Saturn SC Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Saturn SC model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 1991 drew the fewest (5) and the 1994 the most (51).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 Among the fewest complaints |
5 | 1 | Seat belts | — | 24–25 |
| 2000 Among the fewest complaints |
7 | 7 | Electrical system | — | 26–29 |
| 1998 Among the fewest complaints |
13 | 0 | Power train | — | 25–28 |
| 1992 | 16 | 2 | Seat belts | — | 24–25 |
| 2001 | 21 | 2 | Electrical system | — | 26–29 |
| 1993 | 23 | 1 | Seats | — | 24–28 |
| 1999 | 24 | 1 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 26–29 |
| 1996 | 26 | 0 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 25–29 |
| 1997 | 33 | 3 | Electrical system | — | 25–28 |
| 2002 Among the most complaints |
38 | 0 | Electrical system | — | 26–29 |
| 1995 Among the most complaints |
39 | 2 | Seats | — | 25–28 |
| 1994 Among the most complaints |
51 | 1 | Seats | — | 24–28 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Saturn SC years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
1994 Saturn SC: 51 complaints
Most-reported: Seats 21 (41%); Seat belts 11 (22%); Air bags 5 (10%).
Reports mention 8 crashes, 1 fire, 5 injuries, 1 death. 1 recall campaign listed.
1995 Saturn SC: 39 complaints
Most-reported: Seats 14 (36%); Air bags 6 (15%); Service brakes 4 (10%).
Reports mention 10 crashes, 4 injuries. 2 recall campaigns listed.
2002 Saturn SC: 38 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 12 (32%); Air bags 6 (16%); Engine and engine cooling 4 (11%).
Reports mention 7 crashes, 2 fires, 9 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 65,000 miles. 0 recall campaigns listed.
The Saturn SC years with the fewest complaints
1991 Saturn SC: 5 complaints
Most-reported: Seat belts 3 (60%); Engine and engine cooling 2 (40%); Steering 1 (20%).
Reports mention 1 crash, 3 injuries. 1 recall campaign listed.
2000 Saturn SC: 7 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 2 (29%); Tires 2 (29%); Power train 1 (14%).
Reports mention 2 crashes. 7 recall campaigns listed.
1998 Saturn SC: 13 complaints
Most-reported: Power train 4 (31%); Engine and engine cooling 3 (23%); Service brakes 2 (15%).
Reports mention 1 crash. 0 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Saturn SC owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 38 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 65,000 |
| 2001 | 21 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 96,000 |
| 2000 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1999 | 24 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 86,000 |
| 1998 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1997 | 33 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 103,000 |
| 1996 | 26 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 80,200 |
| 1995 | 39 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1994 | 51 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 1 | — |
| 1993 | 23 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Saturn SC recalls
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR:GENERATOR (1991–1993 model years; 352,833 vehicles across all models; filed Aug 1993; 93V132000)
- GM/FMVSS 210/SEAT BELT SHOULDER GUIDE (1999–2000 model years; 265,698 vehicles across all models; filed Oct 1999; 99V280000)
- GM/FRONT SEAT BACK RECLINERS (1994–1995 model years; 138,691 vehicles across all models; filed Mar 1999; 99V045000)
- GM/FMVSS 114/PARK LOCK CABLE ASSEMBLY (2000–2001 model years; 65,000 vehicles across all models; filed Oct 2000; 00V310000)
- GM/FMVSS 108/OWNER'S MANUAL (1997 model year; 37,970 vehicles across all models; filed Sep 1997; 97V162000)
All 14 Saturn SC recall campaigns · Saturn SC problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Saturn SC years FAQ
Which Saturn SC year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 1991 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (5). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Saturn SC years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 1994, 1995 and 2002 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the seats. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Saturn SC problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the seats (54 of 296 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Saturn SC have?
NHTSA lists 14 recall campaigns covering the Saturn SC. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Saturn SC recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
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.