1996 Saturn SW
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 6 of 20 complaints (30%) mention it.
Complaints filed fell from 36 in 1995 to 20 in 1996.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | vs. 1996 Small Station Wagons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,250–2,500 | 2,250–2,500 | 2,250–2,500 | 2,300–2,500 | |
| Combined MPG | 25–28 | 25–28 | 25–28 | 25–27 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 21–24 / 31–36 | 21–24 / 31–35 | 21–24 / 31–34 | 21–24 / 31–34 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 317–355 | 317–355 | 317–355 | 329–355 | |
| Complaints filed | 36 | 20 | 31 | 27 | |
| Recalls issued | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 5 | 1 | 1 | 4 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | |
| Injuries reported | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 1996 Saturn SW have?
No NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026.
What is the most common complaint about the 1996 Saturn SW?
Engine: 6 of 20 NHTSA complaints (30%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 1996 Saturn SW get?
EPA rates it 25–28 MPG combined across 4 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 1996 Saturn SW?
EPA estimates $2,250–$2,500 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 4-spd | 4 | 1.9L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Station Wagons | 21 mpg (low) | 31 mpg (low) | 25 mpg (low) | $2,500 (high) | 355 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic 4-spd | 4 | 1.9L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Station Wagons | 23 mpg | 33 mpg | 27 mpg | $2,300 | 329 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 1.9L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Station Wagons | 22 mpg | 32 mpg | 26 mpg | $2,400 | 342 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 1.9L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Station Wagons | 24 mpg (high) | 35 mpg (high) | 28 mpg (high) | $2,250 (low) | 317 g/mi (low) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls
No recalls have been issued for this model-year.