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1994 Saturn SC1

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1994 Saturn SC1 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 39.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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: 4 of 82 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 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports1 fire reports6 injury reports

Seat Belts complaints

12 reports
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104,000 miles · May 3, 2005
Seat Belts

PASSENGER SIDE PASSIVE SHOULDER SEAT BELT RETRACTOR HAS FAILED. IT NO LONGER MOVES FOWARD TO ALLOW EASY ACCESS INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS RESULTS IN PASSENGER HAVING TO MANUALLY DISENGAGE THE SHOULD BELT AND REMEMBER TO RE-ENGAGE IT FOR SAFETY. I CONSIDER THIS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WHEN A BASIC SAFETY SYSTEM FAILS. I WOULD LIKE M…

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PASSENGER SIDE PASSIVE SHOULDER SEAT BELT RETRACTOR HAS FAILED. IT NO LONGER MOVES FOWARD TO ALLOW EASY ACCESS INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS RESULTS IN PASSENGER HAVING TO MANUALLY DISENGAGE THE SHOULD BELT AND REMEMBER TO RE-ENGAGE IT FOR SAFETY. I CONSIDER THIS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WHEN A BASIC SAFETY SYSTEM FAILS. I WOULD LIKE MANUFACTURER TO REPAIR AT NO CHARGE.

NHTSA ODI #10119662

96,000 miles · Nov 18, 2003
Seat Belts

1994 SC2 SATURN. THE SEAT BELTS HAVE TWO PARTS, AND THE UPPER PART MOVES WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOOR. THE LAP BELT IS SEPARATE AND YOU LATCH THIS MANUALLY. THE PROBLEM IS THE UPPER PART HAS STOPPED WORKING IT WILL NOT MOVE. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10047112

125 miles · Jun 3, 2003
Seat Belts

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL RETRACT AND TIGHTEN SEVERELY. THIS WILL RESULT IN THE DRIVER BEING TRAPPED IN THE SEAT, AND SUSTAINING BRUISES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10022217

Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2001
Seat Belts

WHEN CONSUMER TRAVELING AT A SUDDEN STOP SEATBELT OPENS UP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #898531

Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 2001
Seat Belts

THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MECHANISM FAILS TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY WHEN THE DOOR IS OPENED AS DESIGNED. *MJS

NHTSA ODI #559630

Mileage unknown · May 9, 2000
Exterior LightingSeat BeltsService Brakes, Hydraulic

THE PASSENGER SIDE HEAD LIGHT DOES NOT OPEN AND THE HIGH BEAM DOES NOT WORK. YH

NHTSA ODI #552188

Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 1999
Seat BeltsSeats

BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATS ARE INOPERATIVE DUE TO SEA T BELT WHICH IS LOCKED IN THE TRACK. ALSO THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE MOTOR. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED NUMEROUS PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #838950

Mileage unknown · Dec 23, 1998
Seat BeltsSeatsCrashInjury

REAR-END COLLISION, I WAS STOPPED, PERSON HIT ME GOING 30-40 M.P.H. MY SEAT BELT DIDN'T HOLD ME IN MY SEAT. THE SEAT BELT TRACK WAS INOP. AND I HAD ALREADY TAKEN IT IN TO SATURN AND THEY SAID THEY WEREN'T RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING IT. I COULDN'T AFFORD THE $450 REPAIR. ALSO, IN THE CRASH, BOTH FRONT SEATS WERE FORCED REARWARD AND L…

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REAR-END COLLISION, I WAS STOPPED, PERSON HIT ME GOING 30-40 M.P.H. MY SEAT BELT DIDN'T HOLD ME IN MY SEAT. THE SEAT BELT TRACK WAS INOP. AND I HAD ALREADY TAKEN IT IN TO SATURN AND THEY SAID THEY WEREN'T RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING IT. I COULDN'T AFFORD THE $450 REPAIR. ALSO, IN THE CRASH, BOTH FRONT SEATS WERE FORCED REARWARD AND LANDED ON THE BACK SEATS. FORTUNATELY, I DIDN'T HAVE BACK SEAT PASSENGERS IN THE CAR AT THAT TIME OR THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. I HAVE CONTACTED SATURN AND THEY SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO LOOK AT THE CAR, BUT THEY SAY THAT THE SEATS ARE DESIGNED TO DO THAT IN A COLLISION. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THIS HAPPENS IN MOST CARS. I'M GREATLY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHERS WHO OWN SATURNS AND PUT THEIR CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEATS AND DON'T KNOW THAT THIS HAPPENS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO TO IMPROVE THIS SITUATION AT THIS POINT BUT I DO FEEL THAT THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO BE COMPLETELY AWARE OF THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH HAVING BACK SEAT PASSENGERS. SATURN CLAIMS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE. COULD YOU PLEASE SHARE WITH ME ANY INFORMATION YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING SEATS IN COLLISIONS IN VEHICLES, SATURNS ESPECIALLY? I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE ANY INFORMATION YOU HAVE TO OFFER.

NHTSA ODI #701559

Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 1998
Seat BeltsSeats

DRIVER'S SEAT RECLINES AUTOMATICALLY UNDER ACCELERATION OR ANYTIME DRIVER LEANS BACK TOO HARD. ALSO PASSIVE RESTRAINT IS STUCK FORWARD.

NHTSA ODI #780102

Mileage unknown · Mar 3, 1998
Seat BeltsSeats

DRIVER'S SEAT RECLINES AUTOMATICALLY UNDER ACCELERATION. ALSO PASSIVE RESTRAIN TIS STUCK FORWARD, NO SHOULDER HARNESS.

NHTSA ODI #780337

Official recalls

1

99V045000 · Seats

Mar 12, 1999

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, IT COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SEAT RECLINER MECHANISMS.

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

4

RQ00005 · Front Seat Back Can Recline Or Collapse

Opened Feb 16, 2000 · Closed Aug 19, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats:front Assembly:recliner

No summary supplied.

EA98017 · Seat Back Failures

Opened Jul 31, 1998 · Closed Mar 16, 1999

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats

IN ITS LETTER DATED MARCH 5, 1999, GENERAL MOTORS STATED THAT IT WILL RECALL 136,300 MODEL YEAR 1994 AND 1995 SATURN VEHICLE (ALL MODELS) BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1994 AND AUGUST 1994.DURING THIS PERIOD, SATURN'S SEAT SUPPLIER MANUFACTURED RECLINER ASSEMBLIES WHICH WERE OUT OF DESIGN SPECIFICATION, ALLOWING THE FRONT SEAT BACKS TO RECLINE OR COLLAPSE INADVERTENTLY.TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, SATURN DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BACK RECLINER ASSEMBLIES.SEE NHTSA'S SAFETY RECALL FILL 99V-045 FOR DETAILS.

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