FaultScore

1998 Saturn SC1 engine problems

14 of the 58 complaints about the 1998 Saturn SC1 are about the engine — 24% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 54,500 miles.

F

14

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Engine 6 42.9%
Gasoline 2 14.3%
Cooling System 2 14.3%
Engine AND Engine Cooling 2 14.3%
Exhaust System 1 7.1%
Belts AND Associated Pulleys 1 7.1%

Engine & Cooling across every Saturn SC1 year

1993 12 23.5%
1994 14 27.5%
1997 11 21.6%
1998 14 27.5%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 97,693 miles Yuba City, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

DURING THE SMOG TEST, MY CAR OVERHEATED BUT THE TEMP. GAUGE DID NOT INDICATE IT WAS HOT. THE TEMP GAUGE WAS REGISTERING THAT THE CAR WAS RUNNING AT IT'S USUAL TEMPERATURE. I HAVE ALWAYS GOTTEN MY OIL CHANGED WHEN I'M SUPPOSE TO, AND I'VE HAD THE ENGINE FLUSHED TO TRY AND KEEP IT IN GOOD MECHANICAL CONDITION. IT ALSO IS NOT STARTING AT TIMES, AND TODAY IT WAS MAKING A SLIGHT JERKING MOTION AS IF A FUEL FILTER IS CLOGGING. I'VE REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, & A COUPLE OF SENSORS. PLUS, MY SEAT BELTS HAVE NEVER RETRACTED CORRECTLY AND FREQUENTLY GET CAUGHT IN THE DOOR.

NHTSA complaint #10274084 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Marysville, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

THE INDICATOR LIGHTS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. I GET THE PROPER MAINTENANCE REQUIRED, YET THE OIL IS NOW RUNNING OUT EVERYWHERE (69,000 MI.). WHY DOESN'T THE WARNING LIGHT COME ON, OR FLASH - ANYTHING TO WARN ME WHEN THE OIL DOESN'T EVEN REGISTER ON THE DIP STICK? I CHECKED THE OIL, 1 MINUTE LATER I DROVE 35 MILES AT A TOP SPEED OF 67. THE TEMPERATURE GUAGE WASN'T EVEN AT THE 1/2 WAY POINT, BUT WHEN I STOPPED THE CAR I COULD SMELL THE CAR WAS HOT, & THE OIL DID NOT REGISTER ON THE DIP STICK. THE ONLY INDICATOR LIGHT THAT WORKS PROPERLY IS THE LOW FUEL. THE CAR HAS ALWAYS RATTLED, & THE GLOVE BOX HANDLE JUST BROKE OFF. THE FRONT SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT MOST OF THE TIME, CAUSING THE STRAP & BUCKLE TO GET CAUGHT IN THE DOOR. THE PASSENGER SEAT WOULD SLIDE BACK WHEN ACCELERATING & FORWARD WHEN BRAKING (SEAT BELT NOT LOCKING INTO PLACE EITHER). NOW IT IS STUCK IN ONE POSITION. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER ON 1 OCCASSION FOR THAT, AT LEAST 2 TIMES FOR THE INTERIOR LIGHT, 2 TIMES FOR SENSORS, & MORE. TO END THIS, I AM DISTRAUGHT AT THE MOMENT, IT APPEARS AS IF MY CAR HAS BATHED IN OIL FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE ENGINE, ALL THE WAY DOWN & ALL OVER THE UNDERNEATH OF THE CAR. THE PLUG GASKET WAS MANGLED, CHANGED, & STILL DID NOT REMEDY THE SITUATION. MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION TO A JOB INTERVIEW THIS WEEK!

NHTSA complaint #10119802 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 47,741 miles Bettendorf, IA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

1998 SATURN SC2- CAM COVER LEAK- 12/13/02 SAME CAM COVER LEAK 10/26/04 PAID FOR IT TWICE... $98.86 AND 76.98. ELECTRICAL NIGHTMARE- ELECTRIC WINDOW FAILED- SUN ROOF MOTOR FAILED- WANTS $925.00 TO FIX- HORN HAD INTERNAL SHORT 10/26/04 $112.11, WEATHERSTRIPPING REPLACE ON DRIVERS DOOR 5/7/01, BELT TENSIONER REPLACE 12/13/02, IDLER PULLEY REPLACED 10/26/04. EXHAUST REPLACED 5/08/00 & 8/01/00 & 12/13/02.

