1993 Saturn SW

Routine

Owners filed 27 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic › antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Seat Belts3
000
Vehicle Speed Control2
000
Structure › Frame and Members2
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip2
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission2
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine2
000
Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal1
000
Structure1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Pads1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc1
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator93V132000
Filed Aug 10, 1993352,833 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THE GENERATOR ELECTRICAL WIRING IS NOT PROTECTED AGAINST EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW WHICH MAY BE CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE GENERATOR.

Risk. SHOULD AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT OCCUR IN THEGENERATOR, THE GENERATOR WIRING HARNESS WOULD EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW.UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, ENOUGH HEAT COULD BE GENERATED TO IGNITE SURROUNDINGMATERIALS. IF THIS OCCURS, AN UNDERHOOD FIRE COULD RESULT WITH OR WITHOUT THEENGINE RUNNING AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy. THE GENERATOR WIRING HARNESS WILL BE REPLACED WITH ONE THAT WILL OPEN AS A FUSE WOULD UNDER CERTAIN EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW CONDITIONS.

Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery › Cables93V094000
Filed May 25, 199314,459 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE TERMINAL AT THE STARTER SOLENOID MAY BE FORMED INCORRECTLY. INCORRECTLY FORMED TERMINALS CAN CONTACT THE STARTER SOLENOID HOUSING AND CAUSE AN ELECTRIC SHORT CIRCUIT.

Risk. AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT BETWEEN THE BATTERY CABLE ANDTHE STARTER HOUSING CAN RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy. INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, ADJUST THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE TERMINAL SO THAT IT DOES NOT CONTACT THE STARTER SOLENOID HOUSING.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Aug 23, 2004100,061 milesNH

A KNOWN FAULT IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMITION VALVE ASSEMBLY OF MY 1993 SATURN SW1 IS NOT COVERED BY THE DEALERSHIP, BUT IS ADMITTED BY THE MANUFACTUER AND CAN BE FIXED AT MY EXPENCE WITH NO REEMBURSMENT OFFERED.*AK

Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner
Filed Oct 6, 200355,000 milesCO

DRIVER'S SEAT BACK WON'T "HOLD" POSITION. FALLS BACK UNDER WEIGHT. PROBLEM CONTINUING FOR YEARS. I INFORMED DEALER WHO SIMPLY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO PAY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE SEAT. I NO LONGER DRIVE THIS CAR ANY SIGNIFICANT DISTANCE BECAUSE OF THIS. THIS IS SO DANGEROUS THAT I DO NOT FEEL I CAN, IN GOOD CONSCIENCE, SELL THIS CAR TO SOMEONE ELSE.*JB

Electrical System › Starter Assembly › SolenoidFire
Filed Aug 1, 2003HI

I CURRENTLY OWN A 1993 SATURN SW2. I WAS UNAWARE OF THE RECALLS ON MY CAR. TODAY MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. I WENT ONT HE INTERNET AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE 3 DIFFERENT RECALLS ON MY CAR THAT COULD START A FIRE. I CALLED SATURN AT THE HONOLULU OFFICE. I GAVE THEM MY VIN # AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE ARE NO CURRENT RECALLS ON MY CAR. I TOLD THEM THAT I PULLED UP 3 DIFFERENT RECALLS ON 3 DIFFERENT WEBSITE CLAIMING THAT MY CAR TYPE HAD RECALLS. THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.THIS IS BECAUSE MY CAR WASN'T IN THERE SATURN RECALL SYSTEM TO BE RECALLED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY IS IT THAT OTHER COMPANYS HAVE INFORMATION ON SATURN RECALLS AND SATURN DOESNT HAVE A LISTING ON WHAT IS RECALLED. WHAT CAN I DO. I HAVE NO CAR NOW BECAUSE THEY REFUSE TO FIX WHAT I THINK SHOULD BE FIXED BECAUSE OF ONE OF THE RECALLS THAT WAS LISTED ON THIS WEBSITE. PLEASE HELP ANY ONE THAT KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. MY KIDS AND MYSELF COULDVE DIED TODAY DUE TO THIS OVERSEEN RECALL.*AK

Seat Belts › Front › Webbing
Filed Apr 29, 2002AZ

SHOULDER BELT IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, CAUSING A HARD PLASTIC PIECE TO STICK. ON CONSUMER IN BACK AND TOP OF HEAD. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Nov 28, 2001NY

