U.S. public vehicle records

1993 Saturn SC: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

23 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

79,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1993 model year. Data updated: 2026-10-01 (October 1, 2026). 2 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 23 complaints (26.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	4	17.4%
Steering behavior	2	8.7%
Engine operation	1	4.3%
Electrical and battery issues	1	4.3%

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

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Seats

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components

Electrical System:Wiring

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline

Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Gas Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve)

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner	6
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	2
Seats	2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components	2
Electrical System:Wiring	1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Gas Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve)	1

Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 6; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Seats: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 2; Electrical System:Wiring: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Gas Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve): 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

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). 21 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

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

1995: 4; 1998: 4; 1999: 5; 2000: 4; 2001: 3; 2002: 1; 2003: 2

Pattern summary

Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 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 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 532942 · 1998-03-17 (March 17, 1998)

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON. ALSO DEFECTIVE EGR VALVE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 532942 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 535387 · 1998-05-10 (May 10, 1998)

ABS BRAKE FAILURE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 535387 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 535804 · 1998-05-20 (May 20, 1998)

INTERIOR SUNROOF SHADE WAS NOT CLOSING PROPERLY.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 535804 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 546422 · 1999-06-25 (June 25, 1999)

FRONT SEAT LATCH FAILED CAUSING SEAT BACK TO COLLAPSE. NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 546422 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 703763 · 1999-02-26 (February 26, 1999)

THE LOCKUP CONVERTOR IN THE TRANS MAKES THE CAR JUMP AT LOW SPEEDS. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT IS TO REMOVE THE FUSE THAT SENDS POWER THE THE CONVERTOR.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 703763 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 ↗

