1997 Saturn SW Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other SW years
- More complaints than other years 2nd of 7 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Saturn SW. That ranks 2nd out of 7 SW model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (8 complaints, 26%), typically at around 99,100 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 2 fires, 3 injuries. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year.
- 31owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 8 | 26% | 99,100 | — | — |
| Power Train | 5 | 16% | 90,100 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 | 13% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 2 | 6% | 139,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 6% | 92,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 3% | 139,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Saturn SW recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 1997 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.
Tl* the contact owned a 1997 saturn sw. While driving 40 mph, the brake pedal was depressed, but failed to stop the vehicle. The contact stated that the emergency brake was applied, but also failed to stop the vehicle. As a result, the contact crashed into another vehicle. The air bags deployed…
This 1997 saturn sw2 has gm's ignition problem. The air bags were blown once this fried the wires below the stearing and now they say this is not. At the time the vehicle was in motion, street, i just pushed it off the road for the 3rd time in 2 weeks and now i may loose everything i have in my…
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 saturn sw. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, smoke started to emit from the ignition after the key was inserted into the ignition switch. The contact immediately removed the key and towed the vehicle to an independent mechanic. The technician…
The engine turns off during driving or coming to a stop if i leave the vehicle overnight or 4hrs later it will start and run for about a hour then it turns off, had a diagnostic computer check and they said they can not find the problem. Replaced the ignition coils, spark plugs, spark plug cables…
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 saturn sw2. The vehicle has firestone firehawk atx tires. While driving 50 mph, the contact stated that the vehicle began to drag. She removed her foot from the accelerator pedal and allowed the vehicle to decelerate. The vehicle then began bumping and jumping. The…
Other Saturn SW years
See all Saturn SW problems by year, every Saturn model, or the VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Saturn SW?
Owners most often report electrical system, power train, service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 8 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Saturn SW?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 1997 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 1997 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.