The defect
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.
The risk
THIS CONDITION INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH RESULTING FROM THE UNINTENDED MOVEMENT OF PARKED VEHICLES.
The 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.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Saturn SC | 2000, 2001 |
| Saturn SC1 | 2000, 2001 |
| Saturn SL | 2000, 2001 |
| Saturn SW | 2000, 2001 |
Components: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturn SC | 2000 | 7 | 7 |
| Saturn SC | 2001 | 21 | 2 |
| Saturn SC1 | 2000 | 8 | 2 |
| Saturn SC1 | 2001 | 25 | 2 |
| Saturn SL | 2000 | 148 | 7 |
| Saturn SL | 2001 | 111 | 2 |
| Saturn SW | 2000 | 15 | 7 |
| Saturn SW | 2001 | 6 | 2 |
Other power train recalls in 2000
26 of the 541 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2000 concerned the power train; GENERAL MOTORS CORP. filed 1,195 campaigns in all.
| 00V403000 11 Dec 2000 | AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. |
| 00V395000 28 Nov 2000 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 00V377000 16 Nov 2000 | LAND ROVER NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 00V372000 13 Nov 2000 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 00V344000 30 Oct 2000 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 00V340000 24 Oct 2000 | FERRARI NORTH AMERICA |
| 00V229003 13 Oct 2000 | MONACO COACH CORP. |
| 00V300000 3 Oct 2000 | ASTON MARTIN |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2000