SATURN SC · model year

1999 SATURN SC

27 NHTSA complaints, 6 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1999SATURNSC carries 27 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 6 crashes, 2 fires, 6 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1999 SC is air bags:frontal with 3 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (3) and engine and engine cooling (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 14 investigation files overlapping the 1999 SC. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

27
Complaints
6
Crashes
2
Fires
6
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

27 filings

Crashes Reported

6 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING3
SEATS2
STRUCTURE:BODY2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION2
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR1
SEAT BELTS1
TIRES:TREAD/BELT1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD1
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION1
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM1

Recent Complaints

20160126CrashFireAIR BAGS

MY VEHICLE WAS MOVING ON THE FREEWAY, WHEN I WAS HIT FROM PASSENGER SIDE, DRIVERS SIDE HIT CONCRETE DIVIDER, AIRBAG KNOCKED ME OUT, AFTER FRONT OF CAR HIT EMBANKMENT, THEN I WOKE UP FROM THE SMOKE, SMELL OF FIRE COMING FROM AIRBAG.

Mileage: 115,000

20160126CrashFireSTRUCTURE:BODY

MY VEHICLE WAS MOVING ON THE FREEWAY, WHEN I WAS HIT FROM PASSENGER SIDE, DRIVERS SIDE HIT CONCRETE DIVIDER, AIRBAG KNOCKED ME OUT, AFTER FRONT OF CAR HIT EMBANKMENT, THEN I WOKE UP FROM THE SMOKE, SMELL OF FIRE COMING FROM AIRBAG.

Mileage: 115,000

20140409ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

ON MAY 12, 2012 I TRIED TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULDN'T TURN OVER. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE (PART NUMBER LX386) ON MY 1999 SATURN SC2. THEN ON DECEMBER 5, 2013, I WAS DRIVING ON THE GRAND CENTRAL PARKWAY IN NYC AND MY CAR DIED. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MAKE MY WAY OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE BUSY PARKWAY. I WAS TOWED TO MY MECHANIC AND ONCE AGAIN I HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE THE IGNITION MODULE. I'M WONDERING WHY MY CAR ISN'T ON THE RECALL LIST FOR THE GM IGNITION SWITCH AS I HAVE NOW HAD TO REPLACE THIS PART TWICE IN THE PAST 2 YEARS AND I'M VERY WORRIED THAT I CURRENTLY HAVE A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH IN MY CAR WHICH COULD LEAD TO A DANGEROUS CRASH WHERE MY AIRBAGS WON'T DEPLOY. *TR

Mileage: 79,446

20100118POWER TRAIN

TODAY I WENT TO PUT MY 1999 5 SPEED SATURN SC1 INTO REVERSE. WHEN I DID, I FELT A POP AND WAS STUCK IN REVERSE. AFTER REMOVING THE CONSOLE, WE FOUND THAT THE PLASTIC BUSHING HOLDING THE GEARSHIFT ROD TO THE CABLE HAD SNAPPED. (LUCKILY I WAS IN A PARKING LOT WHEN THIS OCCURRED). THIS COULD'VE BEEN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. SATURN REFUSES TO SELL THE BUSHING BY ITSELF AND WILL ONLY SELL IT AS A PART OF A $250 GEARSHIFT CABLE KIT, EVEN THOUGH THE BUSHING IS THE ONLY BROKEN PART. THE SERVICE/PARTS EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, AND IF THE BUSHING WERE MADE OF METAL AND NOT PLASTIC IT PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE BROKEN. WE TEMPORARILY WIRED THE ROD TO THE CABLE TO GET HOME, BUT DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE CAR UNTIL IT IS PERMANENTLY FIXED. IT IS A RIP-OFF THAT SATURN WILL NOT SELL THE REPLACEMENT PART FOR A REASONABLE PRICE. *TR

Mileage: 86,000

20080721ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

1999 SATURN AND I HAVE HAD BIG PROBLEMS GETTING THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH ANY CAR. *TR

Mileage: 89,264

20050811CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DT:THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SATURN SC1. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON AUGUST 5, 2005 WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY THE FRONT DRIVER OR THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE TWO OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE AND BOTH HAVD SEAT BELTS ON. PICTURES AND POLICE REPORT ARE AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, AND ONE OCCUPANT SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK

