1996 Saturn SC1 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
No safety recalls list the 1996 Saturn SC1, and owners have filed 39 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
No safety recalls on record
NHTSA's recall database lists no safety campaigns that include the 1996 Saturn SC1. That is good news, with two caveats: recalls can be issued at any time (this page refreshes daily), and a recall filed under a related model name may not appear here. The VIN check above queries NHTSA directly for your exact vehicle.
39 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1996 Saturn SC1 have filed 39 complaints with NHTSA; 6 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 2 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 92,377 miles. Complaints peaked in 2003 with 6 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Horn started blowing all by itself, i could not get it to stop , then an electrical smell (burning) . My husband disconnected the horn fuse and battery , inspection of fuse showed it had blown . After”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 19, 2012 · Electrical system
“Frame on passenger side failed on second saturn. This caused the car to stop and motor to fail below bottom of the car. Also broke cv joint to transmission. Very common. *tr”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 27, 2010 · Structure
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1996 Saturn SC. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 25–29 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 21–25 / 31–36 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Subcompact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.9 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Saturn SC1 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Saturn SC1 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 Saturn SC1 | 1 | 6 |
| 1992 Saturn SC1 | 1 | 15 |
| 1993 Saturn SC1 | 2 | 58 |
| 1994 Saturn SC1 | 1 | 82 |
| 1995 Saturn SC1 | 1 | 59 |
| 1996 Saturn SC1 | 0 | 39 |
| 1997 Saturn SC1 | 3 | 61 |
| 1998 Saturn SC1 | 0 | 39 |
| 1999 Saturn SC1 | 0 | 21 |
| 2000 Saturn SC1 | 2 | 8 |
| 2001 Saturn SC1 | 2 | 25 |
Checking a specific 1996 Saturn SC1
How do I know if my 1996 Saturn SC1 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.
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.
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
- Sc296 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.