Total Complaints
59 filings
SATURN SC · model year
1994 SATURN SC
59 NHTSA complaints, 9 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1994SATURNSC carries 59 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 9 crashes, 1 fire, 5 injuries, and 1 fatality. 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 1994 SC is seats:front assembly:recliner with 17 filings, followed by air bags:frontal (5) and seat belts:front:retractor (4). 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 1994 SC. 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.
59
Complaints
9
Crashes
1
Fires
5
Injuries
1
Deaths
Crashes Reported
9 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 | 17 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 5 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 4 |
| SEATS | 4 |
| SEAT BELTS | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 3 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 2 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20150604UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED IN ANY POSITION, INCLUDING WHILE RUNNING.
Mileage: 147,000
20141203POWER TRAIN
1994 SATURN SC. CONSUMER STATED IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED DUE TO THE KEY BEING STUCK INSIDE THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE ALSO LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING SO CUSTOMER IS ASKING FOR A REFUND. *SS THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE HEADLIGHTS OPENED ON THEIR OWN, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF DRIVE GEAR ON ITS OWN, AND THE RPM'S WERE EXTREMELY HIGH. *JB
20141203ENGINE
1994 SATURN SC. CONSUMER STATED IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED DUE TO THE KEY BEING STUCK INSIDE THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE ALSO LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING SO CUSTOMER IS ASKING FOR A REFUND. *SS THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE HEADLIGHTS OPENED ON THEIR OWN, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF DRIVE GEAR ON ITS OWN, AND THE RPM'S WERE EXTREMELY HIGH. *JB
20141203ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1994 SATURN SC. CONSUMER STATED IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED DUE TO THE KEY BEING STUCK INSIDE THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE ALSO LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING SO CUSTOMER IS ASKING FOR A REFUND. *SS THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE HEADLIGHTS OPENED ON THEIR OWN, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF DRIVE GEAR ON ITS OWN, AND THE RPM'S WERE EXTREMELY HIGH. *JB
20040521SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WOULD RETRACT BACK AND FORTH. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Mileage: 111,000
20040422POWER TRAIN
THE TRANSMISSION WENT IN MY SATURN SC1 AND I LOST MY JOB DUE TO THE FACT THAT I LIVED ALONE AT THE TIME, AND IN A REMOTE AREA....I ALSO HAVE NOT HAD IT FIXED BECAUSE THE COST OF A TRANSMISSION FOR THE CAR IS MORE THAN I CAN AFFORD...LET ALONE THE BILL THAT WOULD INSUE FOR HAVING IT INSTALLED. MY CO-WORKER THAT I WORK WITH NOW..(BORROWING MY AUNTS CAR, AND MOVED TO LIVE WITH MY MOM) HAS A SATURN SC2 1995 AND HIS TRANSMISSION WENT IN HIS TOO....ITS REDICULOUS...EVERYONE THAT I KNOW WHO OWNS A SATURN SC1 OR 2 OR HAS OWNED ONE...HAS REPLACED OR GOTTEN RID OF BECAUSE OF TRANSMISSIONS GOING. THERE WAS NO WARNING WHAT SO EVER...IT JUST WENT.
Mileage: 156,000
20040106SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
FRONT DRIVERS SIDE RETRACTOR SEAT BELT DOES NOT MOVE.*AK
20020906SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
FRONT SEATBACK RECLINER IS EXPERIENCING SAME DEFECT AS MENTIONED IN RECALL 99 V 045 000. BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
20020418SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
CONSUMER STATES THAT DRIVER SEAT WILL RECLINE WHILE DRIVING. NLM
20020205SEAT BELTS
SEAT BELT WILL LOCK IN PLACE BUT WILL NOT SLIDE FORWARD WHEN DOOR IS OPENED.*AK
20010618SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT IS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DOOR IT STARTED OUT JUST GETTING STUCK OCCASIONALLY AND THEN WOULD MOVE ALL THE WAY BACK NOW WON'T MOVE AT ALL. TALKED TO 4 OTHER SATURN OWNERS AND THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT HAS STARTED STICKING. THE ENGINE WAS SO MESSED UP AT ABOUT 68K THEY REPLACED THE ENGINE DUE TO POOR PERFORMANCE BACKFIRING AND LEAKING OIL ETC. THE SUNROOF WILL NOT LATCH CLOSED ANYMORE. I WENT TO OPEN IT ONE DAY AND THEN IT WONT CLOSE. I WANTED A PURPLE SATURN SINCE THEY CAME OUT AND I FINALLY GOT ONE AND IT HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE THESE ARE JUST 5 OF THE MOST RECENT THINGS BUT I HAVE HAD TO GET A NEW ALTERNATOR, STARTER AND SEVERAL OTHER MINOR REPAIRS. I WISH I HAD NEVER EVER WANTED SATURN. I GUESS IT IS TRUE BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR.
