Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 82 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1994 Saturn SC1, most frequently naming the interior & seats, engine and seat belts categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 4 NHTSA investigations name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1995 | 1 | 1 |
| Feb 1995 | 2 | 3 |
| Mar 1995 | 3 | 6 |
| Apr 1995 | 3 | 9 |
| Jun 1995 | 1 | 10 |
| Jul 1995 | 1 | 11 |
| Feb 1996 | 1 | 12 |
| Mar 1996 | 1 | 13 |
| May 1996 | 2 | 15 |
| Jun 1996 | 1 | 16 |
| Sep 1996 | 1 | 17 |
| Oct 1996 | 1 | 18 |
| Dec 1996 | 2 | 20 |
| Feb 1997 | 1 | 21 |
| Mar 1997 | 1 | 22 |
| May 1997 | 1 | 23 |
| Jun 1997 | 2 | 25 |
| Aug 1997 | 1 | 26 |
| Sep 1997 | 1 | 27 |
| Oct 1997 | 1 | 28 |
| Nov 1997 | 1 | 29 |
| Dec 1997 | 1 | 30 |
| Jan 1998 | 3 | 33 |
| Mar 1998 | 2 | 35 |
| Apr 1998 | 1 | 36 |
| Jul 1998 | 2 | 38 |
| Nov 1998 | 2 | 40 |
| Dec 1998 | 1 | 41 |
| Jan 1999 | 1 | 42 |
| Mar 1999 | 1 | 43 |
| Jun 1999 | 2 | 45 |
| Jul 1999 | 2 | 47 |
| Aug 1999 | 2 | 49 |
| Sep 1999 | 1 | 50 |
| Nov 1999 | 1 | 51 |
| Jan 2000 | 1 | 52 |
| Mar 2000 | 1 | 53 |
| Apr 2000 | 3 | 56 |
| May 2000 | 1 | 57 |
| Aug 2000 | 3 | 60 |
| Sep 2000 | 3 | 63 |
| Dec 2000 | 1 | 64 |
| Jan 2001 | 1 | 65 |
| Feb 2001 | 2 | 67 |
| Apr 2001 | 1 | 68 |
| Aug 2001 | 1 | 69 |
| Sep 2001 | 1 | 70 |
| Oct 2001 | 2 | 72 |
| Jan 2002 | 1 | 73 |
| Jun 2002 | 1 | 74 |
| Jul 2002 | 1 | 75 |
| Jun 2003 | 2 | 77 |
| Nov 2003 | 1 | 78 |
| May 2004 | 1 | 79 |
| May 2005 | 1 | 80 |
| Sep 2005 | 1 | 81 |
| Sep 2007 | 1 | 82 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
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.govSEATS
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
FRONT SEAT BACK CAN RECLINE OR COLLAPSE
SEAT BACK FAILURES
IN ITS LETTER DATED MARCH 5, 1999, GENERAL MOTORS STATED THAT IT WILL RECALL 136,300 MODEL YEAR 1994 AND 1995 SATURN VEHICLE (ALL MODELS) BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1994 AND AUGUST 1994.DURING THIS PERIOD, SATURN'S SEAT SUPPLIER MANUFACTURED RECLINER ASSEMBLIES WHICH WERE OUT OF DESIGN SPECIFICATION, ALLOWING THE FRONT SEAT BACKS TO RECLINE OR COLLAPSE INADVERTENTLY.TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, SATURN DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BACK RECLINER ASSEMBLIES.SEE NHTSA'S SAFETY RECALL FILL 99V-045 FOR DETAILS.
