FaultScore

Saturn SC1 seat belt problems

59 of the 554 complaints filed about the Saturn SC1 are about the seat belts — 11% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1997.

59

Complaints

11%

Share of all complaints

6

Crashes

0

Fires

Seat Belts complaints by model year

1991 SC1 2 3.4%
1992 SC1 6 10.2%
1993 SC1 6 10.2%

Median failure at 156,000 miles

1994 SC1 12 20.3%

Median failure at 96,000 miles

1995 SC1 1 1.7%
1997 SC1 15 25.4%

Median failure at 87,500 miles

1998 SC1 10 16.9%

Median failure at 47,741 miles

1999 SC1 4 6.8%
2000 SC1 1 1.7%

Median failure at 57,000 miles

2001 SC1 2 3.4%

What owners said

1997 Saturn SC1 DE Soto, MO

SEAT BELTS

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.

1998 Saturn SC1 at 97,693 miles Yuba City, CA

SEAT BELTS

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.

1997 Saturn SC1 at 109,000 miles Pewaukee, 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.

2001 Saturn SC1 Seffner, FL Crash 1 injured

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

DRIVING A 2001 SATURN SC2 RAN FRONT OF VEHICLE INTO REAR BUMPER OF A FORD TRUCK, COLLISION SPEED APPROX. 35 MPH. I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON , THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I HIT THE WINDSHIELD WITH THE TOP OF MY HEAD AND WAS KNOCKED OUT. I AM 5'7" AND WAS SITTING PROPERLY IN THE SEAT WITH BOTH HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL AT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION. I SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES.

NHTSA complaint #10188773 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Saturn SC1 at 33,750 miles North Hollywood, CA Crash 1 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.

1997 Saturn SC1 at 95,000 miles Wentzville, 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.

1998 Saturn SC1 Marysville, CA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

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.

1994 Saturn SC1 at 104,000 miles Portland, OR

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

PASSENGER SIDE PASSIVE SHOULDER SEAT BELT RETRACTOR HAS FAILED. IT NO LONGER MOVES FOWARD TO ALLOW EASY ACCESS INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS RESULTS IN PASSENGER HAVING TO MANUALLY DISENGAGE THE SHOULD BELT AND REMEMBER TO RE-ENGAGE IT FOR SAFETY. I CONSIDER THIS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WHEN A BASIC SAFETY SYSTEM FAILS. I WOULD LIKE MANUFACTURER TO REPAIR AT NO CHARGE.

NHTSA complaint #10119662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Saturn SC1 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.

1998 Saturn SC1 at 47,741 miles Bettendorf, IA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

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.

1993 Saturn SC1 at 156,000 miles VAN Nuys, CA Crash 1 injured

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

DUE TO PLASTIC DOOR SKIN (OUTER PANELING ) OPENING THE DOOR IN A LOW SPEED CAR ACCIDENT IN ADDITION TO PASSIVE SEAT BELT FALURE (INTERMITTENTLY WORKED)I WAS EJECTED FROM CAR AND LEFT PARALYZED. AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKING WAS REJECTED BY SATURN DUE TO COST LEAVING SAFETY OUT OF CONCERN.

NHTSA complaint #10088736 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Saturn SC1 at 32,000 miles Grand Blanc, MI

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT HAS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION IT WILL TIGHTEN UP SO THAT THE PASSENGER CANNOT MOVE, AND PASSENGER PANICS. AT TIMES, WHEN PASSENGER ENTERS VEHICLE, BELT WILL NOT PULL OUT... SOMETIMES THE DOOR HAS TO BE OPENED AND CLOSED, AND THE BELT FIDDLED WITH BEFORE IT WILL PULL OUT IN ORDER TO BE USED. I DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE WITH UNRESTRAINED PASSENGERS. MY BROTHER AND I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE NEW, AND WE HAVE HAD THIS IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES. THE BELT WAS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES, AND IT DID NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE. NO PROBLEM WITH DRIVER SIDE BELT. I TOOK IT IN AGAIN TODAY AND WAS TOLD AGAIN THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I BEG TO DIFFER.. A BELT THAT REFUSES TO PULL OUT AND/OR TRIES TO STRANGLE MY PASSENGERS HAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT!!!

