← New search

1995 Saturn Sw

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1995 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

Other model years Selected 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: 4 of 36 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 →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 8 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 →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports0 fire reports4 injury reports

What owners actually said

36 reports
163,000 miles · Dec 21, 2011
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

SOHC LK0/L24 (FROM HTTP://EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG/WIKI/SATURN_I4_ENGINE#SOHC_LK0.2FL24) THE SOHC (LK0/L24) CYLINDER HEAD HAD 8 VALVES AND WAS MADE OF LOST FOAM CAST ALUMINUM. THE CAMSHAFT WAS LOCATED IN THE CENTER OF THE CYLINDER HEAD AND DRIVEN BY A CHAIN OFF THE FRONT CRANKSHAFT SPROCKET. MOTION FROM THE CAMSHAFT WAS TRANSMITTED T…

Read full complaint

SOHC LK0/L24 (FROM HTTP://EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG/WIKI/SATURN_I4_ENGINE#SOHC_LK0.2FL24) THE SOHC (LK0/L24) CYLINDER HEAD HAD 8 VALVES AND WAS MADE OF LOST FOAM CAST ALUMINUM. THE CAMSHAFT WAS LOCATED IN THE CENTER OF THE CYLINDER HEAD AND DRIVEN BY A CHAIN OFF THE FRONT CRANKSHAFT SPROCKET. MOTION FROM THE CAMSHAFT WAS TRANSMITTED TO THE EIGHT VALVES BY THE HYDRAULIC LIFTERS AND ROCKER ARMS. THE LK0 ENGINE FIRST USED TBI (THROTTLE BODY INJECTION) FOR FUEL DELIVERY AND WAS RATED AT 85 HP (63 KW) AND 110 FTLBF (149 NM) OF TORQUE FROM 1991 TO 1994. THE L24 ENGINE RECEIVED MPFI (MULTI-PORT FUEL INJECTION) IN 1995 WHICH INCREASED POWER OUTPUT TO 100 HP (75 KW) AND 114 FTLBF (155 NM). THIS ENGINE WAS USED FROM 1995 TO 2002. THE SOHC ENGINE WAS AVAILABLE ON THE BASE MODEL S-SERIES VEHICLES (SC1, SL, SL1, SW, SW1) 1992 THROUGH 1998 L24 CYLINDER HEADS DEVELOPED ISSUES WITH CRACKS DEVELOPING IN THE FIFTH CAMSHAFT JOURNAL, LOCATED CLOSEST TO #4 CYLINDER. THE HAIRLINE CRACK WOULD DEVELOP BETWEEN THE OIL FEED PORT OF THAT JOURNAL AND THE COOLANT PASSAGES IN THE CYLINDER HEAD. SYMPTOMS WOULD RANGE FROM OVERHEATING TO LOW COOLANT, HOWEVER, MOST CARS AFFECTED BY THIS ISSUE EXHIBITED OIL MIGRATION INTO THE COOLING SYSTEM. THE RESULTING MIXTURE OF THE TWO FLUIDS WOULD RESULT IN A THICK BROWN "MILKSHAKE"-LIKE MIXTURE, VISIBLE IN THE COOLANT OVERFLOW TANK. SATURN RELEASED UNADVERTISED POLICY WHICH WOULD COVER THIS ISSUE, EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON THE CYLINDER HEAD TO 6 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES (160K KM). REPAIR REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. AND FLUSHING OF THE COOLANT SYSTEM. BADLY AFFECTED CARS WOULD SEE COOLANT IN THE OIL, AS WELL AS OIL IN THE COOLANT, AND WOULD REQUIRE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE COMPLETE ENGINE ASSEMBLY. UNTIL THE CYLINDER HEAD CASTING WAS REDESIGNED ... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10440907

88,400 miles · Feb 4, 2008
Structure

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER 1995 SATURN SW! WAGON AT 50 MPH ON FREEWAY. WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL TO THE LEFT. SHE MANAGED TO GET IT OFF THE ROADWAY. INITIAL INSPECTION INDICATED A BROKEN AXLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION BY SATURN MECHANIC, VEHICLES ENGINE CRADLE IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY. WHEN THE DRIVERS SIDE EN…

