S
Salvage title
An automobile title with a notation that the vehicle has been damaged in excess of approximately 70% of its pre-accident market value. The exact percentage depends on the insurance provider and any applicable laws and regulations. This notation gets applied to a title when an insurance company pays a total-loss claim on a vehicle, but then sells the vehicle at an auction center.
Satellite communication
A proprietary system used to send and receive vehicle data, crash information, concierge services and navigation to and from a vehicle through communications satellites.
Satellite radio
A radio receiver that receives radio signals broadcast from communications satellites rather than a conventional terrestrial tower.
Scheduled maintenance warranty
A warranty that covers service procedures recommended by the manufacturer at predetermined intervals to preserve and/or prolong the life of a vehicle.
Seat adjustment type
The type of adjustment control for the seats: manual, power or power-with-memory.
Seat belts
Harnesses designed to secure vehicle occupants during a collision.
Seat extension
An attached support, consisting of a metal frame with upholstered foam, that lengthens a vehicle's seat bottom.
Seat features
Devices integrated into a vehicle's seats that control seat temperature, seat adjustability, driver comfort and other settings.
Seatback storage
A storage pocket that is either attached to the backside of the seat or integrated into the seat itself.
 
 
Seating capacity
The number of people that can be safely seated and restrained in a vehicle, including the driver.
Secondary air supply system
A type of emissions-reducing system that promotes the combustion of unburnt hydrocarbons in the exhaust stream by introducing oxygen (fresh air) pulled in by a vacuum created by exhaust pulsations (and which essentially performs the same function as an air injection system without relying on an air pump or diverter valve).
Security deposit
A payment required at the inception of a vehicle lease to provide collateral to the leasing company for the lessee's promise to comply with the terms of the lease.
Self leveling suspension (SLS) filter
Sometimes referred to a an "SLS filter." A device used to remove contaminants from hydraulic fluid in a self-leveling suspension system.
Separate rear audio
The capability of a vehicle's sound system to deliver a different audio source to the rear seat passengers than the audio source being delivered to the front seat passengers.
Sequential manual gearbox
Also referred to as "SMG," "direct shift gearbox," "DSG" and "automated manual transmission." See "Automated Manual Transmission."
Series hybrid
An electric vehicle with a gasoline combustion engine that is only used to recharge the vehicle’s batteries. The gasoline engine does not drive the wheels directly. An example is the Chevrolet Volt.
Serpentine belt
A ribbed drive belt that drives more than one engine accessory.
Service reminder light
A light that indicates that general vehicle maintenance is needed or that a specific service is required.
Shields and under-hood insulation
Heat-proof panels and padding that protect under-hood components from excessive heat.
 
 
Shift control mechanism
The location of the shift control mechanism, which includes levers, paddles or buttons.
Shift linkage
Any collection of mechanical connections between a vehicle's operating control(s) and its transmission.
Shift protocol
The means by which a driver changes gears, including buttons, paddles or a lever.
Shiftable automatic transmission
An automatic torque converter transmission equipped with a feature that permits the driver to actively select either fully automatic or driver-controlled shift modes by using a dual-gate shifter and/or remote shifter controls.
Shoulder room
The distance from the driver's upper door panel to the front passenger's upper door panel.
Side curtain rollover sensor
A sensor that determines in the event of a collision whether or not it is necessary to deploy a vehicle's side curtain airbags.
Side impact beam
A structural support designed to protect a vehicle's occupants from side impacts.
Side pockets
A storage pocket that is either attached to the door panel of a vehicle or integrated into the vehicle door.
 
 
Single-limit insurance
An autmotive insurance policy with a single combined dollar limit of coverage for property damage, liability coverage and bodily inury coverage. Compare "split-limit insurance."
Skid plate
A shield typically attached to the bottom of a vehicle's front bumper that is designed to guard the undercarriage in the case of insufficient ground clearance.
Sliding rear window
A small window inside a truck's rear windshield that opens and closes by sliding on a system of metal or plastic rails attached to the windshield.
SmartWay
A designation issued by the EPA for new vehicles with a score of six or higher in both air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions and a combined total of more than 13.
SmartWay elite
A designation issued by the EPA given to new vehicles with a score of nine or higher in both air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
SMG
Sequential manual gearbox. Also referred to as "DSG," "direct shift gearbox" and "automated manual transmission." See "Automated Manual Transmission."
Smog-forming pollution
Pollutants in the hydrocarbon or NOx families that produce photochemical smog when combined in the presence of sunlight.
Smoked glass
A vehicle window that has been infused with pigment during manufacturing in order to provide enough opacity to obscure the vehicle's interior from view.
Snowplow prep
The hardware needed to attach a factory-optional, removable snowplow to a vehicle's front bumper and/or frame.
Solar power
Energy derived directly from the sun through photovoltaic cells or other devices that convert light energy into electricity or heat.
 
