59 of the 554 complaints filed about the Saturn SC1 are about the electrical system — 11% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1997.
59
Complaints
11%
Share of all complaints
3
Crashes
4
Fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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 WAITING A FEW MINUTES WE RECONNECTED THE BATTERY ALL OK, EXCEPT HORN DOES NOT WORK NOW. THIS IS THE SECOND SUCH INCIDENT WITH HORN, DEALER REPAIRED LAST TIME 2-20-2010.
NHTSA complaint #10471472 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN SC2. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, SHE NOTICED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS LOOSE. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER AUGUST 2003, JUNE 2004 AND AUGUST 2006. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER WOULD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 29,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,579.
NHTSA complaint #10345635 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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 ACCESSORY POSITION. THE DRIVER MANEUVERED THE KEY IN DIFFERENT POSITIONS FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE TO TEN MINUTES. SUDDENLY, THE IGNITION KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE DESIGNATED OFF POSITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND THEY DISCOVERED RECALL NUMBER 97-C02 (IGNITION CYLINDER). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 216,000.
NHTSA complaint #10261315 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION STUCK AND CANNOT START OR STEER CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10248407 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1994 SATURN SC2 WITH RPM SURGING, TRANSMISSION REPAIR. CUSTOMER STATES THAT WHEN THE RPM'S SURGED THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. CUSTOMER ALSO STATES THAT THE MOTOR MOUNT WAS LOOSE, WHICH MADE ALL MOUNTS AND BRACKETS HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE RADIATOR, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, ALTERNATOR, STARTER, BATTERY FIRST GEAR WERE ALL REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10204868 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING IN THE CENTER LANE ON A 3-LANE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. NO LIGHTS WERE VISIBLE ON THE DASHBOARD PRIOR TO THE ENGINE SHUTTING OFF. THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CAR SWERVED INTO THE RIGHT LANE STRIKING ANOTHER MOTORIST AND THEN SPUN OUT OF CONTROL MAKING AT LEAST TWO FULL REVOLUTIONS BEFORE COMING TO A REST AGAINST THE GUARD RAILS OF THE MEDIAN. THE OTHER MOTORIST INVOLVED IN THE CRASH WAS ABLE TO DRIVE OFF THE SCENE AFTER THE POLICE RESPONDED, BUT MY CAR NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER FOR AN AUTOBODY AND ENGINE REPAIR ESTIMATE. THE ENGINE DIAGNOSTIC TEST INDICATED THAT THERE WERE 8 SEPARATE ERROR CODES IN THE COMPUTER. TWO WERE CAM SHAFT ERROR CODES, THREE TRANSMISSION ERROR CODES, A LOW COOLANT ERROR CODE AND A COMMUNICATIONS ERROR CODE. ALL TOGETHER THE MECHANIC ESTIMATED WELL OVER $1000 OF EXPENSE TO REPAIR THE ENGINE. THAT EXPENSE IN ADDITION TO THE AUTOBODY ESTIMATE OF $4100 DOLLARS RESULTED IN A TOTAL EXPENSE NEARLY EQUAL TO THE TOTAL VALUE OF MY CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10180861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
I PARKED MY 1996 SATURN SC2 ALONG A STREET AND WENT INTO WORK. WHEN I WAS HEADED OUT TO MY CAR A FEW HOURS LATER, I HEARD A CAR HORN THAT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS ABOUT TO FAIL. I SOON REALIZED THAT IT WAS MY CAR'S HORN THAT WAS SOUNDING. I ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND TRIED TO QUIET THE HORN BY PRESSING THE HORN BUTTONS. NOTHING HAPPENED. I OPENED THE HOOD ON THE CAR TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANYTHING I COULD DO TO STOP THE HORN FROM SOUNDING. ALTHOUGH THE HORN WAS VERY WEAK BY NOW, IT WAS STILL SOUNDING. I DROPPED THE HOOD CLOSED, AND THE HORN STOPPED. WHEN I GOT BACK INTO THE CAR, I FOUND OUT THAT THE HORN NOW WOULD NOT OPERATE. I LATER CHECKED THE FUSE FOR THE HORN AND DISCOVERED THAT IT HAD BLOWN. I TRIED TO REPLACE THE FUSE, BUT EACH TIME I PUT A REPLACEMENT FUSE IN THE SLOT FOR THE HORN, IT IMMEDIATELY WAS BLOWN. I RESEARCHED THE SITUATION ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THE REFERENCE TO THE RECALL FOR THE HORN ASSEMBLY ON THE 1996 AND 1997 SATURNS. TO ME, THE CIRCUMSTANCES STATED ON THE RECALL ARE IDENTICAL, EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT I RETURNED TO MY CAR BEFORE IT CAUGHT FIRE. SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO WERE WORKING ON A HOUSE NEARBY MY CAR SAID THE HORN HAD BEEN SOUNDING FOR SOME TIME, EVEN THOUGH I HAD NOT USED IT THAT MORNING. CURRENTLY, MY VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION FOR PENNSYLVANIA BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY HORN ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA complaint #10137817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE FROZE UP! UNABLE TO STEER, SHIFT GEARS OR RESTART ENGINE! UNABLE TO TOW CAR TO SATURN DEALER BECAUSE OF