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1993 Saturn SC1

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1993 Saturn SC1 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 39.

About this comparison →
58Owner complaints

Model-year median: 39

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
6
199115
199258
199382
199459
199539
1996
Compare all SC1 years →

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

What owners reported most

Seats
12Service Brakes, Hydraulic
12Electrical System
9Engine And Engine Cooling
9Seat Belts
6
All reported categories
Power Train
5Vehicle Speed Control
4Air Bags
3Structure
3Latches/locks/linkages
2Tires
2Visibility
2Equipment
1Exterior Lighting
1Interior Lighting
1Suspension
1Unknown Or Other
1Wheels
1

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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

12 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2004
Latches/locks/linkagesService Brakes, Hydraulic

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 TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INS…

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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 TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10094725

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 · 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

SPEEDOMETER INOPERATIVE.

NHTSA ODI #535220

Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ROTORS CONTAMINATED WITH SAND/SALT, CAUSING VEHICLE VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING.

NHTSA ODI #519446

Mileage unknown · Feb 26, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

UNEVEN WEAR ON FRONT BRAKE PADS DUE TO CALIPERS MALFUNCTIONING.

NHTSA ODI #515078

Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 1995
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED THREE TIMES FOR WARPING. TT

NHTSA ODI #972273

Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 1995
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE PEDAL FADEED, RESULTING IN TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE, ABS BRAKE SYSTEM, REPLACED FRONT PAD AND TURNED ROTOR PRIOR TO EXPERIENCE. TT

NHTSA ODI #967240

Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 1995
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

VEHICLE HAS ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FAILURE WITH NO PEDAL PRESSURE. PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. TT

NHTSA ODI #966807

Official recalls

2

93V132000 · Electrical System:alternator/generator/regulator

Aug 10, 1993

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.

93V094000 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery:cables

May 25, 1993

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