1997 Saturn Sw Recalls, Complaints & Specs
No safety recalls list the 1997 Saturn Sw, and owners have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
No safety recalls on record
NHTSA's recall database lists no safety campaigns that include the 1997 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.
31 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1997 Saturn Sw have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash and 2 describe a fire. Reports cite 3 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 97,624 miles. Complaints peaked in 1999 with 6 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 14, 2018 · Service brakes
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 27, 2017 · Air bags
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1997 Saturn SW. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 25–28 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 21–24 / 31–34 |
| 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 1997 Saturn Sw
How do I know if my 1997 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.