 
Solar sunroof
A sunroof with a photovoltaic panel infused into its glass that is used to power interior ventilation fans in order to lower cabin temperature when a vehicle is parked in the sun.
Spare
A fifth wheel and tire that is stored on or in a vehicle for use when one of the four tires in use becomes disabled.
Spark plug wires
Cables that carry a high-voltage electrical charge from the distributor cap or ignition coils to the spark plugs.
Speaker configuration
The number and arrangement of speakers as well as the number of independent speaker channels (including center and subwoofer channels) that are supported by a vehicle's sound system.
Special lease
Also referred to as a "subsidized lease" or "subvented lease." A form of "incentive and rebate" that consists of a vehicle lease offered by a vehicle manufacturer in which the amount of the monthly payment is reduced below that then offered by independent leasing companies (the cost of which is absorbed by the manufacturer). Typically this is accomplished by using a higher residual value or a lower interest rate, or both.
Speed-sensitive volume control
A feature in some vehicle sound systems that lowers the speaker volume in proportion to vehicle speed.
Spiff
A cash incentive, contest entry or prize given by a dealership to salespersons as motivation to sell vehicles.
Split-limit insurance
A policy with separately stated dollar limits for different types of coverage. Bodily injury liability coverage is also usually split into a maximum payment per person and a maximum payment per accident. (For example, an automobile liability policy of 50/100/25 provides a maximum of $50,000 bodily injury coverage per person, $100,000 bodily injury coverage per accident, and a property damage limit of $25,000 per accident.) Compare "single-limit insurance."
Spoiler
An attachment to a vehicle (or component of its body) originally introduced for the purpose of directing airflow over such device (or the entire vehicle) to decrease lift and increase stability at high speeds, but that is sometimes used on consumer vehicles solely for aesthetic reasons.
 
 
Stability control
Also known as "electronic stability control," or "ESC." A safety feature that improves the safety of a vehicle's handling by detecting skids and compensating by adjusting braking pressure to help maintain the intended direction of the vehicle. Some stability control systems also reduce engine power until control is regained.
Start-stop system
A system typically found in hybrid vehicles that automatically stops and restarts the internal combustion engine to reduce the amount of time the engine spends idling and improve fuel economy.
Starter safety switch
An electrical switch that prevents the starter from being engaged unless certain conditions are met, such as shifter placement or brake pedal depression.
Steering column lock
A mechanism that prevents steering wheel movement unless the ignition switch is moved from the locked position.
Steering damper
A shock absorber attached to the steering linkage intended to prevent abrupt "kickback" at the steering wheel, usually found on trucks or vehicles that can be used off-road.
Steering gearbox
A steering mechanism that converts the rotational motion of a steering wheel to the side-to-side motion of a lever that is connected to the steering linkage.
Steering intermediate shaft
A component in the steering system that connects the steering shaft to the steering mechanism.
Steering knuckle
The pivoting component to which the front wheel hubs are attached.
Steering linkage
The arrangement of rods and lubricated joints connecting the steering gearbox to the wheel spindles.
Steering rack
The steering component that converts the rotational motion of the steering wheel to the horizontal motion necessary to operate the steering linkage.
 
 
Steering wheel adjustment
The mechanism that controls the position of a vehicle's steering column to suit the needs of the driver.
Steering wheel controls
Electronic controls for a vehicle's entertainment, cruise control, telematics and/or climate control systems that are mounted on the steering wheel for the driver’s convenience.
Sticker price
See "MSRP."
Storage media
The physical media that a vehicle sound system is capable of playing and/or recording to, such as CD, DVD, hard drive, USB or flash drive.
Stroke
The distance, in inches, between the centerline of an engine's crankshaft and the centerline of its connecting rod journal.
Subprime
A loan made to a borrower with a low credit rating and that typically bears interest at a higher rate to compensate the lender for the greater risk.
Subsidized or subvented lease
See "special lease."
SULEV
Super-ultra low emission vehicle. A vehicle that meets an emissions standard that is stricter than the ULEV standard.
 
 
Sunroof
A fixed or operable opening in the roof of a vehicle that is covered with a metal or glass plug.
Sunshade
A removable or retractable device that limits or prevents light from passing through a vehicle's window.
Supercharger
A device powered by a belt, gear, shaft or chain connected to the engine's crankshaft that forces air into an internal-combustion engine in order to increase engine power.
Supercharger drive belt
A "toothed" belt used to drive a pulley that turns the impeller of a centrifugal-style supercharger.
Supercharger fluid
A liquid used to lubricate the internal components (for example, the impeller and the bearings) of a supercharger.
Suspension fluid
A fluid used in suspension systems that are hydraulically adjustable.
Suspension geometry
The relationship between the placement of the mounting points for each of a vehicle's suspension components.