Model year record

2000 Saturn Sw recalls & problems

The 2000 Saturn Sw has 7 safety recalls and 15 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (4 complaints).

Recalls7safety recalls

Complaints15filed by owners

Crashes · fires2 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths2 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Fuel system, gasolineOct 12, 2000

Storage › Tank assembly

Recall 00V3090006,092 vehicles

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 trainOct 12, 2000

Automatic transmission › Park/neutral start interlock switch

Recall 00V31000065,000 vehicles

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.

StructureOct 27, 1999

Body

Recall 99V2970007,505 vehicles

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 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.

Service brakes, hydraulicAug 24, 1999

Foundation components

Recall 99V2310005,373 vehicles

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 otherAug 23, 1999

Unknown or other

Recall 99V2300002,692 vehicles

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.

StructureAug 23, 1999

Body › Bumpers

Recall 99V2320001,592 vehicles

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.

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

27mpg combined

City / highway	23 / 33 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.9 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,500/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	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	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Exhaust system	4	0	0	0	—
SeatsMid/rear assembly; Front assembly › Recliner	2	0	0	0	—
Electrical system	2	0	1	0	—
VisibilityWindshield	1	0	0	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Disc › Rotor	1	0	0	0	—
Steering	1	1	0	1	—
Air bags	1	1	0	1	—
SuspensionFront › Stabilizer bar	1	0	0	0	—
Fuel system, gasolineStorage › Tank assembly	1	0	0	0	—
Latches/locks/linkages	1	0	0	0	—
Unknown or other	1	1	0	1	—
Engine	1	0	0	0	—

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

Recent owner complaints

Electrical system
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.
Nov 14, 2012 · 65,000 miles
Unknown or otherCrash1 injury
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 ROADWAY. DRIVER TRAVELLED APPROX.100 FT. WITH FULL ON BRAKES APPLIED & AVOIDED POTENTIALLY STRIKING ONCOMING ROAD TRAFFIC BY DRIVING PARALLEL TO THE ROADWAY & DRIVING HEAD ON INTO A ROADWAY BRIDGE GUARDRAIL TERMINAL END TO STOP THE FORWARD PROGRESS OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS SEVERE FRONTAL DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER WAS EXTRACTED FROM THE VEHICLE BY THE LOCAL EMERGENCY…
May 29, 2015 · 170,000 miles
Electrical systemFire
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 VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
Aug 29, 2014 · 200,000 miles
Latches/locks/linkages
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 AND MODEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 230,000. UPDATED 04/25/11 *BF
Jan 30, 2011 · 230,000 miles
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
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
Jan 1, 1901
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
TWO MAJOR GASKET PROBLEMS WITH A SATURN 2000 SW2 WAGON. TOTAL REPAIR COST $1,500.*AK
Dec 21, 2004
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING VEHICLE WOULD STALL, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD.*AK
Oct 9, 2003
Suspension › Front › Stabilizer bar
THE REAR STABILIZER LINKS FROZE UP, DUE TO ROAD DIRT, SALT ETC. *AK *JB
Oct 1, 2003 · 75,833 miles

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