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1999 Saturn Sl

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1999 Saturn Sl do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 171.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

73 reports with mileage · 105 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

26 crash reports1 fire reports17 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

20 reports
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140,000 miles · Jul 11, 2014
Air BagsElectrical SystemCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SATURN SL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED TO PREVENT FROM CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT HAD DISOBEYED THE STOP SIGN. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE SLID AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND ROLLED INTO A SNOW EMBANKMENT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SATURN SL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED TO PREVENT FROM CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT HAD DISOBEYED THE STOP SIGN. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE SLID AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND ROLLED INTO A SNOW EMBANKMENT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES AND THE THREE PASSENGERS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. IN ADDITION, THE KEY COULD BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WHEN DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ODI #10609952

156,000 miles · Jan 28, 2013
Air Bags

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE AIR BAGS SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED. NO KNOWN CAUSE- POSSIBLY BAD SENSORS. IT BROKE MY THUMB AND BURNED MY ARM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10494953

111,445 miles · Feb 19, 2009
Air Bags

I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I MADE A RIGHT TURN AND TURNED TO CLOSE TO THE CURB AND BUMPED IT AND BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE DEALER SAYS IT'S NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX, THAT I SHOULD CALL MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND MAKE A CLAIM. MY INSURANCE SAYS THAT IF I MAKE A CLAIM I COULD BE CANCELED S…

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I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I MADE A RIGHT TURN AND TURNED TO CLOSE TO THE CURB AND BUMPED IT AND BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE DEALER SAYS IT'S NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX, THAT I SHOULD CALL MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND MAKE A CLAIM. MY INSURANCE SAYS THAT IF I MAKE A CLAIM I COULD BE CANCELED SINCE I HAVE TWO PRIOR CLAIMS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED. ALL I DID WAS CATCH THE CURB WITH THE SIDE OF MY FRONT TIRE. THE DEALER SAYS IT WILL COST $2,100.00 TO REPAIR. THE CAR IS A 1999 SATURN SL AND IS NOT WORTH THAT. EVEN IF I COULD FILE WITH MY INSURANCE THEY WOULD TOTAL THE CAR BECAUSE IT WOULD COST MORE TO REPAIR THAN IT IS WORTH. I BOUGHT THE CAR 11/26/08 AND HAVE ALREADY HAD TO PUT A NEW WATER PUMP IN IT AND NOW THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10259406

79,500 miles · Nov 10, 2006
Air BagsSeatsCrashInjury

I WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION TO MY 1999 SL1 SATURN SEDAN THAT CAUSED THE REAR SEAT TO COLLAPSE SO THAT I WAS PRONE AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED (DRIVER OR PASSENGER). *NM

NHTSA ODI #10173101

90,000 miles · May 1, 2006
Air BagsSeatsCrash

OUR 99 SATURN SL2 SEDAN WAS INVOLVED IN A 3 CAR ACCIDENT. THE SATURN WAS FIRST REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE FIRST AT ABOUT 45 MPH, THEN SLAMMED INTO A CAR IN FRONT OF OUR CAR WHICH WAS STOPPED. THE SEAT BACK BROKE (TO THE RECLINE POSITION). FURTHER THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. LUCKILY THE SEAT BELTS WERE BEING WORN AT THE TIME …

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OUR 99 SATURN SL2 SEDAN WAS INVOLVED IN A 3 CAR ACCIDENT. THE SATURN WAS FIRST REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE FIRST AT ABOUT 45 MPH, THEN SLAMMED INTO A CAR IN FRONT OF OUR CAR WHICH WAS STOPPED. THE SEAT BACK BROKE (TO THE RECLINE POSITION). FURTHER THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. LUCKILY THE SEAT BELTS WERE BEING WORN AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, AND NO INJURIES OCCURRED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10156520

Mileage unknown · Feb 7, 2006
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

1999 SATURN AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON FRONTAL IMPACT. THE SEAT BELT ALSO FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE CONSUMER. *TS THE SEAT BELT WAS THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL AND THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10150842

42,000 miles · Nov 16, 2005
Air BagsCrash

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING AREA THE VEHICLE LIGHTLY HIT A CURB. THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING UNDER 5 MPH. THE MANUFACTURER SAID THE AIR BAGS WOULD DEPLOY UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. HOWEVER, THE SERVICE MANUAL SAID THE AIR BAGS WOULD DEPLOY FROM AN IMPACT WHILE TRAVELING 10-15 M…

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DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING AREA THE VEHICLE LIGHTLY HIT A CURB. THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING UNDER 5 MPH. THE MANUFACTURER SAID THE AIR BAGS WOULD DEPLOY UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. HOWEVER, THE SERVICE MANUAL SAID THE AIR BAGS WOULD DEPLOY FROM AN IMPACT WHILE TRAVELING 10-15 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE REASON FOR THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT UNDER 5 MPH. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10142841

Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 2004
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES,THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A CAR HEAD ON. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER SEEKED MEDICAL ATTENTION THE NEXT DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL I…

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WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES,THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A CAR HEAD ON. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER SEEKED MEDICAL ATTENTION THE NEXT DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10097417

60,000 miles · May 19, 2004
Air BagsCrash

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A POLE. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10073907

8,246 miles · Oct 22, 2003
Air Bags

PROBLEMS WITH AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATING.*MR THE CONSUMERS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHING IN THE DASH. WHEN TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER THEY DETERMINED THAT THE PASSENGER FRONTAL DEVELOPMENT LOOP HAD LOW RESISTANCE AND THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS WOULD HAVE TO DETERMINE THE ROOT CAUSE AS TO WHY THE LIGHT CONTINUE TO F…

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PROBLEMS WITH AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATING.*MR THE CONSUMERS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHING IN THE DASH. WHEN TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER THEY DETERMINED THAT THE PASSENGER FRONTAL DEVELOPMENT LOOP HAD LOW RESISTANCE AND THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS WOULD HAVE TO DETERMINE THE ROOT CAUSE AS TO WHY THE LIGHT CONTINUE TO FLASH ON AND OFF. *CB *JB

NHTSA ODI #10043934

Official recalls

1

99V280000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage

Oct 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 & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.