1999 Saturn EV1

Routine

No owner complaints are on file for this vehicle. It has been recalled 4 times.

4 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Electrical System › Propulsion System › Charging › Cable/Cord › Onboard00V373000
Filed Nov 13, 2000455 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic00V369000
Filed Nov 13, 2000455 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Interior Lighting00V370000
Filed Nov 13, 2000455 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery00V374000
Filed Nov 13, 2000492 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1997
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
1999 — this page0400Routine
19974510Routine
19951000Routine

Compare every EV1 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Nov 13, 2000. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.