Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1993 Saturn SW. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR:GENERATOR
- Summary
- 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 WARNING.
- Remedy
- THE GENERATOR WIRING HARNESS WILL BE REPLACED WITH ONE THAT WILL OPEN AS A FUSE WOULD UNDER CERTAIN EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW CONDITIONS.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BATTERY:CABLE
- Summary
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (27)
27 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The service brakes is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 27 |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 6 | 22.2% |
| Seat belts | 5 | 18.5% |
| Structure | 3 | 11.1% |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 11.1% |
| Child seat | 2 | 7.4% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 7.4% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | 7.4% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 7.4% |
| Power train | 2 | 7.4% |
| Seats | 2 | 7.4% |
How 1993 compares with other SW years
Best and worst SW years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 1 | 1 |
| 1993 | 27 | 2 |
| 1994 | 30 | 1 |
| 1995 | 36 | 2 |
| 1996 | 20 | 0 |
| 1997 | 31 | 0 |
| 1998 | 27 | 0 |
| 1999 | 16 | 1 |
| 2000 | 15 | 7 |
| 2001 | 6 | 2 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 28 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,400
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 317 g/mi
- EPA class
- Small Station Wagons
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 28 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.9 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 / 33 / 28 | $2,400 | 317 |
| 1.9 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 / 32 / 26 | $2,600 | 342 |
| 1.9 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 / 32 / 25 | $2,700 | 356 |
| 1.9 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 / 30 / 24 | $2,800 | 370 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1993 SW for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1993 Saturn SW FAQ
How many recalls does the 1993 Saturn SW have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 93V132000 (electrical), 93V094000 (electrical). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1993 Saturn SW problems?
Owners filed 27 complaints with NHTSA. Service brakes (6), Seat belts (5), Structure (3) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1993 Saturn SW get?
EPA rates the 1.9 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 24 city, 33 highway and 28 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1993 SW compare with other years?
Among the 1992–2001 Saturn SW model years at least five years old, the 1992 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 1995 the most (36). The 1993 drew 27. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.