Total Complaints
8 filings
SATURN SC · model year
2000 SATURN SC
8 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports, and 7 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2000SATURNSC carries 8 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 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 2000 SC is electrical system with 2 filings, followed by tires:sidewall (1) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (1). 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. This model year has 7 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 14 investigation files overlapping the 2000 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.
8
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| TIRES:SIDEWALL | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
| SEATS | 1 |
Recalls (7)
99V29700027/10/1999
STRUCTURE:BODY
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A CONSOLE ARMREST FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACTS." THE ARMRESTS WERE PRODUCED WITH A LATCH THAT WILL NOT WITHSTAND THE VERTICAL FORCE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
99V23100024/08/1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 135, "PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH BRAKE PIPE ATTACHMENT NUTS THAT MAY NOT BE TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATIONS.
99V23200023/08/1999
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 581, "BUMPER STANDARD." THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH REAR BUMPER FASTENERS THAT MAY BE LOOSE OR MISSING.
99V23000023/08/1999
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH WELDS IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CARRIER ASSEMBLY THAT DO NOT MEET SATURN QUALITY STANDARDS.
99V28000020/10/1999
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES." SOME OF THE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH SEAT BELT SHOULDER GUIDE ANCHOR BOLTS THAT WERE NOT ADEQUATELY TIGHTENED AT THE CENTER PILLAR AND COULD FALL OUT, MAKI
00V31000012/10/2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH AN IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE PARK LOCK CABLE ASSEMBLY. IF IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED, IT IS POSSIBL
00V30900012/10/2000
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY." THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH AN INADEQUATE VENT VALVE WELD ON THE TOP PORTION OF THE FUEL TANK.
Recent Complaints
20141124ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DRIVING AND ALL ELECTRICAL POWER WAS SUDDENLY LOST, POWER STEERING LOST-HARD TO STEER. MANAGED TO PULL OVER - TURN OFF/ON IGNITION AND CAR STARTED BACKUP. *TR
Mileage: 142,000
20130725CrashSEATS
DRIVER SEAT RECLINER FAILURE. SAME PROBLEM THAT AFFECTED 1994 AND 1995 SATURNS (RECALLED AS WELL). GEAR TEETH IN RECLINER MECHANISM GET WORN OUT AND NO LONGER HOLD THE SEAT BACKREST UPRIGHT. THIS POSES A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
20100412SEAT BELTS
I'M BUYING THIS CAR FROM A CAR DEALER J B BYRIDER. ON 3/26/10 I TOOK THE SATURN SC1 OUT FOR A TEST DRIVE DURING THE DAY TIME AND CAME BACK AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE NOISE I HEARD COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR. WAS TOLD THAT A PART WAS BEING ODOR. 3/30/10 TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS COMING ACROSS MY NECK AND LOCKING, AND THE THERE WAS ONLY ONE LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD SHOWING THE SPEED AND NOTHING ELSE. WAS TOLD ORDER A PART FOR THE SEAT BELT AND WOULD LOOK AT THE DASH BROAD WHEN I CAME BACK (IT WAS SAID THAT THE DASH BROAD LIGHTS WERE OK). 3/31/10 TOOK THE CAR TO A SATURN DEALER AND ASKED ABOUT THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS AND FOUND OUT THAT IT'S NOT OK. I CALLED JB BYRIDER AND SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MANGER AT 3:10 PM, WHOM SAID THAT HE KNEW WHO I WAS AND AGAIN THE PART WAS ORDER AND WOULD LOOK AT THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WHEN I CAME IN FOR THE SEAT BELT. I DID NOT HEAR FROM THEM. SO ON 4/10/10 I TOOK THE CAR BACK AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS CLOSE, DO N
20100412ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I'M BUYING THIS CAR FROM A CAR DEALER J B BYRIDER. ON 3/26/10 I TOOK THE SATURN SC1 OUT FOR A TEST DRIVE DURING THE DAY TIME AND CAME BACK AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE NOISE I HEARD COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR. WAS TOLD THAT A PART WAS BEING ODOR. 3/30/10 TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS COMING ACROSS MY NECK AND LOCKING, AND THE THERE WAS ONLY ONE LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD SHOWING THE SPEED AND NOTHING ELSE. WAS TOLD ORDER A PART FOR THE SEAT BELT AND WOULD LOOK AT THE DASH BROAD WHEN I CAME BACK (IT WAS SAID THAT THE DASH BROAD LIGHTS WERE OK). 3/31/10 TOOK THE CAR TO A SATURN DEALER AND ASKED ABOUT THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS AND FOUND OUT THAT IT'S NOT OK. I CALLED JB BYRIDER AND SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MANGER AT 3:10 PM, WHOM SAID THAT HE KNEW WHO I WAS AND AGAIN THE PART WAS ORDER AND WOULD LOOK AT THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WHEN I CAME IN FOR THE SEAT BELT. I DID NOT HEAR FROM THEM. SO ON 4/10/10 I TOOK THE CAR BACK AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS CLOSE, DO N
20050304POWER TRAIN
THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION LEAKED FLUID. *NM THE CONSUMER HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED AT A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP AND REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REIMBURSE THE MONEY BECAUSE THE REPAIRS WERE NOT MADE BY A SATURN DEALER. *NM
20020531TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TREAD SEPARATION FROM TIRE. *AK
20011030CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY. AND A DEER JUMPED IN FRONT OF VEHICLE . CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND WAS FORCED ON THE SHOULDERS. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
20010731TIRES:SIDEWALL
COMPLETE RUPTURE OF TIRE AT JUNCTION OF SIDEWALL (INSIDE) AND TREAD FOR APPROXIMATELY 180 DEGREES, WITH RADIATING RUPTURES IN THE SIDEWALL FROM THE WHEEL RIM TO THE TREAD RUPTURE.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W27J BCD TIRESIZE: P185/65R14)
Compare 2000SATURNSC to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
EA11014Engineering AnalysisClosed
Electric Power Steering Failure
RQ10004Recall QueryClosed
Electric Power Steering Failure
PE09016Preliminary EvaluationClosed
OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES STICK UNLATCHED
PE08061Preliminary EvaluationClosed
TIMING CHAIN BREAKS, ENGINE STALL
DP08002Defect PetitionClosed
TIMING CHAIN FAILURE-STALL
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2000 SATURN SC have?▼
The 2000 SATURN SC has 8 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2000 SATURN SC?▼
Yes, the 2000 SATURN SC has 7 recall(s). The most common affected component is STRUCTURE:BODY. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2000 SATURN SC?▼
The most-complained component for the 2000 SATURN SC is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES:SIDEWALL and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS.
Is the 2000 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.