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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

What owners actually said

168 reports
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

11,979 miles · Dec 20, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THE CAM SWITCH WAS REPLACED TWICE, THE IDLE CONTROL WAS ADJUSTED AND THE THROTTLE WAS REPLACED YET THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED IN REVERSE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10001275

Mileage unknown · Dec 3, 2002
Seat BeltsCrashInjury

NO SUMMARY. DT

NHTSA ODI #770395

Mileage unknown · Nov 22, 2002
Seat Belts

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT TWIST TO WHERE IT WON'T RECALL AND IS DIFFECULT TO BUCKLE. I RECEIVED A SAFTY RECALL IN 2000 AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IN LAFAYETTE, IN TO HAVE IT REPLACED. IT WOOKED OK FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND THEN IT ACTS UP AGAIN. DT

NHTSA ODI #770002

66,000 miles · Nov 15, 2002
Electrical SystemFire

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED, POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. TS *JB

NHTSA ODI #8022851

Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

CRACKED CYL HEAD, OIL & COOLANT WERE MIXING TOGETHER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #764982

Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2002
Power Train

TRANSMISION HESITATES AND JERKS BEFORE GOING INTO ANY GEAR. PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FOR 3 MONTHS.DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND FOUND A FAULTY TRANSMISSION VALVE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8014651

Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #764412

Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING NOISE IN THE FRONT END. DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND ADVISED CONSUMER THAT THERE IS NO ADJUSTMENT ON FRONT BRAKES AND THE REAR BRAKES ADJUST THEMSELVES. HOWEVER CONSUMER FOUND OUT THAT THE REAR BRAKES DO NOT ADJUST THEMSELVES AND HAVE TO BE ADJUSTED MANUALLY. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. VEHICLE ALS…

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VEHICLE EXPERIENCING NOISE IN THE FRONT END. DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND ADVISED CONSUMER THAT THERE IS NO ADJUSTMENT ON FRONT BRAKES AND THE REAR BRAKES ADJUST THEMSELVES. HOWEVER CONSUMER FOUND OUT THAT THE REAR BRAKES DO NOT ADJUST THEMSELVES AND HAVE TO BE ADJUSTED MANUALLY. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. VEHICLE ALSO LOSING BRAKE PEDAL GOING 2/3 OF THE WAY TO FLOOR. DEALER FOUND LEFT FRONT WHEEL ROTOR WAS WORNED. CONSUMER REPLACED BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. *TT THE CALIPERS WERE STICKING AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO REPLACE IT. *YH

NHTSA ODI #566405

Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 2002
Air Bags

WHILE DRIVING AT 2MPH, THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING, CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK *YH

NHTSA ODI #8006322

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.