LOCATION. TRIED ALL RECOMMENDATIONS & NOTHING WORKS! LOCKSMITH INFORMS ME THIS IS SPECIFIC TO SATURN! ONLY POSSIBILITY THAT MIGHT WORK IS TO DRILL OUT TUMBLER IN IGNITION LOCK! SATURN REFUSES TO COMPLY WITH REQUEST FOR INSTRUCTIONS FOR EMERGENCY PROCEDURES! SATURN HQ CAN NOT BE CONTACTED BY CUSTOMER!! CAR HAS ONLY 32,000 MILES & WARRANTY NO LONGER COVERS THIS! SEARCHED INTERNET CONSUMERS AFFAIRS & FOUND OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH SAME THING! OTHERS HAD DAMAGE & INJURIES & EVEN HAD CARS TOTALED DUE TO THIS MALFUNCTION WHILE DRIVING!!! I WAS INFORMED BY PHONE FROM SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT THIS WAS COMPANY "PRIVILEGED INFORMATION" & SATURN REFUSES TO COMPLY WITH MY REQUEST!! OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM!! THIS IS NOT A ISOLATED CASE!!! THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN!! THANK GOD MY CAR WAS PARKED AT THE TIME--THE OTHERS WERE NOT SO LUCKY! ONE GOT WRAPPED AROUND A TELEPHONE POLE, WHILE OTHERS LOST STEERING & ALSO "FROZE UP" JUST LIKE MINE! I SEE THERE WAS A RECALL WHICH I WAS NOT AWARE OF IN OCT. 2000 THAT PERTAINED TO THIS--IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE LOCK OUT CABLE TO THE TRANSAXLE. THIS MAY BE INTERRELATED??? THE KEY SLIDES IN/OUT OF KEY WAY WITH NO FRICTION! SEEMS LIKE TUMBLERS ARE NOT CATCHING. KEY WAY HAS BEEN LOSE & REPORTED TO SATURN DEALER WHILE UNDER WARRANTY BUT NO ACTION TAKEN!!! THIS HAS BEEN OVER 3 YEARS AGO!!! ONLY REPLY FROM SATURN WAS "RETURN TO DEALER! YEA!! HOW???? ALSO WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO SPEND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO DO THAT??? I CAN NOT EVEN GET IT OUT OF MY GARAGE TO HAUL IT DOWN THERE ON A CAR CADDY!!! AND WHAT ABOUT THE OTHERS THAT WRECKED THEIR CAR BECAUSE OF THIS HAPPENING WHILE DRIVING?????
NHTSA complaint #10131204 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION WHEN THE CAR IS NOT IN PARK, WHICH POSES THE DANGER OF THE CAR TO MOVE WHEN THE DRIVER IS NOT INSIDE OR PREPARED.
NHTSA complaint #10112408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND SUDDENLY THE LIGHTS WENT DIM AND SMOKE BEGAN COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS A FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND THE WIRE THAT CONNECTED TO THE ALTERNATOR MELTED.
NHTSA complaint #10107214 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH SATURN GENERALLY AND SATURN (GALLES) OF ALBUQUERQUE, NM SPECIFICALLY. 3 SEPARATE TIMES THEY HAVE WRECKED MY ENGINE! THIS HAS BEEN DUE TO OIL LEAKAGE INTO THE SPARK PLUGS AND THE VALVE GASKET COVER IS WARPED. THIS HAS YET TO HAVE BEEN CORRECTED PROPERLY BY SATURN. I HAVE NOW TAKEN IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO IS ABLE TO FIX IT CORRECTLY. IT HAS NOT CAUSED A SAFETY ISUUE...YET.
NHTSA complaint #10105650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
THE BATTERY CABLE FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO REPLACE THE BATTERY EVERY YEAR. A RECALL WAS ISSUED, HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK THE SATURN DEALER REFUSED TO FIX THE BATTERY CABLE. RECALL# 93V094000. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10042161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
GENERATOR FAILED PREMATURELY, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. RECALL# 93V132000 *SCC THE CONSUMER STATED THE ALTERNATOR FAILED THREE TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #10042165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN HE GOT INTO VEHICLE AND TRIED TO START IT VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE AROUND THE DASH AND STEERING COLUMN. VEHICLE FILLED UP WITH SMOKE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP, WA STOLD BY TECHNICIAN THAT WIRING HARNESS HAD BEEN FRIED. *AKTHEY STATED THAT IT WAS THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS AND IT WOULD COST HIM 4-5 THOUSANDS DOLLARS TO REPAIR, AND MORE IF IT DAMAGED SOMETHING ELSE.
NHTSA complaint #10038036 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I BOUGHT MY SATURN IN MAY OF 1999, AT 20,000 MILES. IT WAS PREVIOUSLY A LEASE VEHICLE. AT 73,000 MILES, THE ENGINE STARTED TO BURN OVER 2.5 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 3000 MILES. THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THE ENGINE WAS REBUILT. AT APPROXIMATELY 150,000 MILES THE ENGINE STARTED BURNING AGAIN. I HAVE TO HAVE MY OIL CHANGED EVERY 1500 TO 2000 MILES NOW. I HAVE BEEN TOLD, BY MULTIPLE MECHANICS, THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE SATURN SC2S. I'VE ALSO HAD THE IGNITION REPLACED. I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH STARTING IT UP AT ABOUT 45,000 MILES. EVERY TIME I STARTED IT UP, IT WOULD TAKE A WHILE TO TURN OVER, UNTIL ONE MORNING WHEN I TRIED TO GO TO WORK, IT WOULDN'T START UP AT ALL. I HAVE ALSO BEEN THROUGH 3 ALTERNATORS AND THREE BATTERIES. I HAVE TAKEN GOOD CARE OF MY CAR AND HAVE NEVER HAD THESE PROBLEMS WITH CARS I HAVE HAD PRIOR, THAT HAVE BEEN TWICE AS OLD, AND ALMOST DOUBLE THE MILEAGE. OF COURSE, THOSE CARS WERE NOT GM PRODUCTS. I THINK I WILL GO BACK TO MY PERVIOUS BRAND.
NHTSA complaint #10031182 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.