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NHTSA recalls & complaints · 1995–1999

Saturn EV1 recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns and 5 owner complaints for the Saturn EV1, covering model years 1995 to 1999. The 1997 model year drew the most complaints (4), and Electrical System is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your Saturn EV1 VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

  • 8 recall campaigns on file
  • 5 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
  • 3 model years with data (1995–1999)
  • most complaints: 1997 (4 for that model year)
  • top component: Electrical System (4 complaints)
  • latest recall 00V374000 (reported Nov 13, 2000)
  • 0 complaints reporting a crash (0.0%)
  • 1 complaint reporting a fire (20.0%)
  • 0 complaints reporting an injury (0.0%)
  • 0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

Saturn EV1 complaints by model year

2 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 1997 model year has the most complaints: 4 of 5, or 80.0%. Next come 1995 (1).

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years
Saturn EV1 owner complaints to NHTSA by model year, 1995–1997Column chart of 5 complaints across 3 model years. The highest is 1997 with 4. The full figures are in the table below the chart.1995: 1 complaint119951996: 0 complaints19961997: 4 complaints41997
Saturn EV1 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Saturn EV1 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model yearComplaintsReporting a crashReporting a fireReporting an injuryReporting a death
199510000
199740100
All model years50100

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported Saturn EV1 components

top 2 · NHTSA categories

Electrical System is the component named most often, in 4 complaints (80.0% of all 5), followed by Power Train (1).

Components named most often in Saturn EV1 complaints (top 2)
Components named most often in Saturn EV1 complaints (top 2)
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints
Electrical System480.0%
Power Train120.0%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

  • They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
  • Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
  • Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
  • One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
  • Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

Saturn EV1 recalls

8 campaigns · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name EV1, newest first. The 8 campaigns cover model years 1997 to 1999. The 1997 model year appears in the most campaigns (5).

  • 8 recall campaigns
Saturn EV1 recall campaigns covering each model year
1997: 5 campaigns1998: no campaigns1999: 4 campaigns
Highlighted: the model year with the most campaigns.

  1. NHTSA campaign 00V374000

    Reported

    Electrical System › 12V/24V/48V Battery

    Model year 1999

    Vehicle description: electric passenger vehicles and pickup trucks containing a nickel metal hydride (nimh) battery pack. These vehicles contain software within the battery pack module intended to disable the vehicle from being driven if the electrical resistance with the battery pack exceeds a prescribed value. Affected vehicles will illuminate the "service now" and "reduced performance" telltales and continue to function in a reduced performance model instead of being disabled.

    Consequence:
    If the telltales are ignored and the affected vehicle continues to be driven, heat could build up and a fire could result.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will install revised software in the battery pack module.

    Filed by General Motors, LLC

  2. NHTSA campaign 00V373000

    Reported

    Electrical System › Propulsion System › Charging › Cable/Cord › Onboard; Electrical System › Wiring

    Model year 1999

    Vehicle description: generation ii electric vehicles. Some replacement charger receptacle assemblies used for warranty repairs were built with internal component variation. This variation can generate arcing during the charge cycle.

    Consequence:
    Extended arcing during the charge cycle could lead to a vehicle fire and/or personal injury.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will inspect the serial number on the charge receptacle and, if necessary, replace the charge receptacle assembly.

    Filed by General Motors, LLC

  3. NHTSA campaign 00V370000

    Reported

    Interior Lighting

    Model year 1999

    Vehicle description: certain generation ii electric vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS No. 101, "controls and displays." These vehicles were produced with a courtesy lamp control circuit in the right-hand junction block which can fail. If this occurs, the interior lamps will remain illuminated and cannot be controlled by the driver once the doors are closed and the vehicle is in motion.

    Consequence:
    If this were to occur during a night-time driving situation, the driver's vision could be impaired.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will replace the right-hand junction block.

    Filed by General Motors, LLC

  4. NHTSA campaign 00V369000

    Reported

    Service Brakes, Hydraulic

    Model years 1997, 1999

    Vehicle description: electric vehicles. These vehicles were produced with wheel speed circuitry in the brake torque control module (BTCM) which can cease to operate properly.