CRUISE CONTROL FAILURES
THIS INVESTIGATION DOCUMENTED HTE FUNCTIONAL ABERATIONS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SUBJECT CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM.MOST OF THE MALFUNCTIONS INVOLVED FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM TO PROPERLY REGULATE VEHICLE SPEED WHEN ENGAGED, FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM TO ENGAGE, OR SELF-DISENGAGEMENT OF THE SYSTEM. THESE PROBLEMS WERE INVESTIGATED AND STEPS TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER TO REMEDY THEIR OCCURRENCES.SERVICE PROCEDURES WERE ISSUED FOR VEHICLES IN USE, AND A DESIGN MODIFICATION MADE FOR NEW VEHICLES.NO CONFIRMED ALLEGATIONS OF FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISENGAGE UPON COMMAND WERE IDENTIFIED.IMPROVED QUALITY CONTROL PROCEDURES AND DESIGN MODIFICATIONSIN THE SYSTEM WERE UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE A MORE CONSISTENT LEVEL OF SYSTEM PERFORMANCE.THE DETAILS OF THESE FINDINGS AND THE RESULTING CONCLUSIONS ARE CONTAINED INTHE SUBJECT ENGINEERING ANALYSIS CLOSING REPORT.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND WAS NOT IDENTIFIED AT EHIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE
There is no summary currently available
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
1994 SATURN SC2 WITH RPM SURGING, TRANSMISSION REPAIR. CUSTOMER STATES THAT WHEN THE RPM'S SURGED THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. CUSTOMER ALSO STATES THAT THE MOTOR MOUNT WAS LOOSE, WHICH MADE ALL MOUNTS AND BRACKETS HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE RADIATOR, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, ALTERNATOR, STARTER, BATTERY FIRST GEAR WERE ALL REPLACED. *JB
DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN 1994 SATURN SC2 WHEN RIGHT REAR WHEEL SNAPPED OFF. SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND IT ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES. DAUGHTER WAS AIR LIFTED TO UNITED METHODIST HOSPITAL DES MOINES IA. WITH BRAIN CONCUSSION, FACIAL CUTS WHICH REQUIRED PLASTIC SURGERY THE NIGHT OF THE ACCIDENT, PARTLY COLLAPSED LUNG, INJURED SPLEEN, BROKEN LEG. WILL REQUIRE MORE PLASTIC SURGERY. INSURANCE COMPANY HAS THE CAR. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. WHEEL DEFINITELY POSSIBLE FAILURE WITH THE AIRBAG AND SEAT BELT. *JB
PASSENGER SIDE PASSIVE SHOULDER SEAT BELT RETRACTOR HAS FAILED. IT NO LONGER MOVES FOWARD TO ALLOW EASY ACCESS INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS RESULTS IN PASSENGER HAVING TO MANUALLY DISENGAGE THE SHOULD BELT AND REMEMBER TO RE-ENGAGE IT FOR SAFETY. I CONSIDER THIS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WHEN A BASIC SAFETY SYSTEM FAILS. I WOULD LIKE MANUFACTURER TO REPAIR AT NO CHARGE.
I FEEL THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION, WHICH SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE ANY ONE DIES. THE SPRING THAT RETURNS THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE TO THE "SHUT" POSITION BREAKS. THEN HANDLE DOES NOT RETURN TO ITS' CLOSED POSITION. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE DOOR WILL NOT LATCH OR WILL NOT LOCK. ALTERNATIVELY, IF THE DOOR IS LOCKED AND THE OUTSIDE HANDLE IS VIBRATED OR LIFTED, THE DOOR CANNOT BE UNLOCKED. IT IS VERY POSSIBLE TO BE TRAPPED INSIDE THE CAR, WHICH COULD BE FATAL IN AN ACCIDENT, FIRE OR CRASH. *NM
1994 SC2 SATURN. THE SEAT BELTS HAVE TWO PARTS, AND THE UPPER PART MOVES WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOOR. THE LAP BELT IS SEPARATE AND YOU LATCH THIS MANUALLY. THE PROBLEM IS THE UPPER PART HAS STOPPED WORKING IT WILL NOT MOVE. *LA
ENGINE MOTOR CONTINUOUSLY SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL RETRACT AND TIGHTEN SEVERELY. THIS WILL RESULT IN THE DRIVER BEING TRAPPED IN THE SEAT, AND SUSTAINING BRUISES.*AK
RECLINER MECHANISM ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. MECHANISM DOES NOT HOLD IN PLACE, AND WHEN THE CONSUMER IS DRIVING, SEAT WILL FALL BACK. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
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.