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1996 Saturn Sw

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Saturn Sw do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 20.

About this comparison →
20Owner complaints

Model-year median: 20

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
27
199330
199436
199520
199631
199727
199816
1999
Compare all Sw years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
6Electrical System
5Service Brakes, Hydraulic
4Fuel System, Gasoline
2Power Train
2
All reported categories
Exterior Lighting
1Seats
1Steering
1Suspension
1Vehicle Speed Control
1Visibility
1Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 2 of 20 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

DRIVING ON BACK ROAD, BRAKE PEDAL REPEATEDLY WENT STRAIGHT TO FLOOR WITHOUT RESISTANCE. HAD TO USE ENGINE BRAKING AND HAND BRAKE TO SLOW OR STOP CAR. GAS STATION ATTENDANT REPORTED FULL BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR. NORMAL BRAKING RESUMED SPONTANEOUSLY ON WAY HOME. DEALER UNABLE TO REPLICATE PROBLEM AND CLAIMS INABILITY TO DIAGNOSE OR …

Read full complaint

DRIVING ON BACK ROAD, BRAKE PEDAL REPEATEDLY WENT STRAIGHT TO FLOOR WITHOUT RESISTANCE. HAD TO USE ENGINE BRAKING AND HAND BRAKE TO SLOW OR STOP CAR. GAS STATION ATTENDANT REPORTED FULL BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR. NORMAL BRAKING RESUMED SPONTANEOUSLY ON WAY HOME. DEALER UNABLE TO REPLICATE PROBLEM AND CLAIMS INABILITY TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #754821

Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE PADS WORN OUT.

NHTSA ODI #514966

Mileage unknown · Nov 22, 1996
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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

NHTSA ODI #803680

Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 1996
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspensionWheels

VEHICLE MISALIGNMENT CAUSING VIBRATION/TIRE WEAR.

NHTSA ODI #508877

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.