1996 Saturn SW problems
Owners have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Saturn SW. Brakes is the most reported problem area, at 23% of complaints. Next are electrical system (16%) and engine (16%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 31 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Brakes 23% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 1 and 2
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What the data shows
Safety-related details: 1 complaint mentions a crash; 2 complaints mention a fire.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1996 ranks 6th most-complained-about out of 6 model years of the Saturn SW with enough data (16 complaints in that window).
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
While traveling 30 MPH, the compartment began filling with gray smoke. Electrical wiring from the steering smoldered and melted. Please describe details. Mr
Speed control: driving down highway, attempting to exit on a off ramp, tried to turn the cruise control off, cruise control would not go off, could not brake. Exited off ramp at approximately 65MPH, went through stop sign, entered another highway, hit curb and median, and vehicle stopped. *nlm
The vehicle stalled without warning. The consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The mechanic informed the owner that the engine's head gasket had failed.
The saturnsw2 gasket cover warped year after year;they redesigned it;it should be covered under a recall; many thousands of these covers have put people in danger of a fire with the oil leaks;the expense of changing out the engine is horrific, for a cheap piece of plastic they no longer make from plastic; it is now aluminum or some form of metal. Small leaks are one thing;these major leaks are another.