Saturn SC complaints by model year
296 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Red numbers above the columns are recall campaigns for that model year.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 38 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| 2001 | 21 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 2000 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 7 |
| 1999 | 24 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 1998 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 | 33 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| 1996 | 26 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 | 39 | 10 | 0 | 2 |
| 1994 | 51 | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| 1993 | 23 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 1992 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 1991 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Among the last 15 model years at least five years old; newer years are left out because owners are still filing reports. Every year compared →
Problem areas by model year
Complaints that name each component, 1993–2002. Darker cells mean more reports. One complaint can name several components.
| Component | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seats | 9 | 21 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 12 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Air bags | 0 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 6 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Power train | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Steering | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Saturn SC recalls (14)
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for at least one SC model year, newest first.
| Campaign | Filed | What | Model years | Repaired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 00V309000 | Oct 12, 2000 | GM/FMVSS 301/VENT VALVE WELD | 2000, 2001 | — |
| 00V310000 | Oct 12, 2000 | GM/FMVSS 114/PARK LOCK CABLE ASSEMBLY | 2000, 2001 | — |
| 99V297000 | Oct 27, 1999 | GM/FMVSS 201/CONSOLE ARMREST | 2000 | — |
| 99V280000 | Oct 20, 1999 | GM/FMVSS 210/SEAT BELT SHOULDER GUIDE | 1999, 2000 | — |
| 99V231000 | Aug 24, 1999 | GM/FMVSS 135 | 2000 | — |
| 99V230000 | Aug 23, 1999 | GM/FMVSS 208 | 2000 | — |
| 99V232000 | Aug 23, 1999 | GM/FMVSS 581 | 2000 | — |
| 99V045000 | Mar 12, 1999 | GM/FRONT SEAT BACK RECLINERS | 1994, 1995 | — |
| 97V161000 | Sep 22, 1997 | GM/SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR | 1997 | — |
| 97V162000 | Sep 22, 1997 | GM/FMVSS 108/OWNER'S MANUAL | 1997 | — |
| 96V153000 | Aug 23, 1996 | GM/INTERIOR; SEATS. | 1997 | — |
| 94V217000 | Nov 8, 1994 | POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:LINKAGE:RIGID | 1995 | — |
| 93V132000 | Aug 10, 1993 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR:GENERATOR | 1991, 1992, 1993 | — |
| 92V098000 | Jul 8, 1992 | POWER TRAIN:OTHER PART | 1992 | — |
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. Open a model-year page for each campaign's official text, or check your VIN on NHTSA.
Check on NHTSA ↗Fuel economy by model year
EPA combined mpg range across engine and transmission configurations. Your mileage will vary. Source: EPA, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Where to next
Saturn SC FAQ
How many recalls has the Saturn SC had?
NHTSA lists 14 recall campaigns that cover at least one Saturn SC model year from 1991 to 2002. Each campaign card on the model-year pages has NHTSA's official text and the repair completion rate. Only NHTSA's VIN lookup can tell you whether a specific car was repaired.
Which Saturn SC year has the most complaints?
Among the last 12 model years with settled counts, the 1994 drew the most owner complaints filed with NHTSA (51) and the 1991 the fewest (5). Counts are owner reports, not failure rates, and sales volume affects them.
What are the most common Saturn SC problems?
Across the 1993–2002 model years, owners most often name the seats, electrical system, engine and engine cooling in complaints filed with NHTSA.
What mpg does the Saturn SC get?
EPA rates the 2002 Saturn SC at 26 to 29 mpg combined, depending on engine and transmission.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.