IllustrationDRIVER SIDE TIRE HAS TREAD SEPARATION. *AK (TIRESIZE: P185/65R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P185/65R15 )
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 reportsI WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 50 MPH AS THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT, I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR, SWERVED OVER A LANE THEN OFF THE HIGHWAY, HITTING THE CURB AND ENDING UP IN A GRASSY AREA. THE POLICE ARRIVED AND COURTESY PATROL ARRIVED TO ASSIST IN CHANGING THE TIRE. THEIR OBJECTIVE WAS TO IMMEDIATELY GET ME ON MY WAY…
Read full complaint
I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 50 MPH AS THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT, I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR, SWERVED OVER A LANE THEN OFF THE HIGHWAY, HITTING THE CURB AND ENDING UP IN A GRASSY AREA. THE POLICE ARRIVED AND COURTESY PATROL ARRIVED TO ASSIST IN CHANGING THE TIRE. THEIR OBJECTIVE WAS TO IMMEDIATELY GET ME ON MY WAY, SO THE COURTESY WORKER THREW MY TIRE INTO THE TRUNK AND I LEFT. WHEN I GOT TO THE TIRE STORE WE EVALUATED THE TIRE AND 40% OF THE TIRE HAD SEPARATION. THE CAR HAS MAINTENANCE DONE EVERY 3000 MILES, SO TIRES WERE ROTATED AND PROPERLY INFLATED.( DOT NUMBER: W2EPBCA428 TIRE SIZE: P17570R14 )
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.