RoadVitals

1993 Saturn Sc Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
23
Latest May 2, 2003
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
11
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.
4

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1993 Saturn Sc, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Interior & seats1037.0%
  • Brakes414.8%
  • Engine311.1%
  • Seat belts27.4%
  • Transmission27.4%
  • Electrical13.7%
  • Steering13.7%
  • Suspension13.7%
  • Tires & wheels13.7%
  • Visibility13.7%
  • Fuel system13.7%

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

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

10
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BACK COLLAPSES RANDOMLY AND QUICKLY. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE SPINAL INJURIES IN THE CASE OF AND ACCIDENT. THE PASSENGER COMPLAINED OF A SORE NECK. I WENT TO THE SATURN DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW SEAT EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW THERE ARE DEFECTS IN THE 1993 SEATS. *NLM

NHTSA ID 10016914 · filed May 2, 2003

RECLINING MECHANISM FAILS AFTER A FEW YEARS OF USE, WHICH RESULTS IN SUDDEN RECLINE OF DRIVER SEAT. NEARLY CAUSED ME TO CRASH ON ONE OCCASION, AFTER HITTING THE BREAKS AND THE PRESSURE OF MY BODY MADE THE SEAT RECLINE. AFTER CONTACTING SATURN, THEY TOLD ME THE RECLINING MECHANISM WAS NOT RECALLED ON THE EARLIER MODELS (BEFORE 1994 OR 1995, I CAN'T REMEMBER). I FEEL THIS IS A PROBLEM, AS THE CARS AREN'T THAT OLD WHEN THE MECHAISM FAILS. I HAVE REPLACED THE PASSENGER SEAT ALREADY IN 1999 , WITH THE DRIVERS SEAT UNREPAIRED AT THIS TIME. IT CAUSES A SERIOUS PROBLEM WHEN DRIVING, AND SATURN KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID 10005268 · filed Feb 4, 2003
All 10 reports naming interior & seats →

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING. THEN APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THEY FAILED. VEHICLE ROLLED OVER FOUR TO SIX TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ID 840819 · filed Jun 22, 1999

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 70 MPH AND STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. APPLIED BRAKES, AND THEY WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD, AND VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER FOUR TO SIX TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ID 839911 · filed Jun 16, 1999

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

ENGINE HEAD CRACKED, CAUSING THE COOLANT AND OIL TO MIX TOGETHER, CREATING A SPLURGE. *AK

NHTSA ID 844227 · filed Aug 3, 1999

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON. ALSO DEFECTIVE EGR VALVE.

NHTSA ID 532942 · filed Mar 17, 1998

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

AUTOMATIC SHOUDLER BELTS ON THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDES ARE STUCK IN THE FORWARD POSITION ON THE RAIL. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID 858472 · filed Mar 14, 2000

VEHICLE SHAKES IN THE MORNING.

NHTSA ID 535804 · filed May 20, 1998

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

THE LOCKUP CONVERTOR IN THE TRANS MAKES THE CAR JUMP AT LOW SPEEDS. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT IS TO REMOVE THE FUSE THAT SENDS POWER THE THE CONVERTOR.

NHTSA ID 703763 · filed Feb 26, 1999

WHEN VEHICLE IS PUT INTO 5TH GEAR IT VIBRATES AND THEN STALLS OUT. TT

NHTSA ID 962967 · filed Apr 3, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

CAME UPON STOP LIGHT VEHICLE STARTED TO FILL WITH SMOKE. SHOULDER BELTS ATTACHED TO DOOR MOVED UP/DOWN. DRIVER COULD NOT RELEASE BUTTON TO GET OUT. SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER DASHBOARD.TURNED VEHICLE OFF & SEAT BELTS STOPPED MOVING. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN WIRING. *AK *SB

NHTSA ID 828682 · filed Oct 7, 1998

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING. THEN APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THEY FAILED. VEHICLE ROLLED OVER FOUR TO SIX TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ID 840819 · filed Jun 22, 1999

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

VEHICLE SHAKES IN THE MORNING.

NHTSA ID 535804 · filed May 20, 1998

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

FIRESTONE TIRES EXPERIENCED BLOWOUTS. *SLC

NHTSA ID 556097 · filed Oct 13, 2000

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

VEHICLE SHAKES IN THE MORNING.

NHTSA ID 535804 · filed May 20, 1998

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

VEHICLE WAS CHOKING WITH GASOLINE, AND JUST QUIT. VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AND DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID 887413 · filed May 3, 2001

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .