RecallRadar

Home → Saturn → Ev1 → 1997

1997 Saturn Ev1 Recalls & Complaints

5

open safety recalls on record

Critical

4 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 0.75 · updated 2026-08-07

The recalls

Critical00V069100

Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery

HEAT COULD BUILD UP WITHIN THE CHARGE PORT AND A FIRE COULD RESULT.

Remedy & full details

THESE PASSENGER VEHICLES WERE REPURCHASED BY SATURN/GM.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: GENERATION 1 ELECTRIC PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH A CHARGE PORT ASSEMBLY THAT COULD FAIL DURING A CHARGING EVENT.

Critical97V042000

Electrical System

DURING CHARGING A SHORT CIRCUIT COULD OCCUR.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DRIVE MOTOR BATTERY CHARGER RECEPTACLE ASSEMBLY AND REPLACE IT, IF NECESSARY.

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.

Moderate00V369000

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BTCM, THE BALLSCREW ASSEMBLIES IN THE BRAKE PRESSURE MODULATOR VALVE, AND INSTALL NEW SOFTWARE.

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.

Moderate97V109000

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE COULD REDUCE BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS AND INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCES.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE SOLENOID(S) ON THE BRAKE PRESSURE MODULATOR.

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.

Moderate98V169000

Service Brakes, Air:Antilock:Control Unit/Module

AS A RESULT, VEHICLES CAN EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF FRONT BRAKE ASSIST, INCREASING THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL, AND VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE TORQUE CONTROL MODULE.

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."

Complaint volume

4 this model-year 8 median, same year

Volume alone is not a fault rate — popular vehicles attract more reports. Read it next to the severity mix below.

What owners reported happened

0Crashes
1Fires
0Injuries
0Deaths

Across 4 complaints. Severity Index 0.75.

Severity Index weights each complaint's reported outcome (death ×10, injury ×4, fire ×3, crash ×2) and divides by total complaints. It measures how severe reports are, not how often faults occur.

What owners report most

Electrical System · 12v/2…3 · 75%Electrical System1 · 25%
  1. Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery — 3 reports
  2. Electrical System — 1 reports

What to do

  1. Find your 17-character VIN on the driver's door jamb or the base of the windscreen.
  2. Check it against NHTSA's official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the authoritative record for your exact car.
  3. Book the repair with any franchised dealer. Safety recall work is free, with no time limit and regardless of who owns the car now.

Other model years

1997

Numbers in brackets are open recall campaigns for that year.

Questions

Does an open recall mean the car is unsafe to drive?

Not usually. NHTSA issues a "do not drive" or "park outside" advisory when a defect is dangerous enough to keep you out of the car — those are flagged Critical above. Everything else should be repaired promptly but is not an immediate stop-driving order.

Do I pay for recall repairs?

No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix a safety recall free of charge, including parts and labour, whether or not you are the original owner.

Why are there complaints but no recalls?

Complaints are unverified reports filed by owners. They can prompt an investigation, but many never become recalls — either the fault isn't safety-related or it isn't widespread.

From the same data desk

Independent sites, same maintainer, same open-data standards.

TireFit
Is that tyre actually right for your car?
2,808 fitment guides
FuelFacts
What that trip really costs in fuel
Live consumption data
CostCompare
What things cost, city by city
2,123 comparisons