Most common 1998 Saturn SL problems
Share of the 168 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Saturn SL complaints by model year
Best SL years: 2001, 2002, 2000. Years to avoid: 1995, 1996. Compare all years →
What 1998 Saturn SL owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 33 →
My 23 yr old son was traveling from ventura, ca at 75 MPH on fwy 99 n bound in the middle lane (of 3) at about 1 a.m. In fresno, ca. Just before arriving at his exit to hwy 41 n, the rear end began to skid to the left. Driver steered into the skid to correct while stepping on the brakes to reduce speed. Suddenly the rear end of the car was hurled into the air causing the entire vehicle to go airborne, clearing the third lane (far right lane) and landing on top of asphalt berm and soft, sandy embankment resulting in the car rolling and going airborne, bouncing off the rear end of the car and going airborne yet a third time landing upside down on the shoulder of the freeway with the nose of the car extending into the third lane. Driver received minor injuries but chp officers were astonished it was not a fatality. Car was totaled. …
While parking my 1898 Saturn SL in a hospital garage, the shift lever went limp without warning. There was no way to operate the transmission. When I removed the console, I discovered that the plastic bushing that connects the manual shift lever to the shift cable was missing. There was no longer any connection between the shift lever and the cable to the transmission. The entire shift cable assembly had to be replaced to fix the problem. Saturn told me that the bushing is made onto the cable rather than being available as a separate part. If this bushing had failed in a traffic situation it could have resulted in an accident. The bushing should be designed such that if it brakes; the shift lever will remain connected to the shift cable and just cause sloppy shifting thereby warning the driver that repair is required. I still have the old shift cable assembly.
Engine & cooling all 29 →
Dt*: the contact stated the coolant level indicator light illuminated. When the coolant was checked, the coolant level was low and thickened. On further investigation, coolant had been found mixed into the oil due to the gasket breaking down from contact with the coolant. The oil mixed with the coolant caused sludge build up in the engine. The contact notified the service dealer who recommended flushing the radiator. The manufacturer was notified.
Tl contact owns a 1998 Saturn sl2. While driving 50 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning and shut off. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The failure occurs when the vehicle has traveled long distances. The dealer is unable to diagnose the cause of failure. The current mileage is 181,000 and failure mileage was 40,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Brakes all 20 →
Not long after we purchased the vehicle, the brakes made noise and caused the steering wheel to vibrate upon braking. Brought in the vehicle for service and they said the rotors were warped, they cut them down. Since then the brakes have made noises and the rear wheels lockup upon initial driving daily. Each time the vehicle was brought in for regular oil changes, we complained about the noises, at 10.209 miles &16,284 miles, but they always said nothing was wrong. Now the brakes are still making noises when you first start the vehicle. Also, now the steering wheel vibrates upon braking, more at higher speeds, causing harder braking at times when quick braking is needed. Upon slow rolling stops, like coming to a light, the car surges, like the brakes are grabbing at certain points then releasing. …
I too have had repeated brake problems with my sl1. The first time Saturn replaced them because at 25,000 miles, they should not be bad. Then at 45,000 miles it happened again! The service man told me it was because I was "riding" the brake. Of course it was my fault - not! I argued with him, but lost. Had to pay almost $400 dollars for a brake job that was already replaced and should have been under warranty. I asked him if I was going to be changing the rotors again in 30,000 miles, he said no. It should last till 50,000 miles. Guess what?!? 25,000 miles later, it is having the same problems. Not only that, I now have a cracked/blown head gasket to which after many inquiries, seems to happen alot in the sl1 models. We'll see what happens, but needless to say I will not be investing in "a different kind of car company" anymore.
1998 Saturn SL engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.9L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 24 / 36 / 28 |
| 1.9L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 23 / 34 / 27 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Saturn SL a good car?
Based on 168 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 SL rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the SL at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Saturn SL?
The transmission & drivetrain — 33 complaints, 20% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the engine & cooling (29) and brakes (20).
How many recalls does the 1998 Saturn SL have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1998 Saturn SL. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Saturn SL?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2001, 2002 and 2000. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1995 and 1996. See the full Saturn SL years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Saturn SL problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 67,000 miles; 24% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.