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Saturn SCYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 296 NHTSA owner complaints across 12 model years, no Saturn SC year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 1995, 1996, 1997 and 2002. The SC has 14 safety recalls on record.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years'95 '96 '97 '02Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints296Top: SeatsSafety recalls141991–2002 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Saturn SC years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the SC median. Tap a year for its full report.

'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2002Solid50/10038 complaints · 0 recalls2001Not rated–/10021 complaints · 2 recalls2000Not rated–/1007 complaints · 7 recalls1999Not rated–/10024 complaints · 1 recall1998Not rated–/10013 complaints · 0 recalls1997Solid59/10033 complaints · 3 recalls1996Solid61/10026 complaints · 0 recalls1995Solid50/10039 complaints · 2 recalls1994Solid46/10051 complaints · 1 recall1993Not rated–/10023 complaints · 1 recall1992Not rated–/10016 complaints · 2 recalls1991Not rated–/1005 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Saturn SC problems

All model years combined: 296 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Seats5412
Electrical system442
Engine and engine cooling422
Seat belts394
Air bags3025
Power train200
Service brakes, hydraulic207
Structure152
Steering134
16 other systems788
14 recalls

Saturn SC recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Storage: tank assembly00V-309 · 2000–2001 · Oct 12, 2000 · 6,092 vehicles–Automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch00V-310 · 2000–2001 · Oct 12, 2000 · 65,000 vehicles–Structure: body99V-297 · 2000 · Oct 27, 1999 · 7,505 vehicles–Front: anchorage99V-280 · 1999–2000 · Oct 20, 1999 · 265,698 vehicles–Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components99V-231 · 2000 · Aug 24, 1999 · 5,373 vehicles–Body: bumpers99V-232 · 2000 · Aug 23, 1999 · 1,592 vehicles–Unknown or other99V-230 · 2000 · Aug 23, 1999 · 2,692 vehicles–Seats99V-045 · 1994–1995 · Mar 12, 1999 · 138,691 vehicles–Exterior lighting: headlights97V-162 · 1997 · Sep 22, 1997 · 37,970 vehicles–Front: retractor97V-161 · 1997 · Sep 22, 1997 · 26,135 vehicles–Seats96V-153 · 1997 · Aug 23, 1996 · 3,472 vehicles–Clutch assembly: pedal/hand lever(motorcycle)94V-217 · 1995 · Nov 8, 1994 · 20,518 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 14 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

6 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the SC

  1. FRONT SEAT BACK CAN RECLINE OR COLLAPSERQ00005 · 1994–1995 · closed Aug 19, 2000
    Led to recall 99V-045
  2. SEAT BACK FAILURESEA98017 · 1994 · closed Mar 16, 1999
    Led to recall 99V-045
  3. CRUISE CONTROL FAILURESEA95003 · 1993–1995 · closed May 31, 1996
    No recall
  4. CRUISE CONTROL FAILUREPE94079 · 1993–1995 · closed Feb 24, 1995
    No recall
  5. FR SEATBACK RECLINER FAILSEA93016 · 1991–1992 · closed Jul 26, 1994
    No recall
  6. SEATBACK FAILUREPE93004 · 1992 · closed Jun 8, 1993
    No recall