20050715ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

PURCHASED CAR JUNE OF 2004. CAR WAS ONE DAY OLD AND THE FUSE PANEL HAD TO BE REPLACED. THEN OIL WAS HAVING TO BE ADDED. CALLED SATURN AND WAS INFORMED SATURN CARS HAVE A BEEN KNOW TO GO THROUGH OIL. CAR SEEMED TO BE RUNNING HOT ADDED COOLENT TO NOTICE THE COOLENT SEEMED TO BE THICK WITH OIL. FLUSHED SYSTEM ADDED NEW COOLENT. CAR RAN EVEN HOTTER WAS TOLD OIL IN RADIATOR, NEED TO PUT IN NEW RADIATOR. DID THIS AND PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. WAS THEN TOLD HEADS WERE CRACKED. CALLED SATURN AFTER SEEING NUMEROUS PEOPLE ON WEB SITE WITH SAME EXACT PROBLEM. THEY INFORMED ME THERE WAS RECALLS ON FAULTY ENGINE UP TO 1999 MODEL. AND 2000 MODEL. MY CAR YEAR WAS MISSED.

Mileage: 720,000

20040831ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED FROM THE ENGINE, AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK *NM

20040805SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

CONSUMER'S SEAT BELT LATCH WOULD NOT UNLOCK AFTER HER SON CAME OUT OF CAR SEAT AND GOT TANGLED IN THE CAR SEATBELT. TODDLER BECAME WRAPPED IN THE SEATBELT, THE LATCH WOULD NOT WORK. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REMOVED THE CHILD BY CUTTING THE SEAT BELT OFF.*AK

Mileage: 73,000

20040517ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VEHICLES STARTED CONSUMING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL AROUND MARCH 2003. REPORTED TO DEALER THAT I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AT. I HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES.ON APRIL 18TH 2003 THE DEALER DISCOVERED AND HAD TO REPLACE LEAKING VALVE SEALS, CARBONED PISTON RINGS AND CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS. IN DEC. 2003 THE VEHICLE BEGAN MIXING OIL & COOLANT. DEALER REPLACED CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD COSTING OVER $2000.00. THIS VEHICLE IS A LEMON AND SHOULD NOT HAVE NEEDED 2 MAJOR ENGINE REPAIRS. *AK

Mileage: 53,314

20040517ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

VEHICLES STARTED CONSUMING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL AROUND MARCH 2003. REPORTED TO DEALER THAT I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AT. I HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES.ON APRIL 18TH 2003 THE DEALER DISCOVERED AND HAD TO REPLACE LEAKING VALVE SEALS, CARBONED PISTON RINGS AND CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS. IN DEC. 2003 THE VEHICLE BEGAN MIXING OIL & COOLANT. DEALER REPLACED CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD COSTING OVER $2000.00. THIS VEHICLE IS A LEMON AND SHOULD NOT HAVE NEEDED 2 MAJOR ENGINE REPAIRS. *AK

Mileage: 53,314

20040412ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I CALLED SATURN TO SAY MY LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON DURING A TRIP. SATURN SUGGESTED A PRESSURE TEST. "SATURN STATES PRESSURE TESTED COOLING SYSTEM/NO EXTERNAL LEAKS FOUND/REMOVED CAM COVER AND FOUND A CRACK IN CYLINDER HEAD AT CAM#5 JOURNAL, CAUSING OIL AND COOLANT TO MIX TOGETHER/NEEDS NEW CYLINDER HEAD,THERMOSTAT,WATER PUMP,FLUSH OF COOLING SYSTEM AND OIL & FILTER." THE SERVICE INVOICE STATES "NO OIL CHANGE PER CUSTOMER REQUEST" . I WAS NEVER ASKED IF I WANTED AN OIL CHANGE ON 11/28; THE FACT IS I HAD AN OIL CHANGE AT SATURN 11/18!!!! PRIOR TO MY TRIP.(I ALSO ASKED THEM TO CHECK IT OVER WELL DUE TO THE UPCOMING TRIP-WHY WASN'T THIS PROBLEM FOUND THEN?-THEIR RESPONSE-WE WEREN'T LOOKING FOR THAT. TEN DAYS LATER IT JUST APEARS!!!??? I ASKED THEM TO CHANGE THIS INVOICE TO NOTE THIS ERROR, THIS WAS NOT DONE. I'VE SINCE TAKEN MY CAR TO 3 THREE PRIVATE GARAGES, ALL SAID THIS SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED. 2 SAID TO GET RID OF THE CAR. A 3RD SAID HE'D FIX IT FOR CONSIDERABLY LESS, BUT SA

