Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 1998 Saturn SL
NHTSA data on file today
The 1998 Saturn SL has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 167 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #09E012000 FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Power Train 32 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 27 complaints
- Seat Belts 16 complaints
- Visibility 15 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 14 complaints
- Electrical System 13 complaints
Of the 167 complaints on file, 23 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 167 complaints, owners report 31 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$7,500AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 1998 Saturn SL has a below-average reliability rating due to multiple complaints about the power train, engine cooling, and visibility issues. Limited recalls indicate aftermarket lighting issues, but multiple owner reports highlight significant concerns in major vehicle systems, which could indicate costly repairs.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| power train | 70,000–100,000 miles | $800–$2,000 | very common |
| engine cooling | 60,000–90,000 miles | $400–$1,500 | common |
| visibility system | 50,000–75,000 miles | $250–$700 | common |
| service brakes | 70,000–100,000 miles | $300–$600 | occasional |
| electrical system | 75,000–105,000 miles | $150–$500 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter change
- Brake pad replacement
- Coolant system flush
- Transmission fluid change
- Air filter replacement
- Battery testing
- Tire rotation
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Whining noise from transmission
- Overheating engine
- Faulty headlight operation
- Weak brake performance
- Intermittent electrical failures
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 1998 Saturn SL at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.