1993 Saturn SW
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
Have the VIN?
These records cover every 1993 Saturn SW. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
2 recalls name the 1993 Saturn SW. Newest first.
The generator electrical wiring IS not protected against excessive current flow which may be caused by an electrical short circuit in the generator.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Should an electrical short circuit occur in thegenerator, the generator wiring harness would experience excessive current flow.under certain conditions, enough heat could be generated to ignite surroundingmaterials. If this occurs, an underhood fire could result with or without theengine running and without prior warning.
Remedy
The generator wiring harness will be replaced with one that will open as a fuse would under certain excessive current flow conditions.
The positive battery cable terminal at the starter solenoid may be formed incorrectly. Incorrectly formed terminals can contact the starter solenoid housing and cause an electric short circuit.
Risk and remedy
Risk
An electrical short circuit between the battery cable andthe starter housing can result in an underhood fire.
Remedy
Inspect and, if necessary, adjust the clearance between the positive battery cable terminal so that it does not contact the starter solenoid housing.
Owner complaints
27 complaints1 involved a crash1 involved a fire1 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Power train › Automatic transmission
A known fault in the automatic transmition valve assembly of my 1993 saturn SW1 IS not covered by the dealership, but IS admitted by the manufactuer and can be fixed at my expence with no reembursment offered.*ak
- Seats › Front assembly › Recliner
Driver's seat back won't "hold" position. falls back under weight. problem continuing for years. I informed dealer who simply told me I would have to pay hundreds of dollars to replace defective seat. I no longer drive this car any significant distance because of this. this IS so dangerous that I do not feel I can, in good conscience, sell this car to someone else.*jb
- Electrical system › Starter assembly › Relay · Electrical system › Starter assembly › Solenoid
I currently own a 1993 saturn SW2. I was unaware of the recalls on my car. today my car caught on fire. I went ont he internet and found out that there are 3 different recalls on my car that could start a fire. I called saturn at the honolulu office. I gave them my vin # and they told me that…
I currently own a 1993 saturn SW2. I was unaware of the recalls on my car. today my car caught on fire. I went ont he internet and found out that there are 3 different recalls on my car that could start a fire. I called saturn at the honolulu office. I gave them my vin # and they told me that there are no current recalls on my car. I told them that I pulled up 3 different recalls on 3 different website claiming that my car type had recalls. they told me there IS nothing they could do.this IS because my car wasn't in there saturn recall system to be recalled. I would like to know why IS it that other companys have information on saturn recalls and saturn doesnt have a listing on what IS recalled. What can I do. I have no car now because they refuse to fix what I think should be fixed because of one of the recalls that was listed on this website. please help any one that knows anything about this. my kids and myself couldve died today due to this overseen recall.*ak
- Seat belts › Front › Webbing
Shoulder belt IS not working properly, causing a hard plastic piece to stick. On consumer in back and top of head. *Ak
- Air bags › Frontal
The high speed airbag damaged the driver's face, breaking teeth, glasses, and bite guard. *Ak
- Seat belts
Motor belts are failing to operate; dealer / manufacturer notified, and informed that part was not covered under a recall, and any repairs would be at consumer's cost. \ feel free to provide any further details on this matter. *Ak
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
While driving in cold weather brakes will malfunction, and will not work as during dry/warmer weather, could step on brakes and operate as should be.*ak
- Structure › Frame and members
Bracket under the passenger's side was broke and rusted, and was still holding by a plate. the bracket holds the anti-lock brake electrical wire away from other wheel assembly to prevent chafing and failure of the wire. the rivet had braoken and the wire insulation was rubbed. the dealer was contacted but the owner made the repairs himself. *Ak *ML
- Electrical system › Alternator/generator/regulator
While driving vehicle 30mph vehicle died out. Received a jump start from aaa. The vehicle failed to start that saturday. The alternators kept blowing out. first one blew out in 1998 & was brand new. The other two followed not long afterwards. Each time they would blow out, they would burn out battery. Would get new alternator & battery each time after taking vehicle to dealership. *ak
- Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
The shoulder harness repeatedly fails. Local saturn knows of problem. Seems to be related to deficient design/location of control module.
- Seat belts
Stitches on the seat belt are coming loose, and seat belt isn't supporting the consumer that IS using the seat belt. *ak
- Child seat
Even saturn cant find us a child safty seat that fits this car for a 30# child. *ak
- Seat belts
Shoulder belt for driver should slide on track and it does not. Dealer contacted and states the cable that should move the belt IS busted. Dealer can repair at $400. Extended warranty ran out. Consumer IS responsible for repairs. Provide further information. *Ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system · Engine and engine cooling › Engine · Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch · Unknown or other · Visibility › Windshield
When trying to start the vehicle up all the lights came on ,and the vehicle wasn't starting. also, consumer had the water pump replaced and the water pump went out again. The engine check light came on and still IS on. Back windshield and door locks are not working, and the dealer replaced different parts on the vehicle. dealer can't determine the problem. *ak
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
ABS brakes failed. After starting and pulling out at a slow speed, 4 mph, the brakes will go to the floor, resulting in extended stopping distance. Dealer states that it's a design flaw and nothing can be done to remedy the problem. *ak
- Power train › Automatic transmission
Valve body in the transmission failed causing lag time in engagement of gears.
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
Timing chain tensioner loosened, causing damage to the engine. The dealer has been notified. *ak
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip · Vehicle speed control
When the owner applied the brakes the vehicle accelerated. *ak
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc
Disc brakes warped.
- Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
Driver's side door latch failed.
- Vehicle speed control › Accelerator pedal
Vehicle suddenly accelerated due to a sticking throttle, while in park it has high idle - 2000 rpms, when gear IS changed it will not reduce the rpms. *ak
- Child seat · Structure
Vehicle IS not designed for child safety seats that need to use tether strap. He has talked with evenflo, saturn and nhtsa and still has no conclusion of problem. Please describe details.*ak
- Seats
Drivers seat track an anchors are broken, causing seat to inclined position. *ak
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Pads · Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Rotor
Excessive brake component wear, replaced rotors, and pads. tt
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components
Brakes are unsafe-not operating properly-brakes pedal go down to the floor and have grinding noise. tt
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Cruise control failures
This investigation documented hte functional aberations that have occurred in the performance of the subject cruise control system.most of the malfunctions involved failure of the system to properly regulate vehicle speed when engaged, failure of the system to engage, or self-disengagement of the system. These…
This investigation documented hte functional aberations that have occurred in the performance of the subject cruise control system.most of the malfunctions involved failure of the system to properly regulate vehicle speed when engaged, failure of the system to engage, or self-disengagement of the system. These problems were investigated and steps taken by the manufacturer to remedy their occurrences.service procedures were issued for vehicles in use, and a design modification made for new vehicles.no confirmed allegations of failure of the system to disengage upon command were identified.improved quality control procedures and design modificationsin the system were undertaken to ensure a more consistent level of system performance.the details of these findings and the resulting conclusions are contained inthe subject engineering analysis closing report.a safety-related defect trend was not identified at ehis time and further use of agency resources does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that a safety-related defect does not exist.the agency will take further action if warranted by the circumstances.
- Cruise control failure
There is no summary currently available
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 10246631Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
- 10233362This service bulletin revision provides a repair procedure to Remove Debris from Evaporator Case, Disinfect evaporator or Apply Cooling coil coating and install blower motor control module to correct a customer concern of A/C Odor at start-up.
Every Saturn SW model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.