1993 Saturn SC1 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1993 Saturn SC1, 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 & seats1520.3%
- Brakes1216.2%
- Electrical912.2%
- Engine912.2%
- Seat belts68.1%
- Driver assistance45.4%
- Airbags34.1%
- Body & structure34.1%
- Transmission34.1%
- Visibility22.7%
- Powertrain (other)22.7%
- Tires & wheels22.7%
- Suspension11.4%
- Heating & air conditioning11.4%
- Exterior lighting11.4%
- Other / unspecified11.4%
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
1993 SATURN SC2 FRONT SEAT BACK RECLINER MECHANISM FAILED CAUSING SEAT BACK TO RECLINE SUDDENLY AND ALMOST INJURING PASSENGER IN THE CAR. SEAT WILL NO LONGER STAY FORWARD WHICH RESULTS IN SEAT GOING BACK A SOON AS YOU PRESS GAS PEDAL. *TR
DRIVER'S SEAT BACK RECLINER MECHANISM FAILED CAUSING SEAT BACK TO RECLINE SUDDENLY AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. DISASSEMBLY OF THE SEAT AND INSPECTION OF THE RECLINER MECHANISM REVEALED A DESIGN DEFECT WHICH MAKES SUDDEN FAILURE OF THIS MECHANISM HIGHLY LIKELY. FOR THE RECLINER TO HOLD THE SEAT BACK IN POSITION, TWO INTERNAL OPERATING LEVERS MUST REMAIN ALIGNED IN THE SAME PLANE. THESE ARE HELD IN ALIGNMENT BY A VERY THIN METAL PLATE (ABOUT 1MM THICK). THIS PLATE WAS BENT CAUSING THE INTERNAL OPERATING LEVERS TO MISALIGN AND THE SEAT BACK TO COLLAPSE. DUE TO THE THINNESS AND LACK OF STRENGTH OF THE ALIGNMENT PLATE, THIS FAILURE IS EXTREMELY LIKELY. YOUR DATABASE SHOWS AT LEAST TWO OTHER SIMILAR FAILURES IN 1993 SATURNS. ALSO NOTE NHTSA ORDERED A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM IN 1994 SATURNS. THE FAILED SEAT BACK RECLINER MECHANISM IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION BY NHTSA PERSONNEL. THIS IS NOT A NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ISSUE, SINCE THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH OTHER 1993 SATURNS. *TR
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT MULTIPLE FAILURES. THE TRUNK FAILED TO CLOSE ON ITS OWN. WHILE DRIVING THE TRUNK WOULD OPEN AND WOULD NOT CLOSE, AND WILL NOT LOCK. ALSO, CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKES GRABBED SLOWLY AND CAUSED LOSS OF BRAKING POWER. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, T BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO REAR END THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THE CONSUMER. *AK
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND SUDDENLY THE LIGHTS WENT DIM AND SMOKE BEGAN COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS A FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND THE WIRE THAT CONNECTED TO THE ALTERNATOR MELTED. *AK
GENERATOR FAILED PREMATURELY, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. RECALL# 93V132000 *SCC THE CONSUMER STATED THE ALTERNATOR FAILED THREE TIMES. *JB
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES WOULD BE ENTERING VEHICLE THROUGH FLOORBOARD. WOULD HAVE STATIC ELECTRIC CHARGE TO LEFT KNEE. DOORS WERE EXCESSIVELY HEAVY TO OPEN OR CLOSE. DOOR LOCKS FAILED TO BE OPERATED PROPERLY. PANEL LIGHTS WOULD COME ON OR GO OFF BY THEMSELVES. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE MECHANIC CHECK IT OUT. *AK
FAILED PREVIOUSLY, PAID $1600 TO SATURN IN 98 AND PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. 1-CYL WAS REPLACED WITH THIS WORK IN ADDITION TO SEVERAL OTHER THINGS. ENGINE PRACTICALLY REBUILT. EXISTED PRIOR TO THIS AROUND 1995-1997 AND WAS REPORTED AND TAKEN TO SATURN DEALERS WHO DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AFTER SEVERAL TIMES OF BRINGING IN THE VEHICLE. OIL LOSS WHICH MEANS IT'S BURNING UP SOMEPLACE BECAUSE IT'S NOT DRIPPING FROM UNDERNEATH. I HAD A DIAGNOSTIC DONE AND ALL THAT'S SAID IS THAT THERE IS AN OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE RUNS VERY ROUGH AND IS NOT RELIABLE.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
DUE TO PLASTIC DOOR SKIN (OUTER PANELING ) OPENING THE DOOR IN A LOW SPEED CAR ACCIDENT IN ADDITION TO PASSIVE SEAT BELT FALURE (INTERMITTENTLY WORKED)I WAS EJECTED FROM CAR AND LEFT PARALYZED. AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKING WAS REJECTED BY SATURN DUE TO COST LEAVING SAFETY OUT OF CONCERN. *JB
