1993 SATURN SC1

2 recalls, 85 complaints

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

Defect Description

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... Read more

Remedy

THE GENERATOR WIRING HARNESS WILL BE REPLACED WITH ONE THAT WILL OPEN AS A FUSE WOULD UNDER CERTAIN EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW CONDITIONS.

352,833 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

Defect Description

THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE TERMINAL AT THE STARTER SOLENOID MAY BE FORMED INCORRECTLY. INCORRECTLY FORMED TERMINALS CAN CONTACT THE STARTER SOLENOID HOUSING AND CAUSE AN ELECTRIC SHORT CIRCUIT.

Consequence

AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT BETWEEN THE BATTERY CABLE ANDTHE STARTER HOUSING CAN RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy

INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, ADJUST THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE TERMINAL SO THAT IT DOES NOT CONTACT THE STARTER SOLENOID HOUSING.

14,459 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Complaint Statistics

85 total complaints 14 crashes 1 fires 10 injuries

Top Reported Components

Component	Complaints
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER	6
SEATS	6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP	5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE	5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE	4
SEAT BELTS	4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR	4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER	3
AIR BAGS	2

Incident date: May 20, 2011

1993 SATURN SC2 FRONT SEAT BACK RECLINER MECHANISM FAILED CAUSING SEAT BACK TO RECLINE SUDDENLY AND ALMOST INJURING PASSENGER IN THE CAR. SEAT WILL NO LONGER STAY FORWARD WHICH RESULTS IN SEAT GOING BACK A SOON AS YOU PRESS GAS PEDAL. *TR

Incident date: Feb 3, 1993

DRIVER'S SEAT BACK RECLINER MECHANISM FAILED CAUSING SEAT BACK TO RECLINE SUDDENLY AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. DISASSEMBLY OF THE SEAT AND INSPECTION OF THE RECLINER MECHANISM REVEALED A DESIGN DEFECT WHICH MAKES SUDDEN FAILURE OF THIS MECHANISM HIGHLY LIKELY. FOR THE RECLINER TO HOLD THE SEAT B... Read more

Incident date: Jan 11, 2005

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND SUDDENLY THE LIGHTS WENT DIM AND SMOKE BEGAN COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS A FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND THE WIRE THAT CONNECTED TO THE ALTERNATOR MELTED. *AK

Fire

Incident date: Sep 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 T... Read more

Incident date: Sep 30, 2004

Incident date: Nov 7, 2002

DUE TO PLASTIC DOOR SKIN (OUTER PANELING ) OPENING THE DOOR IN A LOW SPEED CAR ACCIDENT IN ADDITION TO PASSIVE SEAT BELT FALURE (INTERMITTENTLY WORKED)I WAS EJECTED FROM CAR AND LEFT PARALYZED. AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKING WAS REJECTED BY SATURN DUE TO COST LEAVING SAFETY OUT OF CONCERN. *JB

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Nov 7, 2002

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Feb 6, 2004

VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WHEN REAR ENDED BY VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROX. 25 MPH. SEAT BACK COLLAPSED ON DRIVER'S SIDE TO 45 DEGREE ANGLE.BODY SHOP UNABLE TO REPAIR TO ORIGINAL CONDITION WITHOUT REPLACEMENT.

Crash 1 injured

THE HAZARD LIGHTS STOPPED FLASHING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. *PH THE TURN SIGNALS WERE ALSO INOPERATIVE. *JB

Incident date: Aug 5, 1993

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

Incident date: Sep 1, 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

Incident date: Sep 1, 2001

THE DRIVER SEAT BACK DID NOT STAY UP. *JB

Incident date: Nov 12, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THIS IS THIRD TIME HAS CHANGE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISION . DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. AND PROBLEM IS REOCUURING. MR

Incident date: Aug 5, 1998

I AM CURIOUS AS TO WHETHER WE ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SEAT BELT FAILURE. BECAUSE OF CONSTRUCTION, THEY HAVE STOPPED RUNNING ACROSS THE TOP OF THE DOOR, AND THEY ARE EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE.*AK

