Illustration1994 SATURN SW2 WITH AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT FAILURE. THE BELT WILL HAVE A SHORTAGE AND STAY FORWARD THEN COME BACK AND THEN MOVE FORWARD AGAIN. *CN
1994 Saturn Sw
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1994 Saturn Sw do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 20.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sw years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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: 3 of 30 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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seats. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
11 crash reports1 fire reports10 injury reports
What owners actually said
30 reportsDT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO APPLY BRAKE PRESSURE AT 50 MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO FIRST GEAR IN AN ATTEMPT TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. WHILE STILL APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE, THE VEHICLE HIT A HIGHWAY SIGN AND A TREE. SEATBELTS WERE WORN HOWEVER INJUR…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO APPLY BRAKE PRESSURE AT 50 MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO FIRST GEAR IN AN ATTEMPT TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. WHILE STILL APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE, THE VEHICLE HIT A HIGHWAY SIGN AND A TREE. SEATBELTS WERE WORN HOWEVER INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS NOTICED UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. ALTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.
DT: THE OWNER IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL NUMBER 99V045000. THE RECALL IS IN REGARDS TO THE SEAT RECLINER. THE OWNER ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND WHILE TRYING TO GET COMFORTABLE THE SEAT RECLINER FELL BACK. THE OWNER LOOKED UP THE RECALL INFORMATION BEFORE SHE PURCHASE THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED IT WAS UNDER …
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DT: THE OWNER IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL NUMBER 99V045000. THE RECALL IS IN REGARDS TO THE SEAT RECLINER. THE OWNER ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND WHILE TRYING TO GET COMFORTABLE THE SEAT RECLINER FELL BACK. THE OWNER LOOKED UP THE RECALL INFORMATION BEFORE SHE PURCHASE THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED IT WAS UNDER RECALL. THE OWNER WAS SURE THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD BE ABLE TO BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE SINCE IT WAS RECALLED. UPON SERVICE AT THE DEALER, THE DEALER INFORMED THE OWNER THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE RECLINER FOR FREE. THE OWNER CHECKED WITH SATURN AND FOUND OUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE OWNER WANTS TO COMPLAIN THAT THE MANUFACTURER GETS TO CHOOSE WHICH VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS TO INCLUDE. SATURN DID NOT EXPLAIN WHY THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONSUMER WANTS THE SEAT FIXED FREE OF CHARGE. *JB
OIL IN COOLING SYSTEM,CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED. I HAD JUST SLOWED DOWN FOR A STOP SIGN IN A 35 MPH ZONE. OTHER WEB SIGHTS CLAIM THIS TO BE AN ON GOING PROBLEM. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN ON THE HIGH WAY. I WAS NOT INFORMED WHEN I REGISTERED AS THE NEW OWNER THAT THERE WERE ANY RECALLS OR BULLENTINS, CAR WAS SOLD TO ME WI…
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OIL IN COOLING SYSTEM,CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED. I HAD JUST SLOWED DOWN FOR A STOP SIGN IN A 35 MPH ZONE. OTHER WEB SIGHTS CLAIM THIS TO BE AN ON GOING PROBLEM. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN ON THE HIGH WAY. I WAS NOT INFORMED WHEN I REGISTERED AS THE NEW OWNER THAT THERE WERE ANY RECALLS OR BULLENTINS, CAR WAS SOLD TO ME WITH " NO DEFECTS". *PH
DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AFTER HITTING A DEER HEAD ON AT 50 MPH. TS
BRACKET HELD IN PLACE BY ONLY ONE RIVET. BRACKET BREAK LOOSE, STRESSING ABS WIRING. DEALER HAS REPAIRED 3 TIMES ON DRIVER'S SIDE, NOW PASSENGER SIDE BROKEN. DEALER'S SERVICE MANAGER ADMITTED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM.*AK
CONSUMER STATES BRAKE BOOSTER FAILED CAUSING TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE, AFTER INSPECTING VEHICLE IT WAS DETERMINED BRAKE BOOSTER FAILED DUE TO A NUT THAT VIBRATED OFF CAUSING BRAKE BOOSTER TO BREAK. *JB
VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH OVERHEATING WHENEVER A/C WAS BEING USED. ALSO , THIS PROBLEM CAUSED VEHICLE TO JERK WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SPIN FREELY AND CAR ENDED UP IN A DITCH. CRADLE BOLTS MISSING. DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS PROBABLY CAUSED THE FRONT END TO SPREAD AND THE RACK AND PINION TO DISENGAGE.
UPPER MOTOR MOUNT BROKE, CAUSING ENGINE TO SHIFT. THE MOUNT WAS REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. ORIGINAL MOTOR MOUNTS WERE REPLACED AT 20,000 MILES IN JUNE OF 95. *AK *ML
Official recalls
199V045000 · Seats
Mar 12, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME FRONT SEAT BACK RECLINER GEAR TEETH MAY WEAR EXCESSIVELY THROUGH REPEATED USE, AND COULD CAUSE THE SEAT BACK TO SLIP PARTIALLY REARWARD WHEN FORCE IS APPLIED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, IT COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SEAT RECLINER MECHANISMS.
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
4RQ00005 · Front Seat Back Can Recline Or Collapse
Opened Feb 16, 2000 · Closed Aug 19, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats:front Assembly:recliner
No summary supplied.
EA98017 · Seat Back Failures
Opened Jul 31, 1998 · Closed Mar 16, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
IN ITS LETTER DATED MARCH 5, 1999, GENERAL MOTORS STATED THAT IT WILL RECALL 136,300 MODEL YEAR 1994 AND 1995 SATURN VEHICLE (ALL MODELS) BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1994 AND AUGUST 1994.DURING THIS PERIOD, SATURN'S SEAT SUPPLIER MANUFACTURED RECLINER ASSEMBLIES WHICH WERE OUT OF DESIGN SPECIFICATION, ALLOWING THE FRONT SEAT BACKS TO RECLINE OR COLLAPSE INADVERTENTLY.TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, SATURN DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BACK RECLINER ASSEMBLIES.SEE NHTSA'S SAFETY RECALL FILL 99V-045 FOR DETAILS.
EA95003 · Cruise Control Failures
Opened Feb 24, 1995 · Closed May 31, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment
THIS INVESTIGATION DOCUMENTED HTE FUNCTIONAL ABERATIONS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SUBJECT CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM.MOST OF THE MALFUNCTIONS INVOLVED FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM TO PROPERLY REGULATE VEHICLE SPEED WHEN ENGAGED, FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM TO ENGAGE, OR SELF-DISENGAGEMENT OF THE SYSTEM. THESE PROBLEMS WERE INVESTIGATED AND STEPS TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER TO REMEDY THEIR OCCURRENCES.SERVICE PROCEDURES WERE ISSUED FOR VEHICLES IN USE, AND A DESIGN MODIFICATION MADE FOR NEW VEHICLES.NO CONFIRMED ALLEGATIONS OF FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISENGAGE UPON COMMAND WERE IDENTIFIED.IMPROVED QUALITY CONTROL PROCEDURES AND DESIGN MODIFICATIONSIN THE SYSTEM WERE UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE A MORE CONSISTENT LEVEL OF SYSTEM PERFORMANCE.THE DETAILS OF THESE FINDINGS AND THE RESULTING CONCLUSIONS ARE CONTAINED INTHE SUBJECT ENGINEERING ANALYSIS CLOSING REPORT.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND WAS NOT IDENTIFIED AT EHIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
PE94079 · Cruise Control Failure
Opened Nov 7, 1994 · Closed Feb 24, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment
There is no summary currently available