AI Damage2000 Saturn SC: common problems
Owners of the 2000 Saturn SC filed 7 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and tires. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 7
- involving a crash
- 2
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 29% of all complaints
- 2 Tires 29% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 14% of all complaints
- 4 Seat belts 14% of all complaints
- 5 Seats 14% of all complaints
- 6 Service brakes 14% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (29% of all).
- Tires: 2 complaints (29% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (14% of all).
- Seat belts: 1 complaints (14% of all).
- Seats: 1 complaints (14% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.9 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 7 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 1 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The vehicle's transmission leaked fluid. 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.
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. (dot number: w27j bcd tiresize: p185/65r14)
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 12,538 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 34% most complained about).
On average one model year of the SC has 25 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 7, below average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Tires. Tire age by DOT code, bulges, wear pattern.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2000 Saturn SC?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, tires, powertrain. Total complaints: 7. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (14%), steering or power steering problems (14%), warning lights, check engine (14%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2000 Saturn SC?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2000 Saturn SC from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2000 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.