The defect
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, SOME FRONT SEAT BACK RECLINER GEAR TEETH MAY WEAR EXCESSIVELY THROUGH REPEATED USE, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE SEAT BACK TO SLIP PARTIALLY REARWARD WHEN FORCE IS APPLIED.
The risk
IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, IT COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SEAT RECLINER MECHANISMS. THIS IS AN EXPANSION OF A PREVIOUS RECALL (99V045). OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 31, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-553-6000, PROMPT 3.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Saturn Z | 1994, 1995 |
Components: SEATS
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 Z | 1994 | 0 | 1 |
| Saturn Z | 1995 | 1 | 1 |
Other seats recalls in 2002
8 of the 434 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2002 concerned the seats; GENERAL MOTORS CORP. filed 1,195 campaigns in all.
| 02V314000 19 Nov 2002 | VOLVO CARS OF NA, INC. |
| 02V253000 17 Sept 2002 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 02V251000 17 Sept 2002 | AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. |
| 02V162000 14 Jun 2002 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 02V155000 13 Jun 2002 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 02V141000 20 May 2002 | MID BUS INCORPORATED |
| 02V134000 16 May 2002 | VERITRANS SPECIALTY VEHICLES |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2002