    Consequence:
    If this occurs, involved vehicles will exhibit one or more of the following: a loss of front brake assist, a disabled rear brake system, a disabled anti-lock brake system, and/or a disabled regenerative brake system. This could increase brake pedal travel and vehicle stopping distance.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will replace the BTCM, the ballscrew assemblies in the brake pressure modulator valve, and install new software.

    Filed by General Motors, LLC

  5. NHTSA campaign 00V069100

    Reported

    Electrical System › 12V/24V/48V Battery

    Model year 1997

    Vehicle description: generation 1 electric passenger vehicles. These vehicles were built with a charge port assembly that could fail during a charging event.

    Consequence:
    Heat could build up within the charge port and a fire could result.
    Remedy:
    These passenger vehicles were repurchased by Saturn/GM.

    Filed by General Motors, LLC

  6. NHTSA campaign 98V169000

    Reported

    Service Brakes, Air › Antilock › Control Unit/Module

    Model year 1997

    Vehicle description: electric vehicles. A transistor within the brake torque control module (BTCM) causes an electrical short to ground. This does not comply with the requirements of FMVSS No. 105, "hydraulic brake system."

    Consequence:
    As a result, vehicles can experience a loss of front brake assist, increasing the brake pedal travel, and vehicle stopping distance.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will replace the brake torque control module.

    Filed by General Motors, LLC

  7. NHTSA campaign 97V109000

    Reported

    Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Power Assist › Vacuum › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings

    Model year 1997

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles were built with a damaged o-ring in the brake pressure modulator valve solenoid(s) on the brake pressure modulator. Involved vehicles can develop an external brake fluid leak in one or both of the brake pressuremodulator valve solenoids.

    Consequence:
    Brake fluid leakage could reduce brake effectiveness and increase stopping distances.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the solenoid(s) on the brake pressure modulator.

    Filed by General Motors, LLC

  8. NHTSA campaign 97V042000

    Reported

    Electrical System

    Model year 1997

    Vehicle description: electric vehicles. These vehicles were built with a drive motor charger receptacle assembly that was incompletely sealed. Incomplete sealing can allow water to intrude into the circuit board.

    Consequence:
    During charging a short circuit could occur. An arc at the short circuit can generate enough heat to create smoke and/or a flame. If a flame occurs, a fire could result.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will inspect the drive motor battery charger receptacle assembly and replace it, if necessary.

    Filed by General Motors, LLC

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it; older campaigns, which NHTSA stores in capital letters, are shown in sentence case. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means
What each recall field means
FieldWhat it tells you
Campaign numberNHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
ComponentThe system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
SummaryWhat the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
ConsequenceThe safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
RemedyWhat the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.
  • Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
  • A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
  • Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

Saturn EV1 questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the Saturn EV1 have?

NHTSA lists 8 vehicle recall campaigns for the Saturn EV1, covering model years 1995 to 1999. The most recent, 00V374000, was reported on November 13, 2000 and is filed under “Electrical system”. The 1997 model year is covered by the most campaigns (5).

Which Saturn EV1 model year has the most complaints?

The 1997 model year, with 4 of the 5 complaints in NHTSA’s file (80.0%). The next is 1995 (1). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common Saturn EV1 complaint?

Electrical System is the component named most often: 4 complaints, or 80.0% of all 5. Power Train (1) follows. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my Saturn EV1?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a Saturn dealer.

How many Saturn EV1 complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 5 complaints, 0 report a crash, 1 a fire, 0 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

Other Saturn models

8 models · most complaints first

The Saturn models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the Saturn VIN decoder with every Saturn model page, WMI code and VIN note.

  • Saturn Ion 2003–2008 · 10 recalls · 4,343 complaints
  • Saturn Vue 2002–2010 · 7 recalls · 2,351 complaints
  • Saturn SL 1995–2002 · 12 recalls · 1,605 complaints
  • Saturn LS 2000–2004 · 12 recalls · 1,458 complaints
  • Saturn Aura 2000–2010 · 5 recalls · 1,439 complaints
  • Saturn Outlook 2007–2010 · 10 recalls · 1,352 complaints
  • Saturn Sky 2007–2010 · 5 recalls · 516 complaints
  • Saturn SC1 1995–2001 · 6 recalls · 252 complaints

All Saturn models and WMI codesLook up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.