NHTSA vehicle safety data

1998 Saturn SC1 Recalls & Complaints

The 1998 Saturn SC1 has no NHTSA recall campaigns and 39 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Saturn dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1998 Saturn SC1. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

1998 Saturn SC1 owner complaints

Owners have filed 39 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Saturn SC1, describing incidents dated January 30, 1998 to December 4, 2009.

Most-cited components

Engine 12 complaints
Seat Belts 9 complaints
Visibility/Wiper 5 complaints
Electrical System 4 complaints
Service Brakes 3 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control 3 complaints

Of the 39 complaints on file, 5 report a crash; across all 39 complaints, owners report 3 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10295916 · Filed December 15, 2009
WHILE MY GRANDSON WAS DRIVING MY 1998 SATURN SC2, ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT THE CAR ON THE DRIVERS' SIDE AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOYED. *TR
ODI #10274084 · Filed June 17, 2009
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…
ODI #10264979 · Filed April 11, 2009
SUN ROOF RAILS, AFTER A GREAT DEAL OF RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THE CLIPS THAT THE SUNROOF RUNS ALONG TO RAISE AND RETURN THE WINDOW TO ITS CLOSED POSITION, ARE DEFECTIVE. THE COMPANY'S ANSWER TO THIS PROBLEM IS TO SELL YOU A VERY EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT KIT IN WHICH MOST OF THE PARTS ARE NOT EVEN…

Read all 39 complaints

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1998 Saturn SC1 as of November 3, 2026. New recalls can be issued at any time, so check the specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before buying.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1998 Saturn SC1. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

39 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1998 Saturn SC1.

Air Bags

ODI #10295916

Crash 1 injury

Incident: December 4, 2009 · Filed: December 15, 2009

WHILE MY GRANDSON WAS DRIVING MY 1998 SATURN SC2, ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT THE CAR ON THE DRIVERS' SIDE AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOYED. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling; Electrical System; Seat Belts

ODI #10274084

Incident: June 11, 2009 · Filed: June 17, 2009

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. *TR

Visibility

ODI #10264979

Incident: June 3, 2005 · Filed: April 11, 2009

SUN ROOF RAILS, AFTER A GREAT DEAL OF RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THE CLIPS THAT THE SUNROOF RUNS ALONG TO RAISE AND RETURN THE WINDOW TO ITS CLOSED POSITION, ARE DEFECTIVE. THE COMPANY'S ANSWER TO THIS PROBLEM IS TO SELL YOU A VERY EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT KIT IN WHICH MOST OF THE PARTS ARE NOT EVEN NECESSARY. THIS IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CLIPS, THAT THERE ARE ACTUALLY COMPANY'S THAT SELL THE PARTS AROUND THIS PROBLEM THAT SELL NON DEFECTIVE REPLACEMENT PARTS THAT PERMANENTLY FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

Power Train; Latches/Locks/Linkages

ODI #10264892

Incident: May 13, 2008 · Filed: April 10, 2009

TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE, JUST BROKE WHILE DRIVING. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I FOUND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE SATURN SC2. THE PLASTIC BALL THAT HOLDS THE CABLE IN THE SHIFT LEVER COMMONLY BREAKS. INSTEAD OF SELLING A DEVICE TO REPAIR THE CABLE, THE REQUIRE YOU TO BUY THE ENTIRE CABLE THAT COSTS AROUND $500.00. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling; Electrical System; Seat Belts; Latches/Locks/Linkages; Unknown or Other

ODI #10119802

Incident: May 4, 2005 · Filed: May 4, 2005

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!

Air Bags; Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #10118945

Crash

Incident: April 10, 2005 · Filed: May 6, 2005

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE CONSUMER SWERVED TO AVOID HITTING THE BRAKING CAR IN FRONT OF HER. THE CONSUMER SWERVED INTO THE RIGHT LANE, OVERCOMPENSATED AND TURN 180 DEGREES. IN DOING SO, THE PASSENGER SIDE SLAMMED AGAINST A GUARDRAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS FORCED HEAD ON INTO TRAFFIC AN UP A STONE EMBANKMENT AT 50 MPH. UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. PRIOR TO LOSING CONTROL THE CONSUMER FELT AS THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING AS SHE WAS TRYING TO BRAKE. THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON WAS SWITCHED TO ON BUT IT WAS NOT ENGAGED. EVEN AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO REV AS IF IN HIGH GEAR. IN MAY OF 2000 THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF A SIMILAR PROBLEM. THE ADJUSTER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE CONCLUSIVELY THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. THE DRIVER WAS 17 WEEKS PREGNANT AT TIME OF THE ACCIDENT*AK *BF *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling; Electrical System; Visibility; Seat Belts

ODI #10100226

Incident: December 13, 2000 · Filed: November 19, 2004

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. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10093837

Incident: October 5, 2004 · Filed: October 8, 2004

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. *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10091417

Incident: September 1, 2004 · Filed: September 29, 2004

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 *JB

Seat Belts

ODI #10064423

Incident: April 2, 2004 · Filed: April 2, 2004

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!!!*JB

Other Saturn SC1 model years

Check your 1998 Saturn SC1 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Saturn SC1 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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