1998 Saturn SL 2 from North America - Comments

At 3 years old, (60 k miles), started to burn oil, burns one quart per week at this point, no way to fix without replacing engine, no help from Saturn. I do not want to replace as I want to get a new car. Today I had a catastrophic brake failure (pedal to the floor, no brakes). It turned out to be the master cylinder. The mechanic said that should not happen in newer cars (that type of failure). The catalytic converter is shot (no doubt because of the oil), so I am doing the whole exhaust. The roof leaks sometimes above the rear view mirror intermittently. The car including the brakes was maintained properly, including replacing the battery and oil changes and tune ups, but it made no difference. I did put off the exhaust only because it is $900 but I have scheduled it only because I am afraid of what else will break. It is very uncomfortable and not reliable and I am sorry I ever bought it.

I thought this would be another car I could own for 10 years and it would be a good car (like my previous Pontiac GrandAM was). After 5 years, this thing is turing into a money pit and downright dangerous. I am not putting an engine in it (only way to fix the oil burning problems 2 mechanics told me was a manufacturers defect). So, I drive around with a case of oil in the trunk and put a quart in every week when I get gas. It has been this way a year now. I am very disappointed and will not buy another GM now period. Saturn did not stand behind their product at all. I am getting a Nissan Sentra, but in the meantime (I want to pay down some other things I have before I get the new car so it will be a few months) I am doing the exhaust with reservation. This car has cost me $1,400 since January in repairs and it will be another $900 for the exhaust. Now I don't even consider it safe since I could have been killed having my master cylinder fail today, I had no brakes and pedal to the floor. Saturns seem to be a crapshoot 50/50, woe to those who get the defective ones.

There does seem to be a lot of unhappy Saturn owners out there. I myself owned a 1993 SL2 and I must say it was a real Junker. Luckily a small electrical fire gutted the entire vehicle. I warn everyone each chance I get, Steer clear of Saturn.

Sorry to hear your tale of woe. I've had a 1998 SL2 (bought new in Sept '98) for 6 years and 110K miles. I've had to do the front brakes twice - should have been once, but the shop that did them the first time messed up and the ones they put in croaked after a year. I also had to replace a motor mount (around $100) after 4 years, and am looking at a battery now. Oh, and I've replaced the tires - once - at 90,000. Yes, it cooks a bit of oil - I seem to have to put in a quart about every 1500 miles, but I expect that when the car has 100K+ miles on it. Overall, I've been quite pleased with it.

I have a similar experience today. 2000 SC2, at 36,700 miles the master cylinder failed. Saturn stated "moisture or poor fluid must have been added and we can do nothing as it is out of warranty". The system was never opened. The fluid level was viewed to be low through the transparent reservoir. The cylinder had obviously failed prior to the end of warranty. This is the last Saturn I will ever buy. I would not recommend buying a Saturn or especially having it serviced at a Saturn dealer.

I have a 98 SL1. It has given me nothing, but problems. With 70,000 miles it now needs a new slave cylinder for the clutch a new transmission and a new rear end. Not to mention the brakes are always needing changed. My previous car was a Saturn also. I loved it and never had any problems. It seems that you are very lucky if you get a good Saturn. I will NEVER buy another Saturn.

Your '98 SL1 needed a new rear end? Uh, that's a front wheel drive car. Sounds like you need a new mechanic.

People what do you ALL expect??

No car can last perfectly forever!

Besides I too have 1998 saturn sl2.

And all it does is suddely accelarate the manual says itsa missing vacuum line and it probly is.

Other than that the car gets us EXCELENT MPG.

Got my 94 Saturn SL1 for $50 and it has cost me more in the 5 years than the V-8 Malibu (1978) I had driven to more than 310,00 miles in 16 years!!!

Brakes, exhaust, motor mount and tranny mount and now the windows won't go down without a little help from me and my help to get them back up and they wind up and down .. The only thing that has lasted is the brand new tires!

I have a 98 saturn sl, such an awesome car.

I have a Saturn SL1. It worked good for a little bit, and then all of a sudden out of the blue the head gasket gave out, no warnings, nothing, just a lot of oil in my transmission fluid. I will most likely never buy a Saturn again.

I will never buy another Saturn again!!! Through having two of them, one a 94 SW and one a 98 SL2, both have horrible, cheap, and overall roundabout defective transmissions.

The 94 lasted 230 k miles! I was really impressed and saddened to get rid of it because the motor was still a champ. However it had seen a transmission replacement, transmission seal (separate times), and the differential pin ended up slipping out, therefore cutting the trans in half practically.

The 98 seemed better and smoother riding until again at 75 k the transmission wet the bed and had to be replaced with a used certified trans. 3k later the same thing happened, this time sending pieces through the gear box, transmission case with a 6 inch dia. hole, and even through the torque converter about a 3/4 inch hole.

If you want a real car, buy an Acura!!!. I will never be able to trust a Saturn again!!!

I find it amazing how everyone who complains is expecting a 10 year old car to need nothing in maintenance as if they just drove off the lot with a 3 mile car. If you want no probs, drive new (and even that isn't true sometimes). If you don't mind fixing them, this is the car for you. Most of the fixes are cheaper than a monthly car payment anyway. C'mon people!!

I have had 3 Saturns; a 1993, a 1996 and my recent 1998.

The 93 had 380000 km on it when sold and was completely problem free.

The 96 had 260000km and was just wonderful.

My 98 has 250000km and going strong.

They are excellent on fuel, easy to fix, very durable body and interior. They all were 5 speeds and all got the 35-40mpg.

The only complaint I have is they sit too low and they all burn oil; a common issue with Saturns.

With a body that lasts forever, a motor can always be replaced. Just keep an eye on your oil.

These cars are great buys for a cheap beater.

I've got 2 Saturns, 2001 SL and SL1, both have tranny problems.

They roar at 15 mph, took the whole front end apart on both and thought I had a hub, bearing and ball joint, but it was much worse, my tranny differential bearings are gone on both cars. One at 260,000 km and the other at 142,000km. Wow, 8 year old cars and I've got problems on both of them.

The SL has additional problems that I can't seem to fix, did a vacuum test and got 21 psi, and the thing still misfires on 3 of 4 cylinders, changed the ignition coils, computer module, spark plugs and wires. Also did a spray intake test and still no fix.

Man did I got sucked into 2 lemons. Got a price quote that it would cost me $2000 to fix each one. Going to take the two cars to the scrap yard, market value was only $500 a piece, ain't worth jack to fix'em.

I had a 98 Saturn SL. Loved the car. Only problems I had was a tension pulley. And check engine light that was spitting out random codes. Stopped using cruise to fix that problem. Had 219.000, sure would've had many more if it wasn't for someone hitting me head on.