Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 59 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1995 Saturn SC1, most frequently naming the interior & seats, brakes and engine categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 3 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 1995 | 4 | 4 |
| May 1995 | 1 | 5 |
| Jun 1995 | 1 | 6 |
| Jul 1995 | 1 | 7 |
| Aug 1995 | 1 | 8 |
| Sep 1995 | 1 | 9 |
| Nov 1995 | 1 | 10 |
| Mar 1996 | 1 | 11 |
| Jul 1996 | 1 | 12 |
| Oct 1996 | 2 | 14 |
| Dec 1996 | 1 | 15 |
| Aug 1997 | 1 | 16 |
| Sep 1997 | 1 | 17 |
| Dec 1997 | 1 | 18 |
| Jan 1998 | 1 | 19 |
| Aug 1998 | 1 | 20 |
| May 1999 | 2 | 22 |
| Jun 1999 | 1 | 23 |
| Jul 1999 | 2 | 25 |
| Aug 1999 | 3 | 28 |
| Sep 1999 | 2 | 30 |
| Oct 1999 | 2 | 32 |
| Mar 2000 | 1 | 33 |
| May 2000 | 1 | 34 |
| Jul 2000 | 1 | 35 |
| Oct 2000 | 2 | 37 |
| Jan 2001 | 3 | 40 |
| Feb 2001 | 2 | 42 |
| Apr 2001 | 3 | 45 |
| Nov 2001 | 1 | 46 |
| Jan 2002 | 1 | 47 |
| Jul 2002 | 2 | 49 |
| Aug 2002 | 1 | 50 |
| Oct 2002 | 2 | 52 |
| Feb 2003 | 1 | 53 |
| Oct 2003 | 1 | 54 |
| Feb 2004 | 1 | 55 |
| Aug 2004 | 1 | 56 |
| Dec 2004 | 1 | 57 |
| Mar 2005 | 1 | 58 |
| Aug 2006 | 1 | 59 |
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
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
MY CAR SOMETIMES SHIFTS OUT OF GEAR(AUTOMATIC) AND THEN THE "SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT" COMES ON. WHEN PUT IN REVERSE, PAUSES FOR A COUPLE SECONDS THEN BANGS INTO GEAR. THIS CAR HAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE TRANS WHICH LEADS ME TO THINK THAT THE TRANS IS GOOD BUT A SENSOR IS BAD. I HAVE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB
KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION WHEN THE CAR IS NOT IN PARK, WHICH POSES THE DANGER OF THE CAR TO MOVE WHEN THE DRIVER IS NOT INSIDE OR PREPARED.*AK
MY 1995 SATURN SC-2 BEGAN EVAPORATING MOTOR OIL, AT THE RATE OF A FULL QUART EVERY 300 MILES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY DID A FULL ENGINE REBUILD, WHICH WAS VERY EXPENSIVE. MY CAR PERFORMED SLIGHTLY BETTER AFTERWARDS BUT NEEDED FOLLOW-UP ADJUSTMENTS OF THE REPAIRED PARTS; SATURN FAILED TO HONOR THEIR WARRANTY ON THESE REPAIRS SO I DECLINED TO HAVE THEM DONE. AFTER THIS HASSLE I DECIDED TO DO RESEARCH TO SEE IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, AND THERE ARE DOZENS IF NOT HUNDREDS OF REPORTS ON THE WEB ABOUT SATURN OWNERS OF MODELS BUILT 1994-1996 THAT HAVE HAD ENGINE EXPLOSIONS AND FIRES WHILE DRIVING, MANY OF WHICH HAVE LED TO CRASHES AND INJURIES. THESE ARE ALL TRACED TO WHAT APPEARS TO BE AN ENGINE DEFECT THAT LEADS TO EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION-- THE SAME PROBLEM MY CAR APPEARED TO HAVE. WHEN I WENT TO SATURN WITH THIS INFORMATION, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD ONLY LOOK AT MY CAR AFTER VERIFYING THAT IT WAS STILL LOSING OIL THEMSELVES, AND THAT TO DO THIS I SHOULD DRIVE MY CAR FOR 3,000 MILES AND THEN BRING IT BACK. BY THAT TIME, MY WARRANTY WOULD BE EXPIRED ANYWAYS. OTHER CONSUMERS HAVE TOLD ME IDENTICAL STORIES. IT APPEARS THAT SATURN ENGINES MAY BE DEFECTIVE, AND THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE CERTAINLY IS ALSO. *JB
MODEL: 1995 SATURN SC2 COUPE THROUGH NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, THE DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARDS, THE INTERNAL METAL IS BENT, AND SO THE SEAT WILL NOT RETURN TO THE NORMAL POSITION. THE SEAT WAS ALREADY PARTIALLY BENT BACK WHEN THE CAR WAS RECALLED FOR REPAIRS. THAT RECALL CONCERNED THE FAILURE OF THE SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM. SATURN REPLACED THE MECHANISM, THE SEAT WAS UPRIGHT FOR A TIME, BUT THEN COLLAPSED FULLY AFTER MILD BACKWARD PRESSURE. IN RESPONSE TO THIS PROBLEM, SATURN SAID THAT THE METAL OF THE SEAT WAS BENT OUT OF SHAPE, THAT THE SEAT WON'T LOCK INTO AN UPRIGHT POSITION, AND THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS UNRELATED TO THE RECALL. THEREFORE I SHOULD PAY FOR A REPLACEMENT SEAT. I CONTEND THAT THE FORCES APPLIED TO THE SEAT ARE INTER-RELATED TO THE PROBLEMS OF THE RECLINER MECHANISM, AND THAT FAULTY ENGINEERING DESIGN HAS LED TO THE PROBLEM.