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1998 Saturn Sl

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Saturn Sl do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 171.5.

About this comparison →
168Owner complaints

Model-year median: 171.5

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
355
1995287
1996227
1997168
1998178
1999148
2000111
2001
Compare all Sl years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
33Engine And Engine Cooling
28Seat Belts
17Visibility
17Electrical System
16
All reported categories
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
16Tires
12Structure
9Air Bags
8Seats
7Unknown Or Other
7Vehicle Speed Control
7Exterior Lighting
5Equipment
4Fuel System, Gasoline
4Parking Brake
4Steering
4Suspension
4Child Seat
2Fuel System, Other
2Interior Lighting
2Engine
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 38 of 168 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

23 crash reports2 fire reports19 injury reports

Visibility complaints

17 reports
Clear category filter
41,000 miles · Feb 7, 2004
Visibility

REAR WINDOWS WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN. HOWEVER, THEY FALL DOWN ON LOW SPEED, SLIGHT IMPACT, UNLEVEL TERRAIN (BUMPS). I WONDER IF SATURN HAS ANY IDEA HOW FUN IT IS TO STOP EVERYTIME YOU PASS A BUMP IN THE ROAD, GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND MANUALLY PUSH THE WINDOWS BACK IN PLACE; ONLY TO HAVE THEM FALL AGAIN WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR. DON…

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REAR WINDOWS WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN. HOWEVER, THEY FALL DOWN ON LOW SPEED, SLIGHT IMPACT, UNLEVEL TERRAIN (BUMPS). I WONDER IF SATURN HAS ANY IDEA HOW FUN IT IS TO STOP EVERYTIME YOU PASS A BUMP IN THE ROAD, GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND MANUALLY PUSH THE WINDOWS BACK IN PLACE; ONLY TO HAVE THEM FALL AGAIN WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR. DON'T DRIVE YOUR 1998 SATURN SL2 IN THE RAIN UNLESS YOU WISH TO GET WET ALONG WITH EVERYTHING IN YOUR REAR SEAT. IT'S DEFINATELY "DIFFERENT IN A SATURN", THAT'S WHY I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ONE AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10056746

Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2003
Visibility

BOTH POWER WINDOWS IN REAR OF CAR FAILED. BOTH POWER WINDOWS FAILED EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE RARELY BEEN USED. DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDOW DROPS DOWN WHILE DRIVING CAUSING DISTRACTION TO DRIVER AND EXCESSIVE WIND AND WIND NOISE IN THE CAR. A THIRD POWER WINDOW COMPONENT WAS REPLACED ON THE FRONT OF THE CAR WHILE STILL UNDER WARRAN…

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BOTH POWER WINDOWS IN REAR OF CAR FAILED. BOTH POWER WINDOWS FAILED EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE RARELY BEEN USED. DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDOW DROPS DOWN WHILE DRIVING CAUSING DISTRACTION TO DRIVER AND EXCESSIVE WIND AND WIND NOISE IN THE CAR. A THIRD POWER WINDOW COMPONENT WAS REPLACED ON THE FRONT OF THE CAR WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. SUSPECT FAULTY WINDOW REGULATORS AS DEALER MENTIONED BOTH REGULATORS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. DATE IS APPROXIMATE FOR 1ST WINDOW. SECOND WINDOW FAILED ABOUT 7 MONTHS LATER.

NHTSA ODI #10002908

Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2001
Power TrainStructureVisibility

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #752535

Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 2000
Visibility

I HAVE HAD IT IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR THEM TO FIX IT. THEY PUT IN A DELAY BLOWER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IT HAS BEEN BAD FROM THE START. ONE OF THEIR SALESMAN HAS SAID THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT THE SERVICE DEPT SAYS THERE IS NOT. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED ONCE BECAUSE OF IT

NHTSA ODI #719861

Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingStructureVisibility

ALL THE COMPLAINTS THAT I HAVE MADE ARE ALREADY LISTED ON YOUR LIST EXCEPT THE WINSHIELD FLUID PUMP. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN REGARDING THE RATTLING NOISE THEY COULDN'T HEAR SO THEY TOLD ME TOO BRING IT IN IF IT BECOMES MORE NOTICABLE.

NHTSA ODI #711558

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Visibility

POWER WINDOW MOTOR.

NHTSA ODI #609653

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Visibility

WINDOW WASHER SPRAY NOZZLE FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #609324

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Visibility

POWER WINDOWS FAILED. NM

NHTSA ODI #608124

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #607973

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineStructure

FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #607060

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.