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

23 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

8.7%Usable mileage2 / 23 records

73.9%Valid incident date17 / 23 records

100.0%Valid filing date23 / 23 records

73.9%Ordered incident and filing dates17 / 23 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	16.3% ODI 510573 BOTH FRONT SEAT BACKS COLLAPSED DURING COLLISION. Look up ODI 510573 at NHTSA ↗	626.1% ODI 10005268 · 65,000 mi 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… Look up ODI 10005268 at NHTSA ↗	1733.3% ODI 541592 SEAT LATCH FAILURE CAUSING SEAT BACK TO COLLAPSE. Look up ODI 541592 at NHTSA ↗	717.9% ODI 10002993 · 94,450 mi FRONT DRIVERS' SIDE SEATBACK MECHANISM FAILS REPEATEDLY. 5-SPEED CAR. DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO ENGAGE CLUTCH AND SEATBACK COLLAPSES DUE TO THE PRESSURE, SENDING DRIVER BACK AND MOMENTARILY LOOSING CONTROL OF CLUTCH AND/OR BRAKE APPLICATION. BUILD DATE AND VIN OUTSIDE OF RECALL, BUT FAILURE HAS OCCURED AND IS VERIFIABLE. Look up ODI 10002993 at NHTSA ↗	13.8% ODI 523849 DURING COLLISION SEAT BACK COLLAPSED. Look up ODI 523849 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	14.2% ODI 10006755 THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT DOES NOT HOLD ITS POSITION. PH Look up ODI 10006755 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	23.9% ODI 10654353 1994 SATURN SC. CONSUMER STATED IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED DUE TO THE KEY BEING STUCK INSIDE THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE ALSO LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING SO CUSTOMER IS ASKING FOR A REFUND. SS THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE HEADLIGHTS OPENED ON THEIR OWN, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF DRIVE GEAR ON ITS OWN, AND THE RPM'S WERE EXTREMELY HIGH. JB Look up ODI 10654353 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	13.8% ODI 10461447 TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SC1 SATURN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN SOUNDED INDEPENDENTLY WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AN ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHO ADVISED THAT THE FUSE WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO SHUT THE HORN OFF. IN ADDITION, THE HORN ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT … Look up ODI 10461447 at NHTSA ↗	515.2% ODI 10523229 · 173,411 mi I WAS DRIVING THE ABOVE MENTIONED VEHICLE (SATURN SC1 1997) NORTH BOUND ON FL TURNPIKE WHEN THE ROAD FELT REALLY BUMPY AND SUDDENLY PIECES OF DEBRIS STARTED FLYING BY THE WINDOW AND A LARGE BUNDLE OF WIRES WAS FLAPPING ON THE HOOD, COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR; WHICH I HAD TO EASED OVER TO THE LEFT SHOULDER, GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY AND CONTACTED GEICO ROAD SERVICE. APPARENTLY, THE CHAIN OF EVENTS THAT OCCURRED WERE AS FOLLOWS: THE LEMANS/BRIDGESTONE TIRE (P195-60R15) TREAD COMPLETED PEELED OFF THE TIRE WITH SUCH FORCE..THAT IT GO… Look up ODI 10523229 at NHTSA ↗	17.7% ODI 10881827 · 147,646 mi CAR KEY LOCKS UP IN IGNITION, WONT TURN OR COME OUT. CABLE TO PARK MECHANISM WONT DISENGAGE. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES, TODAY IT TOOK 40 MINUTES OF JIGGLING STEERING WHEEL,KEY, BRAKE SHIFTER TO DISENGAGE TO GET THE CAR STARTED. Look up ODI 10881827 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	228.6% ODI 10325091 I'M BUYING THIS CAR FROM A CAR DEALER J B BYRIDER. ON 3/26/10 I TOOK THE SATURN SC1 OUT FOR A TEST DRIVE DURING THE DAY TIME AND CAME BACK AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE NOISE I HEARD COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR. WAS TOLD THAT A PART WAS BEING ODOR. 3/30/10 TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS COMING ACROSS MY NECK AND LOCKING, AND THE THERE WAS ONLY ONE LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD SHOWING THE SPEED AND NOTHING ELSE. WAS TOLD ORDER A PART FOR THE SEAT BELT AND WOULD LOOK AT THE DASH BROAD WHEN I CAME BACK (IT WAS SAI… Look up ODI 10325091 at NHTSA ↗	314.3% ODI 10025527 2001 SATURN SC1-IDELING PROBLEMS AND OVER 70 MISFIRES NOTED BY COMPUTER. I PAID FOR A COMPLETE TUNE UP WITH DID NO GOOD AND ALSO HAD TO REPLACE ALL THE BRAKES FOR $362. THE DEALER STATES SINCE THE COMPUTER DOESN'T SHOW ANY PROBLEMS THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS. WARRANTY JUST WENT OUT 6-30-03. THE CAR IDELS ROUGHLY AND MISFIRES INTERMITTENTLY. *AK Look up ODI 10025527 at NHTSA ↗	615.8% ODI 10042885 · 11,000 mi THE SPARK PLUG WIRES ARE ARCHING AND SPARKING WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INITIALLY CHANGED THE SPARK PLUGS. DEALER CONTACTED THE DIVISION OFFICE WHICH TOLD HIM TO PUT THE OLD SPARK PLUGS BACK ON THE VEHICLE. AK MR Look up ODI 10042885 at NHTSA ↗
