The 1993 Saturn Sw has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 367,292 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 35 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the seat belts. Last updated July 5, 2026.
THE GENERATOR ELECTRICAL WIRING IS NOT PROTECTED AGAINST EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW WHICH MAY BE CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE GENERATOR.
Consequence
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…
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.
Consequence
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.
Complaints by component
SEAT BELTS
3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
3
CHILD SEAT
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
1
1crashes1injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
1
Total complaints35
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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”
“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…”
“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…”
“Shoulder belt is not working properly, causing a hard plastic piece to stick. On consumer in back and top of head. *ak”
“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”
“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”
“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…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA95003 Opened 1995-02-24 · closed 1996-05-31
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…
InvestigationPE94079 Opened 1994-11-07 · closed 1995-02-24
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1993 Saturn Sw as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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