1993 SATURN SC1 Problems & Recalls
Detailed safety information and owner complaints
Problem Breakdown
Compare to Other Years
Common Problems
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
Mileage: 205,000
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 B...
Mileage: 75,006
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
Mileage: 106,000
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 T...
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 T...
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
Mileage: 156,000
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
Mileage: 156,000
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.
THE HAZARD LIGHTS STOPPED FLASHING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. *PH THE TURN SIGNALS WERE ALSO INOPERATIVE. *JB
THE BATTERY CABLE FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO REPLACE THE BATTERY EVERY YEAR. A RECALL WAS ISSUED, HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK THE SATURN DEALER REFUSED TO FIX THE BATTERY CABLE. RECALL# 93V094000. *SCC *JB
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
Mileage: 35
THE DRIVER SEAT BACK DID NOT STAY UP. *JB
Mileage: 138,000
CONSUMER STATES THIS IS THIRD TIME HAS CHANGE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISION . DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. AND PROBLEM IS REOCUURING. MR
I AM CURIOUS AS TO WHETHER WE ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SEAT BELT FAILURE. BECAUSE OF CONSTRUCTION, THEY HAVE STOPPED RUNNING ACROSS THE TOP OF THE DOOR, AND THEY ARE EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE.*AK
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BROKE, FRAME OF SEAT IS STICKING OUT, UPPER PART OF SEAT IS FLOPPING BACK AND FORTH. *JG *AK
ALTERNATOR MOUNTING POINT ON ENGINE BLOCK BROKE, RELEASING ALTERNATOR. *AK
CONSUMER STATES THE DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARD WHILE GETTING INTO VEHICLE, DEALER REPLACED THE SEAT BACK ADJUSTER MECHANISM AND LESS THAN ONE WEEK LATER, THE SEAT COLLAPSED AGAIN, CONSUMER RETURNED TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT SOME EARLY MODELS HAD SEAT PROBLEMS, AND THE DEALER ADJUSTED OR BENT...
DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER IS TAKING IT TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC ON APRIL 26TH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
WHILE EXITING THE TURNPIKE THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE AND RIM CAME OFF DAMAGING THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). NLM
WHILE EXITING THE TURNPIKE THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE AND RIM CAME OFF DAMAGING THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). NLM
WHILE DRIVING CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES WOULD BE ENTERING VEHICLE THROUGH FLOORBOARD. WOULD HAVE STATIC ELECTRIC CHARGE TO LEFT KNEE. DOORS WERE EXCESSIVELY HEAVY TO OPEN OR CLOSE. DOOR LOCKS FAILED TO BE OPERATED PROPERLY. PANEL LIGHTS WOULD COME ON OR GO OFF BY THEMSELVES. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALE...
WHILE DRIVING CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES WOULD BE ENTERING VEHICLE THROUGH FLOORBOARD. WOULD HAVE STATIC ELECTRIC CHARGE TO LEFT KNEE. DOORS WERE EXCESSIVELY HEAVY TO OPEN OR CLOSE. DOOR LOCKS FAILED TO BE OPERATED PROPERLY. PANEL LIGHTS WOULD COME ON OR GO OFF BY THEMSELVES. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALE...
WHILE DRIVING CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES WOULD BE ENTERING VEHICLE THROUGH FLOORBOARD. WOULD HAVE STATIC ELECTRIC CHARGE TO LEFT KNEE. DOORS WERE EXCESSIVELY HEAVY TO OPEN OR CLOSE. DOOR LOCKS FAILED TO BE OPERATED PROPERLY. PANEL LIGHTS WOULD COME ON OR GO OFF BY THEMSELVES. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALE...
WHILE DRIVING CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES WOULD BE ENTERING VEHICLE THROUGH FLOORBOARD. WOULD HAVE STATIC ELECTRIC CHARGE TO LEFT KNEE. DOORS WERE EXCESSIVELY HEAVY TO OPEN OR CLOSE. DOOR LOCKS FAILED TO BE OPERATED PROPERLY. PANEL LIGHTS WOULD COME ON OR GO OFF BY THEMSELVES. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALE...
WHILE DRIVING AT 5-10 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH REAR ENDED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. DRIVER'S SEATBACK FELL INTO A CHILD BOOSTER SEAT WHICH WAS PLACED BEHIND ON DRIVER'S SIDE. SEAT FELL ON TOP OF CHILD'S LEG AND BROKE LEG. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S SEATBACK MOVED UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A CRASH. DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO HELP CONSUMER. DEALER SAID NEEDED TO REPLACE BOTH SIDES OF THE SEAT RECLINER. *AK
FAILED PREVIOUSLY, PAID $1600 TO SATURN IN 98 AND PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. 1-CYL WAS REPLACED WITH THIS WORK IN ADDITION TO SEVERAL OTHER THINGS. ENGINE PRACTICALLY REBUILT. EXISTED PRIOR TO THIS AROUND 1995-1997 AND WAS REPORTED AND TAKEN TO SATURN DEALERS WHO DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AFTER SEVERAL TIM...
NO SUMMARY
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 B...
THE MOTORIZED SHOULDER BELT GRADUALLY STOPPED MOVING IN EITHER DIRECTION. NLM
I AM STILL CONTENT WITH MY 1993 SATURN BUT DISAPPOINTED THAT A PART THAT SHOULD HAVE LASTED MUCH LONGER FAILED IN OCTOBER, 1999. I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO MAINTAINING THE LOW MILEAGE ON MY CARE, BUT WHEN THE ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER FROZE AT 30,555 MILES, ALL CREDIBILITY AND REMAINING MARKET VALUE D...
