1996 Saturn Sw Recalls, Complaints & Specs
No safety recalls list the 1996 Saturn Sw, and owners have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
No safety recalls on record
NHTSA's recall database lists no safety campaigns that include the 1996 Saturn Sw. That is good news, with two caveats: recalls can be issued at any time (this page refreshes daily), and a recall filed under a related model name may not appear here. The VIN check above queries NHTSA directly for your exact vehicle.
20 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1996 Saturn Sw have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 94,000 miles. Complaints peaked in 1997 with 5 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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 expe”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 15, 2009 · Engine and engine cooling
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 24, 2007 · Seats
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1996 Saturn SW. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 25–28 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 21–24 / 31–35 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Small Station Wagons |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.9 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Saturn Sw model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Saturn Sw model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 Saturn Sw | 1 | 0 |
| 1992 Saturn Sw | 1 | 1 |
| 1993 Saturn Sw | 2 | 27 |
| 1994 Saturn Sw | 1 | 30 |
| 1995 Saturn Sw | 2 | 36 |
| 1996 Saturn Sw | 0 | 20 |
| 1997 Saturn Sw | 0 | 31 |
| 1998 Saturn Sw | 0 | 27 |
| 1999 Saturn Sw | 1 | 16 |
| 2000 Saturn Sw | 7 | 15 |
| 2001 Saturn Sw | 2 | 6 |
Checking a specific 1996 Saturn Sw
How do I know if my 1996 Saturn Sw has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Saturn dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number.
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Saturn models
- Ion4,343 complaints
- Vue2,351 complaints
- SL2,218 complaints
- LS1,458 complaints
- Aura1,439 complaints
- Outlook1,352 complaints
- Sky516 complaints
- SC1413 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.