1998 Saturn SW: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
16 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
117,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 16 complaints (12.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 3 | 18.8% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 12.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 6.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
| Parking Brake:Conventional:Mechanical | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Parking Brake:Conventional:Mechanical: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Seat Belts: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 12 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 4 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
2000: 4; 2001: 2; 2002: 2; 2003: 1; 2004: 4; 2005: 2; 2007: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10044503 · 2003-10-22 (October 22, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE STALLED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10044503 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10056985 · 2004-02-11 (February 11, 2004)
ACCELERATOR PEDAL HINGE BROKE... LEAVING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HANGING FROM THE ACCELERATOR CABLE. CAR IS NOT DRIVEABLE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10056985 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057210 · 2004-01-30 (January 30, 2004)
VEHICLE BURNS OIL PREMATURELY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 131,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057210 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065100 · 2004-04-29 (April 29, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10065100 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10079071 · 2004-06-30 (June 30, 2004)
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 WRONG WITH THE SYSTEM. MECHANIC…
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10079071 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10111244 · 2005-02-09 (February 9, 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
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10111244 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10136447 · 2005-09-14 (September 14, 2005)
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. THE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10136447 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10187972 · 2007-04-15 (April 15, 2007)
EXPERIENCING A RATTLE OR CLICK NOISE FROM THE REAR OF VEHICLE WHEN TURNING AT SLOW SPEEDS AND/OR DRIVING OVER UNEVEN SURFACES.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10187972 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.