Read full complaint

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER 1995 SATURN SW! WAGON AT 50 MPH ON FREEWAY. WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL TO THE LEFT. SHE MANAGED TO GET IT OFF THE ROADWAY. INITIAL INSPECTION INDICATED A BROKEN AXLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION BY SATURN MECHANIC, VEHICLES ENGINE CRADLE IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY. WHEN THE DRIVERS SIDE ENGINE CRADLE BROKE DURING OPERATION IT FORCE ITSELF AND OTHER PARTS TO BREAK CAUSING MY WIFE TO LOSE ALL CONTROL. THE SATURN MECHANIC SAYS IN 7 YEARS HE HAS ONLY SEEN 2 OTHER CASES OF CORROSION AFFECTING THE ENGINE CRADLE IN THIS SEVERITY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10216859

99,000 miles · Jan 19, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSeatsCrashInjury

I BOUGHT A 1995 SATURN FROM PRECISION TUNE AUTO. THE CAR WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CLEANED, AND WIRING FIXED. NO MENTION OF SEAT PROBLEM. THOUGH THERE HAS BEEN SOME FAILURE WITH TOP PART OF SEAT, TO FALL BACK FOR SOME REASON. FRONT SEAT. TROUBLE WITH CAR. BAD GAS MILEAGE, ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE VALVE TROUBLE, NO POWER ON HILL, GEAR SHIFT S…

Read full complaint

I BOUGHT A 1995 SATURN FROM PRECISION TUNE AUTO. THE CAR WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CLEANED, AND WIRING FIXED. NO MENTION OF SEAT PROBLEM. THOUGH THERE HAS BEEN SOME FAILURE WITH TOP PART OF SEAT, TO FALL BACK FOR SOME REASON. FRONT SEAT. TROUBLE WITH CAR. BAD GAS MILEAGE, ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE VALVE TROUBLE, NO POWER ON HILL, GEAR SHIFT STICKS, CLUNK IN REVERSE INTERMITTENTLY, BLEEDING BRAKE LINE, BACK BRAKES. CVC CLICKING, AND SO ON. HIT ON AUG. 22, 2006. NOT SURE IF THIS CAUSED ALL THE ABOVE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10179143

Mileage unknown · Jul 16, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

OIL CONSUMPTION, CAUSED A BLOWN ENGINE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10028429

95,000 miles · Jul 3, 2003
Seat Belts

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT LOCKED UP. THE SEAT BELT LATCH DID NOT CONSISTENTLY LATCH TO THE BELT METAL CONTACT. *AK *CB *JB

NHTSA ODI #10024067

Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 2003
Seats

I RECEIVED NOTICE REGARDING THE SEAT BACK OF MY 1995 SATURN WAGON. MY CAR DOES EXHIBIT WHAT WAS DESCRIBED - WHEN I LEAN BACK ON THE SEAT IT RECLINES BACKWARDS. I SCHEDULED THE REPAIR TO BE DONE AT THE LOCAL SATURN DEALERSHIP IN HURRICANE, WV. I WAS SURPRISED WHEN I TOOK IT IN THAT THEY SAID MY CAR WAS FINISHED IN 20 MINUTES. …

Read full complaint

I RECEIVED NOTICE REGARDING THE SEAT BACK OF MY 1995 SATURN WAGON. MY CAR DOES EXHIBIT WHAT WAS DESCRIBED - WHEN I LEAN BACK ON THE SEAT IT RECLINES BACKWARDS. I SCHEDULED THE REPAIR TO BE DONE AT THE LOCAL SATURN DEALERSHIP IN HURRICANE, WV. I WAS SURPRISED WHEN I TOOK IT IN THAT THEY SAID MY CAR WAS FINISHED IN 20 MINUTES. WHEN I GOT IN AND LEANED BACK TO PUT MY SEAT BELT ON, THE SEAT FELL BACK INTO A RECLINING POSITION. WHEN I ASKED WHAT HAD THEY DONE, I WAS INFORMED THAT MY CAR WAS BUILT ONE MONTH PRIOR TO TIME PERIOD THEY COVERED AND NO WORK WAS DONE TO MY CAR. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10010139

Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2003
Visibility

THE DEFROSTER WORKS SOMETIMES -- ONLY IF I PUT ON THE AC AT THE SAME TIME -- AND THEN INTERMITTENTLY IT STOPS WORKING AND THE FRONT WINDOW SHIELD AS WELL AS THE SIDE ONES FOG UP TO A DANGEROUS LEVEL WHILE WE ARE DRIVING. A SATURN MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT HE HAS 4 CARS AND WHAT I HAVE JUST DESCRIBED ONLY HAPPENS ON HIS SATURN. WE HA…

