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1997 Saturn Sw

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Saturn Sw do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 20.

About this comparison →
31Owner complaints

Model-year median: 20

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
30
199436
199520
199631
199727
199816
199915
2000
Compare all Sw years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
8Power Train
5Service Brakes, Hydraulic
4Fuel System, Gasoline
3Seat Belts
3
All reported categories
Air Bags
2Tires
2Engine And Engine Cooling
1Exterior Lighting
1Interior Lighting
1Service Brakes
1Unknown Or Other
1Vehicle Speed Control
1Visibility
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: 6 of 31 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. 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 reports2 fire reports2 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
139,000 miles · Jul 27, 2017
Air BagsElectrical SystemUnknown Or Other

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"…

Read full complaint

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 ODI #11010919

Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 1997
Air BagsInjury

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

NHTSA ODI #522623

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.