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Saturn SWYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 209 NHTSA owner complaints across 11 model years, no Saturn SW year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 1993, 1995, 1997 and 1998. The SW has 11 safety recalls on record.

Years to avoidNoneUse caution: 1994Best years'93 '95 '97 '98Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints209Top: Service brakes, hydraulicSafety recalls111991–2001 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Saturn SW years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the SW median. Tap a year for its full report.

'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2001Not rated–/1006 complaints · 2 recalls2000Not rated–/10015 complaints · 7 recalls1999Not rated–/10016 complaints · 1 recall1998Solid50/10027 complaints · 0 recalls1997Solid50/10031 complaints · 0 recalls1996Not rated–/10020 complaints · 0 recalls1995Solid42/10036 complaints · 2 recalls1994Caution36/10030 complaints · 1 recall1993Solid55/10027 complaints · 2 recalls1992Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall1991Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Saturn SW problems

All model years combined: 209 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Service brakes, hydraulic364
Engine and engine cooling322
Electrical system236
Power train223
Seats2111
Seat belts172
Vehicle speed control163
Air bags1514
Visibility100
16 other systems515
11 recalls

Saturn SW recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Storage: tank assembly00V-309 · 2000–2001 · Oct 12, 2000 · 6,092 vehicles–Automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch00V-310 · 2000–2001 · Oct 12, 2000 · 65,000 vehicles–Structure: body99V-297 · 2000 · Oct 27, 1999 · 7,505 vehicles–Front: anchorage99V-280 · 1999–2000 · Oct 20, 1999 · 265,698 vehicles–Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components99V-231 · 2000 · Aug 24, 1999 · 5,373 vehicles–Unknown or other99V-230 · 2000 · Aug 23, 1999 · 2,692 vehicles–Body: bumpers99V-232 · 2000 · Aug 23, 1999 · 1,592 vehicles–Seats99V-045 · 1994–1995 · Mar 12, 1999 · 138,691 vehicles–Clutch assembly: pedal/hand lever(motorcycle)94V-217 · 1995 · Nov 8, 1994 · 20,518 vehicles–Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator93V-132 · 1991–1993 · Aug 10, 1993 · 352,833 vehicles–12v/24v/48v battery: cables93V-094 · 1993 · May 25, 1993 · 14,459 vehicles
5 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the SW

  1. FRONT SEAT BACK CAN RECLINE OR COLLAPSERQ00005 · 1994–1995 · closed Aug 19, 2000
    Led to recall 99V-045
  2. SEAT BACK FAILURESEA98017 · 1994 · closed Mar 16, 1999
    Led to recall 99V-045
  3. CRUISE CONTROL FAILURESEA95003 · 1993–1995 · closed May 31, 1996
    No recall
  4. CRUISE CONTROL FAILUREPE94079 · 1993–1995 · closed Feb 24, 1995
    No recall
  5. SEATBACK FAILUREPE93004 · 1992 · closed Jun 8, 1993
    No recall