While my grandson was driving my 1998 saturn sc2, another vehicle hit the car on the drivers' side and the airbags did not deployed.
The worst 1998 Saturn SC1 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Engine13
- Seat belts10
- Visibility5
- Electrical4
- Acceleration3
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Engine13
- Seat belts10
- Visibility5
- Electrical4
- Acceleration3
- Brakes3
- Transmission3
- Airbags2
- Body2
- Locks2
- Seats2
- Suspension2
- Tires2
- Fuel system1
Recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Technical service bulletins for the 1998 Saturn SC1 1
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
What 1998 Saturn SC1 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
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.
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.
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.
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
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!
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.
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.
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
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!!!
Compare the 1998 Saturn SC1
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Questions about the 1998 Saturn SC1
Is the 1998 Saturn SC1 reliable?
Owners have filed 39 complaints about the 1998 Saturn SC1, 1.6 times a typical SC1 model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Saturn SC1?
Engine and cooling, with 13 complaints, typically around 54,500 miles. Next is seat belts (10).
How many recalls does the 1998 Saturn SC1 have?
No recalls on record.
What year does the Saturn SC1 have bad engine?
The Saturn SC1 model years with the most engine complaints are 1994 (13 complaints), 1998 (13 complaints) and 1997 (11 complaints).
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