Saturn SW Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 208 consumer complaints across the 9 model years of the Saturn SW (1993–2001) that have at least 5 complaints. 1995 has the most, with 36. Across all years, the part named most often is brakes (38 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All SW model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 6 | 48,000 | 2 | 47 | — | Not enough data |
| 2000 | 15 | 122,916 | 7 | 41 | — | Stable |
| 1999 | 16 | 36,000 | 1 | 9 | — | Stable |
| 1998 | 27 | 117,500 | 0 | 4 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 31 | 91,050 | 0 | 4 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 20 | 94,000 | 0 | 2 | — | Stable |
| 1995 | 36 | 97,000 | 2 | 2 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 30 | 115,091 | 1 | 2 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 27 | 77,530 | 2 | 2 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Brakes38 21%
- Engine cooling32 18%
- Electrical system22 12%
- Transmission and drivetrain21 12%
- Seats21 12%
- Seat belts17 9.3%
- Vehicle speed control16 8.8%
- Air bags15 8.2%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
1994: “Oil in cooling system,cylinder head cracked. I had just slowed down for a stop sign in a 35 MPH zone. Other web sights claim this to be an on going problem. I was fortunate that it didn't happen on the high way. I was not informed when I registered as the new owner that there were any recalls or bullentins, car was sold to me with no defects .”
NHTSA complaint #10038889, filed 2003-09, 94,501 miles1997: “This 1997 Saturn sw2 has GM's ignition problem. The air bags were blown once this fried the wires below the stearing and now they say this is not. At the time the vehicle was in motion, street, I just pushed it off the road for the 3rd time in 2 weeks and now I may loose everything I have in my life. I can not even get the fix for the recalls unless I pay close to $200. For instructions to do it myself. I find this unfair being they should have done this once they knew and not waited for attorneys to say how many , complaints = lawsuit. I guess I will have to join in if nothing else happens.”
NHTSA complaint #11010919, filed 2017-07, 139,000 miles1993: “A known fault in the automatic transmition valve assembly of my 1993 Saturn sw1 is not covered by the dealership, but is admitted by the manufactuer and can be fixed at my expence with no reembursment offered.”
NHTSA complaint #10088394, filed 2004-08, 100,061 milesOther Saturn models
4,340 complaintsSaturn Vue
2,351 complaintsSaturn SL
2,218 complaintsSaturn LS
1,457 complaintsSaturn Aura
1,434 complaintsSaturn Outlook
1,352 complaintsSaturn Sky
516 complaintsSaturn SC1
413 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology