Total Complaints
20 filings
SATURN SATURN · model year
1998 SATURN SATURN
20 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998SATURNSATURN carries 20 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1998 SATURN is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline with 3 filings, followed by electrical system:ignition (2) and power train:automatic transmission (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 14 investigation files overlapping the 1998 SATURN. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
20
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE | 1 |
| SEATS | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
| STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20050428STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK
A SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BEARINGS IN THE STEERING COLUMN WERE DEFECTIVE. *AK THE GEAR AND RACK WAS REPLACED. CURRENTLY THE NOISE WOULD GET LOUDER AND MORE FREQUENT. THE ENTIRE RACK HAD TO BE REPLACED. *SC *JB
Mileage: 58,000
20040422ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DEAR SIR, OR MADAM, I PURCHASED MY SATURN IN JULY 2002, MY CAR NEVER OVER HEATED UNTIL RECENTLY, MY HUSBAND CHECKED MY OIL AND ANTIFREEZE AND NOTICED SOMETHING ON THE DIP STICK AND COOLANT CONTAINER THAT LOOKED LIKE A CHOCOLATE MILKSHAKE I THOUGHT IT WAS TIME FOR A OIL CHANGE AND RADIATOR FLUSH AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEAD GASKET AND POSSIBLY HEAD WERE DAMAGED, I HAVE BEEN LOOKING TO SEE IF THIS PARTICULAR YEAR SATURN HAS HAD MANY REPORTED COMPLAINTS, OF THIS SAME PROBLEM, I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT TO DO I SEEN WHERE 1991-1997 HAD PROBLEMS AND HAD THE HEAD REPLACED OF OVER 1800 SATURNS IF YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE PLEASE LET ME KNOW I STILL OWE ALOT ON THIS CAR AND AT THIS POINT I VERY MUCH REGRET EVER BUYING THIS CAR. THANK YOU
20031203CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE RAN INTO ANOTHER CAR ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*MR CONSUMER TRIED TO AVOID THE OTHER VEHICLE BY SLAMMING ON BREAKS BUT TO NO AVAIL. *PH
20030128CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOY WITHOUT IMPACT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
20030109SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT WILL NOT RELEASE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM
20010214POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CLUTCH IS STARTING TO SLIP, RPMS WOULD JUMP HIGHER THAN THEY SHOULD WHEN ACCELERATING. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY URGED REPLACEMENT OF CLUTCH. *AK
20010214VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CLUTCH IS STARTING TO SLIP, RPMS WOULD JUMP HIGHER THAN THEY SHOULD WHEN ACCELERATING. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY URGED REPLACEMENT OF CLUTCH. *AK
20001010VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SENSOR... WHEN IN REVERSE CAR TAKES OFF WITHOUT MY NEED FOR ACCELERATION. I USE BRAKE TO CONTROL MY SPEED. WHEN GOING TO DRIVE CAR LURCHES FORWARD BRAKE NEEDED, SPEED UP TO 25 MPG. SHIFTING ON ITS OWN. CONTINUES AT LIGHTS AND INTERSECTIONS.. DOES NOT IDLE DOWN... EXHAUST PIPE .. CRACK IN SEAM WELD.. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A DESIGN DEFECT. I HAVE TO PAY NEARLY $300.00 FOR NEW PIPE, $ 206.00 FOR THE PART. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHERS WITH SAME PROBLEMS IN THE PIPE AT DEALERSHIP....IN WAITING ROOM. *AK
19991129ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED CONTINUED STALLING AND SHUT DOWN DUE TO TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND IGNITION SYSTEM FAILURES, REPAIRS MADE HOWEVER CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE FAILURES. MJS
19991129ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED CONTINUED STALLING AND SHUT DOWN DUE TO TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND IGNITION SYSTEM FAILURES, REPAIRS MADE HOWEVER CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE FAILURES. MJS
19991129POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED CONTINUED STALLING AND SHUT DOWN DUE TO TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND IGNITION SYSTEM FAILURES, REPAIRS MADE HOWEVER CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE FAILURES. MJS
19991129ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED CONTINUED STALLING AND SHUT DOWN DUE TO TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND IGNITION SYSTEM FAILURES, REPAIRS MADE HOWEVER CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE FAILURES. MJS
19991129POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED CONTINUED STALLING AND SHUT DOWN DUE TO TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND IGNITION SYSTEM FAILURES, REPAIRS MADE HOWEVER CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE FAILURES. MJS
19991129ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED CONTINUED STALLING AND SHUT DOWN DUE TO TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND IGNITION SYSTEM FAILURES, REPAIRS MADE HOWEVER CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE FAILURES. MJS
19990803EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
SATURN'S HATEFUL HIGH BEAM DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE A SERIOUS DISTRACTION, CAUSING UNSAFE CONDITIONS FOR EVERY ONCOMING DRIVER. WHEN ONE PULLS UP BEHIND, YOU HAVE TO TURN YOUR MIRROR OR BE BLINDED. I PRAY YOU WILL RECALL ALL BLINDING SATURNS!
19990730VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
WINDOW MOTOR FAILED FOUR TIMES. *YC
19990409SEATS
DESIGN OF DRIVER'S SEAT IS CAUSING DRIVER TO EXPERIENCE BACK PAIN. *YC
19981127ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
VEHICLE ENGINE DIES, REPLACEMENT OF COMPUTER DID NOT RECTIFY FAILURES.
19981127ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE ENGINE DIES, REPLACEMENT OF COMPUTER DID NOT RECTIFY FAILURES.
19980402VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
DEFROSTING SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY, CAUSED DAMAGE TO INTERIOR OF VEHICLE DUE TO MOISTURE, ALSO CREATES POOR VISIBILITY.
Compare 1998SATURNSATURN to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
EA11014Engineering AnalysisClosed
Electric Power Steering Failure
RQ10004Recall QueryClosed
Electric Power Steering Failure
PE09016Preliminary EvaluationClosed
OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES STICK UNLATCHED
PE08061Preliminary EvaluationClosed
TIMING CHAIN BREAKS, ENGINE STALL
DP08002Defect PetitionClosed
TIMING CHAIN FAILURE-STALL
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1998 SATURN SATURN have?▼
The 1998 SATURN SATURN has 20 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 SATURN SATURN?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 SATURN SATURN is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 1998 SATURN SATURN safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.