Experiencing a rattle or click noise from the rear of vehicle when turning at slow speeds and/or driving over uneven surfaces.*Ak
Vehicle safety record
1998 Saturn SW Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 27 complaints about the 1998 Saturn SW with NHTSA, most often about the engine & cooling (6) and the acceleration & cruise control (5). Those complaints describe 4 crashes, 1 fire and 3 injuries. There are no recalls for it. For comparison, the 1997 has 31 and the 1999 has 16.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical SW year, for its age
#124 most complained-about 1998 vehicle
- Complaints
- 27
- Recalls
- 0
- Crashes
- 4
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 3
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 1998 Saturn SW problems
Share of all 27 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
No recalls for the 1998 Saturn SW
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1998 Saturn SW. Recalls can be announced at any time - this page updates daily.
What owners say
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27 complaints about the 1998 Saturn SW
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 2.
Dt: 1998 saturn sw2. 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. Therefore, the vehicle has not yet made it to the dealership. Saturn stated there was a service bulletin for this problem, and the consumer will have to pay for it. This vehicle has never been in any kind of accident. The safety belt was still not working. They were going to take the vehicle to the dealership next tuesday.*Ak
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. *Ak
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. Called aaa for tow,,meantwhile pumped pedal for half hour when got slsight response from pedal which finally about 45 minutes later gave full pedal. Cancelled tow. Went into lodi, ca about 15 more miles safely. Saturn dealer states that nothing could be found...
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wrong with the system. Mechanic states that if the parking brake were engaged even slightly the rear drums would overheat and cause the brake fluid to get so hot that bubbles would form in it thus no brakes. No leaks were found anywhere in the system. Master cylinder ok .All brake pistons ok.Brakes are ok as of this date. (6-30-04). Date of incident was 6-20-04..Time/date of dealers report: 21 june 04 at 0839pdt. Service order 76755 primary tech. 004.*Ak
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. *Ak windshield was inspected for cracks, none was found. In addition, crack reached to both left and right sides that spanned approximately 8 inches. *La
Accelerator pedal hinge broke... Leaving the accelerator pedal hanging from the accelerator cable. Car is not driveable.*Ak
VEHICLE BURNS OIL PREMATURELY. *AK
While driving at any speed and without any prior warning vehicle stalled. *Ak
Rpms do not always return to idle after removal of accelerator pressure. The rpms at random times, remain at 1800 to 2200 as indicated by the tachometer. The engine is also noisy when coming to a stop. Consumer has to shift from drive to neutral when coming to a stop, but rpms still race from 1000 rpm to 2200. Normal tachometer response is usually from 750 to 1000 rpms. Consumer is concerned this is putting wear and tear on transmission and brakes. On other occasions, the vehicle jumped backwards when consumer removed his foot from brake pedal. *Tt
Whilr at a complete stop, vehicle will not return to correct idle position, it will stay at a high idle point. Contacted dealer, and the dealer can not locate the problem.*Ak.*Jg
When engine warms up/slowing down or stopping rpms will increase. Also if taken feet of gas pedal, vehicle will accelerate on its own. This happens intermittently. Contacted dealer, and dealer repaired and replaced parts, but still did not remedy the problem. *Ak
This ignition-high idle problem has exhisted since ownership and first part replacement underwarenty was the idle air control j5542 in feb. 2000. The idle acceleration problem started in 1999, however, could not be repeated during tests drive until feb. 15,2000. At the 42,000 service the same complaint was addressed with the iac motor replaced. The 60,000 mile service the temp. Sensor and ignition module was replaced for $391.00, And the problem of acceleration continues with the rpm's over 2,000. I am...
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concerned for my saftey. The car has actually accelerated without gas/or clutch changes. If I were on ice, which this area is noted for in the winter, I would be in danger. Again, this happens when the car has been driven for a while and the motor is warm, and intermittantly.*Ak
Engine runs rough and stalls. Sometimes ses light comes on, sometimes not. Vehicle will not start. I have had this car to the dealer 8 times in 2 years and they always "fix" something--something different everytime, but the symptoms are the same every time. Dealer says there is "nothing wrong with my car" and that the problem is different every time I bring it in. Several times there have been no codes stored to indicate what the problem was-therefore, according to the dealer-"there is no problem". I don't make...
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this stuff up!!! I am tired of taking the car in for this problem, it has most recently been in on oct. 12, 2000 , Dec. 1, 2000 , And dec. 21, 2000---Everytime I reported the same problems and according to the dealer, every time it is a different problem. There is something wrong with this vehicle causing this problem to continue. I have all the repair records.*Ak
Seat belts will tighten while switching lanes or when increasing speed. Consumer cannot move around to check traffic behind her. Has been to dealer who said that belts are working as designed. Please add additional information. *Ak
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.*Ak
My mechanic told me he has had to replace several transmissions on 1998 saturns, so mine is not an isolated incident.
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. *Ak
Backing out of driveway engine catches on fire. Very sudden. No indication of upcoming problem. Car under warranty. Total loss. *Ak
POWER WINDOW RELAY FAILED. YH
Front power window regulator failed, replacement failed also. Yh
CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. YH
BATTERY FAILED. *YC
Inner cv joint / boot clamp / wheel bearing failed. *Yc
Master cylinder is defective, causing the brake pedal to hit floor, resulting in loss of brakes, also front brakes get very hot, but back brakes are cool. *Ak
Heavy frontal impact. Both front air bags did not deploy.
Saturn SW: every year compared
All SW years1998 Saturn SW vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 Saturn SW | 27 | 0 | C | |
| 1998 Saturn SL | 183 | 1 | C | Compare |
| 1998 Saturn SC1 | 39 | 0 | C | Compare |
| 1998 Saturn SC | 13 | 0 | A | Compare |
| 1998 Saturn S-Series Wagon | 1 | 0 | - | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 1998 Saturn SW
Does the 1998 Saturn SW have any recalls?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1998 Saturn SW right now. Recalls can be announced at any time, and this page checks NHTSA every day. You can also check your exact vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Saturn SW?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the engine & cooling (6), acceleration & cruise control (5), seats & seat belts (4).
How many complaints has the 1998 Saturn SW had?
27 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on January 16, 1998 and the latest on April 15, 2007. Of these, 4 describe a crash and 1 a fire, and together they report 3 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 1998 Saturn SW a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 50 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Saturn SW year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Saturn SW years have the most complaints?
1995 (36), 1997 (31), 1994 (30). See every Saturn SW year compared.
What should I do if my 1998 Saturn SW has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data