RoadVitals

1997 Saturn Sw Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
31
Latest Aug 14, 2018
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
11
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1997 Saturn Sw, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Brakes618.2%
  • Transmission515.2%
  • Fuel system39.1%
  • Seat belts39.1%
  • Airbags26.1%
  • Tires & wheels26.1%
  • Engine13.0%
  • Visibility13.0%
  • Driver assistance13.0%
  • Interior & seats13.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

8
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Jul 27, 2017

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 · filed Jun 17, 2015
All 8 reports naming electrical

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

6
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 SATURN SW. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS APPLIED, BUT ALSO FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BUT THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES AND BUMPS. THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER WAS INJURED AND RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A TOW LOT. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. ... *BF *TR

NHTSA ID 11119896 · filed Aug 14, 2018

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 30MPH ON HIGHWAY AND WAS APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT WHEN SHE APPLIED BRAKES, AND BRAKE PEDAL WAS GUSHY AND WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE WOULDN'T STOP.*AK

NHTSA ID 871302 · filed Sep 22, 2000

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

5
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, A LOUD NOISE CAME FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. UPON INSPECTION, THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION BLOWN FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, HOWEVER NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.

NHTSA ID 10149963 · filed Feb 10, 2006

A BOLT IN TRANSMISSION BROKE OFF AND BROKE THROUGH THE CASING, CAUSING TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK.. VEHICLE COULD CATCH FIRE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID 8018271 · filed Sep 10, 2002

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

CONSUMER RECEIVED A NOTICE REGARDING A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP, HOWEVER WHEN CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP UNTIL IT FAILED, BUT WAS TOLD TO KEEP THE LETTER UNTIL THE FUEL PUMP FAILED, ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS CONSUMERS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HARD STARTING, AND AFTER THE 3RD OCCURRENCE, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS INDEED DEFECTIVE, HOWEVER THE LETTER CONSUMER RECEIVED PREVIOUSLY WAS NO LONGER VALID WHICH WAS GOOD FOR 6 YEARS OR 70,000 MILES, AND CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS 6 YEARS OLD WITH 90,000 AND THEREFORE CONSUMER WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CHARGE, CONSUMER IS NOW SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL REPAIRS.*JB

NHTSA ID 567143 · filed Aug 19, 2002

FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED, SATURN HAD SENT CONSUMER A LETTER STATING THAT THE FUEL PUMP MAY FAIL PREMATURELY AND CAUSE EXTENDED CRANK TIME, LOSS OF POWER, AND POSSIBLE NO START CONDITIONS, SATURN GAVE A RREPLACEMENT COVERAGE OF 6 YEARS/75000 MILES, HOWEVER 5 MONTHS AFTER FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT, THE FUEL REGULATOR WENT BAD, DEALER ALSO REPLACED NEW PLUGS AND SPARK PLUG WIRES, CONSUMER FEELS THE FUEL PUMP OVER PRESSURIZED THE FUEL REGULATOR CAUSING A PRE-EXISTING CONDITION IN THE FUEL REGULATOR TO FAIL. *SLC

NHTSA ID 560938 · filed Apr 26, 2001

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

THE PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE LAP BELT AREA THEREBY NOT ALLOWING ME TO FASTEN MY BELT. IT IS AGAINST THE LAW TO DRIVE UNBELTED BUT I COULD NOT BELT UP. WORKED FINE THE DAY BEFORE. DEALER SAID BELT MUST BE REPLACED BUT I MUST PAY VEHICLE IS PAST THE 3YR 36000 MILE WARRANTY. I MADE A MISTAKE AS I THOUGHT THAT SAFETY AND EMISSIONS WERE COVERED LONGER.

NHTSA ID 729381 · filed Aug 28, 2000

SEATBELT WILL NOT UNREEL FROM OPEN POSITION ,AND WILL NOT RELEASE, CAUSING LOSS OF PROTECTION. *AK

NHTSA ID 851735 · filed Oct 26, 1999

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Jul 27, 2017

FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING AND FOR NO APPARENT REASON.

NHTSA ID 522623 · filed Aug 13, 1997

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 SATURN SW2. THE VEHICLE HAS FIRESTONE FIREHAWK ATX TIRES. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRAG. SHE REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN BUMPING AND JUMPING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE STATION. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TREAD SEPARATED NEAR THE SIDEWALL FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. APPROXIMATELY HALF OF THE TIRE WAS RIPPED. AAA ARRIVED AND CHANGED THE TIRE. FIRESTONE ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE TIRE TO A LOCAL STORE. A FIRESTONE AGENT INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE TOO OLD. THE AGENT THEN OFFERED TO REPLACE ONLY THE FAILED TIRE INSTEAD OF ALL FOUR TIRES. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE TIRES SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01T006000. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,647 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

NHTSA ID 10204703 · filed Oct 2, 2007

TIRE WAS READY TO THROW TREAD (FIRESTONE AFFINITY TOURING TI - P185-65R15). NLM

NHTSA ID 558412 · filed Dec 28, 2000

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Mar 4, 2008

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WINDSHIELD WASHER JETS FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ID 606295 · filed Feb 1, 1999

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THROTTLE HANGS AND "RATCHETS" UPWARD WITH SPEED (CRUISE) CONTROL ENGAGED. TURNING SPEED CONTROL SWITCH TO "OFF" DOES NOT CORRECT THE CONDITION, NEITHER DOES APPLYING THE BRAKES. MANUALLY DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN AN ATTEMPT TO UN-STICK THE THROTTLE CAUSED FURTHER UPWARD "RATCHETING" OF THE THROTTLE AND FURTHER INCREASE IN VEHICLE SPEED. VEHICLE REMAINS IN A STATE OF "RUNAWAY" UNTIL THE IGNITION IS SWITCHED OFF. SWITCHING THE IGNITION "OFF" USUALLY CORRECTS THE CONDITION. PROBLEM OCCURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS: DECEMBER, 1999; AND MAY 13, 2000. REPORTED TO DEALER IN DECEMBER, 1999 (SO# 85066). DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH SPEED CONTROL. FIRST INCIDENT RESULTED IN VEHICLE RUNNING A "STOP" SIGN AT END OF EXIT RAMP AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH , BUT NO CRASH. SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. SECOND INCIDENT WAS CORRECTED BY TURNING OFF IGNITION AND COASTING TO A STOP ON THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. INCIDENTS OCCURRED WITH DIFFERENT DRIVERS OPERATING THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID 722657 · filed May 14, 2000

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE DRIVING DOME LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND FLICKER. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL UNABLE TO BE RESOLVED. *AK

NHTSA ID 826305 · filed Aug 5, 1998

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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 .