Saturn SW Problems — All Years, Common Issues & Reliability
Year-by-year breakdown of safety recalls, NHTSA owner complaints, reported deaths, injuries, crashes, and worst problem areas. Updated daily from federal databases.
Own a Saturn SW? Check your specific VIN for a full history report.
Saturn SW — Year-by-Year Problem Comparison
| Year | Verdict | Recalls | Complaints | Crashes | Injuries | Deaths | Top Issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Caution | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2000 | Avoid | 4 | 10 | 3 | 3 | — | Engine And Engine Cooling | Full report → |
| 1999 | Caution | 1 | 7 | 2 | 4 | — | Air Bags | Full report → |
| 1998 | Caution | — | 14 | 2 | 1 | — | Engine And Engine Cooling | Full report → |
| 1997 | Caution | — | 14 | — | 1 | — | Service Brakes / Hydraulic | Full report → |
| 1996 | Caution | — | 20 | — | — | — | Engine And Engine Cooling | Full report → |
| 1995Worst | Avoid | 2 | 21 | 6 | 5 | — | Seats | Full report → |
| 1994 | Avoid | 1 | 15 | 7 | 9 | — | Seats | Full report → |
| 1993 | Caution | 2 | 16 | — | — | — | Child Seat | Full report → |
| 1992Best | Good | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
10 model years shown. Crashes, injuries, and deaths from NHTSA complaint filings. Click any year for full details.
Most Common Saturn SW Problems
Based on 124 owner complaints filed with NHTSA across all model years.
SW Years to Avoid
Best SW Years to Buy
Saturn SW Problems by Year
Frequently Asked Questions — Saturn SW Reliability
What year SW has the most problems?
Based on NHTSA data, the 1995 Saturn SW had the highest combined complaint and recall count — 21 complaints and 2 safety recalls. See the full 1995 report for specific defects.
Is the Saturn SW reliable?
The Saturn SW has accumulated 124 owner-filed complaints and 13 safety recalls across all model years in NHTSA's database. The 1992 model year shows the fewest reported issues. Always run a VIN check before purchasing any used SW.
What are the most common SW problems?
The most frequently cited problem areas are: Service Brakes / Hydraulic (25 reports), Engine And Engine Cooling (19 reports), Seats (14 reports), Power Train (11 reports). Based on NHTSA complaints across all model years.
How do I check if my SW has an open recall?
Use the vehicle's 17-character VIN at VinCheckEngine.com. Our free VIN report pulls the latest NHTSA recall data along with auction history, odometer records, and 30+ intelligence signals.
Check a Specific Saturn SW VIN
Model-level data shows what can go wrong. A VIN-specific report shows what has gone wrong with a particular vehicle — including auction history, odometer discrepancies, open recalls, accident records, and 30+ intelligence signals.
Run a Free Saturn SW VIN Report →No account required · Instant results · Updated daily