Seat Belts	240.0% ODI 748250 AUTOMATIC SEATBELTS FAILS TO OPERATE. *AK Look up ODI 748250 at NHTSA ↗	850.0% ODI 526470 DRIVER SIDE PASSIVE SEAT BELT FAILED Look up ODI 526470 at NHTSA ↗	14.3% ODI 858472 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 Look up ODI 858472 at NHTSA ↗	35.9% ODI 479606 MOTORIZED SEAT BELT GOT CAUGHT IN SUNVISOR. *AW Look up ODI 479606 at NHTSA ↗	12.6% ODI 10453397 WE HAVE HAD NO ACCIDENTS AS OF NOW, BUT THE FRONT SEATBELTS WILL NOT LOCK WHEN BRAKING HARD. *TR Look up ODI 10453397 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	39.1% ODI 11456745 Right front passenger seat belt male mechanism is locked up and will not extend to lock in female mechanism. Unusable. Look up ODI 11456745 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	14.2% ODI 857625 WHILE DRIVING, DRIVER'S SEAT BELT SLIPS OUT, AND WILL NOT HOLD. AK ML Look up ODI 857625 at NHTSA ↗	114.3% ODI 10325091 I'M BUYING THIS CAR FROM A CAR DEALER J B BYRIDER. ON 3/26/10 I TOOK THE SATURN SC1 OUT FOR A TEST DRIVE DURING THE DAY TIME AND CAME BACK AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE NOISE I HEARD COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR. WAS TOLD THAT A PART WAS BEING ODOR. 3/30/10 TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS COMING ACROSS MY NECK AND LOCKING, AND THE THERE WAS ONLY ONE LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD SHOWING THE SPEED AND NOTHING ELSE. WAS TOLD ORDER A PART FOR THE SEAT BELT AND WOULD LOOK AT THE DASH BROAD WHEN I CAME BACK (IT WAS SAI… Look up ODI 10325091 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Seats	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	28.7% ODI 732815 NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK Look up ODI 732815 at NHTSA ↗	47.8% ODI 533509 BOLTS THAT SECURE THE FRONT SEAT FAILED, CAUSING SEAT TO MOVE. Look up ODI 533509 at NHTSA ↗	717.9% ODI 706937 NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK Look up ODI 706937 at NHTSA ↗	27.7% ODI 10218841 · 11,000 mi AS THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1996 SATURN SC1 WITH 68,000 MILES, THIS CAR HAS HAD FOUR HEAD GASKETS REPLACED ORIGINATING WHEN THIS CAR WAS UNDER A YEAR OLD. IN ADDITION TO THESE REPEATED CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURES MULTIPLE REPLACEMENTS OF ALARM SYSTEMS, RADIO, ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND A DEFECTIVE FRONT SEAT. THIS IS WHAT I PURCHASED FROM SATURN AND I HAVE ALL DOCUMENTATION. THE MOST RECENT HEAD GASKET FAILURE OCCURRED IN NOVEMBER '06. AS I WAS EXASPERATED BY SATURN AND THIS VEHICLE I WAS SOLD, I SUED THE SATURN CORPORATION IN THE RICHMOND COUN… Look up ODI 10218841 at NHTSA ↗	13.0% ODI 740850 BOTH FRONT SEATS RECLINED WHEN VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND. THE DRIVERS SEAT WOULD NOT REMAIN LOCKED IN UPRIGHT POSITION AS A RESULT.*AK Look up ODI 740850 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	28.3% ODI 10014818 THE DRIVER'S SEAT ROCKED BACK AND FOURTH. *JB Look up ODI 10014818 at NHTSA ↗	114.3% ODI 10531889 DRIVER SEAT RECLINER FAILURE. SAME PROBLEM THAT AFFECTED 1994 AND 1995 SATURNS (RECALLED AS WELL). GEAR TEETH IN RECLINER MECHANISM GET WORN OUT AND NO LONGER HOLD THE SEAT BACKREST UPRIGHT. THIS POSES A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR Look up ODI 10531889 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	12.6% ODI 10110431 · 88,000 mi ON FEBRUARY 11, 2005 I WAS INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT. I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP AND REAR ENDED BY A PERSON MOST LIKELY GOING ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR. I OWN A SATURN SC1 2000. MY SEAT WENT FORWARD AND THEN COMPLETELY COLLAPSED INTO THE BACK SEAT. THIS IS VERY SIGNIFICANT FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS. MY 8 YEAR OLD GRANDSON TYPICALLY RIDES IN THAT VERY SPOT AND IF HE WERE WITH ME HE CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE SUBSTAINED HEAVY INJURIES DUE TO MY WEIGHT AND THE SPEED IN WHICH THE SEAT SLAMMED BACKWARDS. I ALSO FEEL THAT MY INJURIES WHERE MORE… Look up ODI 10110431 at NHTSA ↗
