VehicleVerdict

1998 Saturn SL engine problems

The 1998 Saturn SL has 29 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 13% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.

29

Engine complaints

13%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

SL engine complaints by model year75 complaints1991: 2 complaints1992: 28 complaints1993: 36 complaints1994: 50 complaints1995: 75 complaints1996: 71 complaints1997: 41 complaints1998: 29 complaints1999: 51 complaints2000: 38 complaints2001: 20 complaints2002: 22 complaints
SL engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

CAR OVERHEATED WITH NO WARNING AND SMOKE SPILLED OUT OF FRONT. COOLANT BURST OUT OF CONTAINER AND FLOODED CAR AND GROUND. TECHNICIAN FOUND THAT THE SENSOR BROKEN AND WIRES REMOVED BUT COULD NOT OFFER ANY EXPLANATION. CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN ACCIDENT AND HAS NOT BEEN TAMPERED WITH. THE ONLY PEOPLE WITH…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · March 26, 2001

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 1998 Saturn SL have?

NHTSA has 29 complaints about the 1998 Saturn SL engine — 13% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.