1998 Saturn SW problems & reliability
27 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1998 Saturn SW. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
2 complaints report injuries (3 injured).
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 6 | 22% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 19% |
| Power Train | 3 | 11% |
| Visibility | 3 | 11% |
| Air Bags | 2 | 7% |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 7% |
| Seats | 2 | 7% |
| Electrical System | 1 | 4% |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 4% |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 4% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
All 12 reported components →Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“Experiencing a rattle or click noise from the rear of vehicle when turning at slow speeds and/or driving over uneven surfaces.*ak”
Suspension · filed Apr 15, 2007
“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…”
Seat Belts · filed Sep 14, 2005
“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”
Engine and Engine Cooling · filed Feb 9, 2005
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
7 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 1998 Saturn SW.
This service bulletin revision provides a repair procedure to Remove Debris from Evaporator Case, Disinfect evaporator or Apply Cooling coil coating and install blower motor control module to correct a customer concern…
98-T-18C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 10, 2023
This technical bulletin provides a procedure to reprogram the media disc player with the latest calibrations to correct a condition of the rear entertainment system not operating as intended in colder ambient…
16NA260 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 26, 2016
Vehicle Recalls
Recalls · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 30, 2014
Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
130089009 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 1, 2013
Some customers may comment about abnormal wear or a cut on the inboard edge of the driver or passenger seat back cover. *tt
00T38 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 1, 2000
Vehicles built after and including wz150315 may exhibit a dome lamp that is either inoperative, working intermittently, or flickers when turned on. *tt
99T11 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 1, 1999
Experiencing a rattle or click noise from the rear of vehicle when turning at slow speeds and/or driving over uneven surfaces. *yc
98T07 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 1, 1998
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
No NHTSA recall campaigns name the 1998 Saturn SW in our current data. Recalls may apply only to certain VIN ranges — always confirm with a VIN check.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 1998 Saturn SW?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.