47 of the
379 complaints filed about the Saturn SC
are about the electrical system —
12% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1997.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FELL OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE DRIVING. AT TIMES, THE CONTACT HAD DIFFICULTY PLACING THE KEY IN AND OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPAIRED THREE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10919405 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAR KEY LOCKS UP IN IGNITION, WONT TURN OR COME OUT. CABLE TO PARK MECHANISM WONT DISENGAGE. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES, TODAY IT TOOK 40 MINUTES OF JIGGLING STEERING WHEEL,KEY, BRAKE SHIFTER TO DISENGAGE TO GET THE CAR STARTED.
NHTSA complaint #10881827 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAR HAS HAD ISSUES WITH THE STARTER OVER THE YEARS, REQUIRING COUNTLESS REPLACEMENTS BEFORE THE RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT DATES. RECENTLY, A STARTER LASTED ONLY 6 MONTHS BEFORE FAILING. WHEN A MECHANIC LOOKED AT THE STARTER, HE SAID THAT THERE IS PROBABLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE IGNITION CAUSING THE STARTER TO CONTINUOUSLY RUN WHILE THE ENGINE IS ON. THIS RESULTED IN THE STARTER COMPLETELY BURNING UP ON THE INSIDE. SMOKE WAS VISIBLE FROM THIS STARTER. THE KEY ALSO SLIPS OUT OF THE IGNITION IN ANY POSITION, INCLUDING WHEN THE ENGINE IS ON AND CAR IS MOVING. THERE IS A RECALL FROM GM AFFECTING SATURN IGNITION SWITCHES AND IGNITION CYLINDERS, BUT IT DOES NOT INCLUDE 2002 SATURNS EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME.
NHTSA complaint #10790491 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. *TT
NHTSA complaint #10721642 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I CONTACTED GM'S CUSTOMER SERVICE REGARDING MY IGNITION SWITCH WHICH IS STUCK ON ACCESSORY AND HAS BEEN DRAINING MY BATTERY. MY CAR WAS A YEAR BEFORE THE RECALLED IGNITION SWITCHES IN OTHER SATURN BUT AFTER SIGNIFICANT RESEARCH IT APPEARED TO BE SIMILAR ISSUES THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE RECALLS HAD. THEY REFERRED ME TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP FOR A QUOTE AND SAID THAT THEY WOULD DETERMINE IF IT WOULD BE COVERED. WHEN I ARRIVED THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY HAD SEEN MANY OF THESE ISSUES BUT GM ALWAYS REFUSED TO COVER AND THAT I SHOULD CALL THEM TO GET A CASE NUMBER. AFTER SPENDING 45 MINUTES ON THE PHONE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE TO DETERMINE IF I WAS ELIGIBLE I WAS THEN PASSED TO ANOTHER REPRESENTATIVE WHO TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE THE IGNITION SWITCH DID NOT TURN WHILE DRIVING, IT WAS MY PROBLEM BECAUSE MY CAR IS OVER 10 YEARS OLD AND PARASITIC DRAINS WERE NOT THEIR REMIT. I ASKED IF THESE WERE IN THE SAME BATCH AS THE RECALLED SWITCHES BECAUSE THEY SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL FAULTY SWITCHES WITHIN THAT TIME FRAME AND THEY TOLD ME TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA. I REACHED OUT TO THEIR DIGITAL CUSTOMER SERVICE REPS WHO WERE ABLE TO ISSUE ME A CASE NUMBER AND SAID THAT SOMEONE WOULD CALL ME WITHIN 24 HOURS AND NO ONE CALLED. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT 2002 SWITCHES ARE INVESTIGATED FOR POSSIBLE RECALL ISSUES AND I HAVE MY CASE NUMBER ON FILE IN CASE ANYONE ACTUALLY HELPS ME THERE.
NHTSA complaint #10714538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START UNTIL AFTER AWAITING SEVERAL HOURS LATER. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION. ALSO,THE KEY BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. IN ADDITION, THE KEY RELEASED INDEPENDENTLY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH ON NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.
NHTSA complaint #10701089 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1994 SATURN SC. CONSUMER STATED IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED DUE TO THE KEY BEING STUCK INSIDE THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE ALSO LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING SO CUSTOMER IS ASKING FOR A REFUND. *SS THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE HEADLIGHTS OPENED ON THEIR OWN, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF DRIVE GEAR ON ITS OWN, AND THE RPM'S WERE EXTREMELY HIGH.
NHTSA complaint #10654353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING AND ALL ELECTRICAL POWER WAS SUDDENLY LOST, POWER STEERING LOST-HARD TO STEER. MANAGED TO PULL OVER - TURN OFF/ON IGNITION AND CAR STARTED BACKUP.
