1997 Saturn SC1 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 1997 Saturn SC1, and owners have filed 61 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 1997 Saturn SC1
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.
61 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1997 Saturn SC1 have filed 61 complaints with NHTSA; 7 describe a crash. Reports cite 6 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 93,985 miles. Complaints peaked in 1998 with 10 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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 w”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 3, 2012 · Seat belts
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 9, 2009 · 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 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 1997 Saturn SC1
How do I know if my 1997 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. 3 campaigns currently list the 1997 Saturn SC1; 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
- 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.