Air Bags:Frontal	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	59.8% ODI 502402 NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVERS AIR BAG IN ACCIDENT, CAUSING INJURY. *DSH Look up ODI 502402 at NHTSA ↗	410.3% ODI 8016401 WHILE DRIVING AT 2-5 MP CONSUMER T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT 50 MPH. VEHICLE WAS A TOTALED. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK Look up ODI 8016401 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	26.1% ODI 10099237 WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH, THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THIS CAUSED THE PASSENGER TO SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB Look up ODI 10099237 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	312.5% ODI 10132492 DT:THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SATURN SC1. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON AUGUST 5, 2005 WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY THE FRONT DRIVER OR THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE TWO OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE AND BOTH HAVD SEAT BELTS ON. PICTURES AND POLICE REPORT ARE AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, AND ONE OCCUPANT SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK Look up ODI 10132492 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	314.3% ODI 10156502 · 96,000 mi VEHICLE INVOLVED IN FRONT IMPACT ACCIDENT, REAR-ENDING A NON-MOVING VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON IMPACT (STRAIGHT-ON AND CENTER). AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURY. VEHICLE DAMAGE INCLUDED FRONT BUMPER & HOOD. *NM Look up ODI 10156502 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Engine And Engine Cooling	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	12.6% ODI 10070460 · 48,561 mi FIRST PROBLEM THE CAR OVER HEATED. WASN'T TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL AND WAS TREATED AS IF I MADE THE WHOLE THING UP! THEY CHECK THE CAR & TOLD ME THAT EVERYTHING CHECK OUT OKAY. DIDN'T HAVE ANY FUTHER PROBLEM WITH IT OVER HEATING. THEN HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR STALLING & EVEN DYING OUT WHILE IN TRAFFIC OR DRIVING! PUSHED THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS AFTER IT FINALLY DIED WHILE I WAS ON THE ROAD. WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A NEW ALTERNATOR & SPARK PLUGS. THEY PROCEEDED AS USUAL TO TREAT THIS AS A REALLY ODD THING TO HAPPEN! I STILL HAVE THE SAME PROB… Look up ODI 10070460 at NHTSA ↗	415.4% ODI 10030438 · 68,825 mi JUNE 1999 SATURN SENT A NOTICE REGARDING THE CYLINDER HEAD DEFECT THAT MAY OCCUR. THEY EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 100,000 MILES OR 6 YEARS. HOWEVER KNOWING THERE IS A DEFECT IN THEIR WORKMANSHIP, I ATTEMPTED CONTACT WITH LESS THAN 69,000 MILES ON MY SATURN WHEN THE CYLINDER HEAD SHOWED ALL THE SIGNS OF A CRACK. THIS INCLUDED OIL IN THE RADIATOR. SATURN ACCEPTS NO LIABILITY FOR THIS SEEING IT OUT OF THE SIX YEAR WARRANTY PERIOD. HOWEVER IT IS WELL WITHIN THE 100,000 MILE MILEAGE PERIOD. Look up ODI 10030438 at NHTSA ↗	13.0% ODI 543886 ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED RESULTING IN PEDAL FALLING OFF. Look up ODI 543886 at NHTSA ↗	215.4% ODI 10070205 AIR CONDITIONING UNIT STOPPED COOLING.DEALER WANTED TO TROUBLE SHOOT@$80.00/HOUR. HAYNES SERVICE MANUAL SAID TO CHECK FUSE .REPLACED DIODE @$4.00 AND FIXED MYSELF. MANUAL TRANSMISSION WHINING IN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. CHECKED TRANSMISSION DIPSTICK AND TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LOW. ADDED FLUID AND ANYTHING OVER 1 QUART POURED OUT. HAD TRANSMISSION SHOP CHECK IT OUT FOR BLOWN SEAL AND THEY FOUND INTERNAL METAL FRACTURE IN TRANSAXLE INNER CASE CAUSED BY SHEAR PIN MOVEMENT. SATURN ISSUED SERVICE MANUAL NOTIFICATION IN JAN.1998. DEALER AND SATURN ARE NO… Look up ODI 10070205 at NHTSA ↗	312.5% ODI 10065991 · 58,000 mi I CALLED SATURN TO SAY MY LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON DURING A TRIP. SATURN SUGGESTED A PRESSURE TEST. "SATURN STATES PRESSURE TESTED COOLING SYSTEM/NO EXTERNAL LEAKS FOUND/REMOVED CAM COVER AND FOUND A CRACK IN CYLINDER HEAD AT CAM#5 JOURNAL, CAUSING OIL