Incident date: Feb 15, 2001

DRIVER SIDE SEAT BROKE, FRAME OF SEAT IS STICKING OUT, UPPER PART OF SEAT IS FLOPPING BACK AND FORTH. *JG *AK

Incident date: Sep 1, 2001

ALTERNATOR MOUNTING POINT ON ENGINE BLOCK BROKE, RELEASING ALTERNATOR. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THE DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARD WHILE GETTING INTO VEHICLE, DEALER REPLACED THE SEAT BACK ADJUSTER MECHANISM AND LESS THAN ONE WEEK LATER, THE SEAT COLLAPSED AGAIN, CONSUMER RETURNED TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT SOME EARLY MODELS HAD SEAT PROBLEMS, AND THE DEALER ADJUSTED OR BENT... Read more

Incident date: Feb 20, 2001

WHILE EXITING THE TURNPIKE THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE AND RIM CAME OFF DAMAGING THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). NLM

Incident date: Feb 20, 2001

WHILE EXITING THE TURNPIKE THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE AND RIM CAME OFF DAMAGING THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). NLM

Incident date: Apr 1, 2001

DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER IS TAKING IT TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC ON APRIL 26TH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES WOULD BE ENTERING VEHICLE THROUGH FLOORBOARD. WOULD HAVE STATIC ELECTRIC CHARGE TO LEFT KNEE. DOORS WERE EXCESSIVELY HEAVY TO OPEN OR CLOSE. DOOR LOCKS FAILED TO BE OPERATED PROPERLY. PANEL LIGHTS WOULD COME ON OR GO OFF BY THEMSELVES. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALE... Read more

Incident date: Jul 1, 1997

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ALONG WITH THE FAILING OF THE ALTERNATOR AND THE BATTERY, THE BATTERY IS REPLACED ONCE A YEAR. *SLC

Incident date: Jul 1, 1997

ENGINE FAILED. *SLC

Incident date: Jul 1, 1997

EGR VALVE FAILED. *SLC

Incident date: Dec 15, 2000

WHILE DRIVING AT 5-10 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH REAR ENDED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. DRIVER'S SEATBACK FELL INTO A CHILD BOOSTER SEAT WHICH WAS PLACED BEHIND ON DRIVER'S SIDE. SEAT FELL ON TOP OF CHILD'S LEG AND BROKE LEG. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Aug 15, 2000

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S SEATBACK MOVED UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A CRASH. DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO HELP CONSUMER. DEALER SAID NEEDED TO REPLACE BOTH SIDES OF THE SEAT RECLINER. *AK

Incident date: Aug 28, 2000

FAILED PREVIOUSLY, PAID $1600 TO SATURN IN 98 AND PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. 1-CYL WAS REPLACED WITH THIS WORK IN ADDITION TO SEVERAL OTHER THINGS. ENGINE PRACTICALLY REBUILT. EXISTED PRIOR TO THIS AROUND 1995-1997 AND WAS REPORTED AND TAKEN TO SATURN DEALERS WHO DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AFTER SEVERAL TIM... Read more

NO SUMMARY

Incident date: Jun 9, 2000

THE MOTORIZED SHOULDER BELT GRADUALLY STOPPED MOVING IN EITHER DIRECTION. NLM

Incident date: Nov 5, 1999

I AM STILL CONTENT WITH MY 1993 SATURN BUT DISAPPOINTED THAT A PART THAT SHOULD HAVE LASTED MUCH LONGER FAILED IN OCTOBER, 1999. I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO MAINTAINING THE LOW MILEAGE ON MY CARE, BUT WHEN THE ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER FROZE AT 30,555 MILES, ALL CREDIBILITY AND REMAINING MARKET VALUE D... Read more

SATURN CORPORATION REFUSES TO INSTALL AN AIRBAG DEACTIVATION SWITCH AS APPROVED BY NHTSA (REFERENCE DOT COMPLAINT NO. 97-592).

THEIR IS A CRACK IN ENGINE VAVLE COVER GASKET THAT CAUSES A LEAK. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

Incident date: Jan 1, 1999

SHOULDER SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE IS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

Incident date: May 1, 1999

DRIVER'S SEATBACK BOLT BROKE, CAUSING THE SEATBACK TO FALL BACK AND MAY CAUSE INJURIES OR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE SATURN 1994 & 1995, BUT NOT FOR 1993 ALTHOUGH IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Incident date: Jul 13, 1998

MY '93 SATURN WOULD PUSH INTO THE REVERSE GEAR WHEN EVER THE CAR WAS WARM. I WAS TOLD BY A GMC AUTO REPAIR SHOP THAT MY TRANSMISSION WAS GOING OUT. AFTER GETTING A SECOND OPINION I DISCOVED THAT MANY OWNERS OF '93 SATURNS HAS THIS SAME PROBLEM. AFTER FURTHER INVESTAGATION ON MY PART I LEARNED THAT S... Read more

Incident date: Apr 18, 1999

AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RAIL. DEALER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM, BUT PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

Incident date: Mar 6, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, T BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO REAR END THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THE CONSUMER. *AK

Crash

Incident date: Mar 22, 1999

CONSUMER WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT, AND WHEN CONSUMER APPLIED THE GAS PEDAL, GAS PEDAL BROKE, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO REAR END VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. *AK.