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION STARTING NEAR 45,000 MILES. TOOK OVER 15,000 MILES TO CONVINCE DEALER/MNFG OF DEFECTIVE ENGINEERING. 30,000 SATURN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST 1 DEC '96 35,000 SATURN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST 2 36,000 RR CAM COVER (CC) GASKET, REAR MAIN SEAL 45,500 RR CC GASKET, HARMONIC BALANCER, CRANKSHAFT SEAL, OIL PAN GASKET 49,250 RR CC & CCR GASKET 60,000 TO 68,900 OIL CONSUMPTION ~ 1 QT EVERY 600 MILES 66,000 EMAIL TO ANGIE BARRETT, SATURN CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER, RE OIL CONSUMPTION "1 QT EVERY 2,000 IS OK". 68,900 SATURN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST 3 , OWNER TELLS SATURN TO EITHER REBUILD OR PUT IN NEW ENGINE. JAN 1999 70,000 EMAIL TO ANGIE BARRETT, AGAIN THEY SAY GET AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST . FRIEND AT FORD FUEL & LUBE HQ IN FRIENDLY TERMS SAYS 1QT EVERY 1K MILES IS NOT NORMAL. 70,817 SATURN LOCAL TECH REP SAYS CONSUMPTION OF 1 QT EVERY 1,000 MILES IS WITHIN SPECIFICATION! IN THE MEANTIME IT IS SUCKING 1 QT EVERY 500 TO 800 MILES. 72,650 SATURN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST 4, RR CC (2ND TIME) & 4TH GASKET 73,800 SATURN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST 5, RR CAM COVER (3RD TIME) & 5TH GASKET 75,800 SATURN FINALLY DECIDES TO DO A PARTIAL REBUILD RR: JOURNAL & BEARINGS, SEALS, CRANKSHAFT, RINGS, PISTONS, CYLINDER HEAD, CLUTCH OWNER TRIES TO GET WARRANTY EXTENDED FOR 6,900 MILES SINCE THOSE MILES WERE PUT ON AT SATURNS DESIRE. OWNER TOLD TO GO POUND SAND. REMOVED/REPLACED SUMMARY FOR THIS TIME FRAME: CRANKSHAFT- 1X MOTOR MOUNT -2X CAM COVER- 3X BATTERY - 2X GENERATOR - 2X HARMONIC BAL - 1X CAM COVER GASKET - 5X OIL CONSUMPTION TEST - 5X SINCE THEN: 120,000 OR 44,000 MILES AFTER REBUILD, THE OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM IS BACK IN FULL FORCE OF 1 AT EVERY 500 TO 600 MILES NUMBER OF FAILURES COUNTED AS ANY TIME 1 QT OF OIL OIL WAS NEEDED BEFORE 2000 MILES WERE DRIVEN DURING THE ODOMETER TIME FRAME OF 60,00 TO 80,000 MILES IS : 21 ODOMETER TIME FRAME OF 140,000 TO 160,000 MILES IS: 26
WHILE DRIVING AND COMING TO COMPLETE STOP AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SHIFT PROPERLY FROM NEUTRAL TO PARK OR FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE. WON'T SHIFT, AND MAKES LOUD NOISE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
THE TIMING CHAIN WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY ONCE AND I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TWO ALTERNATORS DUE TO THIS. NOW, MY TIMING CHAIN IS GOING OUT AGAIN. THE CAR IS A 1995 SATURN SC2. TODAY IT ONLY HAS 66,000 MILES ON IT AND IS EIGHT YEARS OLD. I CHANGE THE OIL EVERY 3,000 MILES. BUT, I ALSO HAVE TO PUT OIL IN IT IN BETWEEN CHANGES. NOW, MY MOON ROOF WON'T CLOSE ALL THE WAY. IT WILL OPEN ALL THE WAY BUT IT WON;T CLOSE. ALSO, THE HEADLIGHT ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE WON'T GO UP AND DOWN PROPERLY.I HAD MY FRONT SEAT FIXED BECAUSE IT WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN WHEN A LITTLE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED WHEN DRIVING. I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS AND IT SCARED ME SO I TOOK IT IN TO THE SATURN DEALER TO HAVE IT FIXED. I TRIED TO ARGUE WITH THEM ABOUT IT NOT BEING MY FAULT THAT THAT HAPPENED. BUT THEY WOULD NOT LISTEN. NOW, 4 YEARS LATER IT IS RECALLED. IF I KNEW WHO TO COMPLAIN TO BEFORE I WOULD HAVE ADDED MY TWO CENTS IN. I DO HAVE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE SEATS RECLINING DEVICES TO BE REPAIRED. THANKS FOR LISTENING. KATHY HOLLEY
BUTTON POPPED OUT OF END OF "HAND BRAKE". DEALER VERY FAMILAR WITH PROBLEM. NEW BUTTON NOT AVAILABLE EXCEPT AS PART OF EXPENSIVE PACKAGE. DT
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.