Model year record

1993 Saturn Sc recalls & problems

The 1993 Saturn Sc has 1 safety recall and 23 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is seats (9 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints23filed by owners

Crashes · fires4 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths1 · 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.

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

28mpg combined

City / highway	24 / 33 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.9 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,400/year to fuel

SC

26mpg combined

City / highway	23 / 33 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.9 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,600/year to fuel

SC

25mpg combined

City / highway	21 / 32 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 / 30 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	Crashes	Injuries	Typical mileage*
SeatsFront assembly › Recliner; Front assembly › Head restraint	9	2	1	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Exhaust system › Emission control › Gas recirculation valve (egr valve)	3	0	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components; Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	3	2	0	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission	2	0	0	—
VisibilityDefroster/defogger/hvac system; Sun/moon roof assembly	2	0	0	—
Parking brakeConventional	1	0	0	—
Latches/locks/linkagesDoors › Latch	1	0	0	—
Unknown or other	1	0	0	—
SuspensionFront	1	0	0	—
Interior lighting	1	0	0	—
Electrical systemWiring	1	0	0	—
Steering	1	1	0	—

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

Recent owner complaints

Seats › Front assembly › Recliner
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
May 2, 2003 · 94,000 miles
Seats › Front assembly › Recliner
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 CAUSES A SERIOUS PROBLEM WHEN DRIVING, AND SATURN KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM.
Nov 24, 2001 · 65,000 miles
Seats › Front assembly › ReclinerCrash1 injury
VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED WHILE STOPPED AND DRIVER'S SEAT WENT ALL THE WAY BACK INTO FULL RECLINE POSITION. CONSUMER SUFFERED WHIPLASH AND BACK PAIN. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK *JG
Jun 12, 2002
Fuel system, gasoline › Fuel injection system
VEHICLE WAS CHOKING WITH GASOLINE, AND JUST QUIT. VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AND DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
May 3, 2001
Seats › Front assembly › Recliner
SEAT RECLINER PARTS STRIPPED SO THAT SEAT RECLINES WHILE DRIVER IS ACCELERATING. *AK
Apr 2, 2001
Seats › Front assembly › Recliner
DRIVERS SEAT COLLPASED BACKWARD. CAR PARKED, NO DAMAGES. DEALER CHARGED $160 TO REPLACE SEAT ADJUSTER MEHANISM, DROVE HOME AND SEAT BEN NACKWARDS AGAIN; DEALER SAID SEAT FRAME BENT. SAYS THIS IS COMMON ON EARLY SATURNS. INTERNET SEACH SHOWED THIS TO BE PROBLEM WITH 94 SATURNS WITH A RECALL AT ONE TIME FOR THAT YEAR.*AK
Feb 1, 2001
Tires
FIRESTONE TIRES EXPERIENCED BLOWOUTS. *SLC
Oct 13, 2000
Seats
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
Dec 31, 1999

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

CRUISE CONTROL FAILURESClosed
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 SYSTEM. THESE PROBLEMS WERE INVESTIGATED AND STEPS TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER TO REMEDY THEIR OCCURRENCES.SERVICE PROCEDURES WERE ISSUED FOR VEHICLES IN USE, AND A DESIGN MODIFICATION MADE FOR NEW VEHICLES.NO CONFIRMED ALLEGATIONS OF FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISENGAGE UPON COMMAND WERE IDENTIFIED.IMPROVED QUALITY CONTROL PROCEDURES AND DESIGN MODIFICATIONSIN THE SYSTEM WERE UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE A MORE CONSISTENT LEVEL OF SYSTEM PERFORMANCE.THE DETAILS OF THESE FINDINGS AND THE RESULTING CONCLUSIONS ARE CONTAINED INTHE SUBJECT ENGINEERING ANALYSIS CLOSING REPORT.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND WAS…
EA95003 · opened Feb 24, 1995 · closed May 31, 1996
CRUISE CONTROL FAILUREClosed
There is no summary currently available
PE94079 · opened Nov 7, 1994 · closed Feb 24, 1995