1997 Saturn SC1 Electrical Problems

DRIVERS SEAT SLIDES BACKWARDS WITHOUT USING THE "ADJUSTMENT LEVER". SOMETIMES JUST BACKING UP AT 3-5 MPH, ALSO AT HWY SPEEDS. ALSO SLIDES BACKWARDS AFTER BEING ADJUSTED BY THE DRIVER-ALWAYS ADJUSTED WHILE PARKED, NEVER MOVING. ALSO, SEATBELTS WORKED FINE UNTIL RECALL NOTICE (99-2000/"REPAIRED" BY JIM BUTLER SOUTH COUNTY SATURN, ST LOUIS, MO) THEN WOULD NOT RETRACT, MUST FEED BELTS BACK INTO SLOT; WILL NOT RETURN TO DEALER, AS TOO MANY BAD EXPERIENCES W/THIS DEALERSHIP. APPROX 2002-03 (APPROX 80-100K MILES) STARTED USING 2 QTS OIL PER MONTH, NOW USES 3+ QTS PER MONTH MINIMUM. APPROX 2009 STARTED USING ENIGINE COOLANT EXCESSIVELY; MUST CARRY EXTRA QTS OIL, 1 GALLON ENGINE COOLANT IN CAR AT ALL TIMES, CHECKING AT EVERY FUEL FILL-UP OR BEFORE LEAVING HOME. BATTERY DEAD OCT 2011, REPLACED-STILL LOSES CHARGE OVERNIGHT;CHANGED SPARK PLUGS, FUSES, IGNITION-COULD REMOVE KEY WHILE CAR STILL RUNNING WHILE STOPPED. STILL SITTING IN DRIVEWAY AS CANNOT FIGURE OUT ELEC PROBLEM. 206K MI. PURCH 10-96 WITH 13 MI ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10442293

Incident

Jan 1, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 SATURN SC2. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. HE MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE KEY RELEASED; HOWEVER, THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION. THE DRIVER MANEUVERED THE KEY IN DIFFERENT POSITIONS FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE TO TEN MINUTES. SUDDENLY, THE IGNITION KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE DESIGNATED OFF POSITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND THEY DISCOVERED RECALL NUMBER 97-C02 (IGNITION CYLINDER). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 216,000.

NHTSA ID

10261315

Incident

Feb 28, 2008

Mileage

216,000 mi

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN HE GOT INTO VEHICLE AND TRIED TO START IT VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE AROUND THE DASH AND STEERING COLUMN. VEHICLE FILLED UP WITH SMOKE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP, WA STOLD BY TECHNICIAN THAT WIRING HARNESS HAD BEEN FRIED. *AKTHEY STATED THAT IT WAS THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS AND IT WOULD COST HIM 4-5 THOUSANDS DOLLARS TO REPAIR, AND MORE IF IT DAMAGED SOMETHING ELSE.

NHTSA ID

10038036

Incident

Sep 2, 2003

I BOUGHT MY SATURN IN MAY OF 1999, AT 20,000 MILES. IT WAS PREVIOUSLY A LEASE VEHICLE. AT 73,000 MILES, THE ENGINE STARTED TO BURN OVER 2.5 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 3000 MILES. THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THE ENGINE WAS REBUILT. AT APPROXIMATELY 150,000 MILES THE ENGINE STARTED BURNING AGAIN. I HAVE TO HAVE MY OIL CHANGED EVERY 1500 TO 2000 MILES NOW. I HAVE BEEN TOLD, BY MULTIPLE MECHANICS, THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE SATURN SC2S. I'VE ALSO HAD THE IGNITION REPLACED. I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH STARTING IT UP AT ABOUT 45,000 MILES. EVERY TIME I STARTED IT UP, IT WOULD TAKE A WHILE TO TURN OVER, UNTIL ONE MORNING WHEN I TRIED TO GO TO WORK, IT WOULDN'T START UP AT ALL. I HAVE ALSO BEEN THROUGH 3 ALTERNATORS AND THREE BATTERIES. I HAVE TAKEN GOOD CARE OF MY CAR AND HAVE NEVER HAD THESE PROBLEMS WITH CARS I HAVE HAD PRIOR, THAT HAVE BEEN TWICE AS OLD, AND ALMOST DOUBLE THE MILEAGE. OF COURSE, THOSE CARS WERE NOT GM PRODUCTS. I THINK I WILL GO BACK TO MY PERVIOUS BRAND.*AK

