1998 Ford Contour vs 1998 Saturn SL
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1998 Ford Contour | 1998 Saturn SL |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 846 | 168 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 253 | 17 |
| Investigations | 7 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 50 | 23 |
| Fire reports | 20 | 2 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21–25 | 25–28 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 85,000 mi | 66,250 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Contour | Saturn SL |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 128 | 33 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 132 | 28 |
| Electrical System | 130 | 16 |
| Air Bags | 99 | 8 |
| Suspension | 102 | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 83 | 16 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 62 | 4 |
| Visibility | 43 | 17 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 64 | 8 |
| Airbag warning light | 41 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 35 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 22 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 21 | 6 |
| Overheating | 17 | 0 |
| Shifting problems | 14 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 12 | 0 |
1998 Ford Contour
1998 Saturn SL
Compare all Ford Contour vs Saturn SL years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.