NHTSA has issued 5 recalls covering the Saturn SW. A recall repair is always free, however old the car is.
Check your own car by VIN
Recalls apply to specific build ranges, so a recall listed here may or may not cover your particular vehicle. NHTSA's free VIN lookup is the authority: nhtsa.gov/recalls.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME FRONT SEAT BACK RECLINER GEAR TEETH MAY WEAR EXCESSIVELY THROUGH REPEATED USE, AND COULD CAUSE THE SEAT BACK TO SLIP PARTIALLY REARWARD WHEN FORCE IS APPLIED.
Risk: 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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME FRONT SEAT BACK RECLINER GEAR TEETH MAY WEAR EXCESSIVELY THROUGH REPEATED USE, AND COULD CAUSE THE SEAT BACK TO SLIP PARTIALLY REARWARD WHEN FORCE IS APPLIED.
Risk: 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.
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE PARK LOCK CABLE ASSEMBLY WAS IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO SHIFT FROM THE "PARK" POSITION WITH THE IGNITION KEY REMOVED, OR REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY WITH THE SHIFT LEVER IN A POSITION OTHER THAN "PARK." THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 114, "THEFT PROTECTION."
Risk: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT CAN OCCUR WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: CONSUMERS ARE BEING ASKED TO INSPECT THE PARK LOCK CABLE. IF IT DOES NOT PERFORM CORRECTLY, DEALERS WILL MAKE THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS.
THE GENERATOR ELECTRICAL WIRING IS NOT PROTECTED AGAINST EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW WHICH MAY BE CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE GENERATOR.
Risk: SHOULD AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT OCCUR IN THEGENERATOR, THE GENERATOR WIRING HARNESS WOULD EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW.UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, ENOUGH HEAT COULD BE GENERATED TO IGNITE SURROUNDINGMATERIALS. IF THIS OCCURS, AN UNDERHOOD FIRE COULD RESULT WITH OR WITHOUT THEENGINE RUNNING AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: THE GENERATOR WIRING HARNESS WILL BE REPLACED WITH ONE THAT WILL OPEN AS A FUSE WOULD UNDER CERTAIN EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW CONDITIONS.
THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE TERMINAL AT THE STARTER SOLENOID MAY BE FORMED INCORRECTLY. INCORRECTLY FORMED TERMINALS CAN CONTACT THE STARTER SOLENOID HOUSING AND CAUSE AN ELECTRIC SHORT CIRCUIT.
Risk: AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT BETWEEN THE BATTERY CABLE ANDTHE STARTER HOUSING CAN RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, ADJUST THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE TERMINAL SO THAT IT DOES NOT CONTACT THE STARTER SOLENOID HOUSING.
Transport Canada runs its own recall programme. Its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones, so a Canadian owner reading a US-only list is reading about a different car than the one on their driveway.
Certain vehicles do not comply with the requirements of CMVSS 114 - Locking System. An improperly adjusted transaxle park lock cable assembly could allow shifting from the "park" position with the ignition key removed. Correction: Dealers will perform a functional check of the automatic transaxle park lock cable assembly operation, and, if necessary, adjust the cable.
Certain vehicles do not comply with the requirements of CMVSS 301 - Fuel System Integrity. Vehicles may have an inadequate vent valve weld on the top portion of the fuel tank. Fuel spillage could occur during refueling or if a vehicle were involved in a rollover. If an ignition source were present, a fire could result. Correction: Dealers will inspect, and, if necessary, replace the fuel tank assembly.
Certain vehicles do not comply with the requirements of CMVSS 114 - Locking System. An improperly adjusted transaxle park lock cable assembly could allow shifting from the "park" position with the ignition key removed. Correction: Dealers will perform a functional check of the automatic transaxle park lock cable assembly operation, and, if necessary, adjust the cable.
Certain vehicles do not comply with the requirements of CMVSS 301 - Fuel System Integrity. Vehicles may have an inadequate vent valve weld on the top portion of the fuel tank. Fuel spillage could occur during refueling or if a vehicle were involved in a rollover. If an ignition source were present, a fire could result. Correction: Dealers will inspect, and, if necessary, replace the fuel tank assembly.
Certain vehicles do not comply with the requirements of CMVSS 210 - Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages. Seat belt shoulder guide anchor bolts were not adequately tightened at the center pillar and cold fall out, making the seat belt inoperative and increasing the occupant's risk of injury in a crash. Correction: Dealers will inspect vehicles and torque the seat belt guide anchor bolts to the proper specification.
Certain vehicles do not comply with the requirements of CMVSS 210 - Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages. Seat belt shoulder guide anchor bolts were not adequately tightened at the center pillar and cold fall out, making the seat belt inoperative and increasing the occupant's risk of injury in a crash. Correction: Dealers will inspect vehicles and torque the seat belt guide anchor bolts to the proper specification.
On certain vehicles, the front seat back recliner gear teeth may wear excessively through repeated use, and cause the seat to slip partially rearward when force is applied. If left unrepaired, the wear will continue and may result in the seat back fully reclining when force is applied. If this happens while the vehicle is being driven, it could cause a loss of control and a crash. Correction: Both the driver and front passenger seat back recliner mechanisms will be replaced.
On certain vehicles, the front seat back recliner gear teeth may wear excessively through repeated use, and cause the seat to slip partially rearward when force is applied. If left unrepaired, the wear will continue and may result in the seat back fully reclining when force is applied. If this happens while the vehicle is being driven, it could cause a loss of control and a crash. Correction: Both the driver and front passenger seat back recliner mechanisms will be replaced.
Certain vehicles were either produced or serviced with a horn assembly which may fail. As a result, the horn may either become inoperable or activate without pressing the horn button. Under certain conditions, heat could build up in the horn assembly and an underhood fire could result without prior warning. Correction: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary replace the horn assembly.
Certain vehicles do not comply with CMVSS 114 - Locking System. It may be possible to remove the key from the ignition while the cylinder is in the RUN position. The ignition key must be reinserted in the ignition to turn the engine off. Correction: Ignition cylinder will be re-coded. Re-coding of the ignition cylinder will require the doors and rear compartment or liftgate locks to be re-coded to retain a one key system.
On certain vehicles, some of the welds between the roof and roof internal reinforcement panels may not meet specifications. In a crash there is a possibility of a partial separation of the roof panel flange sides, exposing an occupant to an increased risk of injury. Correction: Structural fasteners will be installed along the vehicle roof flange, on both sides of the vehicle.
On certain vehicles, a short circuit in the generator could cause excessive current flow in the generator wiring harness resulting in overheating and a possible engine compartment fire. Correction: Generator wiring harness will be replaced with one that will open, as a fuse would under these conditions, to eliminate the potential for an underhood fire.
On certain vehicles, a short circuit in the generator could cause excessive current flow in the generator wiring harness resulting in overheating and a possible engine compartment fire. Correction: Generator wiring harness will be replaced with one that will open, as a fuse would under these conditions, to eliminate the potential for an underhood fire.
Source: Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database.