NHTSA recalls & complaints · 1995–2002

Saturn Z recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 2 owner complaints for the Saturn Z, covering model years 1995 to 2002. The 1995 and 1997 model years drew the most complaints (1 each), and Electrical System is the component owners name most often.

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

Decode your Saturn Z VIN

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

4 recall campaigns on file
2 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
4 model years with data (1995–2002)

most complaints: 1995, 1997 (1 for that model year)
top component: Electrical System (1 complaint)
latest recall 02V307000 (reported Nov 14, 2002)

0 complaints reporting a crash (0.0%)
0 complaints reporting a fire (0.0%)
0 complaints reporting an injury (0.0%)
0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

Saturn Z complaints by model year

2 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 1995 and 1997 model years share the highest count, 1 complaints each.

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years

Saturn Z complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death

Saturn Z complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model year	Complaints	Reporting a crash	Reporting a fire	Reporting an injury	Reporting a death
1995	1	0	0	0	0
1997	1	0	0	0	0
All model years	2	0	0	0	0

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

Most-reported Saturn Z components

top 2 · NHTSA categories

Electrical System is the component named most often, in 1 complaint (50.0% of all 2), followed by Seats (1).

Components named most often in Saturn Z complaints (top 2)

Components named most often in Saturn Z complaints (top 2)
Component	Complaints	Share of complaints
Electrical System	1	50.0%
Seats	1	50.0%

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 Z recalls

4 campaigns · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name Z, newest first. The 4 campaigns cover model years 1995 to 2002. The 1997 model year appears in the most campaigns (2).

4 recall campaigns

Saturn Z recall campaigns covering each model year
Decade	Years ending in 0	Years ending in 1	Years ending in 2	Years ending in 3	Years ending in 4	Years ending in 5	Years ending in 6	Years ending in 7	Years ending in 8	Years ending in 9
1990s						1995: 1 campaign	1996: 1 campaign	1997: 2 campaigns	1998: no campaigns	1999: no campaigns
2000s	2000: no campaigns	2001: no campaigns	2002: 1 campaign

Highlighted: the model year with the most campaigns.

NHTSA campaign 02V307000
Reported Nov 14, 2002
Seats
Model year 1995
On certain passenger vehicles, some front seat back recliner gear teeth may wear excessively through repeated use, which 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. This is an expansion of a previous recall (99V045). Owner notification began January 31, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, prompt 3.
Filed by General Motors, LLC
NHTSA campaign 02V060000
Reported Feb 19, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Pedals and Linkages
Model year 2002
Certain passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transaxles were assembled with an inadequate weld at the brake pedal pad to brake pedal actuator arm assembly. During braking, the brake pedal pad could separate from the brake pedal actuator arm.
Consequence:
If this were to occur, the driver's foot could become dislodged from the pedal resulting in a loss of brake system application and a vehicle crash could occur.
Remedy:
Dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the brake pedal assembly. Owner notification began February 19, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, prompt #3.
Filed by General Motors, LLC
NHTSA campaign 98V307000
Reported Dec 7, 1998
Electrical System › Horn
Model years 1996–1997
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles were produced or serviced with a horn assembly which could fail. The horn could either become inoperable or activate without the driver pressing the horn button.
Consequence:
Under certain conditions, heat can build up within the assembly and an underhood fire could result.
Remedy:
Dealers will replace the horn assembly.
Filed by General Motors, LLC
NHTSA campaign 97V055000
Reported Apr 8, 1997
Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Model year 1997
It is possible to remove the ignition key while the cylinder is in the run position. This does not comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 114, "theft protection."
Consequence:
The ignition key must be reinserted in the ignition cylinder to turn the engine off.
Remedy:
Dealers will perform a functional check of the ignition cylinder and, if necessary, to have the vehicle's ignition cylinder re-coded. Owners can perform this functional check themselves if they so desire.
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
Field	What it tells you
Campaign number	NHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
Component	The system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
Summary	What the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
Consequence	The safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
Remedy	What 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 Z questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the Saturn Z have?

NHTSA lists 4 vehicle recall campaigns for the Saturn Z, covering model years 1995 to 2002. The most recent, 02V307000, was reported on November 14, 2002 and is filed under “Seats”. The 1997 model year is covered by the most campaigns (2).

Which Saturn Z model year has the most complaints?

The 1995 and 1997 model years tie, with 1 complaints each out of 2. 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 Z complaint?

Electrical System is the component named most often: 1 complaint, or 50.0% of all 2. Seats (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 Z?

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 Z complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 2 complaints, 0 report a crash, 0 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.

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 codes Look 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.