RoadVitals

1991 Saturn Sc

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
5
Latest Jul 10, 2001
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Aug 10, 1993
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1
3 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1991 Saturn Sc, most frequently naming the seat belts, engine and steering categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 2 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Seat belts350.0%
  • Engine233.3%
  • Steering116.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
93V132000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

Aug 10, 1993
352,833 units potentially affected
The defect: THE GENERATOR ELECTRICAL WIRING IS NOT PROTECTED AGAINST EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW WHICH MAY BE CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE GENERATOR.
The risk: SHOULD AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT OCCUR IN THEGENERATOR, THE GENERATOR WIRING HARNESS WOULD EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW.UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, ENOUGH HEAT COULD BE GENERATED TO IGNITE SURROUNDINGMATERIALS. IF THIS OCCURS, AN UNDERHOOD FIRE COULD RESULT WITH OR WITHOUT THEENGINE RUNNING AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
The remedy: THE GENERATOR WIRING HARNESS WILL BE REPLACED WITH ONE THAT WILL OPEN AS A FUSE WOULD UNDER CERTAIN EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW CONDITIONS.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA93016ClosedEngineering Analysis

FR SEATBACK RECLINER FAILS

Opened Jun 8, 1993
Closed Jul 26, 1994

There is no summary currently available

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Seat belts
Filed Jul 10, 2001

AUTOMATIC SEATBELTS FAILS TO OPERATE. *AK

NHTSA ID
748250
Incident
May 1, 2001
Engine
Filed Nov 29, 1998

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR WHEN SMOKE BEGAN TO EMIT AND THE GENERATOR LIGHT WAS ON. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO OUR HOUSE. UPON EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE BLOCK WAS CRACKED WHERE THE GENERATOR IS SCREWED TO THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SATURN OF DADELAND ON 05/29/1998. THEY REPLACED CRACKED ENGINE BLOCK, ALL CRANKSHAFT BEARINGS, TIMING CHAIN & GUIDES, PISTON RINGS, VALVE STEM SEALS, & LAPPED ALL VALVES, INSTALLED NEW GENERATOR & BOLTS. TOTAL COST: $3196.67

NHTSA ID
700977
Incident
May 28, 1998
EngineSeat belts
Filed Sep 9, 1997

WHEN OPENING THE DOOR TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR DOESN'T MOVE. ONCE GETTING IN AND CLOSING THE DOOR, THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR STILL WILL NOT MOVE. AK CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REBUILT.*JB

NHTSA ID
816193
Incident
Aug 4, 1997
Steering
Filed Sep 24, 1996
Crash reported3 injuries reported

STEERING FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
509136
Incident
Aug 25, 1996
Seat belts
Filed Nov 20, 1995

BOTH FRONT PASSIVE RESTRAINTS FAIL TO OPERATE, W/OWNER NOTIFYING SATURN MANUFACTURER. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA ID
975158

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

92-T-40D

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT; VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

This service bulletin revision provides a repair procedure to Remove Debris from Evaporator Case, Disinfect evaporator or Apply Cooling coil coating and install blower motor control module to correct a customer concern of A/C Odor at start-up.

130089009

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)

Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Saturn Sc by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2002380042.4
2001212050.7
2000770—
1999241045.8
1998130033.2
1997333054.4
1996260036.9
1995392363.3
1994511455.4
1993231251.7
1992162251.9
1991Viewing511—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.