"How reliable is the 1996 Saturn Sw?"

"Based on 31 NHTSA complaints, the 1996 Saturn Sw has a median complaint mileage of 0 miles. The most common issue is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE."

"What are common problems with the 1996 Saturn Sw?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 1996 Saturn Sw is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, accounting for a significant portion of the 31 total complaints filed."

1996 Saturn Sw: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 31 complaints

Total Complaints

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Top Issue

Crash Reports

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

SUSPENSION:FRONT

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"ABS: WHEN APPLYING BRAKES DURING PANIC STOPPING, WHEELS LOCK UP, VEHICLE SKIDS, FISHTAILS, REAREND OF VEHICLE SPUNS OUT, CAUSING MODERATE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, NO WARNING, THREE OCCURRENCES, SPEED 30 TO 35 MPH. *AK"

"HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS LOCATED ON THE TIP OF THE TURN SIGNAL; OCASSIONALLY WHEN PUSHING TURN SIGNAL TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, INADVERTANTLY HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF. *AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

IN: 5 NJ: 3 MA: 3 NY: 3 WA: 2 ME: 2 FL: 2 VA: 2 DE: 2 CA: 1

Who Files Complaints?

48.4%

Original Owners

51.6%

Second+ Owners

Saturn Sw — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

Year	Complaints	Median Mileage	Top Issue	Crashes
1993	35	-	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP	1
1994	41	-	VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	13
1995	52	99,000	SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER	9
1997	35	115,500	POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION	1
1998	31	-	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE	4
1999	23	-	EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER	6

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28