Total Complaints
28 filings
SATURN SATURN · model year
1993 SATURN SATURN
28 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1993SATURNSATURN carries 28 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 3 fires, 7 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1993 SATURN is seats:front assembly:recliner with 2 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (2) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 14 investigation files overlapping the 1993 SATURN. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
28
Complaints
5
Crashes
3
Fires
7
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
5 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 2 |
| SEATS | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 2 |
| PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 1 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20020822SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
ANY TIME FROM START OR ACCELERATION...SEATBACK RECLINES.....SAME PROBLEM ON 1994 SATURN. *AK
20020731TIRES
WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 70 MPH, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND HIT THE GAURDRAIL, ONE PERSON WAS INJUREDIN THE ACCIDENT, NO SPECIFIC TIRE INFORMATION GIVEN. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *YH
20020514VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
CONSUMER COMPLAINS THAT WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM KEEPS BREAKING EVERY WINTER. HAS REPLACED 4 TIMES ALREADY. *JG
20020228VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
CONSUMER COMPLAINS THAT WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM KEEPS BREAKING EVERY WINTER. HAS REPLACED 4 TIMES ALREADY. *JG
20001023SEATS
MY SEAT FLIES BACK I HAVE CONTACTED SATURN ABOUT THIS ISSUE. AND THEY SAY BEING SINCE MY CAR IS A 1993 THEY CAN NOT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE ITS NOT YET BEEN ADDED TO THE RECAL AND MAYBE NEVER WILL. I DONT CARE ABOUT MY SEAT BECAUSE I AM HAVING IT FIXED , I JUST THOUGH SOMEONE SHOULD KNOW THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. IT SCARED ME TO READ ABOUT SATURN SEATS IN THE ROANOKE TIMES ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 23, 2000. I HAVE KEPT ALL LETTERS THAT SATURN HAS WROTE TO ME AND ALL LETTERS I HAVE WROTE TO THEM ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THEY SEEM TO NOT CARE THAT THEIR IS ALOT OF PEOPLE THAT THIS COULD HURT IF NOBODY DOES ANYTHING AND MANY PEOPLE ARE LEFT UNTOLD. THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP . PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. MS. VAUGHT
19990524ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR FAILED CAUSING IT TO DRAIN BATTERY. NLM
19990422SEATS
PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT AND DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BROKE, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PUT ITEMS ON THE SIDE TO PATCH THE SEATS UP. *AK
19990305SEAT BELTS
THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER SEAT BELT AND CABLE PART BROKE, CAUSING SHOULDER PART THAT GOES OVER THE CONSUMER'S CHEST NOT TO WORK WHEN OPENING THE VEHICLE DOOR. *AK
19981020CrashAIR BAGS
VEHICLE COLLISION, NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK PROPERLY, RESULTING IN INJURIES TO CONSUMER.
19981020CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
VEHICLE COLLISION, NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK PROPERLY, RESULTING IN INJURIES TO CONSUMER.
19981014VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD IS DIFFICULT TO SEE THROUGH, BUBBLES IN GLASS AND PLASTIC COATING PEELING OFF.
19981014VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL FAILED.
19981014FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO SHORT CIRCUIT BETWEEN A BRAKE LINE AND THE POSITIVE CABLE RUNNING FROM THE BATTERY.
19981014FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WIRING FAILURE CAUSED FIRE.
19980616CrashSTEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50-55MPH WHEN SHE LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, SPUN AROUND, SLID OFF ROAD, HIT GAURDRAIL/THEN THE SOLID BLOCK POST OF BRIDGE HEAD-ON. SPUN AROUND AND HIT THE BRIDGE FROM THE OTHER SIDE. DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK
19980616CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50-55MPH WHEN SHE LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, SPUN AROUND, SLID OFF ROAD, HIT GAURDRAIL/THEN THE SOLID BLOCK POST OF BRIDGE HEAD-ON. SPUN AROUND AND HIT THE BRIDGE FROM THE OTHER SIDE. DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK
19970918UNKNOWN OR OTHER
COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON/OFF.
19970918ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
NOISE IN ENGINE.
19970918ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
WATER PUMP FAILURE.
19970627SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
THE DESIGN OF THE BELTS AND SHEATHS IN THE VEHICLE IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH INFANT SEATS.
Compare 1993SATURNSATURN to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
EA11014Engineering AnalysisClosed
Electric Power Steering Failure
RQ10004Recall QueryClosed
Electric Power Steering Failure
PE09016Preliminary EvaluationClosed
OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES STICK UNLATCHED
PE08061Preliminary EvaluationClosed
TIMING CHAIN BREAKS, ENGINE STALL
DP08002Defect PetitionClosed
TIMING CHAIN FAILURE-STALL
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1993 SATURN SATURN have?▼
The 1993 SATURN SATURN has 28 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 3 fires, 7 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1993 SATURN SATURN?▼
The most-complained component for the 1993 SATURN SATURN is SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS.
Is the 1993 SATURN SATURN safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.