1999 Saturn Sw problems
Social links
Common 1999 Saturn Sw problems
Based on the complaints from owners of the 1999 Saturn SW, several common problems have been identified:
- Oil Burning:
- Some Saturn SW owners have experienced oil burning issues, particularly related to carbon buildup causing the rings to stick. This can result in the engine burning oil at a faster rate, requiring more frequent top-ups and potential engine issues.
- High Idle and Poor MPG:
- Complaints have been raised about high idle RPMs (around 2000) and decreased fuel efficiency, with some owners only getting about 250 miles per tank of fuel. This issue has been associated with problems in the evap system and catalyst system, potentially requiring sensor replacements or addressing vacuum leaks.
- General Reliability and Maintenance:
- Despite these specific issues, overall, the Saturn SW has been considered a reliable car by many owners. Regular maintenance, such as oil changes, can help prevent some of the common problems associated with this vehicle. Additionally, some owners have highlighted the need for regular checks on components like the timing chain tensioner oil port and rear wheel bearings to maintain the car's performance and longevity.
These problems highlight the importance of regular maintenance and prompt attention to any issues that arise with the 1999 Saturn SW to ensure optimal performance and longevity of the vehicle.
How long do Saturn engines last?
Saturn engines were generally reliable and long-lasting. A 2002 Saturn SL2 came with an I4 engine that made 124 horsepower and 122 lb-ft of torque. With regular oil changes and smooth driving, you can expect the SL2's engine to last at least 200,000 miles.
Is Saturn maintenance expensive?
The annual maintenance cost of a Saturn is $553. Repair and maintenance costs vary depending on age, mileage, location and shop.
Why did Saturn cars fail?
Despite what you may read elsewhere, there were just two underlying forces behind Saturn's demise: GM's insistence on managing all its divisions centrally with a tight fist, and the demand by leadership at both GM and the UAW that Saturn get in line with traditional ways of doing things.
Is Saturn good for life?
Potential for Life
While planet Saturn is an unlikely place for living things to take hold, the same is not true of some of its many moons. Satellites like Enceladus and Titan, home to internal oceans, could possibly support life.
1999 Saturn Sw car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Saturn Sw problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Air bags problems
- Equipment problems
- Power train problems
- Service brakes problems
- Hydraulic problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1999 Saturn Sw vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1999 Saturn Sw complaints
The NHTSA has received 20 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1999 Saturn Sw.
STEERING,AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2014-12-05
- Number Of Deaths: 1
- Crash: 1
- VIN: 1G8ZK8278XZ
- Components: STEERING,AIR BAGS
- Summary: 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
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2014-05-09
- Crash: 1
- VIN: 1G8ZK827XXZ
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: 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
EQUIPMENT PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2004-10-13
- VIN: 1G8ZK8275XZ
- Components: EQUIPMENT
- Summary: 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
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2004-03-15
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: 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
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2002-06-28
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- Crash: 1
- VIN: PLEASE PROV
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: DURING A VEHICLE CRASH AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: IG8ZJ8275XZ
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: 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
SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2002-05-10
- VIN: 1G8ZK8278XZ
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: AT A SAFETY CHECK FOR SEATBELTS, 3 OF THE SEATBELT RETRACTORS IN WERE FOUND TO BE INOPERATIVE. ONLY FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT RETRACTOR WORKS.*AK
TIRES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1999-08-01
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: HOT FLORIDA DAY; CAR FULLY LOADED; TREAD SEPARATED AT 70 MPH (3000 MI ON TIRE AT TIME). *AK (TIRESIZE: P17570R14)
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2000-12-19
- VIN: 1G8ZJ8271XZ
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: INTERMEDIATE SHAFT/CARRIER BEARING ASSEMBLY FAILED AT RELATIVELY LOW MILES. I AM TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THIS SPECIFIC FAILURE IS COMMON SO OWNERS CAN BE NOTIFIED AND AVOID THIS COSTLY AND SERIOUS REPAIR.*AK
AIR BAGS,SEATS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2000-07-27
- Number Of Injuries: 2
- Crash: 1
- VIN: 1G8ZH8288XZ
- Components: AIR BAGS,SEATS
- Summary: MY HUSBAND AND DAUGHTER (AGE 4) WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON JULY 27, 2000 IN OUR 1999 SATURN SW1. THEY WERE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT WHEN THEY WERE REAR ENDED AT APPROXIMATELY 40-45PMH. UPON IMPACT NIETHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. I'M NOT SURE IF THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO), BUT THE MAJOR CONCERN WAS THAT THE DRIVERS SEAT SPRINGS BROKE COLLAPSING THE DRIVERS SEAT AND LEFT MY HUSBAND LANDING IN THE BACK SEAT, HIS FOOT FALLING FROM THE BRAKE AND ROLLING INTO TRAFFIC AT APPROXIMATELY 12-15MPH. MY HUSBAND ENDED UP INJURED WITH A THORACIC STRAIN. MY DAUGHTER (IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT) WAS ALSO INJURED. BOTH OF THEM WERE RESTRAINED WITH FULL SEAT BELTS. IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND AT THE SIGHT WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS