RoadVitals

1997 Saturn Sw Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Jul 27, 2017
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
26%
of 31 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Saturn Sw submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

AirbagsElectrical
Filed Jul 27, 2017

THIS 1997 SATURN SW2 HAS GM'S IGNITION PROBLEM. THE AIR BAGS WERE BLOWN ONCE THIS FRIED THE WIRES BELOW THE STEARING AND NOW THEY SAY THIS IS NOT. AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, STREET, I JUST PUSHED IT OFF THE ROAD FOR THE 3RD TIME IN 2 WEEKS AND NOW I MAY LOOSE EVERYTHING I HAVE IN MY LIFE. I CAN NOT EVEN GET THE "FIX" FOR THE RECALLS UNLESS I PAY CLOSE TO $200. FOR INSTRUCTIONS TO DO IT MYSELF. I FIND THIS UNFAIR BEING THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS ONCE THEY KNEW AND NOT WAITED FOR ATTORNEYS TO SAY "HOW MANY", COMPLAINTS = LAWSUIT. I GUESS I WILL HAVE TO JOIN IN IF NOTHING ELSE HAPPENS.

NHTSA ID
11010919
Incident
Jul 26, 2017
Mileage
139,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 17, 2015
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 SATURN SW. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE IGNITION AFTER THE KEY WAS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY REMOVED THE KEY AND TOWED THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID
10725806
Incident
Apr 21, 2010
Mileage
150,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Mar 4, 2008

THE ENGINE TURNS OFF DURING DRIVING OR COMING TO A STOP IF I LEAVE THE VEHICLE OVERNIGHT OR 4HRS LATER IT WILL START AND RUN FOR ABOUT A HOUR THEN IT TURNS OFF, HAD A DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER CHECK AND THEY SAID THEY CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. REPLACED THE IGNITION COILS, SPARK PLUGS, SPARK PLUG CABLES, GAS FILTER, CLEAN THROTTLE VALVE HOUSING. SPEED ODOMETER MAKES A RUBBING NOISE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10220011
Incident
Mar 20, 2006
Electrical
Filed Sep 28, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE ENGINE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE SERVICE DEALER STATES THE IGNITION COIL PACK HAD MALFUNCTIONED. *NM THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. *SC

NHTSA ID
10075666
Incident
Apr 13, 2004
Mileage
55,445 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 22, 2003

CONSUMER STATED DOOR BELL WAS ACTING AS IF THE LIGHTS WERE ON, AND THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER/MECHANIC, HE KEPT PRESSING ON THE BUTTON, AND GOT IT TO SHUT OFF. THEN HE REINSERTED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE. AFTER MECHANIC EXAMINED THE VEHICLE FOR THE SMOKING, IT WAS FOUND TO BE A BURNING HARNESS WIRE. IT WOULD COST FROM $800.00 TO $1000.00 DOLLARS TO REPAIR IT. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AND THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. SHE DID NOT THINK THIS WAS FAIR BECAUSE THE MECHANIC CAUSED THIS PROBLEM, IT HAPPENED WHEN HE WAS FIXING SOMETHING ELSE. SHE WANTED TO KNOW -WHY SHE HAD TO PAY WHEN IT WAS JUST A PART OF THE REPAIR FOR THE DOOR BELL/IGNITION FALSE ALARM? *AK

NHTSA ID
10034411
Incident
Aug 22, 2003
Electrical
Filed Apr 8, 2003
Fire reported

I CALLED SATURN OF EATONTOWN, NJ REPORTING AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION AND DOOR BELL ALARM-IT RANG CONSTANTLY. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANGER NOT TO WORRY, USE A LITTLE CW SPREAD; 3 DAYS LATER, THE STEERING COLUMN AND IGNITION CAUGHT ON FIRE. SATURN IS REFUSING TO HONOR SAFETY RECALL TSB # 97-C-02, DATED APR 97, TITLED, "RECALL-IGNITION CYLINDER MALFUNCTION." I UNDERSTAND THAT UNDER FEDERAL LAW A MANUFACTURER-INITIATED SAFETY RECALL IS EQUAL TO A NHTSA SAFETY RECALL AND MUST BE REMEDIED AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER. ANTHONY A. SESSA P. S. I AM NOT SURE WHEN MY DECEASED FATHER PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10014127
Incident
Apr 5, 2003
Mileage
59,200 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 18, 2000

UPON STARTING VEHICLE A HUGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE CAME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. DRIVER SHUT OFF THE IGNTION AND REMOVED THE KEY. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AFTERWARDS. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHERE ALL WIRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN WAS FOUND TO BE BURNED. INSURANCE COMPANY NOT SURE WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. ALL THE WIRING WILL BE REPLACED. THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
857235
Incident
Feb 16, 2000
Electrical
Filed Feb 1, 1999

HORN FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ID
606129

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .