Saturn SW Years to Avoid — Worst & Best Years to Buy

Q: What year SW should I avoid?

Based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, the 1994 Saturn SW has the most documented problems with a problem score of 33 — driven by 0 recalls, 15 complaints.

Q: What is the best year SW to buy?

The 1992 Saturn SW is the best-scoring year in our analysis with a problem score of only 2, meaning 0 recalls and 2 complaints on record.

Q: Which SW has the fewest problems?

The 1992, 2001, 1999 model years have the fewest reported problems in the NHTSA database. Always verify a specific vehicle's history with a VIN report before purchasing.

Every Saturn SW model year (1992–2001) ranked by recall count, complaint volume, deaths, and injuries. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.

Years Tracked

Total Recalls

124

Total Complaints

Reported Injuries

Reported Deaths

Saturn SW Years to Avoid

#1 WORST

1994

0 recalls · 15 complaints

9 reported injuries

Top issue: SEATS

Problem score: 33

#2 WORST

1995

0 recalls · 21 complaints

5 reported injuries

Top issue: SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

Problem score: 31

#3 WORST

2000

2 recalls · 10 complaints

3 reported injuries

Top issue: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Problem score: 22

Best Saturn SW Years to Buy

#1 BEST

1992

0 recalls · 2 complaints

Main area: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

Problem score: 2

#2 BEST

2001

1 recall · 5 complaints

Main area: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Problem score: 10

#3 BEST

1999

0 recalls · 7 complaints

Main area: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Problem score: 15

Found the right year? Verify that specific SW with a free VIN report.

Saturn SW — Year-by-Year Problem Report

Year	Recalls	Complaints	Injuries	Deaths	Problem Score	Verdict
2001	1	5	1	—	10	Good
2000	2	10	3	—	22	Avoid
1999	0	7	4	—	15	Caution
1998	0	14	1	—	16	Caution
1997	0	14	1	—	16	Caution
1996	0	20	—	—	20	Caution
1995	0	21	5	—	31	Avoid
1994	0	15	9	—	33	Avoid
1993	1	16	—	—	19	Caution
1992	0	2	—	—	2	Excellent

All 10 model years shown. Deaths and injuries from NHTSA complaint filings. Higher problem scores indicate more reported safety issues.

Saturn SW Shopping Guide by Era

Pre-2013

Proceed with Caution

Older SW models have more accumulated wear and a larger recall history. These are higher-risk purchases without documented maintenance records and a clean VIN history report.

Frequently Asked Questions

What year SW should I avoid?+

Avoid the 1994 Saturn SW if possible. It has 0 recalls, 15 owner complaints. The overall problem score is 33 — the highest in our dataset.

What is the best year SW to buy?+

The 1992 Saturn SW is the lowest-risk year in our analysis, with a problem score of 2. It has only 0 recalls and 2 complaints on record with NHTSA.

Which SW has the fewest problems?+

The 1992, 2001, 1999 model years have the fewest documented problems. Even for low-problem years, verifying a specific vehicle's history via its VIN is always recommended before purchase.

More Saturn SW Research

Reliability Score

Overall reliability rating and score breakdown for the Saturn SW.

Common Problems

Full breakdown of every reported defect for the Saturn SW.

Check a Specific Saturn SW VIN

Model-year rankings show statistical risk. A VIN-specific report reveals the individual vehicle's full history — accidents, odometer rollbacks, auction records, and open recall status.

Run a Free VIN Report →