Owners filed 39 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the seats › front assembly › recliner. It has been recalled 2 times.
| Component | Reports | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seats | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | |
| Air Bags › Frontal | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | |
| Air Bags | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Visibility › Windshield | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Visibility › Glass, Side/Rear | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Structure › Body › Door | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Structure › Body | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defect. 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.
Risk. 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.
Defect. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE PARK LOCK CABLE ASSEMBLY WAS IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO SHIFT FROM THE "PARK" POSITION WITH THE IGNITION KEY REMOVED, OR REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY WITH THE SHIFT LEVER IN A POSITION OTHER THAN "PARK." THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 114, "THEFT PROTECTION."
Risk. CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT CAN OCCUR WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy. CONSUMERS ARE BEING ASKED TO INSPECT THE PARK LOCK CABLE. IF IT DOES NOT PERFORM CORRECTLY, DEALERS WILL MAKE THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS.
WE HAVE HAD NO ACCIDENTS AS OF NOW, BUT THE FRONT SEATBELTS WILL NOT LOCK WHEN BRAKING HARD. *TR
MY 95 SATURN SC1 SERIES PARKING BRAKE LEVER BUTTON POPPED. AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME THE LEVER STOPPED WORKING. *TR
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 SATURN SC1 COUPE. THE CONTACT SAYS THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. UPON IMPACT THE DRIVER'S SEAT RECLINED. *AK UPDATED 12/07/05. *JB
FIRST PROBLEM THE CAR OVER HEATED. WASN'T TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL AND WAS TREATED AS IF I MADE THE WHOLE THING UP! THEY CHECK THE CAR & TOLD ME THAT EVERYTHING CHECK OUT OKAY. DIDN'T HAVE ANY FUTHER PROBLEM WITH IT OVER HEATING. THEN HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR STALLING & EVEN DYING OUT WHILE IN TRAFFIC OR DRIVING! PUSHED THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS AFTER IT FINALLY DIED WHILE I WAS ON THE ROAD. WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A NEW ALTERNATOR & SPARK PLUGS. THEY PROCEEDED AS USUAL TO TREAT THIS AS A REALLY ODD THING TO HAPPEN! I STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM & WHEN I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO SATURN I WAS THEN TOLD THAT I HAVE SEVERAL PROBLEM WITH CORROSION IN THE SPARK PLUG CABLES & OTHER THINGS. ALL THIS OCCURED WITHIN A 2WEEK PERIOD. YEAH RIGHT! IAM REALLY DISAPOINTED WITH SATURN TREATING INDIVIDUALS WHO BRING IN THERE CAR FOR REPAIRS AS OF THEY ARE SURPRISED THAT THIS IS HAPPENING & NOT BEING HONEST LIKE THEY CLAIM THEY ARE!
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, WHEN HOT, THE CAR HAS TROUBLE SHIFTING INTO REVERSE. I HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. HERE IS ONE WEB PAGE THAT HAS A FEW OTHERS COMMENTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. HTTP://WWW.SATURNFANS.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP3?S=6CD490757521AEDF4FCEA59BE2A5C456&THREADID=17198&GOTO=NEXTNEWEST I HAVE CALLED LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOPS AND MOST HAVE SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. IF IT REALLY IS COMMON WHY ISN'T SATURN DOING A RECALL OR SOME SORT OF COMPENSATION FOR THESE HEFTY REPAIR FEES? *JB
WHILE IN MOTION, CONSUMER HEARD THE STEERING MAKE A CLICKING NOISE WHICH LEAD TO DIMINISHED CONTROL OF THE STEERING. SOON AFTER, ALL STEERING CONTROL WAS LOST. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE AIR BAG SYSTEM NEEDED REPLACING AND THE STEERING SYSTEM FAILED. *JG
FRONT DRIVERS' SIDE SEATBACK MECHANISM FAILS REPEATEDLY. 5-SPEED CAR. DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO ENGAGE CLUTCH AND SEATBACK COLLAPSES DUE TO THE PRESSURE, SENDING DRIVER BACK AND MOMENTARILY LOOSING CONTROL OF CLUTCH AND/OR BRAKE APPLICATION. BUILD DATE AND VIN OUTSIDE OF RECALL, BUT FAILURE HAS OCCURED AND IS VERIFIABLE.
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING HIS GRANDFATHER IN THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONSUMER HAD A EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE SEAT BELTS IN THE VEHICLE DID NOT LOCK. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
THE DRIVER SIDE SEATBACK COLLASPED WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. CONSUMER STATES ALMOST HAD A COLLISION AS A RESULT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS SHIFTED BACKWARD, AFFECTING CONSUMER'S CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. MR *JB
DRIVING ON HWY AT 65MPH ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON INDICATING ENSUING SHUTDOWN. ATTEMPTED TO MAKE EXIT BUT UPON SLOWDOWN ON RAMP ENGINE SHUTOFF.HAD TO PUSH CAR DOWN RAMP AND OFF TO THE SIDE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 2-5 MP CONSUMER T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT 50 MPH. VEHICLE WAS A TOTALED. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT FELL REARWARD WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, AND DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK WHEN THE DRIVER SEAT FELL REARWARD, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, BUT NO CRASH OCCURRED. THE DEALER WAS UNWILLING TO DO REPAIR UNDER RECALL CAMPAIGN. *YH
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE SEATS WILL FALL BACKWARDS, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
RECALL 99V045000; DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SEATS WILL SUDDENLY SLIDE BACK WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER COULD EASILY LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THIS WAS SAME PROBLEM AS INDICATED IN RECALL; BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *YD
DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. SATURN DEALER SAYS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SATURNS. SHOULDN'T THEY BE RECALLED AS A SAFETY CONCERN? *AK
FUEL COVER LATCH WAS MADE OUT PLASTIC. WHEN CONSUMER GOES TO GET GASOLINE CAP FLIES OPEN. SHE CRAZY GLUED THE LATCH. SHE HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. *AK THE OWNER REQUESTS THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE PLASTIC FUEL COVER LATCH BY A METAL COVER LATCH TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *YH
A CAMPAIGN HAS ALREADY BEEN ISSUED ON THIS PROBLEM. SEE 99V045000. BECAUSE MY VEHICLE'S VIN DOES NOT CORRELATE WITH THE COMPANY'S PROBLEM AREA, THEY HAVE REFUSED TO ASSIST. THE FACT REMAINS, THE PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED IN THE ORIGINAL CAMPAIGN ARE IDENTICAL TO MINE. IT IS APPARENT THE PROBLEM IS MORE WIDESPREAD THAN SATURN IS WILLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE. CAN YOU HELP??
WHILE DRIVING RECLINING MECHANISM ON DRIVER'S SEAT RELEASED, CAUSING THE SEAT TO COLLAPSE BACDKWARDS. *AK WHEN SEAT COLLAPSE CONSUMER LOSE CONTROL OF THE GAS, BRAKE PEDALS AND CLEAR SIGHT OF THE ROAD. *YH
CONSUMER WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN ANOTHER VECHICLE JUMPED IN FRONT OF HIM. WHEN HE WENT TO APPLY BRAKES THE FRONT DRIVER 'S SEAT BROKE. THE BOLT CAME APART FROM THE SEAT, WENT INTO A RECLINING POSITION, AND HE HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK
20 of 39 complaints, reproduced as filed.
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Mar 12, 1999. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.