FaultScore

1998 Saturn SL window and wiper problems

17 of the 222 complaints about the 1998 Saturn SL are about the glass, mirrors and wipers — 8% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 41,000 miles.

A

17

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Power Window Devices AND Controls 9 52.9%
Windshield Wiper/Washer 5 29.4%
Glass, Side/Rear 1 5.9%
Fan/Motor 1 5.9%
Electrical Heating Element 1 5.9%

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers across every Saturn SL year

1994 15 19.0%
1995 18 22.8%
1996 17 21.5%
1997 12 15.2%
1998 17 21.5%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 41,000 miles Waco, TX

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

REAR WINDOWS WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN. HOWEVER, THEY FALL DOWN ON LOW SPEED, SLIGHT IMPACT, UNLEVEL TERRAIN (BUMPS). I WONDER IF SATURN HAS ANY IDEA HOW FUN IT IS TO STOP EVERYTIME YOU PASS A BUMP IN THE ROAD, GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND MANUALLY PUSH THE WINDOWS BACK IN PLACE; ONLY TO HAVE THEM FALL AGAIN WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR. DON'T DRIVE YOUR 1998 SATURN SL2 IN THE RAIN UNLESS YOU WISH TO GET WET ALONG WITH EVERYTHING IN YOUR REAR SEAT. IT'S DEFINATELY "DIFFERENT IN A SATURN", THAT'S WHY I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ONE AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10056746 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pomona, CA

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

BOTH POWER WINDOWS IN REAR OF CAR FAILED. BOTH POWER WINDOWS FAILED EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE RARELY BEEN USED. DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDOW DROPS DOWN WHILE DRIVING CAUSING DISTRACTION TO DRIVER AND EXCESSIVE WIND AND WIND NOISE IN THE CAR. A THIRD POWER WINDOW COMPONENT WAS REPLACED ON THE FRONT OF THE CAR WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. SUSPECT FAULTY WINDOW REGULATORS AS DEALER MENTIONED BOTH REGULATORS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. DATE IS APPROXIMATE FOR 1ST WINDOW. SECOND WINDOW FAILED ABOUT 7 MONTHS LATER.

NHTSA complaint #10002908 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Iowa City, IA

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #752535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washington, UT

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT

I HAVE HAD IT IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR THEM TO FIX IT. THEY PUT IN A DELAY BLOWER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IT HAS BEEN BAD FROM THE START. ONE OF THEIR SALESMAN HAS SAID THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT THE SERVICE DEPT SAYS THERE IS NOT. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED ONCE BECAUSE OF IT

NHTSA complaint #719861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Flushing, NY

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR

FAN MOTOR AND BLOWER FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #536547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Diego, CA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WINDOW WASHER SPRAY NOZZLE FAILED. YH

NHTSA complaint #609324 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tacoma, WA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

ALL THE COMPLAINTS THAT I HAVE MADE ARE ALREADY LISTED ON YOUR LIST EXCEPT THE WINSHIELD FLUID PUMP. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN REGARDING THE RATTLING NOISE THEY COULDN'T HEAR SO THEY TOLD ME TOO BRING IT IN IF IT BECOMES MORE NOTICABLE.

NHTSA complaint #711558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Santa Paula, CA

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

POWER WINDOW MOTOR.

NHTSA complaint #609653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Irvine, CA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

REAR WINDOW SHIELD WIPER FAILED. YH

NHTSA complaint #606181 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Monrovia, CA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WASHER FLUID NOZZLE WAS REPLACED, DUE TO FAILURE. PROBLEM STILL EXIST.

NHTSA complaint #606781 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Pedro, CA

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

POWER WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED. MJS

NHTSA complaint #606240 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Diego, CA

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

WINDOWS FAILED. YH

NHTSA complaint #606402 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Santa Barb, CA

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

POWER WINDOWS FAILED. NM

NHTSA complaint #608124 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Burbank, CA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #607973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Burbank, CA

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

POWER WINDOWS FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #607060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Langhorne, PA

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE WILL VIBRATE AND MAKE BUCKING SOUNDS FROM TIME TO TIME. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP EIGHT TIMES FOR DIFFERENT PROBLEMS. ALSO, THERE IS A LACK OF POWER AND GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. TIDE ROD END HAD TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, CONSUMER HAD POWER STEERING/ WINDOW PROBLEMS. REPAIRED VEHICLE THREE TIMES, AND THEY CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SHOP EIGHT MORE TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #830210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Toledo, OH

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

WINDOW WEATHER STRIPPING TOO LOOSE CAUSING VISIBILITY PROBLEMS DUE TO CONDENSATION.

NHTSA complaint #537246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1998 Saturn SL problems

← Full 1998 Saturn SL report