1993 SATURN SC1 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
85
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
0
Service Bulletins
1
Investigation
Overview of the 1993 SATURN SC1
The 1993 SATURN SC1 has received a total of 85 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES. The most commonly reported problems involve the Seats (6 complaints), Seatsfront Assemblyrecliner (6 complaints), and Engine And Engine Coolingengine (5 complaints).
Recalls for the 1993 SATURN SC1
NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 1993 SATURN SC1, potentially affecting up to 367,292 vehicles.
Recall 93V132000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
| 352,833 vehicles affected
Defect: THE GENERATOR ELECTRICAL WIRING IS NOT PROTECTED AGAINST EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW WHICH MAY BE CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE GENERATOR.
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.
View full details →Recall 93V094000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
| 14,459 vehicles affected
Defect: 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: 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.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1993 SATURN SC1
85 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1993 SATURN SC1. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
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
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 BACK IN POSITION, TWO INTERNAL OPERATING LEVERS MUST REMAIN ALIGNED IN THE SAME PLANE. THESE ARE HELD IN ALIGNMENT BY A VERY THIN METAL PLATE (ABOUT 1MM THICK). THIS PLATE WAS BENT CAUSING THE INTERNAL OPERATING LEVERS TO MISALIGN AND THE SEAT BACK TO COLLAPSE. DUE TO THE THINNESS AND LACK OF STRENGTH OF THE ALIGNMENT PLATE, THIS FAILURE IS EXTREMELY LIKELY. YOUR DATABASE SHOWS AT LEAST TWO OTHER SIMILAR FAILURES IN 1993 SATURNS. ALSO NOTE NHTSA ORDERED A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM IN 1994 SATURNS. THE FAILED SEAT BACK RECLINER MECHANISM IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION BY NHTSA PERSONNEL. THIS IS NOT A NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ISSUE, SINCE THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH OTHER 1993 SATURNS. *TR
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
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
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
Safety Rating for the 1993 SATURN SC1
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1993 SATURN SC1 in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1993 SATURN SC1
No technical service bulletins have been reported for this vehicle.
NHTSA Investigations for the 1993 SATURN SC1
NHTSA has opened 1 investigation into potential safety defects in the 1993 SATURN SC1.
Other Model Years of the SATURN SC1
- 1991 SATURN SC1 — 8 complaints
- 1992 SATURN SC1 — 18 complaints
- 1993 SATURN SC1 (current)
- 1994 SATURN SC1 — 102 complaints
- 1995 SATURN SC1 — 73 complaints
- 1996 SATURN SC1 — 43 complaints
- 1997 SATURN SC1 — 98 complaints
- 1998 SATURN SC1 — 58 complaints
Other SATURN Models
- SATURN ION — 5,467 total complaints
- SATURN VUE — 3,269 total complaints
- SATURN SL — 2,891 total complaints
- SATURN AURA — 2,222 total complaints
- SATURN OUTLOOK — 1,939 total complaints
- SATURN LS — 1,885 total complaints
- SATURN SKY — 623 total complaints
- SATURN SC — 379 total complaints