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SATURN SC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THE DASHBOARD HAD ONE LONG CRACK AND ONE SHORT CRACK. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 42,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.
I DRIVE A 1996 SATURN SC-1. WHILE TRYING TO BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY YESTERDAY, THE GEARSHIFT WENT "LIMP" AND I WAS UNABLE TO PUT THE CAR INTO GEAR AND DRIVE. I REMOVED THE CENTER CONSOLE, AND FOUND THAT WHAT I LATER FOUND OUT TO BE THE "SHIFTER LINKAGE BUSHING" HAD BROKEN IN HALF, AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SIMPLE FIX. AFTER TWO AUTO PARTS STORES, THE SATURN DEALERSHIP, AND A LOT OF ONLINE RESEARCH, I FIND OUT THAT SATURN DECIDED TO STOP MAKING THAT PART, AND THAT THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE CABLE ASSEMBLY GOING INTO THE TRANSMISSION. SO, FOR A .50 CENT PART, I WOULD BE FORCED TO PAY SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO GET THIS FIXED, AS REPLACING A BUSHING IS SOMETHING I AM CAPABLE OF DOING AT HOME, BUT CRACKING OPEN THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT. I AM APPALLED THAT SATURN DOESN'T MAKE OR CARRY THE PARTS TO REPLACE AN ITEM ON A CAR THAT IS ONLY 8 YEARS OLD. I REALIZE THEY STILL HAVE A FIX FOR THIS, BUT I WOULD CATEGORIZE THAT FIX AS EXTORTION. I THOUGHT I WAS ALO0NE WITH THIS PROBLEM, BUT IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON THE WEB BY OTHER SATURN OWNERS. HERE IS A GOOD LINK TO A FORUM DISCUSSING THIS: HTTP://WWW.CHAOSMAGNET.COM/BLOG/ARCHIVES/000112.HTML I AM CURRENTLY USING ZIP TIES TO KEEP THE LINKAGE IN PLACE BECAUSE I REFUSE TO PAY FOUR OR FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS, (THE PART ALONE COST ALMOST $200) TO FIX THIS. I PRAY THERE IS SOMETHING THE NHTSA CAN DO ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE I CAN'T MAKE ENOUGH WAVES ON MY OWN TO GET ANYTHING DONE ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.*AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURN "ON" IN THE "OFF" POSITION. I MUST TURN "ON" THE WIPERS IN ORDER TO TURN THEM "OFF". NO DELAY WIPER SPEED.*AK
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY ON MY WAY TO WORK IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC MY CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE. AS I SLOWED THERE WAS A TEARING SOUND FROM THE DRIVERS FRONT TIRE. ALMOST INSTANTLY PARTS FROM THAT PART OF THE CAR, SUCH AS THE FENDER AND WHEEL WELL, BEGAN BREAKING OFF OF THE CAR. THEN I FELT SOMETHING RIP OUT FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD AT MY FEET AND THE CAR BEGAN TO PRACTICALLY STEER ITSELF, I REALIZED THAT I WAS IN TROUBLE. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT HURTING MYSELF OR ANYONE ELSE. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR I COULD SEE THAT FROM THE FRONT BUMPER TO THE FRONT OF THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR THE CAR HAD BEEN STRIPPED DOWN TO THE FRAME. THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS THAT RUNS FROM THE BATTERY, THROUGH THE SIDE OF THE CAR AND INTO THE DASH HAD BEEN RIPPED OUT AND WRAPPED AROUND THE FRONT AXEL. THIS HAS RESULTED IN MY VEHICLE BEING A TOTAL LOSS. THE ESTIMATE FOR REPAIRS IS $3,600.00 AND ONCE THE CAR IS REPAIRED THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THERE MAY BE FURTHER DAMAGE WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OF THE CAR. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL BE PICKING THE CAR UP FROM THE SHOP TOMORROW. THERE IS NO REASON WHY THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS FOR A VEHICLE SHOULD BE WIRED THROUGH A FIBERGLASS FENDER ASSEMBLY AND SECURED TO IT. THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGN PROBLEM.*AK
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT; VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
This service bulletin revision provides a repair procedure to Remove Debris from Evaporator Case, Disinfect evaporator or Apply Cooling coil coating and install blower motor control module to correct a customer concern of A/C Odor at start-up.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)
Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
SEATS
SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ABOUT ABNORMAL WEAR OR A CUT ON THE INBOARD EDGE OF THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER SEAT BACK COVER. *TT
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.