IllustrationONE OF THE ENGINE MOUNTS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 50587 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
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
45 reportsCOOLANT MIXING WITH OIL
FAULTY CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. *PH. LAST FEBRUARY THE CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS STARTING THE VEHICLE AND FINALLY HAD IT TOWED, WHERE THE DEALER REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. *JB
AFTER BOTH MY CHILDREN AT DIFFERENT TIMES TOLD ME THAT I HAD AN EXHAUST LEAK BECAUSE I AM EXPERIENCING INCRESASED EXHAUST NOISE (I HAD IT CHECKED), I RAN ACROSS AN ARTICLE IN "HIGHWAYS" MAGAZINE (GOOD SAM CLUB) THAT STATED THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE 2000-2003 SATURN L-SERIES. I OWN A 1999 SATURN L-SERIES AND IT IS SHOWING ALL T…
Read full complaint
AFTER BOTH MY CHILDREN AT DIFFERENT TIMES TOLD ME THAT I HAD AN EXHAUST LEAK BECAUSE I AM EXPERIENCING INCRESASED EXHAUST NOISE (I HAD IT CHECKED), I RAN ACROSS AN ARTICLE IN "HIGHWAYS" MAGAZINE (GOOD SAM CLUB) THAT STATED THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE 2000-2003 SATURN L-SERIES. I OWN A 1999 SATURN L-SERIES AND IT IS SHOWING ALL THE SIGNS OF THE SAME PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V231000. THE CAR HAS BEEN SLUGGISH AND VERY HARD TO START ALONG WITH THE INCREASED EXHAUST NOISE. THIS MODEL/YEAR SATURN SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL...THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH IT ALSO! WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SERVICE DEALER IN MARCH, 2001, THEY SAID IT WAS THE BATTERY AND THEY INSTALLED A NEW ONE BUT IT DID NOT IMPROVE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CAR. IT CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM AND IT IS GETTING WORSE. *AK
RESONATOR TUBE HAS A CRACK IN IT. *NLM
DEFECTIVE BRAKES DUE TO BRAKE CYLINDER LEAKAGE, AND ENGINE STALLED. PH
THE HEAD GASKET LEAKED.*JB
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
THE ENGINE AND HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED.*JB
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE STOPPING ON THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD FOR NO SPECIFIC REASON . MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN THEN THEY WILL HELP HIM. MR
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.