Model year record

1993 Saturn SC1 recalls & problems

The 1993 Saturn SC1 has 2 safety recalls and 58 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (16 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints58filed by owners

Crashes · fires11 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths7 · 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.

Electrical systemMay 25, 1993

12v/24v/48v battery › Cables

Recall 93V09400014,459 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT BETWEEN THE BATTERY CABLE ANDTHE STARTER HOUSING CAN RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Fix: INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, ADJUST THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE TERMINAL SO THAT IT DOES NOT CONTACT THE STARTER SOLENOID HOUSING.

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.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Disc › Caliper	16	4	0	2	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Engine › Gasoline	12	0	0	0	—
SeatsFront assembly › Recliner	12	3	0	3	138,000 mi
Electrical systemAlternator/generator/regulator; 12v/24v/48v battery	10	0	1	0	—
Seat beltsFront › Webbing; Front › Retractor	6	1	0	1	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Manual transmission › Column shift assembly	5	0	0	0	—
Vehicle speed control	4	2	0	1	—
Air bagsFrontal	3	2	0	1	—
StructureBody › Door; Body	3	1	0	1	—
VisibilityWindshield; Sun/moon roof assembly	3	0	0	0	—
Tires	2	0	0	0	—
EquipmentAppliance › Air conditioner; Electrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc.	2	0	0	0	—

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

Recent owner complaints

Seats
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
May 20, 2011 · 205,000 miles
Seats
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 BACK IN POSITION, TWO INTERNAL OPERATING LEVERS MUST REMAIN ALIGNED IN THE SAME PLANE. THESE ARE HELD IN ALIGNMENT BY A VERY THIN METAL PLATE (ABOUT 1MM THICK). THIS PLATE WAS BENT CAUSING THE INTERNAL OPERATING LEVERS TO MISALIGN AND THE SEAT BACK TO COLLAPSE. DUE TO THE THINNESS AND LACK OF STRENGTH OF THE ALIGNMENT PLATE, THIS FAILURE IS EXTREMELY LIKELY. YOUR DATABASE SHOWS AT LEAST TWO OTHER…
Feb 3, 1993 · 75,006 miles
Electrical system › Alternator/generator/regulatorFire
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
Jan 11, 2005 · 106,000 miles
Latches/locks/linkages › Trunk lid › Lock
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 TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK
Sep 30, 2004
Structure › Body › DoorCrash1 injury
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
Nov 7, 2002 · 156,000 miles
SeatsCrash1 injury
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.
Feb 6, 2004
Exterior lighting › Hazard flashing warning lights › Switch
THE HAZARD LIGHTS STOPPED FLASHING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. *PH THE TURN SIGNALS WERE ALSO INOPERATIVE. *JB
Feb 19, 2004
Electrical system › Alternator/generator/regulator
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
Aug 5, 1993 · 35 miles

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