1997 Saturn Sc Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 1997 Saturn Sc, and owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 1997 Saturn Sc
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Retractor (seat belts)
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.
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Headlights (exterior lighting)
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. If an owner desires, their dealer can place the sticker in the…
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Seats
The front passenger seats have less lock pawl engagement on the inboard fore/aft adjuster than specified. This does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 207, "seating systems."
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the passenger seat inboard fore/aft adjuster.
33 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1997 Saturn Sc have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA; 4 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 1 injury and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 99,477 miles. Complaints peaked in 2000 with 5 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Right front passenger seat belt male mechanism is locked up and will not extend to lock in female mechanism. Unusable.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 15, 2022 · Seat belts
“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 saturn sc. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning. The failure occurred when there were numerous keys on the key ring. The vehicle was not diagnosed or”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 27, 2015 · Electrical system
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1997 Saturn SC. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 25–28 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 21–24 / 31–36 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Subcompact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.9 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Saturn Sc model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Saturn Sc model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 Saturn Sc | 1 | 5 |
| 1992 Saturn Sc | 2 | 16 |
| 1993 Saturn Sc | 1 | 23 |
| 1994 Saturn Sc | 1 | 51 |
| 1995 Saturn Sc | 2 | 39 |
| 1996 Saturn Sc | 0 | 26 |
| 1997 Saturn Sc | 3 | 33 |
| 1998 Saturn Sc | 0 | 13 |
| 1999 Saturn Sc | 1 | 24 |
| 2000 Saturn Sc | 7 | 7 |
| 2001 Saturn Sc | 2 | 21 |
| 2002 Saturn Sc | 0 | 38 |
Checking a specific 1997 Saturn Sc
How do I know if my 1997 Saturn Sc has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 1997 Saturn Sc; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Saturn dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 96V153000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Saturn models
- Ion4,343 complaints
- Vue2,351 complaints
- SL2,218 complaints
- LS1,458 complaints
- Aura1,439 complaints
- Outlook1,352 complaints
- Sky516 complaints
- SC1413 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.