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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

Electrical System complaints

16 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 1999
Electrical System

DESIGN LOCATION OF THE HORN MADE IT HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO FIND DURING AN EMERGENCY RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #544073

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Electrical System

GENERATOR FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #609424

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Electrical System

SPARK PLUG WIRE FAILED RESULTING IN DECREASED POWER. YH

NHTSA ODI #609050

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

FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #607060

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Electrical System

BATTERY / ALTERNATOR / GENERATOR ASSEMBLY FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ODI #606778

Mileage unknown · Oct 8, 1998
Electrical SystemPower Train

WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH AND COMING TO A HALT THE COMPUTER SHUT DOWN AND NOTHING IN THE CAR WORKED. DEALER CONTACTED TWO TIMES IN THE SAME DAY WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND ATTEMPTED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER DROVE THE CAR AWAY WITH NO GUARANTEE THE PROBLEM WOULD NOT REOCCUR. CONSUMER IS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE SITUATION. SEVE…

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WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH AND COMING TO A HALT THE COMPUTER SHUT DOWN AND NOTHING IN THE CAR WORKED. DEALER CONTACTED TWO TIMES IN THE SAME DAY WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND ATTEMPTED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER DROVE THE CAR AWAY WITH NO GUARANTEE THE PROBLEM WOULD NOT REOCCUR. CONSUMER IS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE SITUATION. SEVERAL REPAIRS OF DUE TO LOSS OF POWER, HOWEVER VEHICLE STILL EXPERIENCES PROBLEMS. TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS DURING SHIFTING, FOUND SCUFFED VALVES, REPLACED VALVES THAT WERE BINDING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #828715

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.