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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
Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Visibility

WASHER FLUID NOZZLE WAS REPLACED, DUE TO FAILURE. PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *YC

NHTSA ODI #606781

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Visibility

WINDOWS FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #606402

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Visibility

POWER WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED. MJS

NHTSA ODI #606240

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
SeatsVisibility

LUMBER SUPPORT FOR THE SEAT FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #606181

Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingSteeringVisibility

DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE WILL VIBRATE AND MAKE BUCKING SOUNDS FROM TIME TO TIME. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP EIGHT TIMES FOR DIFFERENT PROBLEMS. ALSO, THERE IS A LACK OF POWER AND GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. TIDE ROD END HAD TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, CONSUMER HAD POWER STEERING/ WINDOW PROBLEMS. R…

Read full complaint

DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE WILL VIBRATE AND MAKE BUCKING SOUNDS FROM TIME TO TIME. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP EIGHT TIMES FOR DIFFERENT PROBLEMS. ALSO, THERE IS A LACK OF POWER AND GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. TIDE ROD END HAD TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, CONSUMER HAD POWER STEERING/ WINDOW PROBLEMS. REPAIRED VEHICLE THREE TIMES, AND THEY CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SHOP EIGHT MORE TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #830210

Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 1998
Visibility

WINDOW WEATHER STRIPPING TOO LOOSE CAUSING VISIBILITY PROBLEMS DUE TO CONDENSATION.

NHTSA ODI #537246

Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentExterior Lighting

FRONT END MISALIGNED, RESULTING IN PULLING.

NHTSA ODI #536547

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.