THE HIGH SPEED AIRBAG DAMAGED THE DRIVER'S FACE, BREAKING TEETH, GLASSES, AND BITE GUARD. *AK

Seat Belts
Filed Jan 4, 2001NC

MOTOR BELTS ARE FAILING TO OPERATE; DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED THAT PART WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL, AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER'S COST. \ FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Dec 19, 2000MN

WHILE DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER BRAKES WILL MALFUNCTION, AND WILL NOT WORK AS DURING DRY/WARMER WEATHER, COULD STEP ON BRAKES AND OPERATE AS SHOULD BE.*AK

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed May 2, 2000NY

BRACKET UNDER THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WAS BROKE AND RUSTED, AND WAS STILL HOLDING BY A PLATE. THE BRACKET HOLDS THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE ELECTRICAL WIRE AWAY FROM OTHER WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO PREVENT CHAFING AND FAILURE OF THE WIRE. THE RIVET HAD BRAOKEN AND THE WIRE INSULATION WAS RUBBED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE OWNER MADE THE REPAIRS HIMSELF. *AK *ML

Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator
Filed Nov 5, 1999MN

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE 30MPH VEHICLE DIED OUT. RECEIVED A JUMP START FROM AAA. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START THAT SATURDAY. THE ALTERNATORS KEPT BLOWING OUT. FIRST ONE BLEW OUT IN 1998 & WAS BRAND NEW. THE OTHER TWO FOLLOWED NOT LONG AFTERWARDS. EACH TIME THEY WOULD BLOW OUT, THEY WOULD BURN OUT BATTERY. WOULD GET NEW ALTERNATOR & BATTERY EACH TIME AFTER TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage
Filed Aug 31, 1999FL

THE SHOULDER HARNESS REPEATEDLY FAILS. LOCAL SATURN KNOWS OF PROBLEM. SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO DEFICIENT DESIGN/LOCATION OF CONTROL MODULE.

Seat Belts
Filed Jun 4, 1999MN

STITCHES ON THE SEAT BELT ARE COMING LOOSE, AND SEAT BELT ISN'T SUPPORTING THE CONSUMER THAT IS USING THE SEAT BELT. *AK

Child Seat
Filed May 24, 1999NJ

EVEN SATURN CANT FIND US A CHILD SAFTY SEAT THAT FITS THIS CAR FOR A 30# CHILD. *AK

Seat Belts
Filed Dec 22, 1998VA

SHOULDER BELT FOR DRIVER SHOULD SLIDE ON TRACK AND IT DOES NOT. DEALER CONTACTED AND STATES THE CABLE THAT SHOULD MOVE THE BELT IS BUSTED. DEALER CAN REPAIR AT $400. EXTENDED WARRANTY RAN OUT. CONSUMER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Nov 20, 1998OH

WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE UP ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON ,AND THE VEHICLE WASN'T STARTING. ALSO, CONSUMER HAD THE WATER PUMP REPLACED AND THE WATER PUMP WENT OUT AGAIN. THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND STILL IS ON. BACK WINDSHIELD AND DOOR LOCKS ARE NOT WORKING, AND THE DEALER REPLACED DIFFERENT PARTS ON THE VEHICLE. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Sep 25, 1998MD

ABS BRAKES FAILED. AFTER STARTING AND PULLING OUT AT A SLOW SPEED, 4 MPH, THE BRAKES WILL GO TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER STATES THAT IT'S A DESIGN FLAW AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 23, 1998OH

VALVE BODY IN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING LAG TIME IN ENGAGEMENT OF GEARS.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Dec 16, 1997OH

TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER LOOSENED, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Oct 29, 1997NJ

WHEN THE OWNER APPLIED THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. *AK

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed Apr 2, 1997MN

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LATCH FAILED.

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed Nov 27, 1996FL

VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED DUE TO A STICKING THROTTLE, WHILE IN PARK IT HAS HIGH IDLE - 2000 RPMS, WHEN GEAR IS CHANGED IT WILL NOT REDUCE THE RPMS. *AK

20 of 27 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1995
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20016200Routine
200015710Routine
199916101Fatalities reported
199827010Routine
199731020Routine
199620010Routine
199536200Routine
199430110Routine
1993 — this page27210Routine
19921110Routine
19910100Routine

Compare every SW year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Aug 10, 1993. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.