NHTSA ID

10031182

Incident

Aug 9, 2003

VEHICLE HAS ONLY 37,000 MILES ON IT, ENGINE IS DEAD. WILL COST OVER $3000 FOR NEW ENGINE. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR NUMEROUS REPAIRS, MANY PROBLEMS, AND MOST WERE NEVER FIXED. I APPROACHED THE DEALERSHIP IN SUMMER 2000 ABOUT GOING TO ARBITRATION RE: HAVING VEHICLE REPLACED, AND THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE THE AREA REPRESENTATIVELY NAME AND NUMBER. I GOT IT ANYWAY AND FILED A COMPLAINT. DEALER PROMISED TO RECTIFY ALL ISSUES, AND REPAIRED SEVERAL PROBLEMS, WHICH HAVE ALL RECURRED (AND WORSE) SINCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. PROBLEMS HAVE INCLUDED ELECTRICAL, FUSE MALFUNCTIONS (WINDOWS, LOCKS, CD PLAYER, SUNROOF), AIR CONDITIONER LEAKAGE, ENGINE STALLING, ENGINE OVERHEATING, TRUNK LEAKING, ETC. NOW ENGINE HAS COMPLETELY FROZEN. I HAVE TAKEN GOOD CARE OF THIS CAR, WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER GM PRODUCT AGAIN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10008295

Incident

Jan 21, 2003

Mileage

37,100 mi

SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM VEHICLE WHILE PULLING OUT FROM A DRIVEWAY. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED GROUND WIRE FOR IGNITION HAD BURNED OUT AND MELTED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT SMOKE ORIGINATED UNDER DASH, THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED CAUSING GROUND WIRE TO SHORT OUT AND MELT, THIS IS WHAT CAUSED THE SMOKE, THE 30 AMP FUSE UNDER THE HOOD TRIPPED AS DESIGNED, CAUSING ENGINE TO STOP. *JB

NHTSA ID

8001534

Incident

Dec 21, 2001

POWER STEERING FLUID PUMP LEAKED, CAUSING GENERATOR TO BECOME INOPERABLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE DEALER PAID HIM BACK $150. PCV VALVE REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA ID

895220

Incident

Jun 25, 2001

REPORTING NO FUSE WAS IN FUSE RECEPTICLE FOR REAR BRAKE LIGHT WHEN DRIVING OFF DEALER'S LOT. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID

883849

Incident

Apr 15, 1997

VEHICLE STALLED ON FIVE OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING. BEEN INTO DEALER SHOP ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND UNABLE TO LOCATE CAUSE. *AK THE PROBLEM WAS FOUND TO BE AS A FAULTY CRANK ANGLE SENSOR AND BATTERY. LATER ON, THE SAME VEHICLE WAS REPARIED FOR MOTOR MOUNTS AND STEERING PUMP PROBLEM. *YH

NHTSA ID

879364

Incident

Jan 20, 2001

THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY MALFUNCTIONS WHEN DOWNSHIFTING, IT WON'T GO INTO GEAR, WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. ALSO PROBLEMS WITH A NO START CONDITION. BEEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

831228

Incident

May 1, 1998

WINDSHIELD GLASS IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT OF DUE TO DESIGN OF GLASS.

NHTSA ID

534816

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

NHTSA ID

809844

Incident

Feb 15, 1997