1995 Saturn SC1: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
39 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
65,673 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1995 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seats is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 39 complaints (15.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 7 | 17.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 7.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.6% |
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 | 6 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 |
| Parking Brake:Conventional | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
Seats: 6; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 3; Air Bags: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Parking Brake:Conventional: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 33 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 | 10 |
| 1996 | 2 |
| 2000 | 5 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
1995: 10; 1996: 2; 2000: 5; 2001: 9; 2002: 6; 2003: 2; 2004: 3; 2005: 1; 2006: 1
Pattern summary
Seats leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 10005345 · 2003-02-05 (February 5, 2003)
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 WHE…
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005345 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007008 · 2000-10-14 (October 14, 2000)
I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SEVERAL MECHANICS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL YEAR. NO SAFETY DEFECT LIST. *AK *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*734321
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007008 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 10057082 · 2004-02-12 (February 12, 2004)
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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 61,346 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057082 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088170 · 2004-08-18 (August 18, 2004)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088170 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10104056 · 2004-12-18 (December 18, 2004)
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-…
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10104056 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10112408 · 2005-03-02 (March 2, 2005)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 136,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10112408 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10165370 · 2006-08-13 (August 13, 2006)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10165370 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.
99V045000 · Seats
Reported: 1999-03-12 (March 12, 1999)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME FRONT SEAT BACK RECLINER GEAR TEETH MAY WEAR EXCESSIVELY THROUGH REPEATED USE, AND COULD CAUSE THE SEAT BACK TO SLIP PARTIALLY REARWARD WHEN FORCE IS APPLIED.
Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, IT COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SEAT RECLINER MECHANISMS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