Saturn SCModel year report

1998 Saturn SC Problems

Complaints: 13filed with NHTSA
Median mileage: 97,112miles, 5 complaints with mileage
Recalls: 0campaigns on record
Trend: Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating: —overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy: 27 mpgcombined, 1.9L 4-cyl FWD · 23 city / 34 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1998 Saturn SC (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 13 consumer complaints for the 1998 Saturn SC. The part named most often is transmission and drivetrain, with 4 complaints (31% of the total), followed by engine cooling (3) and brakes (2). 5 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 97,112 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 4 technical service bulletins for this model year. Engine cooling complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Vehicle speed control (1).

Example complaints

Transmission and drivetrain: “As I'm pulling away from a stop sign, I go to shift into 2nd gear & it's as if my manual gear shifter is not attached to anything. I am now not in any gear , unable to shift into gear, & left coasting across a 4 lane, 2 way street. Also, both front seat seatbelts only retract about half way, and it has been that way from at least 17000 miles.”

NHTSA complaint #10270017, filed 2009-05, 97,112 miles

Engine cooling: “Car overheated on 4 lane highway. Had to pull over while cars were driving by. Replacement of head gasket at 101,000 miles. Car is still not working properly as head was replaced and now a ping had developed. 8jb”

NHTSA complaint #10130524, filed 2005-07, 101,000 miles

Brakes: “Consumer states that when applying the brakes the brakes will go all the way to the floor. The stopping distance has increased. Contacted dealer and the dealer states that the brakes are prefectly ok. *mrconsumer does not feel safe in this vehicle.”

NHTSA complaint #8020214, filed 2002-10

Mileage when problems were reported

0% of the 5 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 80,085 and 101,000 miles.

Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (5 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 97,112 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1998 Saturn SC version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

Version	Engine	Transmission	City	Hwy	Comb.	Fuel / yr
SC FWD	1.9L 4-cyl	5-speed manual	24	36	28	$2,400
SC FWD	1.9L 4-cyl	4-speed automatic	23	34	27	$2,500
SC FWD	1.9L 4-cyl	5-speed manual	23	33	26	$2,600
SC FWD	1.9L 4-cyl	4-speed automatic	21	31	25	$2,700

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1998 Saturn SC in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 4 on record; the latest 4 are shown.

10233369Mar 10, 2023Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors), Electrical system…. 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…
10082506Aug 26, 2016Equipment. 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…
10248444Jun 30, 2014Equipment. Vehicle Recalls
10246631Sep 1, 2013Engine cooling. Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules

Other model years of the Saturn SC

Year	Complaints	Median mi	Recalls	Crash ★	MPG	Score (50 = typical)	Trend
2002	38	65,000	0	—	27	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
2001	21	90,500	2	—	27	—	Falling
2000	7	142,000	7	—	27	—	Not enough data
1999	24	79,446	1	—	27	—	Stable
1998	13	97,112	0	—	27	—	Not enough data
1997	33	101,552	3	—	27	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
1996	26	73,815	0	—	27	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
1995	39	94,450	2	—	27	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
1994	51	147,000	1	—	26	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
1993	23	79,500	1	—	26	—	Stable
1992	16	—	2	—	25	—	Stable
1991	5	—	1	—	25	—	Not enough data

All Saturn SC model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1998 Saturn SC have?

NHTSA recorded 13 consumer complaints for the 1998 Saturn SC as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1998 Saturn SC is reported most often?

Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 4 complaints (31% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 3.

Has the 1998 Saturn SC been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1998 Saturn SC get?

The EPA rates the 1998 Saturn SC (SC, 1.9L 4-cyl) at 27 mpg combined, 23 city and 34 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,500 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1998 Saturn SC reported?

Among the 5 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 97,112 miles and the middle half falls between 80,085 and 101,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.