Saturn SC1 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
274 owner complaints analyzed
8 distinct recall campaigns
75,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1991 to 2001 model years. Data snapshot: . 70 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner is the most frequently named component, appearing in 22 of 274 complaints (8.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 38 | 13.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 23 | 8.4% |
| Steering behavior | 16 | 5.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 14 | 5.1% |
| Engine operation | 12 | 4.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.7% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 22 |
| Seats | 19 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 18 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 17 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 14 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 13 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 11 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 11 |
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 22; Seats: 19; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 18; Vehicle Speed Control: 17; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 14; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 13; Engine And Engine Cooling: 11; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 14 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 15 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 18 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 11 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 15; 75,000 to 99,999: 18; 100,000 to 149,999: 11; 150,000 and above: 7
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (18). 204 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 35 |
| 1996 | 10 |
| 2000 | 45 |
| 2001 | 43 |
| 2002 | 32 |
| 2003 | 34 |
| 2004 | 24 |
| 2005 | 14 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 3 |
1995: 35; 1996: 10; 2000: 45; 2001: 43; 2002: 32; 2003: 34; 2004: 24; 2005: 14; 2006: 8; 2007: 6; 2008: 6; 2009: 7; 2010: 6; 2011: 1; 2012: 3
Pattern summary
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 38 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 23 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 16 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 10311599 · 2010-02-17 (February 17, 2010)
ENGINE ACCELERATES WITHOUT HAVING FOOT ON ACCELERATOR. THIS OCCURS WHEN THE CAR IS IN GEAR OR NOT, WHETHER PRESSING ON THE BRAKE OR NOT. THIS ISSUE OCCURRED IN THE PAST 3 WEEKS AND WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIND A FIX FOR IT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 134,635 miles reported. Look up ODI 10311599 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10094725 · 2004-09-30 (September 30, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10094725 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 10042064 · 2003-10-01 (October 1, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10042064 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 ↗
Owner report 10042161 · 2003-11-05 (November 5, 2003)
THE BATTERY CABLE FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO REPLACE THE BATTERY EVERY YEAR. A RECALL WAS ISSUED, HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK THE SATURN DEALER REFUSED TO FIX THE BATTERY CABLE. RECALL# 93V094000. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10042161 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 976606 · 1995-12-14 (December 14, 1995)
HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY THREE TIMES WITH ONLY SEVENTEEN THOUSAND MILES ON IT. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 976606 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10042165 · 2003-11-05 (November 5, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 35 miles reported. Look up ODI 10042165 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 600511 · 1995-08-16 (August 16, 1995)
PROBLEM WITH GAS TANK DOOR. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 600511 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032612 · 2003-08-12 (August 12, 2003)
AS WITH COMPLAINT 828481, MY VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND WOULDN'T RUN UNTIL I FILLED THE GAS TANK. THE GAS TANK HAD IMPLODED. THIS HAPPENED TWICE - AT APPROXIMATELY 34,000 MILES (TANK REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY -9/8/98) AND AGAIN AT APPROXIMATELY 63,000 MILES (TANK REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE - 9/20/2001). BOTH TIMES, I WAS AT HIGHWAY SPEED, AND BOTH TIMES I WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO STEER THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER. THE FIRST TIME, THE POLICE ON THE NJ TURNPIKE HAD ME TOWED TO A GAS STATION - THE SECOND TIME, THE POLICE BROUGHT A FIVE…
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032612 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1991 | 1 |
| 1992 | 1 |
| 1993 | 2 |
| 1994 | 1 |
| 1995 | 1 |
| 1996 | 0 |
| 1997 | 3 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 2 |
1991: 1; 1992: 1; 1993: 2; 1994: 1; 1995: 1; 1996: 0; 1997: 3; 1998: 0; 1999: 0; 2000: 2; 2001: 2