FaultScore report
Owners have filed 31 complaints about the 1998 Saturn SW with NHTSA between 1998 and 2007. The largest single group is the engine & cooling. Across this model's run it ranks 3 of 8 worst.
FaultScore 67/100
Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Saturn SW.
How this is worked out31
Complaints
4
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 90,500 mi
Median failure at 125,000 miles
Median failure at 110,000 miles
2 crashes, 0 fires
2 crashes, 0 fires
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
SEATS
SEATS COLLAPSED WHEN REAR ENDED WHILE STOPPED AT LIGHT--IF PASSENGER WAS IN BACK SEAT, THERE IS A STRONG POSSIBILITY OF SERIOUS INJURY. IF IT'S A SMALL CHILD, DEATH FROM THE IMPACT OF THE COLLAPSING SEAT COULD CAUSE DEATH.
NHTSA complaint #735104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS AT A STAND STILL WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED IT AT AN IMPACT OF APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, CAUSING BOTH FRONT SEATS TO FALL BACKWARD; DEALER/MFR. NOTIFED AND HAD NOTHING POSTIVE TO SAY. SEEKING INFORMATION FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER.
NHTSA complaint #838439 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY ENGINE CATCHES ON FIRE. VERY SUDDEN. NO INDICATION OF UPCOMING PROBLEM. CAR UNDER WARRANTY. TOTAL LOSS.
NHTSA complaint #703402 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
HEAVY FRONTAL IMPACT. BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.
NHTSA complaint #701395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER WAS COMING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT GOING SOUTH. THE PERSON WAS DRIVING NORTH MAKING A LEFT TURN THE DRIVER MADE A LEFT TURN TOO SHORT, AND IN THE PROCESS THEY HIT EACH OTHER. CONSUMER'S AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. ALSO, CONSUMER WAS HURT, SUFFERED A HAIRLIKE FRACTURE ON HER TAIL BONE.
NHTSA complaint #830449 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
SUSPENSION:REAR
EXPERIENCING A RATTLE OR CLICK NOISE FROM THE REAR OF VEHICLE WHEN TURNING AT SLOW SPEEDS AND/OR DRIVING OVER UNEVEN SURFACES.
NHTSA complaint #10187972 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DT: 1998 SATURN SW2. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BROKE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN USE. THE LATCH CAME LOOSE. SHE HAS SPOKEN WITH SATURN, THEY TOLD HER TO TAKE IT IN TO BE INSPECTED. ON THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY WERE PULLED OVER FOR NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT. THEREFORE, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET MADE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. SATURN STATED THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND THE CONSUMER WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY KIND OF ACCIDENT. THE SAFETY BELT WAS STILL NOT WORKING. THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP NEXT TUESDAY.
NHTSA complaint #10136447 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH ENGINE STALLED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE BEARING WORE OUT COMPLETELY ON ONE SIDE. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10111244 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL
BRAKE FAILURE. ON SR88 SOUTHBOUND TO LIBERTY RD. 19'98 SATURN SW2, 110000 MILES. CONDITION EXCELLENT. COMING TO LIBERTY RD AT ABOUT 55 MPH SLOWNG FOR RT TURN..BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. ZERO BRAKING EFFECT. LUCKILY PULLED AHEAD TO A WIDE, SAFE SHOULDER. CALLED AAA FOR TOW,,MEANTWHILE PUMPED PEDAL FOR HALF HOUR WHEN GOT SLSIGHT RESPONSE FROM PEDAL WHICH FINALLY ABOUT 45 MINUTES LATER GAVE FULL PEDAL. CANCELLED TOW. WENT INTO LODI, CA ABOUT 15 MORE MILES SAFELY. SATURN DEALER STATES THAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND WRONG WITH THE SYSTEM. MECHANIC STATES THAT IF THE PARKING BRAKE WERE ENGAGED EVEN SLIGHTLY THE REAR DRUMS WOULD OVERHEAT AND CAUSE THE BRAKE FLUID TO GET SO HOT THAT BUBBLES WOULD FORM IN IT THUS NO BRAKES. NO LEAKS WERE FOUND ANYWHERE IN THE SYSTEM. MASTER CYLINDER OK .ALL BRAKE PISTONS OK.BRAKES ARE OK AS OF THIS DATE. (6-30-04). DATE OF INCIDENT WAS 6-20-04..TIME/DATE OF DEALERS REPORT: 21 JUNE 04 AT 0839PDT. SERVICE ORDER 76755 PRIMARY TECH. 004.
NHTSA complaint #10079071 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
THERE IS A CRACK IN THE FRONT WINDSHIELD THAT BEGINS WERE THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS ATTACHED TO THE WINDSHIELD. CONSUMER CAN NOT SEE TROUGH FRONT WINDSHIELD. *AK WINDSHIELD WAS INSPECTED FOR CRACKS, NONE WAS FOUND. IN ADDITION, CRACK REACHED TO BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES THAT SPANNED APPROXIMATELY 8 INCHES.
NHTSA complaint #10065100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
ACCELERATOR PEDAL HINGE BROKE... LEAVING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HANGING FROM THE ACCELERATOR CABLE. CAR IS NOT DRIVEABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10056985 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE BURNS OIL PREMATURELY.
NHTSA complaint #10057210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE STALLED.
