1999 Saturn SL: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
160 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
64,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 73 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 160 complaints (10.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 38 | 23.8% |
| Steering behavior | 17 | 10.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 15 | 9.4% |
| Engine operation | 10 | 6.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 5.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 16 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 12 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 9 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 9 |
| Air Bags | 8 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 8 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 7 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 16; Air Bags:Frontal: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling: 9; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 9; Air Bags: 8; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 17 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 14 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 15 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 16 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 17; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 15; 100,000 to 149,999: 16; 150,000 and above: 5
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (17). 87 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 22 |
| 2001 | 23 |
| 2002 | 17 |
| 2003 | 34 |
| 2004 | 19 |
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2000: 22; 2001: 23; 2002: 17; 2003: 34; 2004: 19; 2005: 10; 2006: 10; 2007: 4; 2008: 6; 2009: 4; 2010: 2; 2011: 2; 2013: 1; 2014: 3; 2015: 1; 2018: 1; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 38 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 15 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10001224 · 2002-12-19 (December 19, 2002)
THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DON'T STAY FASTEN. THIS RESULTS IN DRIVER NOT BEING SECURED IN THE SEAT IF VEHICLE IS IN AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT FIXING THE PROBLEM, CAUSE THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE. THE PROBLEM HAS WORSEN AS TIME GOES ON. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001224 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001528 · 2003-09-02 (September 2, 2003)
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 30MPH, STARTING HEAR A NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TOOK IMMEDIATELY TO THE MECHANIC AND FOUND PROBLEM WITH DEFECTED FRONT AXLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS CONSUMER WAS TOLD HUMAN ERROR, SEAL WASN'T PACKED WITH ENOUGH GREASE AT THE FACTORY. CONSUMER FELT THAT SHE SHOULD'VE BEEN REIMBURSED FOR HALF OF THE OUT OF POCKET REPAIRS WHICH TOTALED $240.30. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THIS FAILURE IS REAR AND HAPPENS IN OLDER MODEL VEHICLES AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 27,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001528 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001532 · 2002-12-26 (December 26, 2002)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE MAKE SOME VIBRATION, CONSUMER ALSO COMPLAINED HAS BEEN HISTORY OF PROBLEMS IN THE LAST PAST THREE YEARS WITH THIS VEHICLE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND CAN'T CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001532 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002020 · 2003-01-03 (January 3, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE SHIFT GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002020 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003575 · 2003-01-28 (January 28, 2003)
1999 SATURN SL2 WITH 30,500 MILES TRANSMISSION EXPLODED.
Owner-reported narrative. 30,550 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003575 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008758 · 2003-02-19 (February 19, 2003)
THE HEAD GASKET LEAKED.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008758 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010098 · 2003-03-07 (March 7, 2003)
MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT WHERE SHE WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT THAT ENDED UP BREAKING. IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER PEOPLE I HAVE COME ACROSS 2 OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE SAME MANUFACTURER(SATURN).*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010098 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014740 · 2003-03-31 (March 31, 2003)
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND THE FRONT SEATS RECLINED BACKWARDS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014740 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
99V280000 · Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
Reported: 1999-10-20 (October 20, 1999)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES." SOME OF THE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH SEAT BELT SHOULDER GUIDE ANCHOR BOLTS THAT WERE NOT ADEQUATELY TIGHTENED AT THE CENTER PILLAR AND COULD FALL OUT, MAKING THE SEAT BELT INOPERATIVE.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES FOR PROPER INSTALLATION AND TORQUE OF THE SEAT BELT SHOULDER GUIDE ANCHOR BOLTS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