1997 Saturn EV1 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
5 safety recalls list the 1997 Saturn EV1, and owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
5 safety recalls for the 1997 Saturn EV1
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Service brakes, hydraulic
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the btcm, the ballscrew assemblies in the brake pressure modulator valve, and install new software.
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12v/24v/48v battery (electrical system)
Vehicle description: generation 1 electric passenger vehicles. These vehicles were built with a charge port assembly that could fail during a charging event.
Remedy: These passenger vehicles were repurchased by saturn/GM.
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Service brakes, air: control unit/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."
Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake torque control module.
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)
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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the solenoid(s) on the brake pressure modulator.
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Electrical system
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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the drive motor battery charger receptacle assembly and replace it, if necessary.
4 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1997 Saturn EV1 have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a fire. Complaints peaked in 2000 with 4 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“These vehicles were produced with a charge port assembly that may fail during a charging event, recall issued however owner has not been able to receive new vehicle at this time, recall solution is no”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 21, 2000 · Electrical system
“Evi vehicle is on recall because a defect in the charge port could cause to overheat (00v-069), however consumer is not happy with it. Yh”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 24, 2000 · Electrical system
Compare Saturn EV1 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Saturn EV1 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 Saturn EV1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1997 Saturn EV1 | 5 | 4 |
| 1999 Saturn EV1 | 4 | 0 |
Checking a specific 1997 Saturn EV1
How do I know if my 1997 Saturn EV1 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 5 campaigns currently list the 1997 Saturn EV1; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Saturn dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 00V069100).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Saturn models
- Ion4,343 complaints
- Vue2,351 complaints
- SL2,218 complaints
- LS1,458 complaints
- Aura1,439 complaints
- Outlook1,352 complaints
- Sky516 complaints
- SC1413 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.