Total Complaints
8 filings
SATURN SC1 · model year
1991 SATURN SC1
8 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1991SATURNSC1 carries 8 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 2 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 1991 SC1 is seat belts with 2 filings, followed by seats:front assembly:recliner (2) and suspension:rear:axle:spindle (1). 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 1991 SC1. 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.
8
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
3 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 |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS | 2 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 2 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:SPINDLE | 1 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20100217VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ENGINE ACCELERATES WITHOUT HAVING FOOT ON ACCELERATOR. THIS OCCURS WHEN THE CAR IS IN GEAR OR NOT, WHETHER PRESSING ON THE BRAKE OR NOT. THIS ISSUE OCCURRED IN THE PAST 3 WEEKS AND WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIND A FIX FOR IT. *TR
Mileage: 134,635
19991020SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
FRONT PASSENGER SEATBACK HAD FALLEN BACKWARDS AFTER BEING SAT ON. HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC INFORMED OWNER WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. WOULD REPAIR IF PAID FOR FIRST. *AK
19981216CrashSTEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
THIS IS AN AMENDMENT TO MY PREVIOUS REPORT FILED 12-14-98. I HAVE INCLUDED THE V.I.N. AND ADDRESS OF THE DEALER. THE REAR SPINDLE SNAPPED WITH NO IMPACT. THE CAR FLIPPED AND IS TOTALLED.
19981216CrashSUSPENSION:REAR
THIS IS AN AMENDMENT TO MY PREVIOUS REPORT FILED 12-14-98. I HAVE INCLUDED THE V.I.N. AND ADDRESS OF THE DEALER. THE REAR SPINDLE SNAPPED WITH NO IMPACT. THE CAR FLIPPED AND IS TOTALLED.
19981214CrashSUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:SPINDLE
BROKEN REAR SPINDLE
19970613SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
DRIVER'S FRONT SEATBACK FRAME BROKE AT WELD. ALSO, PASSENGER'S MOTORIZED SEAT BELT FAILS/HESITATES TO RELEASE OR ENGAGE. *AK
19970613SEAT BELTS
DRIVER'S FRONT SEATBACK FRAME BROKE AT WELD. ALSO, PASSENGER'S MOTORIZED SEAT BELT FAILS/HESITATES TO RELEASE OR ENGAGE. *AK
19970408SEAT BELTS
THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT, WHEN OPENING THE DOOR. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK
Compare 1991SATURNSC1 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 1991 SATURN SC1 have?▼
The 1991 SATURN SC1 has 8 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1991 SATURN SC1?▼
The most-complained component for the 1991 SATURN SC1 is SEAT BELTS with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER and SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:SPINDLE.
Is the 1991 SATURN SC1 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.