1994 SATURN SC1

1 recalls, 102 complaints

SEATS

Defect Description

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.

138,691 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Complaint Statistics

102 total complaints 12 crashes 1 fires 8 injuries

Top Reported Components

Component	Complaints
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER	21
SEATS	11
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE	7
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR	5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS	4
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION	3
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH	3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE	3
SEAT BELTS	3

Incident date: Sep 1, 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 CO... Read more

Incident date: Sep 1, 2007

Incident date: Aug 28, 2005

DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN 1994 SATURN SC2 WHEN RIGHT REAR WHEEL SNAPPED OFF. SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND IT ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES. DAUGHTER WAS AIR LIFTED TO UNITED METHODIST HOSPITAL DES MOINES IA. WITH BRAIN CONCUSSION, FACIAL CUTS WHICH REQUIRED PLASTIC SURGERY THE NIGHT OF THE AC... Read more

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Apr 29, 2005

PASSENGER SIDE PASSIVE SHOULDER SEAT BELT RETRACTOR HAS FAILED. IT NO LONGER MOVES FOWARD TO ALLOW EASY ACCESS INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS RESULTS IN PASSENGER HAVING TO MANUALLY DISENGAGE THE SHOULD BELT AND REMEMBER TO RE-ENGAGE IT FOR SAFETY. I CONSIDER THIS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WHEN A BASIC SAFET... Read more

Incident date: May 26, 2004

I FEEL THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION, WHICH SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE ANY ONE DIES. THE SPRING THAT RETURNS THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE TO THE "SHUT" POSITION BREAKS. THEN HANDLE DOES NOT RETURN TO ITS' CLOSED POSITION. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE DOOR WILL NOT LATCH OR WILL NOT LOCK. ALTERNATIVELY, IF T... Read more

Incident date: Nov 15, 2003

1994 SC2 SATURN. THE SEAT BELTS HAVE TWO PARTS, AND THE UPPER PART MOVES WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOOR. THE LAP BELT IS SEPARATE AND YOU LATCH THIS MANUALLY. THE PROBLEM IS THE UPPER PART HAS STOPPED WORKING IT WILL NOT MOVE. *LA

ENGINE MOTOR CONTINUOUSLY SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

Incident date: Feb 20, 2003

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL RETRACT AND TIGHTEN SEVERELY. THIS WILL RESULT IN THE DRIVER BEING TRAPPED IN THE SEAT, AND SUSTAINING BRUISES.*AK

Incident date: Feb 2, 2002

RECLINER MECHANISM ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. MECHANISM DOES NOT HOLD IN PLACE, AND WHEN THE CONSUMER IS DRIVING, SEAT WILL FALL BACK. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

Incident date: Jun 21, 2001

DRIVER'S SEAT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY RECLINE BY ITSELF WHILE DRVING. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE SEAT GEAR TEETH ARE WORN EXCESSIVELY. *JG

Incident date: Jun 15, 2000

TREAD WAS GOOD BUT CAME OFF TIRE. RIPPED MY FRONT FENDER AND PART OF MY FRONT BUMPER. *AK (TIRESIZE: P195/60R15)

Incident date: Mar 1, 2001

WHEN CONSUMER TRAVELING AT A SUDDEN STOP SEATBELT OPENS UP. *AK

Incident date: Sep 1, 2001

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT HAS A DEFECT, WHEN DRIVER BARELY LEANS OR PRESSES IT, THE SEATS RECLINED BACKWARDS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.*AK *SLC

Incident date: Aug 25, 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 TIRE... Read more

TRACK WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED WHEN THE RECALL CAME OUT IN 1999. SAME DEFECT OCCURRED AGAIN IN 2001- I WAS MADE TO PAY FOR IT SATURN CITING THAT A 12 MONTH WARRANTY ON THIS RECALL HAD EXPIRED. *AK

Incident date: Apr 24, 2000

WHEN PUTTING WAIT ON SEATBACK IT WILL UNEXPECTEDLY RECLINE. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS DANGEROUS IF IT HAPPENS ON HIGHWAY. CONSUMER IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL ON 99 V 045 000. DEALER SAID THIS CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK

THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MECHANISM FAILS TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY WHEN THE DOOR IS OPENED AS DESIGNED. *MJS

Incident date: Feb 1, 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 EXA... Read more

Fire

Incident date: Nov 1, 2000

ENGINE THREW A ROD. IT DESTROYED THE ENGINE AND WE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. ENGINE FAILURE WAS INSTANTANEOUS, ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, GOING AT REGULAR SPEED OF OTHER VEHICLES.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER'S SEAT HAS FULLY RECLINED. *SLC

Incident date: Feb 8, 2000

I WAS DRIVING MY SATURN IN DOWNTOWN DAYTON, OH WHEN WHEEL HUB/AXLE BROKE, CAUSING LEFT REAR WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM VEHICLE, AND THE VEHICLE TO SPIN INTO A STREET SIGN. IT WAS A COLD CLOUDY DAY, BUT IT WAS LIGHT, AND THERE WAS NO MOISTURE. THE ROAD WAS BUMPY AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT, BUT CERTA... Read more

