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U.S. public vehicle records

1994 Saturn SC1 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

47 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

100,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1994 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 47 complaints (12.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior714.9%
Engine operation36.4%
Electrical and battery issues24.3%
Steering behavior24.3%
Transmission and shifting12.1%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner
6
Vehicle Speed Control
6
Seats
5
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
3
Engine And Engine Cooling
2
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
2
Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner6
Vehicle Speed Control6
Seats5
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components3
Engine And Engine Cooling2
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine2
Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal2

Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 6; Vehicle Speed Control: 6; Seats: 5; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
1
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
2
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0001
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9991
100,000 to 149,9992
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 43 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995
11
1996
5
2000
13
2001
8
2002
3
2003
3
2004
1
2005
2
2007
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
199511
19965
200013
20018
20023
20033
20041
20052
20071

1995: 11; 1996: 5; 2000: 13; 2001: 8; 2002: 3; 2003: 3; 2004: 1; 2005: 2; 2007: 1

Pattern summary

Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 505043 · 1996-05-29 (May 29, 1996)

ANTILOCK BRAKES LOCKED UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SWERVE INTO RIGHT LANE. *SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 505043 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 552188 · 2000-05-09 (May 9, 2000)

BRAKES MALFUNCTION. YH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 552188 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 502896 · 1996-03-19 (March 19, 1996)

ROUTING OF IGNITION BYPASS WIRE CAUSED IT TO WEAR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL WHEN WET. *DH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 502896 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 728385 · 2000-08-18 (August 18, 2000)

TRANSMISSIONS DOES NOT GO INT0 REVERSE WHEN ENGAGED. CAR STALL FOR A FEW SECONDS, THEN GIVES A HARD LUNGE FORWARD WHEN FINALLY ENGAGED

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 728385 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10204868 · 2007-09-24 (September 24, 2007)

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

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10204868 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 881352 · 2001-02-23 (February 23, 2001)

CONSUMER WAS PULLING INTO A GATED ENTRANCE AT APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 10 MPH WHEN STEERING COLUMN BEGAN TO SMOKE. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE WHICH CAUSED A FIRE AND DESTROYED MOST OF COMPONENTS WITHIN COLUMN. INSURANCE COMPANY (STANLEY INSURANCE) WAS SENDING AN ADJUSTER TO EXAMINE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 881352 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 895697 · 2001-09-04 (September 4, 2001)

BRIDGESTONE, POTENZA, DOT EMCBCHJ208, P195/60R15. REPLACEMENT TIRES ON SATURN, SL, 1994, WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE, CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD SOUND, AND MANAGED TO GET VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE TREAD CAME COMPLETELY OFF.*AK (BRIDGESTONE TIRES.) CONSUMER STATES THERE WAS ABOUT 45,000 MILES ON TIRE, THE TREAD CAME OFF TEARING A HOLE IN THE FRONT LEFT FENDER.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 895697 at NHTSA ↗