Mileage: 58,000

20030912ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

SUDDEN FAILURE (CRACK) IN CYLINDER HEAD. *PH

Mileage: 109,000

20030521ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. *NM THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER WHICH STATED THAT SOME VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH 1.9 LITER ENGINES MAY DEVELOP A CRACK INTERNAL TO THE CYLINDER HEAD. THE LETTER ALSO STATED THAT THIS SPECIAL POLICY PROVIDED COVERAGE FOR A PERIOD OF 6 YEARS/100000 MILES. AT APPROXIMATELY 45000 MILES A CRACK WAS DISCOVERED. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE CONSUMER AUTHORIZED A $500. DIAGNOSTIC. THE CONSUMER REFUSED. *NM

Mileage: 45,467

20030421ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I TOOK MY 1999 SATURN SC1 IN TO THE DEALER FOR A RESONATOR REPLACEMENT AND WHEEL ROTATION AND BALANCE AT 49,091 MILES. THE DEALER CALLED ME TO SAY THE UPPER ENGINE MOUNT HAD TO BE REPLACED. LAST WEEK, WHEN WE TOOK MY WIFE'S 1996 SL1 IN FOR ENGINE NOISE, WE WERE ALSO TOLD WE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE MOUNT. WITH MY 1999 SC1, IT HAS BEEN TAKEN IN FOR ALL REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE -- WHY DOES THE ENGINE MOUNTS ON SATURNS NEED REPLACING?. *JB

20030421ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

I TOOK MY 1999 SATURN SC1 IN TO THE DEALER FOR A RESONATOR REPLACEMENT AND WHEEL ROTATION AND BALANCE AT 49,091 MILES. THE DEALER CALLED ME TO SAY THE UPPER ENGINE MOUNT HAD TO BE REPLACED. LAST WEEK, WHEN WE TOOK MY WIFE'S 1996 SL1 IN FOR ENGINE NOISE, WE WERE ALSO TOLD WE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE MOUNT. WITH MY 1999 SC1, IT HAS BEEN TAKEN IN FOR ALL REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE -- WHY DOES THE ENGINE MOUNTS ON SATURNS NEED REPLACING?. *JB

20030331SEATS

THE DRIVER'S SEAT ROCKED BACK AND FOURTH. *JB

20030207SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT DOES NOT HOLD ITS POSITION. PH

20030203POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

ON DECEMBER 22, 2002, I DISCOVERED A LEAK FROM MY CAR. I NEEDED SOMEONE TO LOOK AT THE CAR IMMEDIATELY JUST TO HAVE AN IDEA OF HOW SERIOUS THE LEAK WAS. AT 7 AM THE FOLLOWING MORNING I CALLED HIGHWOOD AUTO WHICH IS VERY CLOSE TO ME AND SOMEONE CAME AND TOWED THE CAR TO THE SHOP. THEY LATER CALLED TO SAY IT WAS A TRANSMISSION LEAK AND I SHOULD CALL SATURN. UPON OF EXPLAINING MY SITUATION TO SATURN OF PARAMUS THEY TOLD ME MY WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED AND SUGGESTED I TRADE IN THE CAR FOR A NEW ONE. I LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE I NEED A CAR AT ALL TIMES AND SO I TOLD HIGHWOOD AUTO TO INVESTIGATE THE LEAK FURTHER. THEY TOOK THE CAR APART AND FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS A HOLE. I CALLED SATURN CORPORATION AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THAT WAS UNUSUAL AND THAT THEY COULD ASSIST ME, BUT ONLY IF A SATURN TECHNICIAN LOOKS AT THE CAR. SATURN OF PARAMUS SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE CAR TAKEN TO THEM INTACT. THIS WAS NOT POSSIBLE, SO I WENT AHEAD AND INSTRUCTED HIGHWOOD AUTO TO FIX MY CAR, AS I LIV

20020924CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A DIRECT FRONTAL COLLISION AT 35 MPH. UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOYED. RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. DEALER WOULD BE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

Compare 1999SATURNSC to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1999 SATURN SC have?
The 1999 SATURN SC has 27 NHTSA complaints, 6 crashes, 2 fires, 6 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 SATURN SC?
The most-complained component for the 1999 SATURN SC is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
Is the 1999 SATURN SC safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.