Hearth Record

Seat belts: front: retractor (Saturn)

Vehicle recall 97V-161. NHTSA received GENERAL MOTORS CORP.’s report on Sep 22, 1997.

NHTSA’s own record, on nhtsa.gov

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The short answer

NHTSA received GENERAL MOTORS CORP.’s report on Sep 22, 1997. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 23, 2026.

Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.

What’s wrong with it?

IN A RAPID DECELERATION OR VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.

IF THE DRIVER OR FRONT PASSENGER SAFETY BELT IS PULLED OUT MUCH FASTER THAN NORMAL, A NUMBER OF TIME, THE LOCK-UP FEATURE OF THE RETRACTOR WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated daily.

  • NHTSA’s part: Seat belts: front: retractor.

What should you do?

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated daily.

  • How to reach the firm: OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DURING SEPTEMBER 1997. 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). ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.
  • Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.

Which ones are recalled?

NHTSA counts 26,135 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated daily.

  • Saturn SC1and 1997, before the model years listed here
  • Saturn SCand 1997, before the model years listed here

Who is recalling it?

  • Made by GENERAL MOTORS CORP..
Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated daily.

What the record doesn’t say

  • NHTSA’s recall file doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.
  • Whether one vehicle or seat has been fixed: only its maker, or NHTSA’s lookup with a VIN, can say.
  • This recall names only model years before 2015, which have no pages here. Your VIN, at NHTSA, says which recalls are open on a vehicle.
  • How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Source:

Hearth Record wrote these lines.

Sources

Source:

Vehicle, car seat, tire and vehicle equipment recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Copied on Oct 23, 2026.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated monthly.

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Who published it, when, and how often it changes sit beside each fact, with a link to the agency’s own file.

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