IllustrationTHE IGNITION CYLINDER IN THE STEERING COLUMN JAMMED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IT REQUIRED THE CAR TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP; THE ENTIRE IGNITION CYLINDER/LOCK ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MILEAGE ON THE CAR WAS ONLY 47,616 MILES.*AK
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sl years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
60–25K
1725–50K
1450–75K
1575–100K
16100–150K
5150K+
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
Electrical System complaints
20 reportsAUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE FAILED. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE OF THE REMEDY SCOPE. *AK AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS TO KEEP THE "SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT" FROM ILLUMINATING, THE MECHANIC FINALLY REPLACED THE FAULTY IGNITION CONTROL MODULE. CONSUMER FELT THE RECALL SHOULD GO BACK A FEW MORE YEA…
Read full complaint
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE FAILED. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE OF THE REMEDY SCOPE. *AK AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS TO KEEP THE "SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT" FROM ILLUMINATING, THE MECHANIC FINALLY REPLACED THE FAULTY IGNITION CONTROL MODULE. CONSUMER FELT THE RECALL SHOULD GO BACK A FEW MORE YEARS. *PH *JB
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE IGNITION ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY, CAUSING STALLING ENGINE. ALSO FAILURE STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKES. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE FEELS FREE TO ADD ON. TS
CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BATTERY WAS NOT HOLDING ITS CHARGE.*JB
02 SENSOR FAILURE, WATER PUMP, FUEL PUMP, SERPENTINE BELT, FUSE BLOCK - ALL PARTS DEFECTS WITHIN SHORT SPAN OF TIME AFTER THEIR 36K WARRANTY EXPIRED- ATYPICAL PROBLEMS FOR CAR WITH THIS TYPE OF MILEAGE. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED AND WOULD NOT REVEAL PARTS MANFUCTURER - "NOT LEGALLY OBLIGATED TO TELL THE PUBLIC." AS THIS CAR WA…
Read full complaint
02 SENSOR FAILURE, WATER PUMP, FUEL PUMP, SERPENTINE BELT, FUSE BLOCK - ALL PARTS DEFECTS WITHIN SHORT SPAN OF TIME AFTER THEIR 36K WARRANTY EXPIRED- ATYPICAL PROBLEMS FOR CAR WITH THIS TYPE OF MILEAGE. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED AND WOULD NOT REVEAL PARTS MANFUCTURER - "NOT LEGALLY OBLIGATED TO TELL THE PUBLIC." AS THIS CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, I WAS INFORMED THAT SATURN WOULD NOT REIMBURSE FOR DEFECTIVE PARTS BUT WOULD DOCUMENT THAT I WAS UNHAPPY WITH MY SATURN EXPERIENCE. SATURN NOT CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY FACTORS INVOLVED WITH REPETITIVE PARTS FAILURES. OFFERRED FREE OIL CHANGE. DID NOT OFFER TO HAVE CAR BROUGHT IN FOR INSPECTION OR EXTENDING SOME KIND OF WARRANTY IN ORDER TO STUDY ANY PROBLEMS FOR CORRECTIVE ACTION WITH THIS PARTICULAR CAR OR MODEL. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED, ALARM DISABLED, HORN FAILURE, AND INTERIOR LIGHT FAILED, POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *SLC
POSITION OF HORN BUTTON IS TOO LOW ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND TOO SMALL, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO FIND OR USE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. MANUFACTURER HAS IMPROVED THE DESIGN IN NEWER MODELS, BUT NOT FOR OLDER MODELS.*AK
IGNITION SWITCH CYLINDER FAILED CAUSING DIFFICULTIES WHEN TURNING KEY WHICH WAS REPLACED SEPT.3,99. PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *YC
SUSPECTED ELECTRICAL FAILURE THAT CAUSES VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY (ELECTRICAL AND FUEL SYSTEMS).
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APROXIMATELY 35MPH WHEN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FALILED, AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. SECOND TIME, WHILE DRIVING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED AGAIN, AND ENGINE SHUT DOWN. DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM, THE THIRD TIME THIS SCENARIO HAPPENED THE DEALERSHIP TOWED VEHICLE ,AND THE DIAGNOSTICS SHOWED VEHICLE SHUTTING …
Read full complaint
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APROXIMATELY 35MPH WHEN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FALILED, AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. SECOND TIME, WHILE DRIVING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED AGAIN, AND ENGINE SHUT DOWN. DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM, THE THIRD TIME THIS SCENARIO HAPPENED THE DEALERSHIP TOWED VEHICLE ,AND THE DIAGNOSTICS SHOWED VEHICLE SHUTTING DOWN. BUT DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. DAVID- MECHANIC AT SATURN OF ERVING TEXAS--972-790-7400. *AK
Official recalls
199V280000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.