The 1994 Saturn Sc has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 138,691 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 59 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the seats. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SEATS99V0450001999-03-12138,691 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME FRONT SEAT BACK RECLINER GEAR TEETH MAY WEAR EXCESSIVELY THROUGH REPEATED USE, AND COULD CAUSE THE SEAT BACK TO SLIP PARTIALLY REARWARD WHEN FORCE IS APPLIED.
Consequence
IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, IT COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SEAT RECLINER MECHANISMS.
Complaints by component
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
17
2crashes1injuries
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
5
5crashes3injuries
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
4
1crashes1injuries
SEATS
4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
3
1fires
SEAT BELTS
3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2
POWER TRAIN
2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
2
Total complaints59
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The key can be removed in any position, including while running.”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“While driving 30 mph driver's seat belt would retract back and forth. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak”
“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…”
“Consumer states that driver seat will recline while driving. Nlm”
“Seat belt will lock in place but will not slide forward when door is opened.*ak”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA95003 Opened 1995-02-24 · closed 1996-05-31
CRUISE CONTROL FAILURES
THIS INVESTIGATION DOCUMENTED HTE FUNCTIONAL ABERATIONS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SUBJECT CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM.MOST OF THE MALFUNCTIONS INVOLVED FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM TO PROPERLY REGULATE VEHICLE SPEED WHEN ENGAGED, FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM TO ENGAGE, OR SELF-DISENGAGEMENT OF THE SYSTEM. THESE…
InvestigationEA98017 Opened 1998-07-31 · closed 1999-03-16
SEAT BACK FAILURES
IN ITS LETTER DATED MARCH 5, 1999, GENERAL MOTORS STATED THAT IT WILL RECALL 136,300 MODEL YEAR 1994 AND 1995 SATURN VEHICLE (ALL MODELS) BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1994 AND AUGUST 1994.DURING THIS PERIOD, SATURN'S SEAT SUPPLIER MANUFACTURED RECLINER ASSEMBLIES WHICH WERE OUT OF DESIGN SPECIFICATION, ALLOWING THE FRONT…
InvestigationPE94079 Opened 1994-11-07 · closed 1995-02-24
CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationRQ00005 Opened 2000-02-16 · closed 2000-08-19
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1994 Saturn Sc as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.