I AM CURIOUS AS TO WHETHER WE ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SEAT BELT FAILURE. BECAUSE OF CONSTRUCTION, THEY HAVE STOPPED RUNNING ACROSS THE TOP OF THE DOOR, AND THEY ARE EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN DRIVING CAR PUT CRUISE CONTROL ON IT, CUT OFF AND IT WILL NOT COME BACK ON, WAIT A DAY OR TWO FOR IT TO COME ON. TT
WAS DRIVING TRIED TO TURN ON CRUISE CONTROL IT WOULDN'T CUT OFF. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
NO SUMMARY
PREMATURE INFLATION OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG, OWNER FEELS AIRBAG WAS OVERSENSATIVE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
DUE TO PLASTIC DOOR SKIN (OUTER PANELING ) OPENING THE DOOR IN A LOW SPEED CAR ACCIDENT IN ADDITION TO PASSIVE SEAT BELT FALURE (INTERMITTENTLY WORKED)I WAS EJECTED FROM CAR AND LEFT PARALYZED. AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKING WAS REJECTED BY SATURN DUE TO COST LEAVING SAFETY OUT OF CONCERN. *JB
WHILE DRIVING CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES WOULD BE ENTERING VEHICLE THROUGH FLOORBOARD. WOULD HAVE STATIC ELECTRIC CHARGE TO LEFT KNEE. DOORS WERE EXCESSIVELY HEAVY TO OPEN OR CLOSE. DOOR LOCKS FAILED TO BE OPERATED PROPERLY. PANEL LIGHTS WOULD COME ON OR GO OFF BY THEMSELVES. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE MECHANIC CHECK IT OUT. *AK
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATES THIS IS THIRD TIME HAS CHANGE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISION . DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. AND PROBLEM IS REOCUURING. MR
MY '93 SATURN WOULD PUSH INTO THE REVERSE GEAR WHEN EVER THE CAR WAS WARM. I WAS TOLD BY A GMC AUTO REPAIR SHOP THAT MY TRANSMISSION WAS GOING OUT. AFTER GETTING A SECOND OPINION I DISCOVED THAT MANY OWNERS OF '93 SATURNS HAS THIS SAME PROBLEM. AFTER FURTHER INVESTAGATION ON MY PART I LEARNED THAT SATURN MADE A REPAIR KIT FOR THIS PROBLEM WHICH COST ME $150 FOR THE KIT AND ANOTHER $150 FOR LABOR COSTS. IT WAS STATED IN THE SERVICE BULLETIN THAT SATURN SENT TO TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOPS THAT MAJOR DAMAGE COULD BE DONE TO THE TRANSMISSION IF THIS REPAIR WAS NOT FIXED. HOWEVER I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY TYPE OF NOTICE FROM SATURN STATING THAT THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT SATURN IS PUTTING THEIR CONSUMERS IN DANGER WHEN THEY KNOW THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN A SPECIFIC CAR MODEL/YEAR AND THEY DO NOT BOTHER TO NOTIFY THE CONSUMER. *AK
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
SPEEDOMETER INOPERATIVE.
LOOSE SUNVISOR. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
I AM STILL CONTENT WITH MY 1993 SATURN BUT DISAPPOINTED THAT A PART THAT SHOULD HAVE LASTED MUCH LONGER FAILED IN OCTOBER, 1999. I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO MAINTAINING THE LOW MILEAGE ON MY CARE, BUT WHEN THE ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER FROZE AT 30,555 MILES, ALL CREDIBILITY AND REMAINING MARKET VALUE DECEASED BECAUSE MY MILEAGE IS STUCK. I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A "CLUSTER" AT THE COST OF $525.15. AN ODOMETER SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER THAN 30,555 MILES, BUT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED IN 1998. *AK
SPEEDOMETER INOPERATIVE.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE EXITING THE TURNPIKE THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE AND RIM CAME OFF DAMAGING THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). NLM
SPEEDOMETER INOPERATIVE.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
REAR OF CAR STARTED TO PULL LEFT/APPLIED BRAKES CAR SPUN OUT OF CONTROL HITTING A WALL. LEFT REAR WHEEL BROKE OFF. *SD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
SPEEDOMETER INOPERATIVE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE HAZARD LIGHTS STOPPED FLASHING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. *PH THE TURN SIGNALS WERE ALSO INOPERATIVE. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE EXITING THE TURNPIKE THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE AND RIM CAME OFF DAMAGING THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). NLM
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .