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Saturn SW VIN Check

NHTSA holds 116 owner complaints on the Saturn SW from 89 production runs; the worst run has 4, the typical one 1.3.

NHTSA complaint records · 116 complaints · 89 runs · 1995–2001 · Updated Nov 4, 2026
Quick answer

The most-reported SW run is 1G8ZK8277VZ (1997 builds) with 4 complaints, 3.1× the typical run. Service brakes problems make up 17% of reports; 1998 is the worst model year at 1.5 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for SW model years 1995–2001.

Which build runs owners report most

A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Saturn SW has 89 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 12% of every SW complaint on file.

FIG.01·Saturn SW — complaints by production run
Production run (VIN 1–11)YearComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
1G8ZK8277VZ••••••19974——
1G8ZK8270WZ••••••19983——
1G8ZK8279VZ••••••19973——
1G8ZK8273SZ••••••19952——
1G8ZK827XWZ••••••19982——
1G8ZJ8270SZ••••••19952——
1G8ZH82815Z••••••19952——
1G8ZK8278VZ••••••19972——
1G8ZK8276TZ••••••19962——
1G8ZK8272VZ••••••19972——
1G8ZK827XVZ••••••199721—
1G8ZK8270TZ••••••19962——
ROWS 12·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records, grouped by VIN prefix

Each of the other 77 SW runs has 2 complaints or fewer.

Which model years to check twice

Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the Saturn SW the gap between build years is 1.4×: a 1998 car draws 1.5 complaints per run, a 1995 one 1.1.

FIG.02·Saturn SW — complaint rate by model year
YearPer runComplaintsRunsCrashes
20011.3541
20001.213112
19991.21193
19981.522153
19971.526171
19961.21191
19951.128253
ROWS 7·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Heaviest year here is 1998 at 1.5 complaints per run; lightest is 1995 at 1.1.

What to inspect on this car

One system accounts for 17% of everything Saturn SW owners report: Service Brakes, 18 of 116 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.

FIG.03·Saturn SW — most-reported systems
SystemComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
Service Brakes182—
Hydraulic171—
Engine And Engine Cooling1411
Power Train142—
Electrical System14—2
Air Bags108—
Seats94—
Fuel System8——
ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Recalls to check against your VIN

NHTSA has 9 recall campaigns on the Saturn SW; the 6 below cover build years 1999 to 2001. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.

FIG.04·Saturn SW — recall campaigns
CampaignComponentModel years
00V310000Power Train:automatic Transmission:park/neutral Start Interlock Switch2000–2001
00V309000Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly2000–2001
99V280000Seat Belts:front:anchorage1999–2000
99V232000Structure:body:bumpers2000
99V231000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components2000
99V230000Unknown Or Other2000
ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA recall campaigns

How serious were they

Of the 116 reports on the Saturn SW, 12.1% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, above the norm.

FIG.06·Saturn SW — complaint severity
OutcomeSaturn SWAll vehicles
Complaints filed1161,115,966
Involved a crash14 (12.1%)64,194 (5.8%)
Involved a fire3 (2.6%)26,974 (2.4%)
Injuries reported1558,013
Deaths reported12,728
ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Crash-related reports run 109% above the all-vehicle rate.

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How this check works

The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The Saturn SW share of that is 116 complaints over 89 runs, 0.01% of everything on record.

Everything on the Saturn SW
Recalls15 campaignsFuel economy28 mpg bestReliability3.5/5Common problems167 complaintsCargo space29 cu ftWindow stickerOriginal Monroney labelDecode a VINWhat each character meansAbout this car1993–2001

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a Saturn SW VIN for free?

Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 116 NHTSA complaints from 89 SW runs and 9 recall campaigns. No account, no card.

Which SW production run has the most complaints?

1G8ZK8277VZ, a 1997 build, with 4 complaints. The typical SW run has 1.3.

Which SW years have the most complaints?

Per production run, 1998 is heaviest at 1.5 complaints per run and 1995 lightest at 1.1.

How many SW complaints involve a crash?

12.1% of 116 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 3 involved a fire.

Complaint and recall records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Per-run rates computed by ForCar. Federal data covers safety only — title, odometer and insurance history are not included. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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