NHTSA complaint #10064423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Saturn SC1 at 80,000 miles Blacksburg, 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.

1994 Saturn SC1 at 96,000 miles Tigard, OR

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

1994 SC2 SATURN. THE SEAT BELTS HAVE TWO PARTS, AND THE UPPER PART MOVES WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOOR. THE LAP BELT IS SEPARATE AND YOU LATCH THIS MANUALLY. THE PROBLEM IS THE UPPER PART HAS STOPPED WORKING IT WILL NOT MOVE.

NHTSA complaint #10047112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Saturn SC1 at 57,000 miles Seattle, WA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

WHEN DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT IS LOCKED, "FROM A FAST STOP, ECT..." AND PRESSURE IS PUT ON THE BELT FROM THE BODY. THE BELT IS FED FROM THE ROOF OF THE CAR THOUGH A LOOP ATTACHED ON THE HEAD RESTRAINT, WHEN MINIMAL PRESSURE IS PUT ON THE BELT IT TWIST'S THE HEAD RESTRAINT TO A BREAKING/ BENDING POSITION AND ALLOWS WAY TOO MUCH SLACK IN THE BELT. MY CONCERN IS THAT IN EVEN A MODERATE FRONTAL COLLISION WITH NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT THE HEAD RESTRAINT WOULD BREAK AND CAUSE THE PERSON OCCUPYING THAT SEAT TO STRIKE THE INTERIOR. OR IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT THE PERSON NOT BEING PROPERLY RESTRAINED WITH POSSIBLE AIRBAG INJURY.

NHTSA complaint #10023611 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1994 Saturn SC1 at 125 miles Baltimore, MD

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL RETRACT AND TIGHTEN SEVERELY. THIS WILL RESULT IN THE DRIVER BEING TRAPPED IN THE SEAT, AND SUSTAINING BRUISES.

NHTSA complaint #10022217 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Saturn SC1 Mundelein, IL

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR ON DRIVER SIDE NO LONGER WORKS, THIS ALLOWS THE BELT TO BECOME CAUGHT IN THE DOOR, DAMAGING THE STRAP.

NHTSA complaint #10013752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Saturn SC1 Hampton, VA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

THE SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT. IT TAKES OVER 10 MINUTES FOR THEM TO RETRACT ONCE YOU UNFASTEN THEM. MY SEAT BELTS WERE REPLACED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AND THE PROBLEM WAS STILL NOT CORRECTED. I WAS TOLD "THAT IS HOW THEY WORK". I AM NOW HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEM LOCKING WHILE DRIVING. THE LOCKING IS NOT TRIGGERED BY ANYTHING THAT WE HAVE FOUND IT JUST WON'T MOVE WHEN YOU TRY TO. YOU CAN'T MOVE UNLESS YOU UNDO THE SEAT BELT WAIT FOR IT TO RETRACT AND THEN REFASTEN IT. WHEN YOU UNFASTEN IT THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE AS IT RETRACTS. THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THEM WANTING TO HANG UP WHEN YOU PULL ON IT TO PUT IT ON. THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE JUST A FEW MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. IT CONTINUED TO GET WORSE. AFTER NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS THEY REPLACED ALL THE SEAT BELTS IN THE CAR. THE SITUATION IMPROVED SLIGHTLY BUT THEN STARTED GETTING WORSE AGAIN. FROM THAT POINT ON THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10010590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Saturn SC1 Mcfarland, WI

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY WAS NOT DESIGNED PROPERLY.

NHTSA complaint #10011529 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Saturn SC1 Louisville, KY

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

REAR SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE, RENDERING PASSENGER UNPROTECTED IN CASE OF A CRASH. DRIVER SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT, LEAVING SEAT BELT VERY LOOSE, AND RENDERING DRIVER UNPROTECTED IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #766776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Saturn SC1 problems