Power train: automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
65,000
Reported to NHTSA
2000-10-12
Owners notified
2000-10-06
Defect description
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH AN IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE PARK LOCK CABLE ASSEMBLY. IF IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED, IT IS POSSIBLE TO SHIFT FROM THE "PARK" POSITION WITH THE IGNITION KEY REMOVED.
Safety risk
THIS CONDITION INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH RESULTING FROM THE UNINTENDED MOVEMENT OF PARKED VEHICLES.
Manufacturer remedy
SATURN IS ASKING OWNERS AND RETAILERS TO PERFORM A FUNCTIONAL CHECK OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE PARK LOCK CABLE ASSEMBLY OPERATION, AND IF NECESSARY, TO HAVE THE CABLE ADJUSTED. IF OWNERS ARE NOT COMFORTABLE PERFORMING THE FUNCTIONAL CHECK THEMSELVES, THEY CAN HAVE THEIR DEALER PERFORM THIS INSPECTION FOR THEM.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY." THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH AN INADEQUATE VENT VALVE WELD ON THE TOP PORTION OF THE FUEL TANK.
Safety risk
FUEL SPILLAGE COULD OCCUR DURING REFUELING OR IF THE VEHICLE WERE INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER. IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO ENSURE THE FUEL TANK VENT VALVE IS PROPERLY WELDED. IF NECESSARY, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A CONSOLE ARMREST FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACTS." THE ARMRESTS WERE PRODUCED WITH A LATCH THAT WILL NOT WITHSTAND THE VERTICAL FORCE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Safety risk
IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE LATCH MAY OPEN AND THE ARMREST OR THE CONTENTS OF THE CONSOLE COULD INJURE AN OCCUPANT.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES." SOME OF THE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH SEAT BELT SHOULDER GUIDE ANCHOR BOLTS THAT WERE NOT ADEQUATELY TIGHTENED AT THE CENTER PILLAR AND COULD FALL OUT, MAKING THE SEAT BELT INOPERATIVE.
Safety risk
IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES FOR PROPER INSTALLATION AND TORQUE OF THE SEAT BELT SHOULDER GUIDE ANCHOR BOLTS.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 135, "PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH BRAKE PIPE ATTACHMENT NUTS THAT MAY NOT BE TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATIONS.
Safety risk
IF THE BRAKE PIPE NUTS ARE NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED, BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE BRAKE'S STOPPING DISTANCE.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE PIPE NUTS FOR LEAKAGE, VERIFY THEY ARE TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATIONS, AND REPLACE THE BRAKE PIPES IF NEEDED.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH WELDS IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CARRIER ASSEMBLY THAT DO NOT MEET SATURN QUALITY STANDARDS.
Safety risk
A FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT, PARTICULARLY AN UNBELTED OCCUPANT, MAY HAVE AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY IN A FRONTAL CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLE'S INSTRUMENT PANEL CARRIER ASSEMBLY.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 581, "BUMPER STANDARD." THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH REAR BUMPER FASTENERS THAT MAY BE LOOSE OR MISSING.
Safety risk
IF THE FASTENERS ARE LOOSE OR MISSING, THE REAR BUMPER MAY NOT ABSORB ENERGY AS IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO IN THE EVENT OF A REAR END COLLISION.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL VERIFY THAT THE REAR BUMPER BEAM FASTENERS ARE PRESENT AND PROPERLY TIGHTENED AND, IF MISSING, INSTALL NEW FASTENERS.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Component
Complaints
Median mileage
Electrical system
2
142,000 mi
Power train
1
—
Seat belts
1
—
Seats
1
—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components
1
—
Tires: sidewall
1
—
Tires: tread/belt
1
—
The 1999 model has about a third as many complaints as this one. The 2001 model has about a quarter as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.
Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.