1999 Saturn SL problems
Owners have filed 232 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Saturn SL. Engine is the most reported problem area, at 19% of complaints. After that come brakes (16%) and electrical system (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 232 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 19% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 35 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 32 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 76,000 miles 91 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 6 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 11 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 15 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 17 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 12 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 15 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 5 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 7 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 2 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Among the 91 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 76,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 75,000 miles (22 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 35 complaints mention a crash; 1 complaint mentions a fire; 32 injuries reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 82% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1999 ranks 5th most-complained-about out of 12 model years of the Saturn SL with enough data (139 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 saturn sl. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the brakes were applied to prevent from crashing into another vehicle that had disobeyed the stop sign. As a result, the vehicle slid and crashed into another vehicle and rolled into a snow embankment. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact driver sustained head injuries and the three passengers sustained minor injuries, which required medical attention.
Air conditioning failed at 4 years, 4 months. New compressor needed, according to both saturn dealership and independent garage. Not yet replaced. Waiting to see if there is a hidden service bulletin by which saturn will replace at reduced cost.
Tl*the contact owns a 1999 saturn sl1. The contact stated that the horn assembly on the vehicle was completely inoperative. The dealer stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign id number 98v307000 (communications:horn assembly), although the failures were identical. The contact would be responsible for the repair costs. The current and failure mileages were 135,000.