1996 Saturn SC1 Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 10%of 39 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 93,990miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1996 Saturn SC1, 10% of the 39 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 93,990 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I would like to file a complaint on the car manufacturer Saturn because like many people we have been driving down the road and a little plastic bushing that holds the shifter and transmission cable has broken into pieces. Saturn should replace these plastic pieces with more durable and reliable ones because the dealerships want to charge over 300 dollars to replace a 30 cent piece of plastic.”
NHTSA complaint #10157471, filed 2006-05, 117,980 miles“After about 70,000 mi I noticed transmission would not go into reverse after it heated up (about 50+ mi on fwy). A transmission shop told me that saturns have a problem with the valve body . I had it replaced and it cost about $350. About 20,000 mi later I started having the same trouble again. It wasn't that bad at first so I did not have it looked at until recently (mi at 150,000) I took it to the Saturn dealership in palmdale, ca. …”
NHTSA complaint #10098714, filed 2004-11, 70,000 milesTransmission and drivetrain: other model years
Other parts of the 1996 Saturn SC1
10 complaintsEngine cooling
8 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
4 complaintsBrakes
3 complaintsFuel system
3 complaintsSteering
3 complaintsAir bags
2 complaintsBody and structure
2 complaintsOther or unknown
1 complaintsTires
1 complaintsVehicle speed control
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1996 Saturn SC1
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology