AI Damage1998 Saturn SW: common problems
Owners of the 1998 Saturn SW filed 27 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and vehicle speed control. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 27
- involving a crash
- 4
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 22% of all complaints
- 2 Vehicle speed control 19% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 11% of all complaints
- 4 Visibility 11% of all complaints
- 5 Air bags 7% of all complaints
- 6 Seat belts 7% of all complaints
- 7 Seats 7% of all complaints
- 8 Electrical system 4% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 6 complaints (22% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 5 complaints (19% of all).
- Powertrain: 3 complaints (11% of all).
- Visibility: 3 complaints (11% of all).
- Air bags: 2 complaints (7% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.9 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 27 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Parking brake | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Seats collapsed when rear ended while stopped at light--if passenger was in back seat, there is a strong possibility of serious injury. If it's a small child, death from the impact of the collapsing seat could cause death.
Consumer vehicle was at a stand still when another vehicle rear ended it at an impact of approximately 40 mph, causing both front seats to fall backward; dealer/mfr. Notifed and had nothing postive to say. Seeking information from nhtsa in this matter.
Consumer's airbags didn't deploy. Also, consumer was hurt, suffered a hairlike fracture on her tail bone.
Experiencing a rattle or click noise from the rear of vehicle when turning at slow speeds and/or driving over uneven surfaces.
The consumer stated the driver's side seat belt broke while the vehicle was in use. The latch came loose. She has spoken with saturn, they told her to take it in to be inspected. On the way to the dealership they were pulled over for not wearing a seat belt.
While driving 10 mph engine stalled. The dealer stated that the engine bearing wore out completely on one side. As a result, the engine needed to be replaced.
Brake failure. On sr88 southbound to liberty rd. 19'98 saturn sw2, 110000 miles. Condition excellent. Coming to liberty rd at about 55 mph slowng for rt turn..brake pedal went to the floor. Zero braking effect. Luckily pulled ahead to a wide, safe shoulder.
There is a crack in the front windshield that begins were the rear view mirror is attached to the windshield. Consumer can not see trough front windshield. Windshield was inspected for cracks, none was found. In addition, crack reached to both left and right sides that spanned approximately 8 inches.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 7,189 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 20% most complained about).
On average one model year of the SW has 21 complaints (10 years in the data). This year has 27, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Saturn SW?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, vehicle speed control, powertrain. Total complaints: 27. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: stalls while driving (15%), brake failure (7%), seat belts (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1998 Saturn SW?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1998 Saturn SW from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1998 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.