SATURN CORPORATION REFUSES TO INSTALL AN AIRBAG DEACTIVATION SWITCH AS APPROVED BY NHTSA (REFERENCE DOT COMPLAINT NO. 97-592).
EGR VALVE FAILED. *SLC
VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ALONG WITH THE FAILING OF THE ALTERNATOR AND THE BATTERY, THE BATTERY IS REPLACED ONCE A YEAR. *SLC
ENGINE FAILED. *SLC
THEIR IS A CRACK IN ENGINE VAVLE COVER GASKET THAT CAUSES A LEAK. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
SHOULDER SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE IS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. *AK
DRIVER'S SEATBACK BOLT BROKE, CAUSING THE SEATBACK TO FALL BACK AND MAY CAUSE INJURIES OR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE SATURN 1994 & 1995, BUT NOT FOR 1993 ALTHOUGH IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
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 S...
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
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
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.
NO SUMMARY
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...
SUMMARY NOT PROVED BY CONSUMER
TIMING CHAIN MAKES NOISE DUE TO ADJUSTER MALFUNCTION.
BRACKET THAT HOLDS ABS WIRE HARNESS RUSTED OFF ON BOTH SIDES. HANGING DOWN WIRES ON RIGHT SIDE THROUGH AXLE SHORTED OUT ABS SYSTEM.
BRACKET THAT HOLDS ABS WIRE HARNESS RUSTED OFF ON BOTH SIDES. HANGING DOWN WIRES ON RIGHT SIDE THROUGH AXLE SHORTED OUT ABS SYSTEM.
SPEEDOMETER INOPERATIVE.
SUNROOF LEAKED ONTO THE FLOOR GEAR SHIFT, CAUSING PROBLEMS.
FOUR TIRES REPLACED.
FRONT BRAKES REPLACED.
BATTERY REPLACED FOUR TIMES.
ALTERNATOR REPLACED
THERMOSTAT FAILED, ALLOWING CAR TO OVERHEAT.
EXTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR FELL OFF.
VALVE COVER GASKET FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL ON HIGHWAY.
AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR INOPERATIVE.
RADIO INOPERATIVE.
ENGINE PISTIONS BLEW, CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT/STALL.
OIL IS CONSUMED COMPLETELY BETWEEN 2,000 TO 3,000 MILES WITH VEHICLE IN DEALERSHIP EVERY OTHER WEEK. DEALERSHIP POLISHED HEADS, ETC., ANOTHER DEALERSHIP CONDUCTED AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST WHICH FOUND SEVERAL LEAKS AND OTHER AREAS THAT WAS CONTAMINATED WITH OIL. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
ROTORS CONTAMINATED WITH SAND/SALT, CAUSING VEHICLE VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING.
DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED DURING REAR-END COLLISION, CAUSING SERIOUS SPINAL INJURY TO DRIVER. *AK
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: WHEN PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE DOES NOT ENGAGE IMMEDIATELY UNLESS PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR VIGOROUSLY. THERE IS A DELAY AND THE VEHICLE MOVES ABRUPTLY AND IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. *AK
UNEVEN WEAR ON FRONT BRAKE PADS DUE TO CALIPERS MALFUNCTIONING.
BRAKE CALIPERS FAILED.
TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED CAUSING, ENGINE TO SEIZE.
PREMATURE INFLATION OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG, OWNER FEELS AIRBAG WAS OVERSENSATIVE. *AK
HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY THREE TIMES WITH ONLY SEVENTEEN THOUSAND MILES ON IT. TT
ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED THREE TIMES FOR WARPING. TT
REAR OF CAR STARTED TO PULL LEFT/APPLIED BRAKES CAR SPUN OUT OF CONTROL HITTING A WALL. LEFT REAR WHEEL BROKE OFF. *SD
LOOSE SUNVISOR. *AK
FOAM ON DRIVER'S WINDOW.
BRAKE PEDAL FADEED, RESULTING IN TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE, ABS BRAKE SYSTEM, REPLACED FRONT PAD AND TURNED ROTOR PRIOR TO EXPERIENCE. TT
REPLACED CALIPER MOUNT. *AK
REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER. *AK
REPLACED POWER BOOSTER. *AK
VEHICLE HAS ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FAILURE WITH NO PEDAL PRESSURE. PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. TT
WHEN DRIVING CAR PUT CRUISE CONTROL ON IT, CUT OFF AND IT WILL NOT COME BACK ON, WAIT A DAY OR TWO FOR IT TO COME ON. TT
WAS DRIVING TRIED TO TURN ON CRUISE CONTROL IT WOULDN'T CUT OFF. TT
BRAKES FAILED DURING ACCIDENT. *AK
AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND BURNED CONSUMERS RIGHT ARM, CAR TOTALLED. TT
ABS, LOSS OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, IMPACT 12:00 POSITION 25 MPH. TT
VEHICLES CRUISE CONTROL JAMMED AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF AT 65MPH, SKIDDED 90 FEET HIT BANK AND ROLLED OVER.(PE94-079). TT
WHEN ACTIVATING CRUISE CONTROL IT WORKS FOR VARYING DISTANCES AND AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF. SOMETIMES NOT ACTIVATING WHEN TURNED ON. TT