1993 Saturn SC: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
14 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
79,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1993 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 14 complaints (35.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 1 | 7.1% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 7.1% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 5 |
| Seats | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 1 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 1 |
| Parking Brake:Conventional | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 1 |
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 5; Seats: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System: 1; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 1; Parking Brake:Conventional: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Seat Belts: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 12 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 | 4 |
| 2000 | 4 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 2 |
1995: 4; 2000: 4; 2001: 3; 2002: 1; 2003: 2
Pattern summary
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10005268 · 2003-02-04 (February 4, 2003)
RECLINING MECHANISM FAILS AFTER A FEW YEARS OF USE, WHICH RESULTS IN SUDDEN RECLINE OF DRIVER SEAT. NEARLY CAUSED ME TO CRASH ON ONE OCCASION, AFTER HITTING THE BREAKS AND THE PRESSURE OF MY BODY MADE THE SEAT RECLINE. AFTER CONTACTING SATURN, THEY TOLD ME THE RECLINING MECHANISM WAS NOT RECALLED ON THE EARLIER MODELS (BEFORE 1994 OR 1995, I CAN'T REMEMBER). I FEEL THIS IS A PROBLEM, AS THE CARS AREN'T THAT OLD WHEN THE MECHAISM FAILS. I HAVE REPLACED THE PASSENGER SEAT ALREADY IN 1999 , WITH THE DRIVERS SEAT UNREPAIRED AT THIS TIME. IT CA…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005268 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016914 · 2003-05-02 (May 2, 2003)
FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BACK COLLAPSES RANDOMLY AND QUICKLY. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE SPINAL INJURIES IN THE CASE OF AND ACCIDENT. THE PASSENGER COMPLAINED OF A SORE NECK. I WENT TO THE SATURN DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW SEAT EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW THERE ARE DEFECTS IN THE 1993 SEATS. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 94,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016914 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 556097 · 2000-10-13 (October 13, 2000)
FIRESTONE TIRES EXPERIENCED BLOWOUTS. *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 556097 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 732815 · 2000-09-29 (September 29, 2000)
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 732815 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 742899 · 2001-03-22 (March 22, 2001)
DRIVERS SEAT COLLPASED BACKWARD. CAR PARKED, NO DAMAGES. DEALER CHARGED $160 TO REPLACE SEAT ADJUSTER MEHANISM, DROVE HOME AND SEAT BEN NACKWARDS AGAIN; DEALER SAID SEAT FRAME BENT. SAYS THIS IS COMMON ON EARLY SATURNS. INTERNET SEACH SHOWED THIS TO BE PROBLEM WITH 94 SATURNS WITH A RECALL AT ONE TIME FOR THAT YEAR.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 742899 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 743448 · 2001-04-02 (April 2, 2001)
SEAT RECLINER PARTS STRIPPED SO THAT SEAT RECLINES WHILE DRIVER IS ACCELERATING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 743448 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8014308 · 2002-07-19 (July 19, 2002)
VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED WHILE STOPPED AND DRIVER'S SEAT WENT ALL THE WAY BACK INTO FULL RECLINE POSITION. CONSUMER SUFFERED WHIPLASH AND BACK PAIN. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK *JG
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8014308 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 858472 · 2000-03-14 (March 14, 2000)
AUTOMATIC SHOUDLER BELTS ON THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDES ARE STUCK IN THE FORWARD POSITION ON THE RAIL. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 858472 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
93V132000 · Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
Reported: 1993-08-10 (August 10, 1993)
THE GENERATOR ELECTRICAL WIRING IS NOT PROTECTED AGAINST EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW WHICH MAY BE CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE GENERATOR.
Consequence: SHOULD AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT OCCUR IN THEGENERATOR, THE GENERATOR WIRING HARNESS WOULD EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW.UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, ENOUGH HEAT COULD BE GENERATED TO IGNITE SURROUNDINGMATERIALS. IF THIS OCCURS, AN UNDERHOOD FIRE COULD RESULT WITH OR WITHOUT THEENGINE RUNNING AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: THE GENERATOR WIRING HARNESS WILL BE REPLACED WITH ONE THAT WILL OPEN AS A FUSE WOULD UNDER CERTAIN EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW CONDITIONS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