Reliability & cost of ownership
Saturn EV1 Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Saturn EV1? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars where on file — then open the year you're shopping for its AI reliability outlook where NHTSA has enough data.
Saturn EV1 problems by model year
9 recall entries across 2 model years and 5 owner complaints across 3 model years on file, sourced from the federal NHTSA database. We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the remaining model year — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 EV1 | 4 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 1997 EV1 | 5 | 4 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 1995 EV1 | Not confirmed | 1 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Saturn EV1, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- electrical system4 complaints
- power train1 complaint