Crash

Incident date: Aug 29, 2000

1994 SATURN SC-2 WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND AT APPROX 40 MPH WHILE SATURN WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT RECLINERS FAILED TO SECURE OCCUPANTS. SEATS RECLINED TO THE FULLY RECLINED POSITION UPON IMPACT. I WAS TOLD BY SATURN OF CLEARWATER THAT THE RECLINING MECHANISMS FAILED. T... Read more

Crash

Incident date: Aug 29, 2000

Crash

Incident date: Jun 4, 2000

NO SUMMARY

WHEN HIT FROM REAR IN A LOW IMPACT CRASH SEAT TRACKS AND ANCHOR RECLINEING MECHANISM FAILED, CAUSING SEAT BACK TO COLLAPSE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

Incident date: Jun 20, 2000

TRANSMISSIONS DOES NOT GO INT0 REVERSE WHEN ENGAGED. CAR STALL FOR A FEW SECONDS, THEN GIVES A HARD LUNGE FORWARD WHEN FINALLY ENGAGED

Incident date: Jul 2, 2000

I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED REGARDING THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. THE INDICATOR LIGHT REMAINS "ON" AT ALL TIMES. I HAVE NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL ACCIDENT. WHAT COULD BE THE CAUSE OF THIS? MY VEHICHLE HAS FAILED INSPECTION SOLELY DUE TO THE INDICATOR LIGHT. WHAT INFORMATION CAN YOU GIVE ME ON... Read more

Incident date: Jun 9, 2000

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN REVERSE IT BEGAN TO STALL WHEN ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED TO MOVE VEHICLE BACKWARDS. AFTER VEHICLE STALLED, IT WOULD JUMP FORWARD ON ITS ON IMPACT, AND THEN REVERSE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, AND HELD FOR A WEEK. BUT PROBLEM HAS STARTED TO OCCUR. *AK

BRAKES MALFUNCTION. YH

DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED. YH

THE PASSENGER SIDE HEAD LIGHT DOES NOT OPEN AND THE HIGH BEAM DOES NOT WORK. YH

Incident date: Apr 4, 1999

RECLINER MECHANISM ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO LAY DOWN FLAT. SEAT WILL NOT STAY IN THE UP POSITION. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE SEAT. RECALL ISSUED FOR DIFFERENT MODEL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK *ML

Incident date: Apr 26, 1998

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S SEAT MOVED BACK UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. THERE IS A RECALL, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED ALTHOUGH IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Incident date: Oct 1, 1998

ABOUT SIX MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING MY SATURN THE DRIVER'S SEAT BEGAN TO FALL REARWARD WHILE DRIVING. AT FIRST IT WOULD ONLY SLIP WHAT FELT LIKE A FEW "NOTCHES" AND I WOULD RIGHT IT AND GO ON. HOWEVER, SOON IT BEGAN TO GET WORSE AND FINALLY IT WOULD HARDLY STAY UPRIGHT AT ALL. I TOOK IT TO THE SATU... Read more

Incident date: Mar 1, 2000

THE TWO METAL ARMSTHAT SUPPORT THE SUNROOF ARE RUSTED ON THE INSIDE. *AK

Incident date: Oct 1, 1999

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Incident date: Oct 1, 1999

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Incident date: Oct 1, 1999

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S SEAT RELEASED FROM THE UPRIGHT POSITION. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Incident date: Aug 27, 1999

DRIVERS SEAT FAILS TO REMAIN IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION. SEAT NOT LOCKED IN POSITION. LIES ON REAR SEAT.

WHEN ANY KIND OF PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE BACK REST, IT COLLPASES TO THE REAR. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

Incident date: May 1, 1999

DRIVER'S SEATBACK COLLAPSED WHEN CONSUMER WAS PULLING OUT FROM A STOP SIGN.DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN MANUFACTURER'S RECALL DUE TO VIN. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

A CRACKED ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD CAUSED ENGINE TO BLOW UP, RESULTING IN VEHICLE BECOMING INOPERATIVE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Incident date: Apr 1, 1994

BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATS ARE INOPERATIVE DUE TO SEA T BELT WHICH IS LOCKED IN THE TRACK. ALSO THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE MOTOR. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED NUMEROUS PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Incident date: Apr 1, 1994

WHEN I CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO BUY A NEW MOTOR MOUNT THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ORIGINAL MOTOR MOUNT DESIGN WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT THEY HAD REPLACED IT WITH ANOTHER DESIGN WHICH WOULD ENTAIL A DIFFERENT SET-UP. TO REPLACE THIS PART IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. ABOUT $150.00 FOR THE PART NOT INSTALLE... Read more

Showing 50 of 102 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 (current)	1	102
1993	2	85	View
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

1994 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