NHTSA complaint #10100226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 47,741 miles Bettendorf, IA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

1998 SATURN SC2- CAM COVER LEAK- 12/13/02 SAME CAM COVER LEAK 10/26/04 PAID FOR IT TWICE... $98.86 AND 76.98. ELECTRICAL NIGHTMARE- ELECTRIC WINDOW FAILED- SUN ROOF MOTOR FAILED- WANTS $925.00 TO FIX- HORN HAD INTERNAL SHORT 10/26/04 $112.11, WEATHERSTRIPPING REPLACE ON DRIVERS DOOR 5/7/01, BELT TENSIONER REPLACE 12/13/02, IDLER PULLEY REPLACED 10/26/04. EXHAUST REPLACED 5/08/00 & 8/01/00 & 12/13/02.

NHTSA complaint #10100226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 77,000 miles Oshkosh, WI

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I OWN A 1998 SATURN SC2 AND I HAVE HAD MANY COSTLY PROBLEMS WITH IT. ON OCTOBER 5, 2004 THE ENGINE FAILED BECAUSE OF A TIMING CHAIN AND NOW THE WHOLE ENGINE WILL HAVE TO BE REBUILT. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, THE CAR HAS BEEN CONSUMING AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF OIL. IN MARCH OF 2004 I HAD TO HAVE THE FUEL INJECTORS AND O2 SENSOR REPLACED. I HAVE HAD MANY EXPENSIVE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10093837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 54,000 miles Chalmette, LA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE HEAD ON THE ENGINE BLOCK FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE HEAD WAS FULL OF HOLES, IT WAS DISCOVERED BY THE DEALER. SATURN REFUSED THE CLAIM UNLESS THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER DEALER. *JB THE VEHICLE SMOKED SO BAD THAT IT ALMOST CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IN WHICH OIL SPILLED OVER THE HIGHWAY. *SC

NHTSA complaint #10091417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Diego, CA Crash 1 injured

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

AT 60-65 MPH DRIVER HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND. THE NOISE LEVEL INCREASED RAPIDLY, THEN, ENGINE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS IN TRAVELING LANE ON THE HIGHWAY, CONSUMER EXITED VEHICLE, AND RAN TO SHOULDER. VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY 5-6 DIFFERENT VEHICLES.*AK DEALER STATED ENGINE SEIZED DUE TO NO OIL IN RESERVOIR, THIS CAUSED A HOLE IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. CONSUMER HAD OIL CHANGE DONE 200 MILES PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE DOLLAR AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10040022 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Downers Grove, IL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. DEALER NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #10027127 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 54,500 miles Westland, MI

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

INTERMITTENT STALLING WHENEVER VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP OR CRUISES ALONG WITHOUT FOOT PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED ON ONE OCCASION, AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10019128 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mount Vernon, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10017973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

MT Vernon, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED WITHOUT WARNING.

NHTSA complaint #10017557 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 91,000 miles Louisville, KY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

OIL PRESSURE SUDDENLY CHANGED AND FUMES CAME FROM UNDER HOOD. I PULLED CAR OFF INTERSTATE IMMEDIATELY AND CHECKED UNDER HOOD. UPON CHECKING OIL, FOUND THAT IT WAS COMPLETELY DRY. I HAVE KEPT REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON CAR, AS CAN BE VERIFIED BY SATURN. WAS TOLD THAT ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR IS A 1998 SATURN SC2 WITH 91,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10000215 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Oakwood, OH

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN AT 65 MPH RESULTING IN NO BRAKES, NO POWER, NO POWER STEERING.

NHTSA complaint #533079 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Crmbribrige, MS

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

INTERMITTENT STALLING WHENEVER VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP OR CRUISES ALONG WITHOUT FOOT PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED ON ONE OCCASION, AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED.

NHTSA complaint #837458 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1998 Saturn SC1 problems

← Full 1998 Saturn SC1 report