Model year record
1998 Saturn SL
No recall campaigns on file for this model year. 222 owner complaints on file.
Recalls
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
| Component | Complaints | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|
| Power train: automatic transmission | 18 | 11,979 mi |
| Engine and engine cooling: engine | 14 | 40,000 mi |
| Tires | 10 | 70,000 mi |
| Visibility: power window devices and controls | 9 | 41,000 mi |
| Unknown or other | 7 | — |
| Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline | 6 | — |
| Seat belts: front: anchorage | 6 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor | 6 | — |
| Air bags | 5 | 56,000 mi |
| Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc | 5 | — |
| Visibility: windshield wiper/washer | 5 | — |
| Electrical system | 4 | 180,000 mi |
| Power train: manual transmission: floor shift assembly | 4 | 55,600 mi |
| Seats: front assembly: recliner | 4 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components | 4 | — |
| Structure: body | 4 | — |
| Suspension: front | 4 | — |
| Air bags: frontal | 3 | — |
| Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator | 3 | — |
| Electrical system: horn | 3 | — |
| Engine and engine cooling: cooling system | 3 | 72,194 mi |
| Interior lighting | 3 | — |
| Power train | 3 | 49,000 mi |
| Seat belts: front | 3 | 500 mi |
| Seat belts: front: retractor | 3 | 68,000 mi |
| Steering: hydraulic power assist system | 3 | — |
| Structure: body: trunk lid | 3 | — |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | — |
| Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery | 2 | — |
| Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash | 2 | — |
| Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe | 2 | 81,000 mi |
| Parking brake | 2 | — |
| Power train: clutch assembly | 2 | — |
| Seat belts: front: buckle assembly | 2 | 59,200 mi |
| Seats | 2 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | 2 | — |
| Structure: body: door | 2 | — |
| Tires: tread/belt | 2 | — |
| Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal | 2 | 66,500 mi |
| Vehicle speed control: cruise control | 2 | 94,000 mi |
| Child seat | 1 | 127,000 mi |
| Child seat: harness retainer/chest clip | 1 | — |
| Electrical system: ignition | 1 | — |
| Electrical system: ignition: module | 1 | — |
| Electrical system: ignition: switch | 1 | — |
| Electrical system: wiring | 1 | — |
| Engine | 1 | 101,000 mi |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 70,000 mi |
| Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: radiator assembly | 1 | — |
| Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system | 1 | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 62,280 mi |
| Equipment: electrical | 1 | — |
| Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc. | 1 | — |
| Equipment: other: owners/service/other manual | 1 | — |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 180,000 mi |
| Exterior lighting: brake lights | 1 | — |
| Exterior lighting: headlights: switch | 1 | — |
| Exterior lighting: turn signal: flasher unit | 1 | — |
| Exterior lighting: turn signal: switch | 1 | — |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 1 | — |
| Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 1 | — |
| Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 1 | 72,000 mi |
| Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system | 1 | — |
| Fuel system, other | 1 | — |
| Fuel system, other: storage: fuel gauge system | 1 | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages: trunk lid: lock | 1 | — |
| Parking brake: conventional | 1 | — |
| Parking brake: conventional: mechanical | 1 | — |
| Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/TECM) | 1 | — |
| Power train: automatic transmission: cooling unit and lines | 1 | — |
| Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift | 1 | 61,007 mi |
| Power train: automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch | 1 | — |
| Power train: axle assembly: axle shaft | 1 | 174,000 mi |
| Power train: manual transmission | 1 | 79,500 mi |
| Power train: manual transmission: column shift assembly | 1 | — |
| Seat belts | 1 | 50,000 mi |
| Seat belts: front: webbing | 1 | — |
| Seat belts: rear/other | 1 | — |
| Seats: front assembly: head restraint | 1 | 50,000 mi |
| Steering: hydraulic power assist: pump | 1 | — |
| Steering: linkages | 1 | — |
| Steering: linkages: tie rod assembly | 1 | — |
| Structure: body: bumpers | 1 | — |
| Structure: body: door: hinge and attachments | 1 | — |
| Tires: sidewall | 1 | — |
| Unknown | 1 | — |
| Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: fan/motor | 1 | — |
| Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: windshield: electrical heating element | 1 | — |
| Visibility: glass, side/rear | 1 | — |
| Wheels | 1 | — |
The 1997 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 1999 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.
Other Saturn SL model years
Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.