IllustrationMICHELIN WEATHERWISE II B. TIRES HAVE POOR WET SURFACE BRAKING PERFORMANCE. VEHICLE NEEDS EXTRA DISTANCE TO STOP WHEN BRAKING ON WET ROADS. *TR
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
Tires complaints
12 reportsTL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SL2 SATURN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE SHREDDED AND PULLED OUT THE INJECTION CIRCUIT SO FUEL WAS NOT GETTING INTO THE CYLINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING FOR THREE YEARS. ALSO, THE JACK DID NOT WORK. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE BOT…
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TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SL2 SATURN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE SHREDDED AND PULLED OUT THE INJECTION CIRCUIT SO FUEL WAS NOT GETTING INTO THE CYLINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING FOR THREE YEARS. ALSO, THE JACK DID NOT WORK. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE BOTH 95000.*AK
THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE POPPED CAUSING THE RIM TO DEVELOP SHARP EDGES AROUND IT. THE RIM CUT THE RUBBER WIRING FOR THE BRAKES CAUSING THE BRAKES TO FAIL. *JB
FIRESTONE AFFINITI, ORIGINAL TIRES ON A SATURN SL2, P185/65R15 T M/S DOT 02 7475. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR A NAIL PUNCTURE. MECHANIC NOTICED TREAD SEPERATING ON THE TIRE AND REFUSE TO CORRECT THE TIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMAITON. TS
TREAD SEPARATED FROM SIDEWALL. *AK (DOT NUMBER: ??? TIRESIZE: P175/70R14)
WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE CAME APART AND TORE INTO PIECES PRACTICALLY THROWING ME OFF OF THE ROAD. THESE ARE NEW TIRES. THE TREAD IS HARDLY WORN. THEY WERE ROTATED ON SCHEDULE. THIS TIRE WAS INFLATED TO THE PSI INDICATED IN THE MANUAL AND WAS PRACTICALLY BRAND NEW. IF YOU'LL LOOK CLOSELY AT THE 2ND PICTURE…
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WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE CAME APART AND TORE INTO PIECES PRACTICALLY THROWING ME OFF OF THE ROAD. THESE ARE NEW TIRES. THE TREAD IS HARDLY WORN. THEY WERE ROTATED ON SCHEDULE. THIS TIRE WAS INFLATED TO THE PSI INDICATED IN THE MANUAL AND WAS PRACTICALLY BRAND NEW. IF YOU'LL LOOK CLOSELY AT THE 2ND PICTURE YOU'LL SEE THAT IT WAS MANUFACTURED BACKWARDS (I.E. THE INFO ON HOW TO PLACE THE TIRE WHAT IS THE FRONT AND WHAT IS THE BACK OF THE TIRE WAS PRINTED ON THE WRONG SIDE). COULD THIS BE THE CAUSE FOR THE TIRE COMING APART THIS WAY? THANKFULLY THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE CAR OR TO MY MOTHER HOWEVER SHE WAS MADE TO PAY FOR ANOTHER TIRE AT THE FIRESTONE STORE SHE WENT TO FOR SERVICE.*AK (DOT NUMBER: 25048 TIRESIZE: P 185 65R)
HAS 4 CRACKED FIRESTONE, P175/70R14 TIRES AT SIDEWALL . TOOK TIRES TO FIRESTONE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD HE WAS BUSY AND COULD NOT HELP. *AK DOT# W2EPBCA338. *SLC *JB
THE SIDEWALL HAS A DEFINITE SEPERATION AROUND THE ENTIRE EDGE, I REPORTED IT TO MY DEALERSHIP BUT THEY DENIED ANY DEFECTS, THEN SATURN SENT ME A LETTER INFROMING ME THEY WOULD COMPLETELY WARRANT THE TIRE BUT DEALER STILL REFUSES TO DO IT EVEN WITH PROOF FROM LETTER. *AK (TIRESIZE: P175/70R14)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE…
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THE SIDEWALL HAS A DEFINITE SEPERATION AROUND THE ENTIRE EDGE, I REPORTED IT TO MY DEALERSHIP BUT THEY DENIED ANY DEFECTS, THEN SATURN SENT ME A LETTER INFROMING ME THEY WOULD COMPLETELY WARRANT THE TIRE BUT DEALER STILL REFUSES TO DO IT EVEN WITH PROOF FROM LETTER. *AK (TIRESIZE: P175/70R14)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P175/70R14 )
THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRES ALONG WITH THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE DEVELOPED RATHER LARGE BLISTERS ON THE OUTSIDE SIDE WALLS. THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT CAUSING THE FRONT END OF THE CAR TO LIFT AND JERK. FIRESTONE WAS OF NO HELP TO US. THEY WERE RELUCTANT TO AND NEVER DID ADMIT ANY FAULT. WE ENDED UP …
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THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRES ALONG WITH THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE DEVELOPED RATHER LARGE BLISTERS ON THE OUTSIDE SIDE WALLS. THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT CAUSING THE FRONT END OF THE CAR TO LIFT AND JERK. FIRESTONE WAS OF NO HELP TO US. THEY WERE RELUCTANT TO AND NEVER DID ADMIT ANY FAULT. WE ENDED UP REPLACING ALL FOUR TIRES OUT OF OUR POCKETS WITH ANOTHER NAME BRAND FOR SAFETY SAKE.*AK (TIRESIZE: 15 INCH)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 15 INCH )
IN THE YEAR THAT I HAVE OWNED THE CAR, TWO OF THE FIRESTONE OEM TIRES HAVE DEVELOPED BLISTERS ON THE SIDEWALLS. ONE TIRE I HAVE REPLACED AT MY OWN EXPENSE, THE OTHER IS STILL ON THE CAR. SATURN AND FIRESTONE EACH DENY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECTIVE TIRES AND REFER MY COMPLAINTS TO THE OTHER. (TIRESIZE: P185/65R15)( DOT NUMBE…
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IN THE YEAR THAT I HAVE OWNED THE CAR, TWO OF THE FIRESTONE OEM TIRES HAVE DEVELOPED BLISTERS ON THE SIDEWALLS. ONE TIRE I HAVE REPLACED AT MY OWN EXPENSE, THE OTHER IS STILL ON THE CAR. SATURN AND FIRESTONE EACH DENY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECTIVE TIRES AND REFER MY COMPLAINTS TO THE OTHER. (TIRESIZE: P185/65R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P185/65R15 )
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.