Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 6 of 58 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Seats. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
11 crash reports1 fire reports7 injury reports
What owners actually said
58 reports
Mileage unknown · May 26, 1999
Power Train
MY '93 SATURN WOULD PUSH INTO THE REVERSE GEAR WHEN EVER THE CAR WAS WARM. I WAS TOLD BY A GMC AUTO REPAIR SHOP THAT MY TRANSMISSION WAS GOING OUT. AFTER GETTING A SECOND OPINION I DISCOVED THAT MANY OWNERS OF '93 SATURNS HAS THIS SAME PROBLEM. AFTER FURTHER INVESTAGATION ON MY PART I LEARNED THAT SATURN MADE A REPAIR KIT FOR TH…
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MY '93 SATURN WOULD PUSH INTO THE REVERSE GEAR WHEN EVER THE CAR WAS WARM. I WAS TOLD BY A GMC AUTO REPAIR SHOP THAT MY TRANSMISSION WAS GOING OUT. AFTER GETTING A SECOND OPINION I DISCOVED THAT MANY OWNERS OF '93 SATURNS HAS THIS SAME PROBLEM. AFTER FURTHER INVESTAGATION ON MY PART I LEARNED THAT SATURN MADE A REPAIR KIT FOR THIS PROBLEM WHICH COST ME $150 FOR THE KIT AND ANOTHER $150 FOR LABOR COSTS. IT WAS STATED IN THE SERVICE BULLETIN THAT SATURN SENT TO TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOPS THAT MAJOR DAMAGE COULD BE DONE TO THE TRANSMISSION IF THIS REPAIR WAS NOT FIXED. HOWEVER I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY TYPE OF NOTICE FROM SATURN STATING THAT THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT SATURN IS PUTTING THEIR CONSUMERS IN DANGER WHEN THEY KNOW THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN A SPECIFIC CAR MODEL/YEAR AND THEY DO NOT BOTHER TO NOTIFY THE CONSUMER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #706889
Mileage unknown · May 3, 1999
Seat Belts
AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RAIL. DEALER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM, BUT PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #837346
Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 1999
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, T BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO REAR END THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THE CONSUMER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #836525
Mileage unknown · Apr 2, 1999
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
CONSUMER WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT, AND WHEN CONSUMER APPLIED THE GAS PEDAL, GAS PEDAL BROKE, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO REAR END VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. *AK.
NHTSA ODI #836432
Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 1999
Air Bags
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA ODI #704460
Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 1999
Seats
THE VEHICLE DRIVER SEAT HAS BROKEN IN ITS FRAME. THE FRAME IT PROTRUDING OUT ON LEFT SIDE JUST BELOW ARM PIT AREA WHERE IT COULD PUCTURE RIB CAGE IF WERE HIT. THE SEAT ACTUALLY RECLINES FROM MIDDLE OF SEAT TO TOP. THIS IS SO BAD I HAVE HAD TO BORROW A BABY CAR SEAT TO PUT BEHIND SEAT FOR IT TO STAY UP SO I CAN DRIVE. THE CAR SE…
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THE VEHICLE DRIVER SEAT HAS BROKEN IN ITS FRAME. THE FRAME IT PROTRUDING OUT ON LEFT SIDE JUST BELOW ARM PIT AREA WHERE IT COULD PUCTURE RIB CAGE IF WERE HIT. THE SEAT ACTUALLY RECLINES FROM MIDDLE OF SEAT TO TOP. THIS IS SO BAD I HAVE HAD TO BORROW A BABY CAR SEAT TO PUT BEHIND SEAT FOR IT TO STAY UP SO I CAN DRIVE. THE CAR SEAT SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKEN IN THIS MANNER AND I BELIEVE IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND DEFECT IN THE SEAT. MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY TYPE ACCIDENT OR BEEN ABUSED IN ANY MANNER. THIS SEAT SHOULD BE REPLACED BY THE SATURN, NOT JUST REPAIRED AND SHOULD BE STUDIED TO SEE WHY A SEAT WOULD DO SUCH A THING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #702906
Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling
SUMMARY NOT PROVED BY CONSUMER
NHTSA ODI #700325
Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling
TIMING CHAIN MAKES NOISE DUE TO ADJUSTER MALFUNCTION.
NHTSA ODI #537493
Mileage unknown · May 10, 1998
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic
BRACKET THAT HOLDS ABS WIRE HARNESS RUSTED OFF ON BOTH SIDES. HANGING DOWN WIRES ON RIGHT SIDE THROUGH AXLE SHORTED OUT ABS SYSTEM.
NHTSA ODI #535377
Mileage unknown · May 6, 1998
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment
THE GENERATOR ELECTRICAL WIRING IS NOT PROTECTED AGAINST EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW WHICH MAY BE CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE GENERATOR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: THE GENERATOR WIRING HARNESS WILL BE REPLACED WITH ONE THAT WILL OPEN AS A FUSE WOULD UNDER CERTAIN EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW CONDITIONS.
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT BETWEEN THE BATTERY CABLE ANDTHE STARTER HOUSING CAN RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, ADJUST THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE TERMINAL SO THAT IT DOES NOT CONTACT THE STARTER SOLENOID HOUSING.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2
EA95003 · Cruise Control Failures
Opened Feb 24, 1995 · Closed May 31, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment
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 NOT IDENTIFIED AT EHIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
PE94079 · Cruise Control Failure
Opened Nov 7, 1994 · Closed Feb 24, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment
There is no summary currently available
1993 Saturn SC1 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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