1997 Saturn S-Series Review

Checking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.

If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).

Exterior lighting:headlights

Recall Number: 

97V162000

Manufactured from: 

1996-07-01 to 1997-02-28

Number of vehicles affected: 

37970

Defect Description: 

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SECTION OF THE OWNER'S HANDBOOK TITLED "HORIZONTAL AIM" DOES NOT SPECIFICALLY INSTRUCT AN OWNER HOW TO ADJUST THE HEADLAMP HORIZONTAL AIM. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Defect Consequence: 

A VEHICLE'S HEADLAMP WOULD NOT BE PROPERLY ADJUSTED CAUSING VISIBILITY PROBLEMS TO ONCOMING VEHICLES.

Corrective Action: 

OWNERS ARE BEING PROVIDED WITH A LABEL WITH THE CORRECT INFORMATION ON HEADLAMP HORIZONTAL AIM TO BE PLACED OVER THE EXISTING TEXT IN THE OWNER'S HANDBOOK. IF AN OWNER DESIRES, THEIR DEALER CAN PLACE THE STICKER IN THE OWNER'S HANDBOOK FOR THEM.

Seat belts:front:retractor

Recall Number: 

97V161000

Manufactured from: 

1996-05-01 to 1996-11-30

Number of vehicles affected: 

26135

Defect Description: 

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE DRIVER OR FRONT PASSENGER SAFETY BELT IS PULLED OUT MUCH FASTER THAN NORMAL, A NUMBER OF TIME, THE LOCK-UP FEATURE OF THE RETRACTOR WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY.

Defect Consequence: 

IN A RAPID DECELERATION OR VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Corrective Action: 

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR.

Seats

Recall Number: 

97V155000

Manufactured from: 

1997-03-24 to 1997-03-24

Number of vehicles affected: 

5

Defect Description: 

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH SUSPECT COLD WELDS ON THE RIGHT SIDE IN THE TUNNEL AREA OF THE FLOOR PAN. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE."

Defect Consequence: 

IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Corrective Action: 

DEALERS WILL REPAIR THESE VEHICLES.

Steering:gear box (other than rack and pinion)

Recall Number: 

97V138000

Manufactured from: 

1996-07-01 to 1997-01-30

Number of vehicles affected: 

14580

Defect Description: 

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL STEERING. THE PINION BEARING CAGE IN THE STEERING GEAR CAN SEPARATE UNDER HIGH STEERING SYSTEM LOAD CONDITIONS, SUCH AS PARKING LOT OR SIMILAR LOW SPEED MANEUVERS.

Defect Consequence: 

THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PINION GEAR DISENGAGING FROM THE RACK CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.

Corrective Action: 

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE MANUAL STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY.

Seats

Recall Number: 

96V153000

Manufactured from: 

1996-05-01 to 1996-07-31

Number of vehicles affected: 

3472

Defect Description: 

THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATS HAVE LESS LOCK PAWL ENGAGEMENT ON THE INBOARD FORE/AFT ADJUSTER THAN SPECIFIED. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS."

Defect Consequence: 

THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN SEAT MOVEMENT WITH A BELTED OCCUPANT DURING A MODERATE TO SEVERE FRONTAL IMPACT.

Corrective Action: 

DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE PASSENGER SEAT INBOARD FORE/AFT ADJUSTER.

Exterior lighting

Recall Number: 

09E012000

Number of vehicles affected: 

16270

Defect Description: 

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Defect Consequence: 

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Corrective Action: 

SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.