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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

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0Investigations

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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

Power Train complaints

33 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 2001
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE, STOPPED AFTER INCREASING SPEED. SHORTLY AFTER, CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE FROM UNDER HOOD. PARKED VEHICLE,AND NEXT MORNING THERE WAS TRANSMISSION FLUID UNDER VEHICLE, TOWED TO DEALER, WHO FOUND A DIFFERENTIAL PIN HAD COME LOOSE IN TRANSMISSION, AND CAUSED A HOLE IN TRANSMISSION.…

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WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE, STOPPED AFTER INCREASING SPEED. SHORTLY AFTER, CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE FROM UNDER HOOD. PARKED VEHICLE,AND NEXT MORNING THERE WAS TRANSMISSION FLUID UNDER VEHICLE, TOWED TO DEALER, WHO FOUND A DIFFERENTIAL PIN HAD COME LOOSE IN TRANSMISSION, AND CAUSED A HOLE IN TRANSMISSION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #885024

Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 2000
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

VEHICLE'S TRACTION CONTROL FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HYDROPLANE AND SPIN OUT OF CONTROL AND OFF HIGHWAY. WHILE SPINNING, ABS BRAKES FAILED AND CAUSED WHEELS TO LOCK UP.

NHTSA ODI #849684

Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ODI #712656

Mileage unknown · Feb 26, 1999
Power TrainSuspensionCrash

VEHICLE WANDERS FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHEN DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30-60MPH. LOUD BANGING NOISE OCCURS WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. HIGH FREQUENCY WHINING FROM THE ENGINE THAT ADDS TO THE NOISE. ALSO, TRANSMISSION SHIFTING HAS TOO LITTLE OR TOO MUCH POWER. DEALER/WESTERN REGION MFR. CONTACTED AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL…

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VEHICLE WANDERS FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHEN DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30-60MPH. LOUD BANGING NOISE OCCURS WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. HIGH FREQUENCY WHINING FROM THE ENGINE THAT ADDS TO THE NOISE. ALSO, TRANSMISSION SHIFTING HAS TOO LITTLE OR TOO MUCH POWER. DEALER/WESTERN REGION MFR. CONTACTED AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #835267

Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 1999
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY. THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #834736

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #607056

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

THE COOLANT OVERFLOW TANK CAP NOT TIGHT. YH

NHTSA ODI #606846

Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 1998
Power Train

TRANSMISSION JERKING AND EXPERIENCES UNWANTED SURGES ALMOST RESULTING IN COLLISIONS.

NHTSA ODI #542537

Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 1998
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

THE PROBLEM IN A NUTSHELL IS UNEXPECTED/UNPREDICTABLE APPARENT LOSS OF BRAKING.

NHTSA ODI #700051

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.