NHTSA vehicle safety data

1999 Saturn SC1 Recalls & Complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 1999 Saturn SC1 right now, so this page doesn't state a recall count — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for current campaigns. 21 owner complaints are on file.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1999 Saturn SC1.

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1999 Saturn SC1 owner complaints

Owners have filed 21 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Saturn SC1, describing incidents dated June 1, 1999 to February 18, 2004.

Most-cited components

Seat Belts 4 complaints
Seats 4 complaints
Service Brakes 3 complaints
Air Bags 2 complaints
Electrical System 2 complaints
Engine 2 complaints

Of the 21 complaints on file, 7 report a crash; across all 21 complaints, owners report 8 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10168000 · Filed August 29, 2006
CONSUMER COMPLAINT CONCERNING THE 1999 SATURN SC2 SHIFTER ASSEMBLY DESIGN DEFECT. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT WHEN HE LOST THE ABILITY TO SHIFT GEARS. UPON INSPECTION, THE FAILURE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO A BUSHING THAT CONNECTS THE LOWER OF THE STICK SHIFT TO THE CABLES ATTACHED TO…
ODI #10058511 · Filed February 19, 2004
REAR SWAY BAR LINK ON 99' SC2 COUPE GONE DRY AT 85,000 MILES. MAKING LOUD ANNOYING CREAKING NOISE. THESE UNITS ARE SEALED AND NOT MENT FOR PERIODIC LUBRICATION. WHEN CALL WAS PLACED TO SATURN PARTS DEPARTMENT TO PRICE REPLACEMENT PART, PARTS CLERK KNEW RIGHT AWAY OFF THE TOP OF HIS HEAD THAT IT WAS…
ODI #10054534 · Filed January 20, 2004
I WAS REAR-ENDED AT 65MPH ON 12-19. MY SEAT BACK COMPLETELY RECLINED AND PINNED MY 9 YEAR OLD SON. HE WAS UNCONCIOUS FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AND SUFFERED A CONCUSSION AND NECK PAIN. I SUFFERED NECK AND BACK INJURIES.*AK

Read all 21 complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 1999 Saturn SC1 right now — this is not a confirmed "no recalls". Check the VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls for the official status.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1999 Saturn SC1. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

21 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1999 Saturn SC1.

Power Train

ODI #10168000

Filed: August 29, 2006

CONSUMER COMPLAINT CONCERNING THE 1999 SATURN SC2 SHIFTER ASSEMBLY DESIGN DEFECT. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT WHEN HE LOST THE ABILITY TO SHIFT GEARS. UPON INSPECTION, THE FAILURE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO A BUSHING THAT CONNECTS THE LOWER OF THE STICK SHIFT TO THE CABLES ATTACHED TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE PART WAS MADE OF PLASTIC OR VINYL AND IT SPLIT APART AROUND THE ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENCE, THUS ALLOWING THE CABLES TO COME OFF THE SHIFTER. *JB

Suspension

ODI #10058511

Incident: February 18, 2004 · Filed: February 19, 2004

REAR SWAY BAR LINK ON 99' SC2 COUPE GONE DRY AT 85,000 MILES. MAKING LOUD ANNOYING CREAKING NOISE. THESE UNITS ARE SEALED AND NOT MENT FOR PERIODIC LUBRICATION. WHEN CALL WAS PLACED TO SATURN PARTS DEPARTMENT TO PRICE REPLACEMENT PART, PARTS CLERK KNEW RIGHT AWAY OFF THE TOP OF HIS HEAD THAT IT WAS $80.00 PER LINK. THINK THEY SELL MANY OF THESE FOR CLERK TO KNOW PRICE WITHOUT LOOKUP. THINK THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM THAT SATURN IS NOT WILLING TO ADMIT.

Seats

ODI #10054534

Crash 2 injuries

Incident: December 19, 2003 · Filed: January 20, 2004

I WAS REAR-ENDED AT 65MPH ON 12-19. MY SEAT BACK COMPLETELY RECLINED AND PINNED MY 9 YEAR OLD SON. HE WAS UNCONCIOUS FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AND SUFFERED A CONCUSSION AND NECK PAIN. I SUFFERED NECK AND BACK INJURIES.*AK

Seats

ODI #10025967

Crash 1 injury

Incident: July 3, 2003 · Filed: July 12, 2003

DRIVER'S SEAT COMPLETELY RECLINED DURING REAR END COLLISION, RESULTING IN NECK AND BACK INJURIES.*AK

Parking Brake

ODI #10019833

Incident: October 11, 2003 · Filed: January 14, 2004

THE PLASTIC BUTTON THAT ATTACHES TO THE SPRING TO LOCK THE EMERGENCY BREAK INTO PLACE BROKE. THIS PIECE IS APPROXIMATELY ONE OUNCE AT MOST AND IT BROKE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNOCCUPIED AND NOT ON AN INCLINE. HAD THE VEHICLE BEEN ON A HILL, IT WOULD HAVE GREATLY INCREASED THE CHANCES OF INJURIES AND/OR FATALITIES. WHEN I CONTACTED SATURN, I WAS ADVISED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $250 AND THAT IT WAS COMMON ENOUGH TO WHICH IT HAD BEEN SEEN MULTIPLE TIMES BY THE MECHANICAL REPRESENTATIVE TO WHICH I WAS SPEAKING. I WAS FURTHER ADVISED THAT SINCE AN EMERGENCY BREAK IS NOT A SAFETY MECHANISM, IT WOULD NOT BE SUBJECT TO A RECALL OR A RECALL RELATED INVESTIGATION.*AK

Seat Belts; Equipment

ODI #10010590

Incident: June 1, 1999 · Filed: March 17, 2003

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

Air Bags

ODI #10003966

Crash

Incident: January 7, 2003 · Filed: January 15, 2003

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HER AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING. ALSO STATED THAT SHE WAS INVOLVED ON A FRONTAL COLLISION. MANUFACTURE WAS NOT CONTACTED.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ODI #8019984

2 injuries

Incident: August 28, 2002 · Filed: October 1, 2002

THE BRAKE FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *YH

Seat Belts

ODI #8012217

Incident: May 1, 2002 · Filed: June 20, 2002

REAR PASSENGER SIDE OUTBOARD SEAT SEATBELT WILL NOT RETRACT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT SEATBELT ASSEMBLY NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK *JG

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #8012110

Incident: June 10, 2002 · Filed: June 19, 2002

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THERE WAS A CLUNK TYPE NOISE AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE STALLED. DEALER NOTICED VALVE SPRING WAS BROKEN. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE CONTACTED. *AK DEALER FOUND SPRING VALVE BROKE, CAUSING THE PISTON TO HIT THE VALVE AND BEND THE VALVE. MECHANIC STATES THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A RESULT OF A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. SATURN FINALLY AGREED TO PAY A PORTION OF COST TO INSTALL NEW ENGINE. *TT

Other Saturn SC1 model years

Check your 1999 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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