1996 Saturn SW Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other SW years
- About as many complaints as other years 4th of 7 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Saturn SW. That ranks 4th out of 7 SW model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (6 complaints, 30%), typically at around 94,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 1 fire. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year.
- 20owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 Saturn SW problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 6 | 30% | 94,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 5 | 25% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 | 20% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 2 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1996 Saturn SW recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 1996 Saturn SW.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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…
Regarding a wire that broke off on the seat of his 1996 saturn sw2 wagon and is sticking up vertically -wire went through his pants and skin**cc consumer stated contacted saturn establishment and was informed by saturn factory to take car to dealer. Dealer informed customer entering the car…
While driving the oil pressure and battery lights illuminated. *mr *sc *jb
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. *nm
While traveling 30 mph, the compartment began filling with gray smoke. Electrical wiring from the steering smoldered and melted. Please describe details. Mr
Other Saturn SW years
See all Saturn SW problems by year, every Saturn model, or the VIN decoder.
Similar Saturn models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Saturn SW?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, electrical system, service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 6 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Saturn SW?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 1996 Saturn SW a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other SW model years, the 1996 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.