AND COOLANT TO MIX TOGETHER/NEEDS NEW CYLINDER HEAD,THERMOSTAT,WATER PUMP,FLUSH OF COOLING SYSTEM AND OIL & FILTER." THE SERVICE INVOICE STATES "NO OIL CHANGE PER CUSTOMER REQUEST" . I WAS NEVER ASKED IF I WANTED AN OIL CHANGE ON 11/28; THE FACT IS I HAD AN OIL CHANGE AT SATURN 11/18!!!! P… Look up ODI 10065991 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	29.5% ODI 10029908 WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. Look up ODI 10029908 at NHTSA ↗	25.3% ODI 10183160 · 37,200 mi ON 2/1/07 MY CAR STARTED RUNNING ROUGH, WITH NO SES LIGHT COMING ON. AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS THE SES LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. A DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAD CAUSED THE ROUGH IDLE, AND THE DEALER SAID THAT IF I LEFT GO TO LONG ENOUGH IT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE UP. MY CAR HAS ONLY 37,315 MILES ON IT AND IS GARAGED WHEN NOT IN USE. A NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPLACED FOR A COST OF $463.44. I DO NOT HOT ROD THIS CAR OR ABUSE IT IN ANY FASHION, I AM 52 YEARS OLD. IF I HAD IGNORED THE S… Look up ODI 10183160 at NHTSA ↗
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	16.3% ODI 535911 SUNROOF FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. Look up ODI 535911 at NHTSA ↗	14.3% ODI 844227 ENGINE HEAD CRACKED, CAUSING THE COOLANT AND OIL TO MIX TOGETHER, CREATING A SPLURGE. *AK Look up ODI 844227 at NHTSA ↗	12.0% ODI 537267 VEHICLE BROKE DOWN DUE TO LOOSE ROCKER ARM STUD THAT HAD RESULTED IN THE COLLAPSE OF THE LIFTER AND A BREAK OF THE ROCKER. Look up ODI 537267 at NHTSA ↗	12.6% ODI 978445 ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. TT Look up ODI 978445 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	39.1% ODI 10064451 · 1 mi I GOT MY 97 SATURN SC1 A YEAR AGO WITH 56K MILES ON IT. THE COUPLE THAT HAD IT BEFORE ME TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF IT CONSIDERING THE OBVIOUS LACK OF QUALITY FROM THE FACTORY. I'VE PUT JUST OVER 21K MILES ON IT IN THE LAST YEAR. EVERY 500-1000 MILES IT BURNS A QUART OF OIL. THIS MEANS THAT EVERY 3000 MILES I HAVE TO GIVE IT TWO OIL CHANGES, ONE THE NORMAL WAY, AND ONE EVERY TIME I FILL IT WITH GAS. THE JOKE HAS BECOME "FILL THE OIL AND CHECK THE GAS." *NM Look up ODI 10064451 at NHTSA ↗	17.7% ODI 10130524 · 101,000 mi CAR OVERHEATED ON 4 LANE HIGHWAY. HAD TO PULL OVER WHILE CARS WERE DRIVING BY. REPLACEMENT OF HEAD GASKET AT 101,000 MILES. CAR IS STILL NOT WORKING PROPERLY AS HEAD WAS REPLACED AND NOW A PING HAD DEVELOPED. 8JB Look up ODI 10130524 at NHTSA ↗	312.5% ODI 10016241 I TOOK MY 1999 SATURN SC1 IN TO THE DEALER FOR A RESONATOR REPLACEMENT AND WHEEL ROTATION AND BALANCE AT 49,091 MILES. THE DEALER CALLED ME TO SAY THE UPPER ENGINE MOUNT HAD TO BE REPLACED. LAST WEEK, WHEN WE TOOK MY WIFE'S 1996 SL1 IN FOR ENGINE NOISE, WE WERE ALSO TOLD WE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE MOUNT. WITH MY 1999 SC1, IT HAS BEEN TAKEN IN FOR ALL REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE -- WHY DOES THE ENGINE MOUNTS ON SATURNS NEED REPLACING?. *JB Look up ODI 10016241 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	25.3% ODI 10191555 · 75,000 mi AT AROUND 75000 MILES I PULLED INTO WORK, PUT IT IN PARK, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY ENGINE STARTED TO REV, (INCREASING WITHOUT LEVELING. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE CAR TO STOP THE INCREASED REVVING. I TRIED TO TURN THE CAR ON AGAIN , HOPING IT WAS A FLUKE. AND IT STARTED AGAIN. I GOT IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD ME IT HAD A VACCUUM LEAK AND HAD TO HAVE THE INTAKE GASKET REPLACED. AND THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE EXTENSIVE WORK TO REPLACE IT. *AK Look up ODI 10191555 at NHTSA ↗
