15 of the
98 complaints about the 1997 Saturn SC1 are about the
seat belts — 15% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
87,500 miles.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10442293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 109,000 milesPewaukee, WI
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 SATURN SC2. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WOULD NOT RETRACT PROPERLY WHEN THE FRONT SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE SEAT BELT IS UNABLE TO BE USED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT A RECALL REPAIR HAD BEEN PERFORMED IN 1997. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO REPAIR WAS MADE BECAUSE SHE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY PAPERWORK SHOWING THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD TAKE 10% OFF OF THE REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000. UPDATED 3/19/09 *CN UPDATED 03/23/09.
NHTSA complaint #10258552 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 33,750 milesNorth Hollywood, CACrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
I WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. MY VEHICLE IS A 1998 SATURN VIN[XXX]. I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP WHEN A LARGE UTILITY VAN STRUCK MY VEHICLE. THE IMPACT SPEED WOULD BE AROUND 30MPH. UPON IMPACT, THE DRIVER SEAT FAILED - SHIFTING ME BACK TO THE REAR SEAT AND THEN I WAS JOLTED FORWARD AND HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE SEATBELT SYSTEM FAILED TO CONSTRICT MY BODY TO THE CAR SEAT. THE FRONT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I SUFFERED HEAD, NECK, AND SOFT TISSUE DAMAGE TO MY SHOULDER AND MID BACK AREA. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #10170846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 95,000 milesWentzville, MO
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTOR JAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALER DETERMINED THE RETRACTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 97V161000 CONCERNING THE SEAT BELTS: FRONT: RETRACTOR. THE VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.
NHTSA complaint #10152400 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Creston, NC
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
1) PASSANGER SIDE REAR SEATBELT LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT REALEASE - MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO USE FOR TRANSPORTING MY INFANT SON IN HIS CARSEAT. DRIVERS SIDE REAR SEATBELT WILL NOT LOCK INTO PLACE - WHICH ALSO MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO TRANSPORT MY SON. SOMEONE TRIED TO FIX THE SEATBELTS, BUT HAD NO LUCK. *AK 2) PLACED MY SON IN THE PASSANGER SIDE AFTER IT WAS "FIXED" - AND HIS CARSEAT FLIPPED UP SIDE DOWN - WHILE I WAS DRIVING AROUND A CURVE IN THE ARE WHERE WE LIVE. 3) HAD MORE SEATBELTS GIVEN TO ME FROM A JUNK YARD IN THE AREA. TWO FRIENDS TRIED TO INSTALL THESE FOR ME, BUT THEY TOO COULD NOT GET THEM TO LATCH OR LOCK PROPERLY. I AM A SINGLE PARENT WITH ONE VEHICLE , WHO IS UNABLE TO TRANSPORT MY SON ANYWHERE. MY SON WAS A PREEMIE, AND IT IS NECESSARY FOR ME TO TAKE HIM TO MULTIPLE DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS BOTH LOCALLY AND IN WINSTON- SALEM.
NHTSA complaint #10114017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,000 milesBlacksburg, VA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A SEAT BELT RETRACTING PROBLEM. A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON THIS MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN.
NHTSA complaint #10065448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Diego, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
PASSENGER SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR DOES NOT FUNCTION AND REPLACEMENT RUBBER MOULDING ON DOOR MELTS ALSO.
NHTSA complaint #740686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Indianapolis, IN
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
PASSENGER SEAT ROCKED BACKWARD AND FORTH. ALSO, SEAT BELT SHOOK AND RELEASED, THEN PUT ON AGAIN. CONSUMER HAD CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA complaint #864239 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Redlands, CACrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
WHEN DRIVER CRASHED HIEAD-ON INTO A TELEPHONE POLE, THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK, CAUSING DRIVER'S HEAD TO HIT WINDSHIELD. ALSO THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL AFTER DRIVER WAS THROWN BACK INTO THE SEAT FROM THE IMPACT. DRIVER'S HEAD, KNEES AND WRIST WERE INJURED IN THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #844441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Unknown, UN
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SEAT BELT RETRACTOR REPLACED DUE TO RECALL HOWEVER FAILED AFTER REPLACEMENT CAUSING BELT TO LOCK UP.
NHTSA complaint #534816 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Garland, TX
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #821101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
State College, PA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
WHEN PULLING OUT THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IT WOULD JAM IN THE RETRACTOR, BUT WOULD RELEASE AFTER 48 HOURS. THE WHOLE SEAT BELT WAS REPLACED ON NOVEMBER 28TH BY DEALERSHIP. THE SEAT BELT JAMMED AGAIN AND DID NOT RELEASE AT ALL. THE BELT WAS REPLACED AGAIN ON DECEMBER 23, 1997. THE SEAT BELT JAMMED AGAIN AND WAS REPLACED ON JAN 20, 1998 FOR THE THIRD TIME.
NHTSA complaint #820891 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Garland, TX
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DOES NOT RELEASE FROM THE RETRACTOR, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALERS HAVE REPLACED PARTS IN THE SEAT BELT MECHANISM ON FOUR OCCASIONS WHICH DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #821101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
State Coll, PA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
DRIVER'S SAFETY BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #529749 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LA Palma, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELT TIGHTENS ON ANY TYPE OF SUDDEN MOVEMENT.
NHTSA complaint #603019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.