1998 Saturn SL Recalls, Complaints & Specs
No safety recalls list the 1998 Saturn SL, and owners have filed 168 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
No safety recalls on record
NHTSA's recall database lists no safety campaigns that include the 1998 Saturn SL. That is good news, with two caveats: recalls can be issued at any time (this page refreshes daily), and a recall filed under a related model name may not appear here. The VIN check above queries NHTSA directly for your exact vehicle.
168 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1998 Saturn SL have filed 168 complaints with NHTSA; 23 describe a crash and 2 describe a fire. Reports cite 29 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 76,190 miles. Complaints peaked in 1999 with 41 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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!”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 30, 2014 · Engine
“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 con”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 23, 2014 · Air bags
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1998 Saturn SL. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 25–28 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 21–24 / 31–36 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.9 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Saturn SL model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Saturn SL model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 Saturn SL | 1 | 29 |
| 1992 Saturn SL | 2 | 123 |
| 1993 Saturn SL | 2 | 175 |
| 1994 Saturn SL | 1 | 286 |
| 1995 Saturn SL | 3 | 355 |
| 1996 Saturn SL | 1 | 287 |
| 1997 Saturn SL | 2 | 227 |
| 1998 Saturn SL | 0 | 168 |
| 1999 Saturn SL | 1 | 178 |
| 2000 Saturn SL | 7 | 148 |
| 2001 Saturn SL | 2 | 111 |
| 2002 Saturn SL | 0 | 131 |
Checking a specific 1998 Saturn SL
How do I know if my 1998 Saturn SL has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Saturn dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number.
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Saturn models
- Ion4,343 complaints
- Vue2,351 complaints
- LS1,458 complaints
- Aura1,439 complaints
- Outlook1,352 complaints
- Sky516 complaints
- SC1413 complaints
- Sc296 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.