1998 Saturn SL Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 8about this part
- Share
- 5%of 168 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 102,382miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 8 complaints about the air bags of the 1998 Saturn SL, 5% of the 168 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 102,382 miles. 7 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was a passenger in the 1998 Saturn sl1, while approaching an intersection two cars behind the lead car about to go through intersection the driver in the on-coming lane decide last minute to make a left hand turn at the intersection in front of the lead car in are lane. Which caused a chain reaction of accidents. While the 1998 Saturn SL was indeed the last car to hit the pile up upon impact I exhaled and tried to relax my body for impact like I observed on discovery's myth busters after impact as I was asking my friend driver if she was ok. The air bag deployed late! ... …”
NHTSA complaint #10453980, filed 2012-04, 148,763 miles“While driving at 65 MPH left front tire went flat, consumer lost control, vehicle rolled over, and neither of the air bags deployed . Consumer bought vehicle five days prior to accident, and was not sure if there were air bags in the vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #10050457, filed 2003-12, 56,000 miles“I was driving a person ran a stop sign and I hit the vehicle head on the airbag blew up in my face sounded like a bomb I had burns on my face head hands and fore arms my ribs were bruised and some contusions in back and knees.”
NHTSA complaint #10649360, filed 2014-10“My brother was killed june 24, 2005, in a single car accident. He was driving a 1998 Saturn SL on an interstate in mississippi, the Saturn went out of control, his seatbelt (which he always wore) and he was ejected from the car. Since his death, I've found on NHTSA's site almost 30 different complaints from 1998 Saturn sly owners describing serious failures of that cars stability, brakes, steering, and air bags---all of which resulted in the car going out of control. Fortunately, the drivers in the 30 complaints I've found all stated that the injuries were not fatal. …”
NHTSA complaint #10130786, filed 2005-08“The contact stated the frontal airbags failed to deploy when the vehicle's front end impacted the rear of another while traveling 35 MPH on a dry blacktop surface. A police report and photos were taken after the vehicle was towed away. One injury was sustained in the accident. The service dealer and manufacturer were notified. Updated 10/4/2006 -”
NHTSA complaint #10166736, filed 2006-08Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 9 | 7% |
| 2001 | 13 | 12% |
| 2000 | 5 | 3% |
| 1999 | 20 | 11% |
| 1998 | 8 | 5% |
| 1997 | 17 | 7% |
| 1996 | 18 | 6% |
| 1995 | 31 | 9% |
| 1994 | 20 | 7% |
| 1993 | 10 | 6% |
| 1992 | 3 | 2% |
| 1991 | 1 | 3% |
Other parts of the 1998 Saturn SL
33 complaintsEngine cooling
28 complaintsBrakes
20 complaintsSeat belts
17 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
17 complaintsElectrical system
16 complaintsTires
12 complaintsOther or unknown
10 complaintsBody and structure
9 complaintsSeats
7 complaintsVehicle speed control
7 complaintsFuel system
6 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Saturn SL
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology