RoadVitals

1997 Saturn SC1 Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Sep 6, 2002
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
15%
of 61 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Saturn SC1 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming brake

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Brakes
Filed Sep 6, 2002

PARKING BRAKE BUTTON MOST OF THE TIME FAILS TO ENGAGE. *AK

NHTSA ID
8018095
Incident
Sep 2, 2002
Brakes
Filed Jan 29, 2002
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH ON HIGHWAY AND UPON DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE , AND RESULTING IN VEHICLE VEERING INTO ANOTHER LANE. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID
8003090
Incident
Jan 25, 2002
Brakes
Filed Aug 1, 2000

FRONT ROTORS WENT OUT. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS PER CONSUMER'S COST. DEALER HAS ADVISED CONSUMER THAT ROTORS WERE DEFECTIVE. THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE CAUSED AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
866523
Incident
Jul 27, 2000
Brakes
Filed Apr 28, 2000
Crash reported2 injuries reported

WHEN DRIVING AT 50 MPH AND UPON MAKING A NORMAL STOP BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, AND RESULTING IN VEHICLE RUNNING INTO A FIELD OVER A RAILROAD. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
861129
Incident
Apr 25, 2000
Brakes
Filed Nov 8, 1999

AT 21,000 MILES THE BRAKES STARTED TO PULSATE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WARPED ROTORS AND SCORED PADS. AT 42, 000 MILES THE SAME THING OCCURRED HOWEVER THE DEALER WOULD ONLY PAY HALF OF THE COST. THEY REPLACED THE ROTORS AND SAID THE PADS WERE FINE. NOW AT 51,000 MILES THE BRAKES ARE AGAIN BEGINNING TO PULSATE

NHTSA ID
714494
Incident
Apr 23, 1998
BrakesTransmissionVisibility
Filed Sep 28, 1999
Crash reported

THE TRANSMISSION WAS VERY HARD TO SHIFT INTO 1ST, 2ND AND 3RD GEARS, VERY HARD TO GET INTO 1ST GEAR FROM A COMPLETE STOP ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. THE SUNROOF HAS STUCK OPEN TO ABOUT 10 TIMES, IT HAS NEVER SEATED INTO THE ROOF CORRECTLY THE BACK STICKS UP ABOUT A 1/4 INCH IN THE REAR OF THE SUNROOF EXPECIALLY THE DRIVER SIDE REAR CORNER THEY SAID THEY COMPLETLY REPLACED IT BUT IT STILL WILL NOT SEAT COMPLETLY. THE BRAKES MAKE A WHINING SOUND ALL THE TIME.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 19560R15 )

NHTSA ID
712407
Incident
Jul 12, 1998
Brakes
Filed May 31, 1999

I TOOK MY SATURN IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENENCE AND REQUESTED THEY CHECK MY BRAKES. UPON INSPECTION THEY FOUND BOTH FRONT ROTORS WITH MANY CRACKS. THE BEARINGS NOR SPINDLE WERE REPLACED, AND BRAKES WERE FINE. I SUSPECT MANUFACTURE DEFECT. THEY SAID POSSIBLY I COULD HAVE BEEN ON LONG TRIP WHICH WOULD HEAT UP ROTORS AND DRIVEN THRU PUDDLE OF WATER WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSE STEEL ROTORS TO CRACK. LUCKILY I CAUGHT THIS IN TIME BEFORE AN ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURRED. *AK

NHTSA ID
707034
Brakes
Filed Feb 1, 1999

DISC BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED, ROTORS WARPED. *YC

NHTSA ID
607857
Incident
Dec 1, 1997
AirbagsBrakesDriver assistance
Filed Sep 10, 1998
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING WITH CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED THE VEHICLE WAS BRAKING AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UP TO 80 MPH. THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS INOPERATIVE, CAUSING A FRONTAL ACCIDENT WITH THE BARRIERS IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, FAILING TO PROTECT THE OCCUPANTS IN THIS ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
827766
Incident
Sep 4, 1998

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Seat belts14Electrical12Transmission11Engine11

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .