2000 Saturn SW Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other SW years
- Fewer complaints than other years 6th of 7 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 7 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Saturn SW. That ranks 6th out of 7 SW model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (4 complaints, 27%), typically at around 54,000 miles. Complaints mention 2 crashes, 1 fire, 2 injuries. There are 7 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 15owner complaints
- 7safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 2complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2000 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 | 4 | 27% | 54,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 2 | 13% | 132,500 | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 13% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 7% | 65,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 7% | 65,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 7% | 230,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 7% | 75,833 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 7% | 170,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 7% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2000 Saturn SW recalls (7)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly
Problem: Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 301, "fuel system integrity." these vehicles were built with an inadequate vent valve weld on the top portion of the fuel tank.
Risk: Fuel spillage could occur during refueling or if the vehicle were involved in a rollover. If an ignition source were present, a fire could occur.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the vehicle to ensure the fuel tank vent valve is properly welded. If necessary, dealers will replace the fuel tank assembly.
Power train:automatic transmission:park/neutral start interlock switch
Problem: Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles, equipped with automatic transaxles, fail to comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 114, "theft protection." these vehicles were built with an improperly adjusted automatic transaxle park lock cable assembly. If improperly adjusted, it is possible to shift from the "park" position with the ignition key removed.
Risk: This condition increases the risk of a crash resulting from the unintended movement of parked vehicles.
Fix: Saturn is asking owners and retailers to perform a functional check of the automatic transaxle park lock cable assembly operation, and if necessary, to have the cable adjusted. If owners are not comfortable performing the functional check themselves, they can have their dealer perform this inspection for them.
Structure:body
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with a console armrest fail to comply with requirements of fmvss no. 201, "occupant protection in interior impacts." the armrests were produced with a latch that will not withstand the vertical force requirements of the standard.
Risk: In the event of a crash, the latch may open and the armrest or the contents of the console could injure an occupant.
Fix: Dealers will replace the console armrest latch.
Seat belts:front:anchorage
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles do not comply with requirements of fmvss no. 210, "seat belt assembly anchorages." some of the vehicles were produced with seat belt shoulder guide anchor bolts that were not adequately tightened at the center pillar and could fall out, making the seat belt inoperative.
Risk: In the event of a crash, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained.
Fix: Dealers will inspect these vehicles for proper installation and torque of the seat belt shoulder guide anchor bolts.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles do not comply with requirements of fmvss no. 135, "passenger car brake systems." these vehicles were produced with brake pipe attachment nuts that may not be tightened to specifications.
Risk: If the brake pipe nuts are not properly tightened, brake fluid leakage could occur, increasing the brake's stopping distance.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the brake pipe nuts for leakage, verify they are tightened to specifications, and replace the brake pipes if needed.
Unknown or other
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles do not comply with requirements of fmvss no. 208, "occupant crash protection." some of these vehicles were manufactured with welds in the instrument panel carrier assembly that do not meet saturn quality standards.
Risk: A front seat occupant, particularly an unbelted occupant, may have an increased risk of injury in a frontal crash.
Fix: Dealers will repair the vehicle's instrument panel carrier assembly.
Structure:body:bumpers
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles do not comply with requirements of fmvss no. 581, "bumper standard." these vehicles were produced with rear bumper fasteners that may be loose or missing.
Risk: If the fasteners are loose or missing, the rear bumper may not absorb energy as it was designed to do in the event of a rear end collision.
Fix: Dealers will verify that the rear bumper beam fasteners are present and properly tightened and, if missing, install new fasteners.
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.
Airbag should have been recalled and was in system but not replaced. Ignition problems with fuel not able to reach. Ignition switch wire burned and was recalled prior but not given to my make model. Muffler not able to control exhaust system.
On may 29th, 2015 at approx. 5:30 pm est the driver's 2000 saturn sw2 had uncontrollable sudden full throttle acceleration when put into drive from reverse without a foot on the accelerator & could not be stopped by brakes while attempting to leave a private business parking lot onto a public…
Tl* the contact owned a 2000 saturn sw. While driving approximately 35 mph, the contact heard an abnormal noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact noticed flames under the hood. The fire department extinguished the fire and determined that it was due to an electrical failure. The…
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 saturn sw2. The contact was driving approximately 15 mph and attempting a turn when the rear driver side door released independently and swung open. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was told that the failure was common amongst the year, make…
Letter on behalf of constituent (nc) the defective fuel tank vent valve on her 2000 saturn sw1, dealer claims there was no recall. The consumer stated the vehicle would not take gas. She went to an auto repair shop and they printed out a recall and advised her to take the vehicle to the dealer. *jb
Other Saturn SW years
See all Saturn SW problems by year, every Saturn model, or the VIN decoder.
Similar Saturn models
Embed this 2000 Saturn SW badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2000 Saturn SW?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, electrical system, seats problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 4 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2000 Saturn SW?
Yes, 7 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2000 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 2000 has fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.