RoadVitals

1992 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.
16
Latest Jun 10, 2003
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.
2
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.
2
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

Overview

Our database contains 16 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1992 Saturn Sc, most frequently naming the seat belts, body & structure and interior & seats categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name 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 belts1152.4%
  • Body & structure314.3%
  • Interior & seats29.5%
  • Engine14.8%
  • Electrical14.8%
  • Heating & air conditioning14.8%
  • Tires & wheels14.8%
  • Visibility14.8%

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

2 campaigns 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
92V098000

POWER TRAIN

Jul 8, 1992
633 units potentially affected
The defect: THE TRANSAXLE VALVE ASSEMBLIES WERE IMPROPERLY MACHINED. VEHICLES MAY NOT PROPERLY ENGAGE IN NEUTRAL OR PARK, EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SELECTOR INDICATES THE VEHICLE IS IN NEUTRAL OR PARK.
The risk: IF THE GEAR SELECTOR INDICATES THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK ORNEUTRAL, IT COULD BE IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE CAR COULD STARTIN REVERSE OR DRIVE, OR MIGHT MOVE UNEXPECTEDLY, WHICH MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLECRASH OR INJURY TO PERSONS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE, WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
The remedy: REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE VALVE BODIES.
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
PE93004ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

SEATBACK FAILURE

Opened Feb 5, 1993
Closed Jun 8, 1993

There is no summary currently available

SEATS

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 16
Interior & seats
Filed Jun 10, 2003

HOOD RELEASE CABLE ROUTING HAS CAUSED LEAK IN A/C TUBING NEAR COIL. ALL REFRIGERANT WAS LOST. ROUTING OF THIS CABLE IS OBVIOUSLY FLAWED IN SEVERAL PLACES ASIDE FROM THE A/C PROBLEM. CABLE AND/OR NEARBY SURFACES ARE DAMAGED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10021353
Incident
Jun 10, 2003
Seat belts
Filed Jun 17, 2002

WHILE STARTING VEHICLE PLACED MOTORIZED SHOULDER BELT ON, BUT IT DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID
8011964
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 13, 2000

FIRESTONE FIREHAWK TIRE GTA 195 60 R15 EXPERIENCED BLOWOUT. *SLC

NHTSA ID
556009
Incident
Oct 4, 1992
Seat belts
Filed Jul 17, 2000

WE ALSO HAVE A 1991 SATURN SL. THE DIRVER SIDE AUTOMATIC SAFETY BELT WON'T WORK EITHER. IS IT JUST THE TYPE OF CAR OR WHAT?*AK

NHTSA ID
725564
Incident
Jul 1, 1999
Heating & air conditioning
Filed May 24, 2000
Fire reported

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TRAVELING 65MPH, AND A/C STOPPED WORKING. WHILE COMING OFF HIGHWAY, STOPPED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT THE HOOD. TURNED VEHICLE OFF. FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT FIRE OUT. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD THAT FIRE STARTED IN A/C ASSEMBLY. HAD THE A/C REPLACED ON SEPT 2, 1998. *AK

NHTSA ID
862480
Incident
Oct 4, 1998
Body & structure
Filed May 11, 1999

SUNROOF IS LEAKING. YH

NHTSA ID
782349
Incident
Jan 1, 1999
Seat belts
Filed Dec 29, 1998

SEAT BELT MOTOR WAS REPLACED ONCE; NOW HAS FAILED AGAIN. MANUFACTURER'S "FIX" IS A CLIP WHICH ENABLES USER TO HOOK UP SEATBELT MANUALLY.

NHTSA ID
701723
Incident
Nov 1, 1998
Seat belts
Filed Nov 18, 1998

SATURN MANUFACTURED AUTOMATIC SEATBELTS IN EARLY MODEL CARS. THEY STOPPED DOING THAT IN SUBSEQUENT MODEL YEARS. THE SEATBELTS NO LONGER GO BACK AND FORTH AND SOMETIMES WILL NOT GO BACK INTO THE LOCKED POSITION EVEN WHEN FORCED. I REQUESTED THAT THEY FIX THEM AND THEY QUOTED ME A FIGURE IN EXCESS OF $600 EACH. THEY SAID THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM CAUSED BY THE FRAYING OF A CABLE IN THE DOOR FRAME. I HAVE DONE NOTHING TO CAUSE THIS PROBLEM AND IT IS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW. THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AS A RESULT AND I DON'T BELIEVE I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED.

NHTSA ID
700737
Incident
May 15, 1995

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
1992Viewing162251.9
1991511—

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.