IllustrationFAULTY 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
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
What owners actually said
178 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
WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED WHILE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP MOTOR REVVED, BUT VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THIS RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK
COSCO MODEL 02-452 WAL, MANUFACTURING DATE UNKNOWN. WHEN THE BOOSTER SEAT WAS INSTALLED USING THE VEHICLE SEAT BELTS, THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT. THE BELT WAS STUCK. THE CAUSE WAS UNKNOWN. *AK THE SHOULDER BELT WOULD GO INTO THE BELT POSITIONER TO BUCKLE THE CHILD TIGHT, BUT IF THE CHILD MOVED, THE SEAT BELT SHOULDER…
Read full complaint
COSCO MODEL 02-452 WAL, MANUFACTURING DATE UNKNOWN. WHEN THE BOOSTER SEAT WAS INSTALLED USING THE VEHICLE SEAT BELTS, THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT. THE BELT WAS STUCK. THE CAUSE WAS UNKNOWN. *AK THE SHOULDER BELT WOULD GO INTO THE BELT POSITIONER TO BUCKLE THE CHILD TIGHT, BUT IF THE CHILD MOVED, THE SEAT BELT SHOULDER MOVED AND REMAINED LOOSE, WHICH CAUSED THE SHOULDER BELT TO NOT RETRACT. *SCC *JB
THERE WAS A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THE "CHECK AIR BAG LIGHT" ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WANTED $66.50 AN HOUR TO FIND THE PROBLEM. *JB
BAD BEARING IN MANUAL TRANSMISSION- ESTIMATE AROUND $1000-OPTIONS: TAKE TIS ONE APART OR BUY USED TRANSMISSION- THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN IN A CAR THIS NEW- CAR DOESN'T EVEN HAVE 48000 MILES YET. *AK
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 30MPH, STARTING HEAR A NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TOOK IMMEDIATELY TO THE MECHANIC AND FOUND PROBLEM WITH DEFECTED FRONT AXLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS CONSUMER WAS TOLD HUMAN ERROR, SEAL WASN'T PACKED WITH ENOUGH …
Read full complaint
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 30MPH, STARTING HEAR A NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TOOK IMMEDIATELY TO THE MECHANIC AND FOUND PROBLEM WITH DEFECTED FRONT AXLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS CONSUMER WAS TOLD HUMAN ERROR, SEAL WASN'T PACKED WITH ENOUGH GREASE AT THE FACTORY. CONSUMER FELT THAT SHE SHOULD'VE BEEN REIMBURSED FOR HALF OF THE OUT OF POCKET REPAIRS WHICH TOTALED $240.30. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THIS FAILURE IS REAR AND HAPPENS IN OLDER MODEL VEHICLES AND EVEN THAT IS REAR. *PH
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
WHILE DRIVING FOURTH GEAR ON THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION DOESN'T ENGAGE PROPERLY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
THIS VEHICLE, WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, WAS DIAGNOSED BY DEALER AS HAVING TWO "WARPED" FRONT WHEEL HUBS AFTER COMPLAINTS OF INTERMITTENT STEERING WHEEL SHAKE AT 65 MPH. DEALER SAID IT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE HUBS BEING INSTALLED INCORRECTLY. SATURN CUST SVC REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR, WHICH APPEARS TO HAVE …
Read full complaint
THIS VEHICLE, WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, WAS DIAGNOSED BY DEALER AS HAVING TWO "WARPED" FRONT WHEEL HUBS AFTER COMPLAINTS OF INTERMITTENT STEERING WHEEL SHAKE AT 65 MPH. DEALER SAID IT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE HUBS BEING INSTALLED INCORRECTLY. SATURN CUST SVC REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR, WHICH APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY MFG DEFECT. *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.