Ligthly applied brake to slow down to stop at intersection; though I had foot pressing hard on brake car would not stop, entered intersection and struck a passing car; this was within an hour of picking up the car from garage where repairs had been done because of this problem; air bags did not activate at impact
Engine & cooling
1996 Saturn SC Engine problems
Owners have filed 7 complaints about the 1996 Saturn SC's engine & cooling with NHTSA - 27% of all its complaints, most recently on January 28, 2017. They describe 1 crash, 0 fires and 1 injury. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.
- Complaints
- 7
- Recalls
- 0
- Crashes
- 1
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 1
- Deaths
- 0
Engine complaints
As the original owner of a 1996 saturn sc1 with 68,000 miles, this car has had four head gaskets replaced originating when this car was under a year old. In addition to these repeated catastrophic engine failures multiple replacements of alarm systems, radio, electrical issues and a defective front seat. This is what I purchased from saturn and I have all documentation. The most recent head gasket failure occurred in november '06. As I was exasperated by saturn and this vehicle I was sold, I sued the saturn corporation in the richmond county small claims division for the cost of the fourth head gasket. *Tr
Head gasket blown, head cracked, engine oil and coolant mixing. This is a well known manufacturer's defect. Saturn says they will not cover the expenses as I am out of the warranty period (6 years or 100,000 miles)
June 1999 saturn sent a notice regarding the cylinder head defect that may occur. They extended warranty to 100,000 miles or 6 years. However knowing there is a defect in their workmanship, I attempted contact with less than 69,000 miles on my saturn when the cylinder head showed all the signs of a crack. This included oil in the radiator. Saturn accepts no liability for this seeing it out of the six year warranty period. However it is well within the 100,000 mile mileage period.
CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED. NLM
Vehicle would stall periodically without any type of prior warning. Vehicle has been taken to dealer on six different occasions, and dealer replaced cranked sensor/idle speed control motor, and turned screw for idle and etc. Although repairs were done, it did not remedy the problem. Also, manufacturer was contacted by dealer. *Ak
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Saturn SC engine complaints by year
SC engine problems, every yearSource: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data