Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles, equipped with automatic transaxles, fail to comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 114, "Theft protection." These vehicles were built with an improperly adjusted automatic transaxle park lock cable...
1991-2002 · 12 model years
Saturn SC Problems by year
Owners have filed 297 complaints about the Saturn SC across 12 model years, and it has 14 recalls. The 1994 has the most complaints once its age is allowed for (51), while 1991, 1998 have far fewer than a typical year. The most reported problem area is the seats & seat belts, followed by the engine & cooling.
- Complaints
- 297
- Recalls
- 14
- Crashes
- 49
- Fires
- 7
- Injuries
- 35
- Deaths
- 2
SC complaints by model year
Highlighted: the year with the most complaints for its age. Older vehicles have had more time to collect complaints - the Safety Index grade allows for that.
Most common SC problems
Saturn SC recalls 14
Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 301, "Fuel system integrity." These vehicles were built with an inadequate vent valve weld on the top portion of the fuel tank.
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with a console armrest fail to comply with requirements of fmvss no. 201, "Occupant protection in interior impacts." The armrests were produced with a latch that will not withstand the vertical force...
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles do not comply with requirements of fmvss no. 210, "Seat belt assembly anchorages." Some of the vehicles were produced with seat belt shoulder guide anchor bolts that were not adequately tightened at...
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles do not comply with requirements of fmvss no. 135, "Passenger car brake systems." These vehicles were produced with brake pipe attachment nuts that may not be tightened to specifications.
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles do not comply with requirements of fmvss no. 581, "Bumper standard." These vehicles were produced with rear bumper fasteners that may be loose or missing.
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles do not comply with requirements of fmvss no. 208, "Occupant crash protection." Some of these vehicles were manufactured with welds in the instrument panel carrier assembly that do not meet saturn...
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.
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The section of the owner's handbook titled "horizontal aim" does not specifically instruct an owner how to adjust the headlamp horizontal aim. This does not comply with requirements of fmvss no. 108, "Lamps...
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. If the driver or front passenger safety belt is pulled out much faster than normal, a number of time, the lock-up feature of the retractor will not work properly.
The front passenger seats have less lock pawl engagement on the inboard fore/aft adjuster than specified. This does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 207, "Seating systems."
The automatic transaxle park lock cable assembly was improperly adjusted making it possible to shift from the "park" position with the ignition key removed, or remove the ignition key with the shift lever in a position other than "park." This does not meet...
Latest SC complaints
Vehicle leaks fuel when filled with gasoline at pump. If operator fills vehicle till the pump stops vehicle will leak fuel after roughly 15 seconds of pump stopping. The vehicle will only drip a small puddle of fuel. Vehicle could leak more if vehicle is at an incline or rolled. This has occurred at multiple pump at stations of differing brands. Over the span of weeks.
Right front passenger seat belt male mechanism is locked up and will not extend to lock in female mechanism. Unusable.
Drivers seat won't stay in upright position when I lean back with slight pressure, whether I am in motion or not. This has been an ongoing problem for about a month. As a previous owner of many cars, I have never heard of this type of problem. Also the trunk latch is not operable using the cable.
Air bags, name unknown, opened after hitting a curb in a parking lot, approx. Less than10mph. No dents, no damage, I was bruised but I'm ok, is my air bags a recall, should air bags pop out after bumping a curb, thank goodness I didn't have my grandchild with me, or any body!! Can you let me know why this would happen, thank you. Updated 08/28/2017*js
Front end accident. Neither air bag deployed. Car was in motion, went through a rail over a embankment and down the hill into the lake.
Ligthly applied brake to slow down to stop at intersection; though I had foot pressing hard on brake car would not stop, entered intersection and struck a passing car; this was within an hour of picking up the car from garage where repairs had been done because of this problem; air bags did not activate at impact
Questions about the Saturn SC
Which Saturn SC years have the most problems?
Which Saturn SC years have the fewest complaints?
What are the most common Saturn SC problems?
Across every model year, owners report problems with the seats & seat belts (89), engine & cooling (46), electrical system (40) most often.
How many recalls does the Saturn SC have?
NHTSA lists 14 recalls across all Saturn SC model years. Each year's page lists the recalls for that year; check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether the repair has been done.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data