IllustrationEXTREME ROAD NOISE FROM DATE OF PURCHASE, LEFT FRONT DOOR NEVER SEALS AIRTIGHT
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
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 reportsA CRACKED ENGINE GASKET HAS ALLOWED OIL TO CONTAMINATE THE COOLANT COMPARTMENT. THIS HAS RESULTED IN A THICK MIXTURE OF OIL AND COOLANT.
SATURN AREA SERVICE MANAGER SAYS THAT THE ORIGINAL BRAKE PADS WERE TOO HARD, THEY'VE CHANGED THEM TO A SOFTER PAD. THE FIRST TIME CHANGED AT 13,740 MILES, SECOND TIME AT 30,000 AND NOW AT 37,000. CONSUMER IS OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT THAT'S NOT THE PROBLEM. SATURN SAYS IT'S DESIGN AND CONSUMER FEELS HE SHOULD NOT PAY FOR MANUFACTURE…
Read full complaint
SATURN AREA SERVICE MANAGER SAYS THAT THE ORIGINAL BRAKE PADS WERE TOO HARD, THEY'VE CHANGED THEM TO A SOFTER PAD. THE FIRST TIME CHANGED AT 13,740 MILES, SECOND TIME AT 30,000 AND NOW AT 37,000. CONSUMER IS OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT THAT'S NOT THE PROBLEM. SATURN SAYS IT'S DESIGN AND CONSUMER FEELS HE SHOULD NOT PAY FOR MANUFACTURER'S DESIGN PROBLEMS. SOFTER PADS DO NOT WEAR AS FAST BUT STILL WEAR OUT. *AK
ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT.
BRAKE PEDAL BOTTOMS OUT WHEN BACKING UP, RESULTING IN GRADUAL STOPPING. *AK
MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. *SD
EXCESSIVE WEAR OF FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS. ALSO DEVELOPING A PROBLEM IN FRONT SUSPENSION. *AK
GAS TANK TOTALLY DISTORTED. *DSH
AT 13,000 MILES THE BRAKES PULLED THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. AT 19,000 MILES THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
WHILE DRIVING ABOVE 45MPH THE VEHICLE VIBRATES. TT
Official recalls
299V045000 · 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
3RQ00005 · 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