1998 Saturn SL
No clear pattern 24.4% of complaints about the 1998 Saturn SL arrived in its first year of service. That is an unusual figure for a 1998 vehicle, but with only 176 complaints on record the sample is too small to call it a pattern — the margin of error covers the range where ordinary vehicles sit. The figures below are reported without a verdict. The most-reported system is power train (31 complaints), typically at 3.8 yr or about 61,007 miles.
- Complaints
- 176
- Median age at failure
- 3.7 yr
- Median mileage
- 66,000 n=43
- Crash / fire / tow
- 17.6% of reports
- Safety recalls
- 1
09E012000 2009-04-07
Exterior lighting
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Power train mileage not reported 9 mo in service
WHEN TRAVELING 35 MPH, GOING UP AN INCLINE AND VEHICLE IS PLACED IN FOURTH GEAR, THE VEHICLE WILL DROP FROM FOURTH GEAR INTO SECOND AND WILL ACCELERATE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. DEALER STATES NORMAL OPERATIONS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Power train mileage not reported 1.0 yr in service
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
Power train mileage not reported 1.3 yr in service
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
Service brakes, hydraulic mileage not reported 1.9 yr in service
THE CONSUMER STATE WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKE'S, THE BRAKE'S WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKE'S AND THE VEHICLE SLOW DOWN AND CAME TO A STOP AND THE CONSUMER STATE THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE BRAKE'S HAS FAIL.