NHTSA complaint #10660413 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2001 SATURN SC WITH FAULTY IGNITION. KEY BINDS WHEN STARTING THE CAR IT ALSO FALLS OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN DRIVING. KEY HAS BEEN GRINDING DOWN BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY CYLINDER. THIS IS A HAZARD AND DANGER TO ANYONE WHO DRIVES THIS VEHICLE. I CALLED GM AND THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BECAUSE IT HAS NOT BEEN FORMALLY RECALLED. I WANTED A CASE OPENED AND TOLD THEM IF ANYTHING HAPPENS BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECTIVE DESIGN I WILL SEEK RESTITUTION. THE SR. ADVISOR WAS NOT HELPFUL AND TRIED TO DISMISS ME AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. GM IS NOT STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE TO STAND BY THEIR VEHICLES OR THEIR CUSTOMERS. POOR DESIGN, POOR QUALITY, POOR SUPPORT = BODILY HARM, MORE LAWSUITS AND NO MORE CUSTOMERS!
NHTSA complaint #10658524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE TURNING THE IGNITION AS IT JAMS AND AT TIMES FEARFUL IT MAY NOT TURN NEXT TIME I TRY TO START IT .....BUT TODAY WHILE WAITING AT A RED LIGHT...CAR RUNNING, RADIO ON AND INTERIOR DASH LIGHTS ON...EVERYTHING JUST SHUT DOWN....THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN...BUT THE REST OF THE CAR DIED...I WAS VERY NERVOUS WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE .....WONDERING IF IT WOULD ALLOW ME TO EVEN GET HOME....WITHIN IN 2 MINUTES THE ELECTRICAL DID COME BACK....I ONLY PURCHASED MY SATURN IN FEB, AS USED BUT DID NOT START SEEING THESE ISSUES UNTIL THE PAST 2 MONTHS...BUT HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT THIS CAR MODEL IS NOT ON ANY RECALL LIST WITH OTHERS DISPLAYING THE SAME ISSUES.
NHTSA complaint #10633786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION TURNED FROM THE ON POSITION TO THE OFF POSITION ON ITS OWN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
NHTSA complaint #10621403 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN SC. WHEN THE CONTACT INSERTED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO THE ON POSITION PROPERLY. IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO START, THE CONTACT HAD TO TAMPER WITH THE KEY AND IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE KEY WOULD EJECT FROM THE IGNITION WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.
NHTSA complaint #10619560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE THE CAR WAS BEING TESTED IN THE SHOP, A FUSE WAS REPLACED. A FIRE STARTED IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. ACCORDING TO THE DODGE DEALERSHIP, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SATURNS. THE DODGE DEALERSHIP CHECKED WITH A GENERAL MOTORS WHO VERIFIED THAT IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR SATURNS TO CATCH ON FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10619445 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SC. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A LOT, THE CONTACT HAD TO MAKE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS AND EXERT FORCE TO UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE AND COIL SPRING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.
NHTSA complaint #10607790 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE KEYS TO THE IGNITION SWITCH HAVE WORN DOWN SO MUCH THAT THEY WILL NOT WORK. I PURCHASED NEW KEY BLANKS, WENT TO THE DEALER AND HAD THEM COPY THE KEYS. THE DEALER HAD TO RUN THE KEYS THROUGH THE MACHINE TWICE TO CUT THEM PROPERLY. THE NEW KEYS WORK, BUT A VERY GREAT DEAL OF FRICTION IS FELT WHEN THE KEY IS INSERTED OR REMOVED. THE KEY DRAGS BADLY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCK. THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS WORN OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10605810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER AND ISSUED NEW KEYS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.
NHTSA complaint #10599175 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON MAY 12, 2012 I TRIED TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULDN'T TURN OVER. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE (PART NUMBER LX386) ON MY 1999 SATURN SC2. THEN ON DECEMBER 5, 2013, I WAS DRIVING ON THE GRAND CENTRAL PARKWAY IN NYC AND MY CAR DIED. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MAKE MY WAY OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE BUSY PARKWAY. I WAS TOWED TO MY MECHANIC AND ONCE AGAIN I HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE THE IGNITION MODULE. I'M WONDERING WHY MY CAR ISN'T ON THE RECALL LIST FOR THE GM IGNITION SWITCH AS I HAVE NOW HAD TO REPLACE THIS PART TWICE IN THE PAST 2 YEARS AND I'M VERY WORRIED THAT I CURRENTLY HAVE A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH IN MY CAR WHICH COULD LEAD TO A DANGEROUS CRASH WHERE MY AIRBAGS WON'T DEPLOY.
NHTSA complaint #10578526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE KEY WAS PLACED IN THE IGNITION, THE THEFT SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND THE ENGINE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,654. UPDATED 04/30/14 MA UPDATED 06/03/14
NHTSA complaint #10566278 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE 2 SATURNS (SC AND SL) BOTH ARE 1997'S. BOTH HAVE SAME ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WHERE BATTERY WILL NOT HOLD CHARGE. SOMETHING SEEMS TO BE DRAINING THE POWER BUT NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT. BOTH CARS START WITH A JUMP AND RUN FINE IF DRIVEN OFTEN. BUT IF THE CAR SITS FOR MORE THAN A DAY, THE BATTERY IS DRAINED.
NHTSA complaint #10537943 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.