Model year record

1992 Saturn Sc recalls & problems

The 1992 Saturn Sc has 2 safety recalls and 16 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is seat belts (11 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints16filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Electrical systemAug 10, 1993

Alternator/generator/regulator

Recall 93V132000352,833 vehicles

Problem: THE GENERATOR ELECTRICAL WIRING IS NOT PROTECTED AGAINST EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW WHICH MAY BE CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE GENERATOR.
Risk: 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.
Fix: THE GENERATOR WIRING HARNESS WILL BE REPLACED WITH ONE THAT WILL OPEN AS A FUSE WOULD UNDER CERTAIN EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW CONDITIONS.

Power trainJul 8, 1992

Power train

Recall 92V098000633 vehicles

Problem: THE TRANSAXLE VALVE ASSEMBLIES WERE IMPROPERLY MACHINED. VEHICLES MAY NOT PROPERLY ENGAGE IN NEUTRAL OR PARK, EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SELECTOR INDICATES THE VEHICLE IS IN NEUTRAL OR PARK.
Risk: IF THE GEAR SELECTOR INDICATES THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK ORNEUTRAL, IT COULD BE IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE CAR COULD STARTIN REVERSE OR DRIVE, OR MIGHT MOVE UNEXPECTEDLY, WHICH MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLECRASH OR INJURY TO PERSONS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE, WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Fix: REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE VALVE BODIES.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Fuel economy

SC

25mpg combined

City / highway	21 / 30 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.9 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,700/year to fuel

SC

24mpg combined

City / highway	21 / 29 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.9 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,800/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Fires	Typical mileage*
Seat beltsFront › Anchorage; Front › Retractor	11	0	—
StructureBody › Door; Body › Bumpers	3	0	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Engine	2	0	—
Tires	2	0	—
SeatsFront assembly › Recliner	1	0	—
Unknown or other	1	0	—
Electrical system12v/24v/48v battery	1	0	—
VisibilitySun/moon roof assembly	1	0	—
EquipmentAppliance › Air conditioner	1	1	—
Latches/locks/linkagesHood › Latch	1	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Latches/locks/linkages › Hood › Latch
HOOD RELEASE CABLE ROUTING HAS CAUSED LEAK IN A/C TUBING NEAR COIL. ALL REFRIGERANT WAS LOST. ROUTING OF THIS CABLE IS OBVIOUSLY FLAWED IN SEVERAL PLACES ASIDE FROM THE A/C PROBLEM. CABLE AND/OR NEARBY SURFACES ARE DAMAGED.*AK
Jun 10, 2003
Seat belts
WHILE STARTING VEHICLE PLACED MOTORIZED SHOULDER BELT ON, BUT IT DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
Jun 17, 2002
Tires
FIRESTONE FIREHAWK TIRE GTA 195 60 R15 EXPERIENCED BLOWOUT. *SLC
Oct 4, 1992
Seat belts
WE ALSO HAVE A 1991 SATURN SL. THE DIRVER SIDE AUTOMATIC SAFETY BELT WON'T WORK EITHER. IS IT JUST THE TYPE OF CAR OR WHAT?*AK
Jul 1, 1999
Equipment › Appliance › Air conditionerFire
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TRAVELING 65MPH, AND A/C STOPPED WORKING. WHILE COMING OFF HIGHWAY, STOPPED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT THE HOOD. TURNED VEHICLE OFF. FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT FIRE OUT. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD THAT FIRE STARTED IN A/C ASSEMBLY. HAD THE A/C REPLACED ON SEPT 2, 1998. *AK
Oct 4, 1998
Structure › Body
SUNROOF IS LEAKING. YH
Jan 1, 1999
Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
SEAT BELT MOTOR WAS REPLACED ONCE; NOW HAS FAILED AGAIN. MANUFACTURER'S "FIX" IS A CLIP WHICH ENABLES USER TO HOOK UP SEATBELT MANUALLY.
Nov 1, 1998
Seat belts
SATURN MANUFACTURED AUTOMATIC SEATBELTS IN EARLY MODEL CARS. THEY STOPPED DOING THAT IN SUBSEQUENT MODEL YEARS. THE SEATBELTS NO LONGER GO BACK AND FORTH AND SOMETIMES WILL NOT GO BACK INTO THE LOCKED POSITION EVEN WHEN FORCED. I REQUESTED THAT THEY FIX THEM AND THEY QUOTED ME A FIGURE IN EXCESS OF $600 EACH. THEY SAID THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM CAUSED BY THE FRAYING OF A CABLE IN THE DOOR FRAME. I HAVE DONE NOTHING TO CAUSE THIS PROBLEM AND IT IS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW. THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AS A RESULT AND I DON'T BELIEVE I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED.
May 15, 1995

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

FR SEATBACK RECLINER FAILSClosed
There is no summary currently available
EA93016 · opened Jun 8, 1993 · closed Jul 26, 1994
SEATBACK FAILUREClosed
There is no summary currently available
PE93004 · opened Feb 5, 1993 · closed Jun 8, 1993