NHTSA vehicle safety data

1996 Saturn SW Recalls & Complaints

The 1996 Saturn SW has no NHTSA recall campaigns and 20 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Saturn dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1996 Saturn SW. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

1996 Saturn SW owner complaints

Owners have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Saturn SW, describing incidents dated June 13, 1996 to January 15, 2009.

Most-cited components

Engine 6 complaints
Electrical System 4 complaints
Service Brakes 3 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 2 complaints
Power Train 2 complaints
Exterior Lighting 1 complaint

Of the 20 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash and 1 a fire (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10255221 · Filed January 15, 2009
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…
ODI #10189019 · Filed April 24, 2007
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…
ODI #10092220 · Filed September 14, 2004
WHILE DRIVING THE OIL PRESSURE AND BATTERY LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. *MR *SC *JB

Read all 20 complaints

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1996 Saturn SW as of November 3, 2026. New recalls can be issued at any time, so check the specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before buying.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1996 Saturn SW. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

20 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1996 Saturn SW.

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10255221

Incident: January 15, 2009 · Filed: January 15, 2009

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

Seats

ODI #10189019

Incident: February 1, 2007 · Filed: April 24, 2007

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

Engine and Engine Cooling; Electrical System

ODI #10092220

Incident: September 1, 2004 · Filed: September 14, 2004

WHILE DRIVING THE OIL PRESSURE AND BATTERY LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. *MR *SC *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10054109

Incident: January 9, 2004 · Filed: January 15, 2004

THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE OWNER THAT THE ENGINE'S HEAD GASKET HAD FAILED. *NM

Steering; Electrical System

ODI #8022054

Fire

Filed: November 1, 2002

WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH, THE COMPARTMENT BEGAN FILLING WITH GRAY SMOKE. ELECTRICAL WIRING FROM THE STEERING SMOLDERED AND MELTED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. MR

Power Train

ODI #890906

Incident: March 1, 2001 · Filed: June 21, 2001

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

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #874353

Incident: October 29, 2000 · Filed: November 3, 2000

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

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #860670

Incident: April 20, 2000 · Filed: April 20, 2000

GASKET THAT SEALS THE GAS LINE TO GAS PUMP BECAME LOOSE AND CAUSED FUEL TO SPRAY ONTO ENGINE BLOCK, WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. ANOTHER VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER WILL REPLACE THE GASKET AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #820757

Incident: December 28, 1997 · Filed: February 24, 1998

WRONG GAS PLUGS WERE INSTALLED IN VEHICLE DURING MANUFACTURING. PROBLEM CAUSED STALLING AND OTHER PROBLEMS. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #813124

Crash

Incident: June 14, 1996 · Filed: June 16, 1997

SPEED CONTROL: DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY, ATTEMPTING TO EXIT ON A OFF RAMP, TRIED TO TURN THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF, CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT GO OFF, COULD NOT BRAKE. EXITED OFF RAMP AT APPROXIMATELY 65MPH, WENT THROUGH STOP SIGN, ENTERED ANOTHER HIGHWAY, HIT CURB AND MEDIAN, AND VEHICLE STOPPED. *AK *NLM

Other Saturn SW model years

Check your 1996 Saturn SW VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Saturn SW at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Saturn VIN