Total Complaints
30 filings
SATURN SC1 · model year
30 NHTSA complaints, 11 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1999SATURNSC1 carries 30 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 11 crashes, 0 fires, 14 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 SC1 is seats with 4 filings, followed by seat belts:front:retractor (3) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (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 SC1. 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.
Total Complaints
30 filings
Crashes Reported
11 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SEATS | 4 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 3 |
| AIR BAGS | 2 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 2 |
| STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN | 1 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY | 1 |
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
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.
Mileage: 85,500
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
Mileage: 49,000
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
Mileage: 61,000
DRIVER'S SEAT COMPLETELY RECLINED DURING REAR END COLLISION, RESULTING IN NECK AND BACK INJURIES.*AK
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
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
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HER AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING. ALSO STATED THAT SHE WAS INVOLVED ON A FRONTAL COLLISION. MANUFACTURE WAS NOT CONTACTED.
WHILE IN MOTION, CONSUMER PLACED THE VEHICLE IN CRUISE CONTROL, MAINTAINING A SPEED OF 66 MPH. CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER FELT THE BRAKES CATCH, THEN THERE WAS A LETTING GO FEELING. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISHTAIL FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS UNRESPONSIVE TO THE BRAKING EFFORTS. CONSUMER TRIED TO EXIT THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE HIT THE RISING OF THE MEDIAN AND FLIPPED ONTO ITS ROOF. CONSUMER SUFFERED VARIOUS BODILY INJURIES. CONSUMER REQUESTS THE DEFECTS ENDURED BE INVESTIGATED, CONSUMER LOOKED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE AND OBSERVED THAT THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL HAD DE-BEADED AND HAD NO AIR, THIS IS WHAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FISHTAIL, TIRE IS A FIRESTONE LEMANS HR TUBLPS 195/60R15, IN THE ACCIDENT, THE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JG
WHILE IN MOTION, CONSUMER PLACED THE VEHICLE IN CRUISE CONTROL, MAINTAINING A SPEED OF 66 MPH. CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER FELT THE BRAKES CATCH, THEN THERE WAS A LETTING GO FEELING. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISHTAIL FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS UNRESPONSIVE TO THE BRAKING EFFORTS. CONSUMER TRIED TO EXIT THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE HIT THE RISING OF THE MEDIAN AND FLIPPED ONTO ITS ROOF. CONSUMER SUFFERED VARIOUS BODILY INJURIES. CONSUMER REQUESTS THE DEFECTS ENDURED BE INVESTIGATED, CONSUMER LOOKED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE AND OBSERVED THAT THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL HAD DE-BEADED AND HAD NO AIR, THIS IS WHAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FISHTAIL, TIRE IS A FIRESTONE LEMANS HR TUBLPS 195/60R15, IN THE ACCIDENT, THE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JG
WHILE IN MOTION, CONSUMER PLACED THE VEHICLE IN CRUISE CONTROL, MAINTAINING A SPEED OF 66 MPH. CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER FELT THE BRAKES CATCH, THEN THERE WAS A LETTING GO FEELING. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISHTAIL FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS UNRESPONSIVE TO THE BRAKING EFFORTS. CONSUMER TRIED TO EXIT THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE HIT THE RISING OF THE MEDIAN AND FLIPPED ONTO ITS ROOF. CONSUMER SUFFERED VARIOUS BODILY INJURIES. CONSUMER REQUESTS THE DEFECTS ENDURED BE INVESTIGATED, CONSUMER LOOKED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE AND OBSERVED THAT THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL HAD DE-BEADED AND HAD NO AIR, THIS IS WHAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FISHTAIL, TIRE IS A FIRESTONE LEMANS HR TUBLPS 195/60R15, IN THE ACCIDENT, THE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JG
THE SUN ROOF FAILED, AND TO HAVE IT FIXED COST 1200 DOLLARS. I CONTACTED SATURN OF CARY AND SATURN CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AT 18005536000 AND TALKED TO PEGGY. SHE SAID SINCE IT WAS NOT FIXED AT A SATURN DEALER THEY WOULD NOT CONSIDER IT. I TOLD HER OF MY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WITH MY PREVIOUS SATURN BURNING UP ALL BY ITSELF, AFTER THEY REPLACED A VALVE COVER GASKET, AND THE CAR BEING TOTALED. THEY DID NOTHING ABOUT THAT, EITHER. I HAD THE SUN ROOF FIXED BY TECHNIQUEST OF CARY, WHO SUGGESTED I GET SATURN TO HELP ME WITH THE COST OF THIS, AS 1200 DOLLARS TO REPAIR THIS, AND SATURN SURPRIZINGLY KEEPING PLENTY OF THIS ITEMS IN STOCK, POINT OT A PROBLEM SATURN DOES NOT WANT TO ADMIT TO. MR
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE; LOST CONTROL AND FLIP OVER AND NEITHER THE AIR BAG DEPLOY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *MR THE BRAKE FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *YH
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE; LOST CONTROL AND FLIP OVER AND NEITHER THE AIR BAG DEPLOY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *MR THE BRAKE FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *YH
THE BRAKE FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *YH
DRIVER ATTEMTPED TO ENTER LEFT LANE ON INTERSTATE WHILE TRAVELING AT 65-67 MPH. WHILE ENTERING LANE, AND AT DIAGONAL, HAD TO HIT BARKES SUDDENLY DUE TO DRIVER IN CAR IMMEDIATELY AHEAD OF VEHICLE LEAVING RIGHT LANE WITHOUT NOTICE. HIT BARKES AND REAR RIGHT WHEEL "GAVE' AND CAR REAR END BEGAN TO FISHTAIL UNCONTROLLABLY. DRIVER HAD TO EXIT HIGHWAY TO CETER V-SHAPED MEDIAN. TRAVELING AT HIGH, THOUGH REDUCED RATE OF SPEED. CAR TRAVELED DOWN NEAR INCLINE INTO V OF MEDIAN CENTER. CAR HIT ASCENDING AREA OF MEDIANWITH FRONT (80%) LEFT (20%) PORTION OF VEHICLE. TORE OFF FOGS LIGHTS, BROKE LOWER AIR DAM AND TORE OFF LICENSE PLATE BRACKETT WHILE CRUMPLING LICENSE PLATE. LEFT FRONT TIRE HIT INCLINED AREA OF MEDIAN. VEHICLE FLIPPED ONTO ROOF. DESPITE IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUFFERED CONCUSSION, BODY LACERATIONS, CERVICAL FRACTURE.BUMPER TRAVEL. *AK
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.*AK
REAR PASSENGER SIDE OUTBOARD SEAT SEATBELT WILL NOT RETRACT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT SEATBELT ASSEMBLY NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK *JG
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
CHILD SEAT DOES NOT FIT SAFELY INTO THE VEHICLE, THIS STATEMENT CAME FROM THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE CONSUMER WAS ASKING FOR REFUND OR FOR AN EQUAL EXCHANGE. *YH *TT
Electric Power Steering Failure
Electric Power Steering Failure
OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES STICK UNLATCHED
TIMING CHAIN BREAKS, ENGINE STALL
TIMING CHAIN FAILURE-STALL
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.