FaultScore

Worst years for a Saturn SC1

Owners have filed 554 complaints about the Saturn SC1 with NHTSA across model years 1991 to 2001. More of them are about the seats than anything else.

Avoid

1994 Saturn SC1

102 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly seats.

Cleanest on record

2000 Saturn SC1

10 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Saturn SC1 year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2001 C 29 5 0 67,419 Transmission & Drivetrain
2000 B 10 4 0 74,000 Electrical System
1999 C 30 11 0 Seats
1998 C 58 8 0 54,500 Engine & Cooling
1997 D 98 14 0 46,000 Electrical System
1996 C 43 6 1 80,000 Electrical System
1995 D 73 12 0 65,673 Seats
1994 F 102 12 1 Seats
1993 D 85 14 1 138,000 Brakes
1992 18 4 2 Seat Belts
1991 8 3 0 Suspension

What breaks on a Saturn SC1

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Seats 81 14.6%

Worst in 1994

Engine & Cooling 75 13.5%

Worst in 1994

Worst in 1997

Seat Belts 59 10.6%

Worst in 1997

Brakes 58 10.5%

Worst in 1993

Worst in 1997

Worst in 1997

Airbags 29 5.2%

Worst in 1995

Acceleration & Cruise Control 24 4.3%

Worst in 1994

Body & Structure 16 2.9%

Worst in 1993

Tires 16 2.9%

Worst in 2001

Steering 15 2.7%

Worst in 1997

Doors, Latches & Locks 10 1.8%

Worst in 1994

Suspension 9 1.6%

Worst in 1991

Exactly what failed on a Saturn SC1

The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.

Recliner 48 23.5%
Engine 30 14.7%
Retractor 21 10.3%
Gasoline 18 8.8%
Frontal 18 8.8%
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 16 7.8%
Automatic Transmission 16 7.8%
Sun/Moon Roof Assembly 15 7.4%
Foundation Components 11 5.4%
Manual Transmission 11 5.4%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Saturn SC1, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Jan 1995 peak 20 Aug 2012

Saturn SC1 problems by state

Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.

Compare the Saturn SC1

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.