1999 Saturn SC problems
Owners have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Saturn SC. Engine is the most reported problem area, at 30% of complaints. Next are air bags (15%) and seats (11%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 27 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 30% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 6 and 2
- Injuries and deaths
- 6 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 79,000 miles 11 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 0 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 0 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 4 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 2 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 2 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 3 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 11 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 79,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 6 complaints mention a crash; 2 complaints mention a fire; 6 injuries reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 97% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1999 ranks 5th most-complained-about out of 8 model years of the Saturn SC with enough data (18 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
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.
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.
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" .
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.