1994 Saturn SC1
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
Have the VIN?
Vehicles › Saturn › SC1 › 1994
These records cover every 1994 Saturn SC1. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
1 recall names the 1994 Saturn SC1. Newest first.
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 and remedy
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.
Owner complaints
82 complaints10 involved a crash1 involved a fire7 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Electrical system · Engine and engine cooling · Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Emission control › Catalytic convertor · Power train › Automatic transmission · Vehicle speed control
1994 saturn SC2 with rpm surging, transmission repair. Customer states that when the rpm's surged the vehicle would accelerate on its own. Customer also states that the motor mount was loose, which made all mounts and brackets have to be replaced. *kb the consumer stated the radiator, catalytic converter, alternator, starter, battery first gear were all replaced. *Jb
- Wheels
Daughter was driving home from work in 1994 saturn SC2 when right rear wheel snapped off. She lost control of the car and it rolled several times. Daughter was air lifted to united methodist hospital des moines ia. With brain concussion, facial cuts which required plastic surgery the night of the…
Daughter was driving home from work in 1994 saturn SC2 when right rear wheel snapped off. She lost control of the car and it rolled several times. Daughter was air lifted to united methodist hospital des moines ia. With brain concussion, facial cuts which required plastic surgery the night of the accident, partly collapsed lung, injured spleen, broken leg. Will require more plastic surgery. Insurance company has the car. The car was a total loss. Wheel definitely possible failure with the airbag and seat belt. *jb
- Seat belts › Front › Retractor
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.
- Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
I feel this IS a dangerous condition, which should be recalled before any one dies. the spring that returns the outside door handle to the "shut" position breaks. then handle does not return to its' closed position. when this happens, the door will not latch or will not lock. alternatively, if…
I feel this IS a dangerous condition, which should be recalled before any one dies. the spring that returns the outside door handle to the "shut" position breaks. then handle does not return to its' closed position. when this happens, the door will not latch or will not lock. alternatively, if the door IS locked and the outside handle IS vibrated or lifted, the door cannot be unlocked. it IS very possible to be trapped inside the car, which could be fatal in an accident, fire or crash. *nm
- Seat belts › Front
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
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
Engine motor continuously shuts down while driving. Cause unknown. *Ak
- Seat belts › Front › Retractor
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
- Seats › Front assembly › Recliner
Recliner mechanism on the driver side seat IS not working properly. Mechanism does not hold in place, and when the consumer IS driving, seat will fall back. contacted dealer, and the dealer IS not willing to do anything.*ak
- Seats › Front assembly › Power adjust
Driver's seat would intermittently recline by itself while drving. Dealer was notified. *Ak the seat gear teeth are worn excessively. *jg
- Tires › Tread/belt
Tread was good but came off tire. Ripped my front fender and part of my front bumper. *ak (tiresize: p195/60r15)
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
When consumer traveling at a sudden stop seatbelt opens up. *Ak
- Seats
Drivers side seat has a defect, when driver barely leans or presses it, the seats reclined backwards without prior warning.*ak *slc
- Tires › Tread/belt
Bridgestone, potenza, dot emcbchj208, p195/60r15. Replacement tires on saturn, SL, 1994, while driving at 65 mph steering wheel started to shake, consumer heard a loud sound, and managed to get vehicle to the side of the road drivers side front tire tread came completely off.*ak (bridgestone tires.) consumer states there was about 45,000 miles on tire, the tread came off tearing a hole in the front left fender.*jb
- Seats
Track was supposedly fixed when the recall came out in 1999. same defect occurred again in 2001- I was made to pay for it saturn citing that a 12 month warranty on this recall had expired. *Ak
- Seats › Front assembly › Recliner
When putting wait on seatback it will unexpectedly recline. Consumer feels this IS dangerous if it happens on highway. consumer IS having the same problem as stated in recall on 99 v 045 000. dealer said this car was not included due to vin. *ak
- Seat belts › Front › Retractor
The seat belt retractor mechanism fails to move out of the way when the door IS opened as designed. *mjs
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
Consumer was pulling into a gated entrance at approximately 5 to 10 mph when steering column began to smoke. consumer was told there was an electrical shortage which caused a fire and destroyed most of components within column. Insurance company (stanley insurance) was sending an adjuster to examine vehicle. please provide any additional information.*ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
Engine threw a rod. it destroyed the engine and we had to replace the engine. engine failure was instantaneous, on a major highway, going at regular speed of other vehicles.*ak
- Seats › Front assembly › Recliner
While driving, the driver's seat has fully reclined. *slc
- Wheels › Hub
I was driving my saturn in downtown dayton, oh when wheel hub/axle broke, causing left rear wheel to separate from vehicle, and the vehicle to spin into a street sign. It was a cold cloudy day, but it was light, and there was no moisture. The road was bumpy at the scene of the accident, but…
I was driving my saturn in downtown dayton, oh when wheel hub/axle broke, causing left rear wheel to separate from vehicle, and the vehicle to spin into a street sign. It was a cold cloudy day, but it was light, and there was no moisture. The road was bumpy at the scene of the accident, but certainly not enough to warrant a wheel breaking off. This incident was reported to saturn, who brought engineers here to hastily determine (without even speaking with me) that I drove the vehicle into the curb, causing the wheel to break off (which couldn't be farther from the truth). *ak
- Seats › Front assembly › Recliner
1994 saturn SC-2 was struck from behind at approx 40 mph while saturn was at a complete stop. both driver and passenger seat recliners failed to secure occupants. seats reclined to the fully reclined position upon impact. I was told by saturn of clearwater that the reclining mechanisms failed. they refused to repair the car stating my vehicle was not one of those involved in the failed seat recliner recall.*ak
- Seats
No summary
- Seats
When hit from rear in a low impact crash seat tracks and anchor reclineing mechanism failed, causing seat back to collapse. dealer has been contacted.*ak
- Power train › Automatic transmission
Transmissions does not go INT0 reverse when engaged. car stall for a few seconds, then gives a hard lunge forward when finally engaged
- Air bags › Frontal
I am extremely concerned regarding the driver's side air bag. the indicator light remains "on" at all times. I have never been involved in a frontal accident. What could be the cause of this? my vehichle has failed inspection solely due to the indicator light. what information can you give me…
I am extremely concerned regarding the driver's side air bag. the indicator light remains "on" at all times. I have never been involved in a frontal accident. What could be the cause of this? my vehichle has failed inspection solely due to the indicator light. what information can you give me on a resonable cost for repair? could this be a defect? what are my options? I have been approved to install an on/off switch, however I would rather have the problem taken care of. I would greatly appreciate any information that you could give me. thank you very much for your time!!! lisa willan. *ak
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Front seat back can recline or collapse
- Seat back failures
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…
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.
- Cruise control failures
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…
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.
- Cruise control failure
There is no summary currently available
Every Saturn SC1 model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.