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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · May 14, 2000
Vehicle Speed Control

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 INCREAS…

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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 ODI #722657

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.