Model year record

1999 Saturn Sw recalls & problems

The 1999 Saturn Sw has 1 safety recall and 16 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is air bags (4 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints16filed by owners

Crashes · fires4 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths3 · 1reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Seat beltsOct 20, 1999

Front › Anchorage

Recall 99V280000265,698 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

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.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Fuel economy

SW

28mpg combined

City / highway	24 / 34 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.9 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,400/year to fuel

SW

27mpg combined

City / highway	23 / 34 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.9 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,500/year to fuel

SW

26mpg combined

City / highway	23 / 32 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.9 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,600/year to fuel

SW

26mpg combined

City / highway	22 / 32 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.9 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,600/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Air bagsFrontal	4	4	3	—
Power trainAxle assembly › Axle shaft; Automatic transmission	3	0	0	—
StructureBody › Door	2	0	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Disc › Rotor; Foundation components	2	0	0	—
EquipmentAppliance › Air conditioner	2	0	0	—
SeatsFront assembly › Recliner	2	1	2	—
TiresTread/belt	2	0	0	—
Unknown or other	1	0	0	—
VisibilityWindshield wiper/washer	1	0	0	—
SuspensionFront	1	0	0	—
Vehicle speed control	1	0	0	—
Seat beltsFront › Retractor	1	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Air bagsCrash
MY SON WAS KILLED IN A 1999 SATURN THE AIRBAGS DID NOT WORK I NEED TO KNOW WHY CAR CUT OFF WHILE GO DOWN I-20. *TR
Dec 5, 2014
Air bagsCrash
THE AUTOMOBILE IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES, I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES AND MY CHEST HIT THE STEERING COLUMN. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
May 9, 2014 · 36,000 miles
Equipment › Appliance › Air conditioner
BROKEN STEERING WHEEL MECHANISM REPLACED, RUSTED OUT HOOD REPLACED. MODE CONTROL FROM A/C TO DEFROST WENT OUT, LESS THAN 14,000 MILES. *BF THE MODE DOOR CABLE DISCONNECTED DUE TO MODE DOOR FABRIC COMING OFF AND CAUSED CABLE TO STICK. *NM
Oct 13, 2004 · 13,430 miles
Power train › Automatic transmission
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING SOUND AND VEHICLE JERKED. CONSUMER PULLED ONTO THE SHOULDER. THEN, CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD BANG, AND VEHICLE JERKED AGAIN AND SMOKED BADLY. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT DIFFERENTIAL PIN CAME OUT AND DESTROYED THE TRANSMISSION. A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
Mar 15, 2004 · 37,000 miles
Air bags › FrontalCrash1 injury
DURING A VEHICLE CRASH AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Jun 28, 2002
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components
CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS DEFECTIVE BRAKES, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALER THAT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS A HOT SPOT ON THE BRAKE DISC WHICH CAUSES RUBBING, THE DEALER ALSO STATED THE PROBLEM IS A RESULT OD DRIVEABILITY OR MISHANDLING OF THE VEHICLE.*MJ
Jul 11, 2002
Seat belts › Front › Retractor
AT A SAFETY CHECK FOR SEATBELTS, 3 OF THE SEATBELT RETRACTORS IN WERE FOUND TO BE INOPERATIVE. ONLY FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT RETRACTOR WORKS.*AK
May 10, 2002
Tires › Tread/belt
HOT FLORIDA DAY; CAR FULLY LOADED; TREAD SEPARATED AT 70 MPH (3000 MI ON TIRE AT TIME). *AK (TIRESIZE: P17570R14)
Aug 1, 1999

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.