Read full complaint

THE DEFROSTER WORKS SOMETIMES -- ONLY IF I PUT ON THE AC AT THE SAME TIME -- AND THEN INTERMITTENTLY IT STOPS WORKING AND THE FRONT WINDOW SHIELD AS WELL AS THE SIDE ONES FOG UP TO A DANGEROUS LEVEL WHILE WE ARE DRIVING. A SATURN MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT HE HAS 4 CARS AND WHAT I HAVE JUST DESCRIBED ONLY HAPPENS ON HIS SATURN. WE HAVE TRIED VARIYING THE TEMPURATURE, OPENING THE WINDOWS ETC. MOSTLY I WANT TO KNOW WHAT TO DO BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS OBVIOUS FLAW.

NHTSA ODI #10003378

Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2003
Power Train

THE CYLINDER HEADS OF SOME SATURN CARS CRACK AND THE OIL MIXES WITH THE COOLANT. THE SATURN MANUFACTURER WILL NOT FIX THE CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD ON MY SW1 BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRENTY. MY CAR ONLY HAS 69,000 MILES ON IT. A CYLINER HEAD SHOULD NOT CRACK - ESCPECIALLY WITH ONLY 69,000 MILES. THEY KNOW ABOUT THIS ISSUE, EVEN WR…

Read full complaint

THE CYLINDER HEADS OF SOME SATURN CARS CRACK AND THE OIL MIXES WITH THE COOLANT. THE SATURN MANUFACTURER WILL NOT FIX THE CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD ON MY SW1 BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRENTY. MY CAR ONLY HAS 69,000 MILES ON IT. A CYLINER HEAD SHOULD NOT CRACK - ESCPECIALLY WITH ONLY 69,000 MILES. THEY KNOW ABOUT THIS ISSUE, EVEN WROTE TWO TECHNICAL BULLETONS ON IT. I THINK SATURN SHOULD HAVE NOTIFIED CONSTOMERS AND THEY SHOULD FIX MY CAR FREE OF CHARGE.

NHTSA ODI #10002701

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2002
Air BagsSeatsCrash

I WAS STOPPED ON AN INTERSTATE, AND REAR ENDED BY A CHEVROLET SEDAN. IT SLAMMED MY CAR INTO A MINIVAN IN FRONT OF ME. THE FRONT AND BACK OF MY CAR ACCORDIANED, AND MY CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. NEITHER FRONT AIR BAG DEPLOYED, AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT FLIPPED BACK AND PINNED THE BACK PASSENGER IN THE SEAT BEHIND. NO ONE WAS IN…

Read full complaint

I WAS STOPPED ON AN INTERSTATE, AND REAR ENDED BY A CHEVROLET SEDAN. IT SLAMMED MY CAR INTO A MINIVAN IN FRONT OF ME. THE FRONT AND BACK OF MY CAR ACCORDIANED, AND MY CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. NEITHER FRONT AIR BAG DEPLOYED, AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT FLIPPED BACK AND PINNED THE BACK PASSENGER IN THE SEAT BEHIND. NO ONE WAS INJURED, BUT I FEEL THAT AN ACCIDENT WHICH COMPLETELY SQUISHED MY CAR (ALSO CAUSING STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE FRAME, ONLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD OPEN AFTER THE ACCIDENT) SHOULD HAVE HAD THE AIRBAGS DEPLOY, AND THE FRONT SEAT SHOULD NOT HAVE FLIPPED BACK.*AK

NHTSA ODI #766057

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

THIS VEHICLE USES AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL. I MUST ADD AT LEAST ONE QUART EVERY 200-300 MILES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #765633

Official recalls

2

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.

94V217000 · Power Train:clutch Assembly:pedal/hand Lever(motorcycle)

Nov 8, 1994

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE PARK LOCK CABLE ASSEMBLY WAS IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO SHIFT FROM THE "PARK" POSITION WITH THE IGNITION KEY REMOVED, OR REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY WITH THE SHIFT LEVER IN A POSITION OTHER THAN "PARK." THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 114, "THEFT PROTECTION."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT CAN OCCUR WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: CONSUMERS ARE BEING ASKED TO INSPECT THE PARK LOCK CABLE. IF IT DOES NOT PERFORM CORRECTLY, DEALERS WILL MAKE THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS.

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

3

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.

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