IllustrationDRIVERS SEAT WON'T STAY IN UPRIGHT POSITION WHEN I LEAN BACK WITH SLIGHT PRESSURE, WHETHER I AM IN MOTION OR NOT. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A MONTH. AS A PREVIOUS OWNER OF MANY CARS, I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. ALSO THE TRUNK LATCH IS NOT OPERABLE USING THE CABLE.
1996 Saturn Sc
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Saturn Sc do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 23.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sc years →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: 10 of 26 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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports
Structure complaints
4 reportsLIGTHLY APPLIED BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN TO STOP AT INTERSECTION; THOUGH I HAD FOOT PRESSING HARD ON BRAKE CAR WOULD NOT STOP, ENTERED INTERSECTION AND STRUCK A PASSING CAR; THIS WAS WITHIN AN HOUR OF PICKING UP THE CAR FROM GARAGE WHERE REPAIRS HAD BEEN DONE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM; AIR BAGS DID NOT ACTIVATE AT IMPACT
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY ON MY WAY TO WORK IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC MY CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE. AS I SLOWED THERE WAS A TEARING SOUND FROM THE DRIVERS FRONT TIRE. ALMOST INSTANTLY PARTS FROM THAT PART OF THE CAR, SUCH AS THE FENDER AND WHEEL WELL, BEGAN BREAKING OFF OF THE CAR. THEN I FELT SOMETHING RIP OUT FROM UNDER THE DASHBO…
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WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY ON MY WAY TO WORK IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC MY CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE. AS I SLOWED THERE WAS A TEARING SOUND FROM THE DRIVERS FRONT TIRE. ALMOST INSTANTLY PARTS FROM THAT PART OF THE CAR, SUCH AS THE FENDER AND WHEEL WELL, BEGAN BREAKING OFF OF THE CAR. THEN I FELT SOMETHING RIP OUT FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD AT MY FEET AND THE CAR BEGAN TO PRACTICALLY STEER ITSELF, I REALIZED THAT I WAS IN TROUBLE. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT HURTING MYSELF OR ANYONE ELSE. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR I COULD SEE THAT FROM THE FRONT BUMPER TO THE FRONT OF THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR THE CAR HAD BEEN STRIPPED DOWN TO THE FRAME. THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS THAT RUNS FROM THE BATTERY, THROUGH THE SIDE OF THE CAR AND INTO THE DASH HAD BEEN RIPPED OUT AND WRAPPED AROUND THE FRONT AXEL. THIS HAS RESULTED IN MY VEHICLE BEING A TOTAL LOSS. THE ESTIMATE FOR REPAIRS IS $3,600.00 AND ONCE THE CAR IS REPAIRED THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THERE MAY BE FURTHER DAMAGE WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OF THE CAR. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL BE PICKING THE CAR UP FROM THE SHOP TOMORROW. THERE IS NO REASON WHY THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS FOR A VEHICLE SHOULD BE WIRED THROUGH A FIBERGLASS FENDER ASSEMBLY AND SECURED TO IT. THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGN PROBLEM.*AK
VEHICLE CONTINUALLY LEAKS WATER INTO VEHICLE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AS WELL AS CARPETING ETC.
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.