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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.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

Seats complaints

6 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 2, 2005
Seats

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

NHTSA ODI #10135160

Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 1999
Seats

REFERENCE RECALL 99V045000. PARTS USED IN 94 MODEL IDENTICAL TO LATER YEAR, CONFIRMED BY DEALER PARTS COUNTER. DEALER MECHANIC INDICATED HIS BELIEF THAT THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BY RECALL. FAILURE MODE IDENTICAL TO THAT DESCRIBED IN RECALL. SEAT BACK SLIPPED OUT OF POSITION WHEN VEHICLE STATIONARY, I HAD PLACED MY HAND ON THE TOP …

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REFERENCE RECALL 99V045000. PARTS USED IN 94 MODEL IDENTICAL TO LATER YEAR, CONFIRMED BY DEALER PARTS COUNTER. DEALER MECHANIC INDICATED HIS BELIEF THAT THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BY RECALL. FAILURE MODE IDENTICAL TO THAT DESCRIBED IN RECALL. SEAT BACK SLIPPED OUT OF POSITION WHEN VEHICLE STATIONARY, I HAD PLACED MY HAND ON THE TOP OF THE SEATBACK TO BRACE MYSELF TO PUT AN ITEM ON THE DASH WHEN THE SEATBACK RECLINED WITH A LOUD "POP". SEATBACK HAS RECLINED ADDITIONAL 2 TO 3 TEETH SINCE INITIAL MOVEMENT.

NHTSA ODI #712518

Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 1999
SeatsCrashInjury

I HAD CALLED SATURN OF MELBOURNE, FL AND WAS TOLD MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL FOR SEAT HINGES. I WAS REAR ENDED ON JUNE 24, 1999 AND THE SEAT HINGE FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #707892

Mileage unknown · Aug 26, 1998
SeatsInjury

THE SEATBACK LATCH BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT BACK TO FALL BACKWARDS AND CAUSED INJURIES. DEALER REPLACED THE LATCH. *AK

NHTSA ODI #827225

Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 1998
SeatsInjury

FRONT SEATS MOVED BACK AND INJURED REAR PASSENGERS DURING COLLISION, DUE TO SEATS MOVING, FRONT PASSENGERS RECEIVED INJURIES ALSO.

NHTSA ODI #537061

Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 1997
SeatsCrashInjury

VEHICLE HAD STOPPED TO MAKE A TURN AND WAS HIT IN THE REAR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK, THAT'S ATTACHED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT BROKE, AND THE DRIVER WAS THROWN OUT THE BACK OF THE CAR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #819239

Official recalls

1

99V045000 · 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

4

RQ00005 · 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