NHTSA complaint #10044503 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
RPMS DO NOT ALWAYS RETURN TO IDLE AFTER REMOVAL OF ACCELERATOR PRESSURE. THE RPMS AT RANDOM TIMES, REMAIN AT 1800 TO 2200 AS INDICATED BY THE TACHOMETER. THE ENGINE IS ALSO NOISY WHEN COMING TO A STOP. CONSUMER HAS TO SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL WHEN COMING TO A STOP, BUT RPMS STILL RACE FROM 1000 RPM TO 2200. NORMAL TACHOMETER RESPONSE IS USUALLY FROM 750 TO 1000 RPMS. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THIS IS PUTTING WEAR AND TEAR ON TRANSMISSION AND BRAKES. ON OTHER OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE JUMPED BACKWARDS WHEN CONSUMER REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM BRAKE PEDAL.
NHTSA complaint #567179 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
WHILR AT A COMPLETE STOP, VEHICLE WILL NOT RETURN TO CORRECT IDLE POSITION, IT WILL STAY AT A HIGH IDLE POINT. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER CAN NOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM.*AK.
NHTSA complaint #8008810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THIS IGNITION-HIGH IDLE PROBLEM HAS EXHISTED SINCE OWNERSHIP AND FIRST PART REPLACEMENT UNDERWARENTY WAS THE IDLE AIR CONTROL J5542 IN FEB. 2000. THE IDLE ACCELERATION PROBLEM STARTED IN 1999, HOWEVER, COULD NOT BE REPEATED DURING TESTS DRIVE UNTIL FEB. 15,2000. AT THE 42,000 SERVICE THE SAME COMPLAINT WAS ADDRESSED WITH THE IAC MOTOR REPLACED. THE 60,000 MILE SERVICE THE TEMP. SENSOR AND IGNITION MODULE WAS REPLACED FOR $391.00, AND THE PROBLEM OF ACCELERATION CONTINUES WITH THE RPM'S OVER 2,000. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFTEY. THE CAR HAS ACTUALLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT GAS/OR CLUTCH CHANGES. IF I WERE ON ICE, WHICH THIS AREA IS NOTED FOR IN THE WINTER, I WOULD BE IN DANGER. AGAIN, THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR A WHILE AND THE MOTOR IS WARM, AND INTERMITTANTLY.
NHTSA complaint #755076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN ENGINE WARMS UP/SLOWING DOWN OR STOPPING RPMS WILL INCREASE. ALSO IF TAKEN FEET OF GAS PEDAL, VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER REPAIRED AND REPLACED PARTS, BUT STILL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #899667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE RUNS ROUGH AND STALLS. SOMETIMES SES LIGHT COMES ON, SOMETIMES NOT. VEHICLE WILL NOT START. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR TO THE DEALER 8 TIMES IN 2 YEARS AND THEY ALWAYS "FIX" SOMETHING--SOMETHING DIFFERENT EVERYTIME, BUT THE SYMPTOMS ARE THE SAME EVERY TIME. DEALER SAYS THERE IS "NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR" AND THAT THE PROBLEM IS DIFFERENT EVERY TIME I BRING IT IN. SEVERAL TIMES THERE HAVE BEEN NO CODES STORED TO INDICATE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS-THEREFORE, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER-"THERE IS NO PROBLEM". I DON'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP!!! I AM TIRED OF TAKING THE CAR IN FOR THIS PROBLEM, IT HAS MOST RECENTLY BEEN IN ON OCT. 12, 2000 , DEC. 1, 2000 , AND DEC. 21, 2000---EVERYTIME I REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEMS AND ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, EVERY TIME IT IS A DIFFERENT PROBLEM. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE CAUSING THIS PROBLEM TO CONTINUE. I HAVE ALL THE REPAIR RECORDS.
NHTSA complaint #738154 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
SEAT BELTS WILL TIGHTEN WHILE SWITCHING LANES OR WHEN INCREASING SPEED. CONSUMER CANNOT MOVE AROUND TO CHECK TRAFFIC BEHIND HER. HAS BEEN TO DEALER WHO SAID THAT BELTS ARE WORKING AS DESIGNED. PLEASE ADD ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #875307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
SEATS COLLAPSED WHEN REAR ENDED WHILE STOPPED AT LIGHT--IF PASSENGER WAS IN BACK SEAT, THERE IS A STRONG POSSIBILITY OF SERIOUS INJURY. IF IT'S A SMALL CHILD, DEATH FROM THE IMPACT OF THE COLLAPSING SEAT COULD CAUSE DEATH.
NHTSA complaint #735104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY MECHANIC TOLD ME HE HAS HAD TO REPLACE SEVERAL TRANSMISSIONS ON 1998 SATURNS, SO MINE IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #728227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
POWER WINDOW RELAY FAILED. YH
NHTSA complaint #609236 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. YH
NHTSA complaint #608650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
FRONT POWER WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED, REPLACEMENT FAILED ALSO. YH
NHTSA complaint #608720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
INNER CV JOINT / BOOT CLAMP / WHEEL BEARING FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #606851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT
INNER CV JOINT / BOOT CLAMP / WHEEL BEARING FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #606851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT
INNER CV JOINT / BOOT CLAMP / WHEEL BEARING FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #606851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS AT A STAND STILL WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED IT AT AN IMPACT OF APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, CAUSING BOTH FRONT SEATS TO FALL BACKWARD; DEALER/MFR. NOTIFED AND HAD NOTHING POSTIVE TO SAY. SEEKING INFORMATION FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER.
NHTSA complaint #838439 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #607848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY ENGINE CATCHES ON FIRE. VERY SUDDEN. NO INDICATION OF UPCOMING PROBLEM. CAR UNDER WARRANTY. TOTAL LOSS.
NHTSA complaint #703402 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.