Crash

Incident date: Mar 12, 1999

NO SUMMARY

Incident date: Dec 8, 1995

TIMING CHAIN MAKES NOISE DUE TO ADJUSTER MALFUNCTION.

Incident date: Oct 1, 1998

THE VEHICLE DRIVER SEAT HAS BROKEN IN ITS FRAME. THE FRAME IT PROTRUDING OUT ON LEFT SIDE JUST BELOW ARM PIT AREA WHERE IT COULD PUCTURE RIB CAGE IF WERE HIT. THE SEAT ACTUALLY RECLINES FROM MIDDLE OF SEAT TO TOP. THIS IS SO BAD I HAVE HAD TO BORROW A BABY CAR SEAT TO PUT BEHIND SEAT FOR IT TO STAY... Read more

Incident date: Oct 28, 1998

SUMMARY NOT PROVED BY CONSUMER

Incident date: Feb 5, 1998

FRONT BRAKES REPLACED.

Incident date: Mar 19, 1998

ENGINE PISTIONS BLEW, CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT/STALL.

Incident date: May 16, 1996

SPEEDOMETER INOPERATIVE.

Incident date: May 16, 1996

SUNROOF LEAKED ONTO THE FLOOR GEAR SHIFT, CAUSING PROBLEMS.

Showing 50 of 85 complaints.

NHTSA Safety Investigations, SATURN SC1

Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.

RQ, Closed , Model Year: 1994

FRONT SEAT BACK CAN RECLINE OR COLLAPSE

EA, Closed , Model Year: 1994

SEAT BACK FAILURES

IN ITS LETTER DATED MARCH 5, 1999, GENERAL MOTORS STATED THAT IT WILL RECALL 136,300 MODEL YEAR 1994 AND 1995 SATURN VEHICLE (ALL MODELS) BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1994 AND AUGUST 1994.DURING THIS PERIOD, SATURN'S SEAT SUPPLIER MANUFACTURED RECLINER ASSEMBLIES WHICH WERE OUT OF DESIGN SPECIFICATION, ALL... Read more

EA, Closed , Model Year: 1993

CRUISE CONTROL FAILURES

THIS INVESTIGATION DOCUMENTED HTE FUNCTIONAL ABERATIONS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SUBJECT CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM.MOST OF THE MALFUNCTIONS INVOLVED FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM TO PROPERLY REGULATE VEHICLE SPEED WHEN ENGAGED, FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM TO ENGAGE, OR SELF-DISENGAGEMENT OF THE SY... Read more

PE, Closed , Model Year: 1993

CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE

There is no summary currently available

PE, Closed , Model Year: 1992

SEATBACK FAILURE

There is no summary currently available

SATURN SC1 - All Years Overview

Complete safety history for the SATURN SC1 across all model years (1991, 2001).

13 Total Recalls

554 Total Complaints

5 Investigations

93 Reported Crashes

5 Reported Fires

2 Reported Deaths

SATURN SC1 - Year by Year

Compare recalls and complaints across model years. Click any year to see full details.

Year	Recalls	Complaints
2001	2	29	View
2000	2	10	View
1999	0	30	View
1998	0	58	View
1997	3	98	View
1996	0	43	View
1995	1	73	View
1994	1	102	View
1993 (current)	2	85
1992	1	18	View
1991	1	8	View

Other SATURN Models

Model	Recalls	Complaints
ION	40	5,467	View
AURA	34	2,223	View
SL	29	2,891	View
SKY	22	623	View
OUTLOOK	21	1,939	View
SC	20	379	View
SW	17	274	View
LS	16	1,885	View

Vehicle Safety

Consumer Safety

Infrastructure

Public Health

1993 SATURN SC1

Complaint Statistics

Top Reported Components

NHTSA Safety Investigations, SATURN SC1

SATURN SC1 - All Years Overview

SATURN SC1 - Year by Year

Other SATURN Models