A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jun 1995peak 7Jun 2003
NHTSA investigations into the 1992 Saturn SC
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
EA93016Opened 8 Jun 1993Closed 26 Jul 1994SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
FR SEATBACK RECLINER FAILS
PE93004Opened 5 Feb 1993Closed 8 Jun 1993SEATS
SEATBACK FAILURE
Recalls on the 1992 Saturn SC
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 199310823,367 units in Canada
Electrical
On certain vehicles, a short circuit in the generator could cause excessive current flow in the generator wiring harness resulting in overheating and a possible engine compartment fire. Correction: Generator wiring harness will be replaced with one that will open, as a fuse would under these conditions, to eliminate the potential for an underhood fire.
Recall 199305553 units in Canada
Powertrain
On certain vehicles equipped with automatic transmission, the gear selector may indicate that the vehicle is in PARK or NEUTRAL, even though it could be in REVERSE or DRIVE. If this happens, the vehicle could start in REVERSE or DRIVE, or might move unexpectedly. Correction: Valve body assembly will be replaced. Note: all vehicles were repaired prior to final delivery.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Southfield, MIFire
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TRAVELING 65MPH, AND A/C STOPPED WORKING. WHILE COMING OFF HIGHWAY, STOPPED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT THE HOOD. TURNED VEHICLE OFF. FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT FIRE OUT. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD THAT FIRE STARTED IN A/C ASSEMBLY. HAD THE A/C REPLACED ON SEPT 2, 1998.
NHTSA complaint #862480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Kingwood, TX
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
HOOD RELEASE CABLE ROUTING HAS CAUSED LEAK IN A/C TUBING NEAR COIL. ALL REFRIGERANT WAS LOST. ROUTING OF THIS CABLE IS OBVIOUSLY FLAWED IN SEVERAL PLACES ASIDE FROM THE A/C PROBLEM. CABLE AND/OR NEARBY SURFACES ARE DAMAGED.
NHTSA complaint #10021353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Newton, MI
SEAT BELTS
WHILE STARTING VEHICLE PLACED MOTORIZED SHOULDER BELT ON, BUT IT DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #8011964 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NHTSA complaint #556009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dryden, MI
SEAT BELTS
WE ALSO HAVE A 1991 SATURN SL. THE DIRVER SIDE AUTOMATIC SAFETY BELT WON'T WORK EITHER. IS IT JUST THE TYPE OF CAR OR WHAT?
NHTSA complaint #725564 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Southfield, MIFire
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TRAVELING 65MPH, AND A/C STOPPED WORKING. WHILE COMING OFF HIGHWAY, STOPPED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT THE HOOD. TURNED VEHICLE OFF. FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT FIRE OUT. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD THAT FIRE STARTED IN A/C ASSEMBLY. HAD THE A/C REPLACED ON SEPT 2, 1998.
NHTSA complaint #862480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mount Hermon, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELT MOTOR WAS REPLACED ONCE; NOW HAS FAILED AGAIN. MANUFACTURER'S "FIX" IS A CLIP WHICH ENABLES USER TO HOOK UP SEATBELT MANUALLY.
NHTSA complaint #701723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jeffersonville, IN
STRUCTURE:BODY
SUNROOF IS LEAKING. YH
NHTSA complaint #782349 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tucson, AZ
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH DRIVERS SEATBELT RESULTED IN BELT COMPLETLY FAILING.
NHTSA complaint #535911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tucson, AZ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY REPLACED FIVE TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #535911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tucson, AZ
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
SUNROOF FAILS INTERMITTENTLY.
NHTSA complaint #535911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tucson, AZ
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MOTOR MOUNT REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #535911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tucson, AZ
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
INTERIOR PANELS REPLACED DUE TO WARPING/CRACKING.
NHTSA complaint #535911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tucson, AZ
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHEN USING AIR CONDITIONER, ENGINE HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATION FROM A STOPPED POSITION.
NHTSA complaint #535911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tucson, AZ
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
FRONT BUMPER FELL OFF.
NHTSA complaint #535911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Memphis, TN
SEAT BELTS
SATURN MANUFACTURED AUTOMATIC SEATBELTS IN EARLY MODEL CARS. THEY STOPPED DOING THAT IN SUBSEQUENT MODEL YEARS. THE SEATBELTS NO LONGER GO BACK AND FORTH AND SOMETIMES WILL NOT GO BACK INTO THE LOCKED POSITION EVEN WHEN FORCED. I REQUESTED THAT THEY FIX THEM AND THEY QUOTED ME A FIGURE IN EXCESS OF $600 EACH. THEY SAID THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM CAUSED BY THE FRAYING OF A CABLE IN THE DOOR FRAME. I HAVE DONE NOTHING TO CAUSE THIS PROBLEM AND IT IS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW. THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AS A RESULT AND I DON'T BELIEVE I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED.
NHTSA complaint #700737 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Floral PAR, NY
SEAT BELTS
SEATBACK FRAME FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #781144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Acworth, GA
SEAT BELTS
DRIVER SIDE PASSIVE SEAT BELT FAILED
NHTSA complaint #526470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rockville Center, NY
SEAT BELTS
THE DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT DOESN'T RETRACT BECAUSE THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT HAS BURNT OUT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #810232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NEW Milford, NJ
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
BOTH FRONT SEAT BACKS COLLAPSED DURING COLLISION.
NHTSA complaint #510573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kerrville, TX
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
AUTOMATIC SEAT BLET RETRACTOR LOCKED UP IN THE LOCK POSITION OR IN THE UNLOCK POSITION.
NHTSA complaint #982305 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Littleton, CO
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR IS NOT WORKING . TT CONSUMER STATES MOTORIZED BELT MADE BUZZIING NOISES AND HAD INCOMPLETE RETRACTION, EARLIER THE MOTOR HAD QUIT ALL TOGETHER, DEALER DECLINED TO REMEDY DEFECT DUE TO OUT OF WARRANTY. DOOR HAS RATTLED SINCE NEW. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #973666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Littleton, CO
SEAT BELTS
THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR IS NOT WORKING . TT CONSUMER STATES MOTORIZED BELT MADE BUZZIING NOISES AND HAD INCOMPLETE RETRACTION, EARLIER THE MOTOR HAD QUIT ALL TOGETHER, DEALER DECLINED TO REMEDY DEFECT DUE TO OUT OF WARRANTY. DOOR HAS RATTLED SINCE NEW. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #973666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hawthorne, CA
SEAT BELTS
THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR IS NOT WORKING WHEN OPENING THE DOOR. TT
NHTSA complaint #966259 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.