Sign inCreate free garage
Problems · NHTSA complaints

1996 Saturn SW problems

Owners filed 20 complaints about the 1996 Saturn SW with NHTSA between Sep 1996 and Jan 2009. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (6).

Full 1996 SW research
Complaints
20
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling6
  2. Electrical system4
  3. Service brakes, hydraulic3
  4. Power train2
  5. Fuel system, gasoline2
  6. Seats1
  7. Steering1
  8. Visibility1
  9. Vehicle speed control1
  10. Exterior lighting1
  11. Wheels1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19962
19975
19982
19990
20002
20014
20021
20030
20042
20050
20060
20071
20080
20091

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine and engine cooling

6 reports
“THE SATURNSW2 GASKET COVER WARPED YEAR AFTER YEAR;THEY REDESIGNED IT;IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL; MANY THOUSANDS OF THESE COVERS HAVE PUT PEOPLE IN DANGER OF A FIRE WITH THE OIL LEAKS;THE EXPENSE OF CHANGING OUT THE ENGINE IS HORRIFIC, FOR A CHEAP PIECE OF PLASTIC THEY NO LONGER MAKE FROM PLASTIC; IT IS NOW ALUMINUM OR SOME FORM OF METAL. SMALL LEAKS ARE ONE THING;THESE MAJOR LEAKS ARE ANOTHER. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 15, 2009Engine and engine coolingODI 10255221
Get this fixed

Electrical system

4 reports1 fire
“WHILE DRIVING THE OIL PRESSURE AND BATTERY LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. *MR *SC *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 14, 2004Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 10092220
Get this fixed

Service brakes, hydraulic

3 reports
“DRIVING ON BACK ROAD, BRAKE PEDAL REPEATEDLY WENT STRAIGHT TO FLOOR WITHOUT RESISTANCE. HAD TO USE ENGINE BRAKING AND HAND BRAKE TO SLOW OR STOP CAR. GAS STATION ATTENDANT REPORTED FULL BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR. NORMAL BRAKING RESUMED SPONTANEOUSLY ON WAY HOME. DEALER UNABLE TO REPLICATE PROBLEM AND CLAIMS INABILITY TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 23, 2001Service brakes, hydraulicODI 754821
Get this fixed

Power train

2 reports
“CONSUMER NOTICED VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ON DRIVEWAY, JUST SMALL PUDDLES. DEALER REPLACED HOUSING UNIT BECAUSE OF CRACKS TO TRANSMISSION.*AK CONSUMER FEELS THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED CONSIDERING THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 21, 2001Power trainODI 890906
Get this fixed

Fuel system, gasoline

2 reports
“WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH GAS LINE UNDER REAR SEAT BLEW UP, TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED CABLES AND GAS LINE. *AK THE FUEL FILLER DOOR WILL NOT STAY SHUT, BECAUSE THE DOOR RELEASE CABLE HAD BEEN BENT BY FOREING OBJECT. *YH”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 3, 2000Fuel system, gasolineODI 874353
Get this fixed

Seats

1 report
“REGARDING A WIRE THAT BROKE OFF ON THE SEAT OF HIS 1996 SATURN SW2 WAGON AND IS STICKING UP VERTICALLY -WIRE WENT THROUGH HIS PANTS AND SKIN**CC CONSUMER STATED CONTACTED SATURN ESTABLISHMENT AND WAS INFORMED BY SATURN FACTORY TO TAKE CAR TO DEALER. DEALER INFORMED CUSTOMER ENTERING THE CAR INCORRECTLY. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 24, 2007SeatsODI 10189019
Get this fixed
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.