LUCKY THAT MY DAUGHTER WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT THAT DAY OR SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN CRUSHED AND KILLED BY THE SEAT THAT COLLAPSED BEHIND MY HUSBAND. IN ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM WITH SATURN THEY HAVE SAID THAT THEIR SEATS ARE DESIGNED LIKE THAT FOR SAFETY PURPOSES AND THAT "IN A REAR-END COLLISION, A SEATBACK CAN YIELD IF THE FORCES IN THE COLLISION EXCEED THE DESIGN LOAD LIMITS FOR THAT SEATBACK." THEY ALSO REFERRED ME TO THE FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS FMVSS 207 FOR THE STANDARD. I AM NOT ABLE TO TELL IN READING THE FMVSS 207 IF THE FORCES IN THE COLLISION EXCEEDED THE DESIGN LOAD LIMITS FOR THE SEATBACK AND I AM HOPING THAT YOU CAN HELP ME. MY HUSBAND IS 6 FEET TALL AND WEIGHS 260 POUNDS. SATURN TELLS ME THAT THE SEATS WERE DESIGNED THIS WAY TO HELP PREVENT WHIPLASH. IF THAT IS THE CASE THEY ALMOST KILLED MY CHILD. CAN YOU SHED SOME LIGHT ON THIS FOR ME? THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER......... SINCERELY, MRS. JULI GORDON. *AK
TIRES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2000-05-30
- VIN: 1G8ZJ8271XZ
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: FIRESTONE TIRES TREAD CAME APART, WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A TIRE BLOWOUT AND CRASH. FIRESTONE REPLACED THE TIRES AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TIRE SIZE P18565R15. *AK
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1999-12-28
- VIN: 1G8ZK8271XZ
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: STEPPING ON THE BRAKE CAUSED THE IDLE TO GO TO MAXIMUM RPM. YH
SEATS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Components: SEATS
- Summary: DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE SEATS, WHICH ARE ANGLED BACK FOR SAFETY PURPOSES, THE CHILD SAFETY SEATS DO NOT FIT PROPERLY, WHICH COULD LEAD TO INJURIES IF IN ACCIDENT. *MJS
SUSPENSION PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1998-10-12
- VIN: 1G8ZK8277XZ
- Components: SUSPENSION
- Summary: FRONT END VIBRATION AND NOISE SINCE PURCHASE, AFTER SEVERAL REPAIRS FRONT END STILL EXPERIENCES PROBLEMS. MJS (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).
STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1999-01-13
- VIN: 1G8ZK8277XZ
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: DOOR OUT OF ALIGNMENT CAUSING VIBRATION. MJS (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).
STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1999-04-19
- VIN: 1G8ZK8277XZ
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: PASSENGER DOOR BEHIND DRIVER'S SEAT WILL NOT UNLOCK, SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS, HOWEVER NOT FIXED. MJS (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1999-06-19
- VIN: 1G8ZK8277XZ
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: BRAKE ROTORS OUT OF ROUND CAUSING VIBRATION AND NOISE. MJS (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).
EQUIPMENT PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1999-07-02
- VIN: 1G8ZK8277XZ
- Components: EQUIPMENT
- Summary: AIR CONDITIONER MAKES LOUD NOISE. MJS (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).
VISIBILITY PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1998-09-10
- VIN: 1G8ZK8273XZ
- Components: VISIBILITY
- Summary: WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE DOES NOT COME WITHIN 6 INCHES FROM THE END OF THE WINDSHIELD WHICH MAY CAUSE VISUAL DIFFICULTY, AND MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. CURRENTLY AT DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 1G8ZJ827XXZ
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: DRIVER'S SIDE FACTORY INSTALLED FLOOR MAT SLIDES AND WEDGES UNDER PEDALS. SERVICE MANAGER SAID THEY KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT HAVE NO FIX. AT NO SPEED DO YOU FEEL AS IF YOU ARE FULLY IN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IT WALLOWS AND PULLS TO THE RIGHT. THIS LEADS TO CONSTANT OVER-STEERING, WHICH COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL. SERVICE MANAGER CONTENDS THAT EVERYTHING MEETS THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECS. WHEN QUESTIONED ABOUT THE FIRESTONE AFFINITY, TOURING T1, P185/65/R15 86T M& S TIRES THE CAR CAME THROUGH WITH, HE MADE NO RESPONSE.
1999 Saturn Sw recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 1999 Saturn Sw.
- Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
- Components: SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
- Summary: 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.
- Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.
- Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES FOR PROPER INSTALLATION AND TORQUE OF THE SEAT BELT SHOULDER GUIDE ANCHOR BOLTS.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1999 Saturn Sw problems:
1999 Saturn SL1 Problems and Complaints - 12 Issues
Top 1999 Saturn SL1 Problems · Timing Chain May Come Into Contact With Timing Cover and Make Noise · Stalling/Charge Light Illumination Due to Failed Alternator.
Saturn S-Series Questions - What are some problems that occur with ...
Feb 1, 2007 ... What are some common problems that occur with ... 1999 saturn sc2 and I absolutely love it! ... The engine w... 1992 Saturn S-Series 4 Dr SL Sedan.
1999 Saturn SL1 Transmission Issue - Maintenance/Repairs - Car ...
Mar 4, 2015 ... I have a 1999 Saturn SL1 with a transmission issue. After driving in ... This is a common problem on the SL1 engine. If you have this ...
Q&A: Troubleshooting 99 Saturn SL2 Starter Motor Issues
Sep 30, 2009 ... Because a starter is a common failure ... IF it does not light up, there could be a problem in the ignition switch or starter relay. ... I asked a ...
Horn not working a common problem? - Saturn Forum - Saturn ...
Feb 8, 2011 ... Both located in the block under the hood. The horn relay switch 12 volts d.c. to the horn and supplies power through the dark green wire at the ...
Other years of Saturn Sw
Are you having problems with your 1999 Saturn Sw?
Leave your review of 1999 Saturn Sw