20010618ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT IS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DOOR IT STARTED OUT JUST GETTING STUCK OCCASIONALLY AND THEN WOULD MOVE ALL THE WAY BACK NOW WON'T MOVE AT ALL. TALKED TO 4 OTHER SATURN OWNERS AND THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT HAS STARTED STICKING. THE ENGINE WAS SO MESSED UP AT ABOUT 68K THEY REPLACED THE ENGINE DUE TO POOR PERFORMANCE BACKFIRING AND LEAKING OIL ETC. THE SUNROOF WILL NOT LATCH CLOSED ANYMORE. I WENT TO OPEN IT ONE DAY AND THEN IT WONT CLOSE. I WANTED A PURPLE SATURN SINCE THEY CAME OUT AND I FINALLY GOT ONE AND IT HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE THESE ARE JUST 5 OF THE MOST RECENT THINGS BUT I HAVE HAD TO GET A NEW ALTERNATOR, STARTER AND SEVERAL OTHER MINOR REPAIRS. I WISH I HAD NEVER EVER WANTED SATURN. I GUESS IT IS TRUE BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR.
20010618VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT IS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DOOR IT STARTED OUT JUST GETTING STUCK OCCASIONALLY AND THEN WOULD MOVE ALL THE WAY BACK NOW WON'T MOVE AT ALL. TALKED TO 4 OTHER SATURN OWNERS AND THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT HAS STARTED STICKING. THE ENGINE WAS SO MESSED UP AT ABOUT 68K THEY REPLACED THE ENGINE DUE TO POOR PERFORMANCE BACKFIRING AND LEAKING OIL ETC. THE SUNROOF WILL NOT LATCH CLOSED ANYMORE. I WENT TO OPEN IT ONE DAY AND THEN IT WONT CLOSE. I WANTED A PURPLE SATURN SINCE THEY CAME OUT AND I FINALLY GOT ONE AND IT HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE THESE ARE JUST 5 OF THE MOST RECENT THINGS BUT I HAVE HAD TO GET A NEW ALTERNATOR, STARTER AND SEVERAL OTHER MINOR REPAIRS. I WISH I HAD NEVER EVER WANTED SATURN. I GUESS IT IS TRUE BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR.
20010213ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CAR BURNS OIL EVERY 500 MILES. SEE WEBPAGE "SATURNEXPOSED.COM" TO SEE THE MANY OTHER SATURN OWNERS WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK
20000119SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT INOPERATIVE. SEATBELT WILL NOT SLIDE TO THE LOCK POSITION. *YC
20000114SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
SEATBACK COLLAPSED THROWING CONSUMER INTO THE REAR SEAT. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON SIMILAR MAKE/ MODEL. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *ML
19991208CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A REAREND COLLISION, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
19991129CrashSEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
WHILE DRIVING IN THE LOCAL AREA VEHICLE WAS REARENDED, AND DRIVER'S SEATBACK COLLAPSED. ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AND WAS NOT ABLE TO HELP BECAUSE OF EXPIRED WARRANTY. *AK
19991129CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING IN THE LOCAL AREA VEHICLE WAS REARENDED, AND DRIVER'S SEATBACK COLLAPSED. ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AND WAS NOT ABLE TO HELP BECAUSE OF EXPIRED WARRANTY. *AK
19990930FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL SYSTEM/LINES ARE DESIGNED WITH INADEQUATE PROTECTION FROM ROAD DEBRIS, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BROKEN FUEL LINE AND LEAKAGE DUE TO DEBRIS FROM TIRE HITTING EXPOSED LINE. MJS
Compare 1994SATURNSC 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 1994 SATURN SC have?▼
The 1994 SATURN SC has 59 NHTSA complaints, 9 crashes, 1 fires, 5 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 SATURN SC?▼
The most-complained component for the 1994 SATURN SC is SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER with 17 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS:FRONTAL and SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR.
Is the 1994 SATURN SC 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.