1998 Saturn SL Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other SL years
- About as many complaints as other years 5th of 8 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 168 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Saturn SL. That ranks 5th out of 8 SL model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (33 complaints, 20%), typically at around 58,304 miles. Complaints mention 23 crashes, 2 fires, 31 injuries. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year.
- 168owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 23complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 Saturn SL problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 33 | 20% | 58,304 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 28 | 17% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 17 | 10% | 54,600 | — | — |
| Visibility | 17 | 10% | 41,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 16 | 10% | 180,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 16 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 12 | 7% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 9 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 8 | 5% | 102,382 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 8 | 5% | 62,280 | — | — |
| Seats | 7 | 4% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 | 4% | 80,250 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 | 3% | 180,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 4 | 2% | 62,280 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 2% | 72,000 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 4 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 4 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 4 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Child Seat | 2 | 1% | 127,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 1% | 101,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1998 Saturn SL recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 1998 Saturn SL.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Coolant around the spark plug nearest the transmission, engine oil is visible in coolant tank. Internet search revealed a cracked head due to factory defect in head casting. Gm did not issue a recall! *tr
I was driving a person ran a stop sign and i hit the vehicle head on the airbag blew up in my face sounded like a bomb i had burns on my face head hands and fore arms my ribs were bruised and some contusions in back and knees. *tr
When turning off the car, the key gets stuck in the ignition switch between the run and off positions. When stuck the key cannot be turned or removed. The car cannot be started nor can the key be removed. *tr
Vehicle stalled for unknown reason. No check-engine light went on, so the mechanic could not check codes. *tr
Exiting freeway lost control of the car and crashed vehicle. *tr
Other Saturn SL years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 SL | 131 | 0 |
| 2001 SL | 111 | 2 |
| 2000 SL | 148 | 7 |
| 1999 SL | 178 | 1 |
| 1998 | 168 | 0 |
| 1997 SL | 227 | 2 |
| 1996 SL | 287 | 1 |
| 1995 SL | 355 | 3 |
See all Saturn SL problems by year, every Saturn model, or the VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Saturn SL?
Owners most often report power train, engine and engine cooling, seat belts problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 33 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Saturn SL?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 1998 Saturn SL a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other SL model years, the 1998 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.