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	240.0% ODI 700977 MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR WHEN SMOKE BEGAN TO EMIT AND THE GENERATOR LIGHT WAS ON. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO OUR HOUSE. UPON EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE BLOCK WAS CRACKED WHERE THE GENERATOR IS SCREWED TO THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SATURN OF DADELAND ON 05/29/1998. THEY REPLACED CRACKED ENGINE BLOCK, ALL CRANKSHAFT BEARINGS, TIMING CHAIN & GUIDES, PISTON RINGS, VALVE STEM SEALS, & LAPPED ALL VALVES, INSTALLED NEW GENERATOR & BOLTS. TOTAL COST: $3196.67 Look up ODI 700977 at NHTSA ↗	16.3% ODI 535911 SUNROOF FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. Look up ODI 535911 at NHTSA ↗	14.3% ODI 972487 WHEN THE AIR IS ON, IT INTERFERS WITH ENGINE, ENGINE MAKES LOUD CLUNKING SOUND. TT Look up ODI 972487 at NHTSA ↗	35.9% ODI 740620 CAR BURNS OIL EVERY 500 MILES. SEE WEBPAGE "SATURNEXPOSED.COM" TO SEE THE MANY OTHER SATURN OWNERS WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK Look up ODI 740620 at NHTSA ↗	12.6% ODI 765744 DRIVING ON HWY AT 65MPH ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON INDICATING ENSUING SHUTDOWN. ATTEMPTED TO MAKE EXIT BUT UPON SLOWDOWN ON RAMP ENGINE SHUTOFF.HAD TO PUSH CAR DOWN RAMP AND OFF TO THE SIDE.*AK Look up ODI 765744 at NHTSA ↗	27.7% ODI 737121 NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK Look up ODI 737121 at NHTSA ↗	13.0% ODI 724246 NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK Look up ODI 724246 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	14.2% ODI 10072775 · 53,314 mi VEHICLES STARTED CONSUMING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL AROUND MARCH 2003. REPORTED TO DEALER THAT I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AT. I HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES.ON APRIL 18TH 2003 THE DEALER DISCOVERED AND HAD TO REPLACE LEAKING VALVE SEALS, CARBONED PISTON RINGS AND CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS. IN DEC. 2003 THE VEHICLE BEGAN MIXING OIL & COOLANT. DEALER REPLACED CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD COSTING OVER $2000.00. THIS VEHICLE IS A LEMON AND SHOULD NOT HAVE NEEDED 2 MAJOR ENGINE REPAIRS. *AK Look up ODI 10072775 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	14.8% ODI 10145252 · 73,000 mi I BOUGHT A NEW 2000 SC1. THE WARRANTY PERIOD ENDED IN MAY OF THIS YEAR. TODAY I HAD TO HAVE THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR ON A CAR WITH LESS THAN 75000 MILES. THE REPAIRMAN AT SATURN SAID HE HAD NEVER REPLACED A HEAD GASKET ON A SATURN IN 14 YEARS WITH THE COMPANY. THEY ALSO FOUND CARBON DEPOSITS IN THE MOTOR THAT THE REPAIRMAN WAS SUPRISED TO SEE. THE REPAIR DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THEIR FINDINGS WERE INCONCLUSIVE IN DETERMINING IF THE GASKET WAS DEFECTIVE. THIS CAR WAS ADVERTISED USING TWO EMPLOYEES DRIVING AROUND T… Look up ODI 10145252 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner	Too few reports for a range	79,500 mi	2 (sparse)	ODI 10005268 · 65,000 mi 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… Look up ODI 10005268 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10016914 · 94,000 mi 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 Look up ODI 10016914 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)	None	No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

2001: 10 complaints · 2002: 11 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
2001	4	5	10
2002	3	11	11

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
2001	21	0	0
2002	36	1	1

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
Component	Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner	Power Train:Automatic Transmission	Seats	Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components	Electrical System:Wiring	Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Gas Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve)
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner	—	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	0	—	0	0	0	0	0	0
Seats	0	0	—	0	0	0	0	0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components	0	0	0	—	0	0	0	0
Electrical System:Wiring	0	0	0	0	—	0	0	0
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	0	0	0	0	0	—	0	0
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	0
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Gas Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

Search patterns

2 patterns with matching reports.

Brake response concerns

1 mentions · 4.3% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 535387

ABS BRAKE FAILURE.

Look up ODI 535387 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

Stalling or loss of power

1 mentions · 4.3% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 962967

WHEN VEHICLE IS PUT INTO 5TH GEAR IT VIBRATES AND THEN STALLS OUT. TT

Look up ODI 962967 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b