EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1999 Saturn Sl
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 178 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 Saturn Sl, most frequently naming the engine, brakes and transmission categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 20 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 2002 | 3 | 74 |
| Nov 2002 | 4 | 78 |
| Dec 2002 | 2 | 80 |
| Jan 2003 | 2 | 82 |
| Feb 2003 | 1 | 83 |
| Mar 2003 | 2 | 85 |
| Apr 2003 | 2 | 87 |
| May 2003 | 2 | 89 |
| Jun 2003 | 1 | 90 |
| Jul 2003 | 1 | 91 |
| Aug 2003 | 10 | 101 |
| Sep 2003 | 6 | 107 |
| Oct 2003 | 6 | 113 |
| Dec 2003 | 1 | 114 |
| Jan 2004 | 4 | 118 |
| Feb 2004 | 1 | 119 |
| Mar 2004 | 3 | 122 |
| May 2004 | 1 | 123 |
| Jul 2004 | 1 | 124 |
| Aug 2004 | 2 | 126 |
| Sep 2004 | 2 | 128 |
| Oct 2004 | 2 | 130 |
| Nov 2004 | 1 | 131 |
| Dec 2004 | 2 | 133 |
| Feb 2005 | 1 | 134 |
| Apr 2005 | 1 | 135 |
| May 2005 | 1 | 136 |
| Jul 2005 | 1 | 137 |
| Aug 2005 | 1 | 138 |
| Sep 2005 | 2 | 140 |
| Nov 2005 | 2 | 142 |
| Dec 2005 | 1 | 143 |
| Feb 2006 | 1 | 144 |
| May 2006 | 2 | 146 |
| Jun 2006 | 1 | 147 |
| Aug 2006 | 3 | 150 |
| Oct 2006 | 1 | 151 |
| Nov 2006 | 1 | 152 |
| Dec 2006 | 1 | 153 |
| Jan 2007 | 1 | 154 |
| Feb 2007 | 1 | 155 |
| Jul 2007 | 2 | 157 |
| May 2008 | 1 | 158 |
| Jul 2008 | 2 | 160 |
| Aug 2008 | 1 | 161 |
| Oct 2008 | 1 | 162 |
| Dec 2008 | 1 | 163 |
| Jan 2009 | 1 | 164 |
| Feb 2009 | 2 | 166 |
| Aug 2009 | 1 | 167 |
| Jan 2010 | 1 | 168 |
| Aug 2010 | 1 | 169 |
| May 2011 | 1 | 170 |
| Aug 2011 | 1 | 171 |
| Jan 2013 | 1 | 172 |
| Jul 2014 | 1 | 173 |
| Aug 2014 | 2 | 175 |
| Sep 2015 | 1 | 176 |
| Feb 2018 | 1 | 177 |
| Jun 2020 | 1 | 178 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Engine4721.8%
- Brakes3516.2%
- Transmission219.7%
- Airbags209.3%
- Electrical209.3%
- Seat belts125.6%
- Tires & wheels125.6%
- Interior & seats104.6%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
2 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govSEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
I JUST RECEIVED A 1999 SATURN SL 2 SERIES A YEAR AGO FROM MY MOTHER FOR MY VERY FIRST CAR. I GOT IT AT ABOUT 100,000 MILES AND IT IS NOW CURRENTLY AT 122,446. I NOTICED ABOUT A MONTH AGO WHILE I WOULD BE DRIVING, USUALLY AFTER ABOUT 1-2 MILES AFTER STARTING UP THE CAR AND DRIVING, MY GEARS BEGAN TO SLIP. I KEPT UP WITH JUST ABOUT MONTHLY OIL CHANGES, ACCOMPANIED BY TRANSMISSION FLUID CHECKED AND TOPPED OFF. MY TRANSMISSION OIL HAS NEVER BEEN LOW. THEN, ABOUT 4 DAYS AGO I WENT TO LEAVE FROM MY WORK ORIENTATION, AND I COULDN?T BACK UP MY CAR FROM MY PARKING SPOT, THE REVERSE HAD WENT OUT. SO I PUT THE CAR BACK IN DRIVE, THEN BACK TO REVERSE THINKING MAYBE IT DIDN?T GO INTO REVERSE ALL THE WAY AND IT DID NOT WORK. I REVVED UP THE ENGINE, NOTHING HAPPENING UNTIL I DID IT PRETTY HARD, AND EVENTUALLY IT STARTED ROLLING BACK A LITTLE. I LOOKED UP ON THE INTERNET TO SEE IF THIS WAS A PRETTY BIG ISSUE OR NOT, AND I REALIZE I SEE IT A LOT IN 1999 SATURNS. A RECALL I BELIEVE WOULD BE THE BEST OPTION FOR FIXING THIS ISSUE AND WOULD FURTHER PREVENT PEOPLE FROM SPENDING SO MUCH MONEY. I TOOK MY CAR TO A MECHANIC AND IT?S CURRENTLY SITTING THERE NOW. I DON?T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO TELL ME. I BELIEVE IT COULD BE A SMALL PART THAT JUST NEEDS REPLACED, BUT I?M SURE THEY?RE GOING TO JUST HAVE ME PURCHASE A WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION WHICH IS NOT WHAT I PREFER TO DO AS A 18 YEAR OLD COLLEGE STUDENT. ESPECIALLY IF THE CAR WAS ONLY 700$ THAT I PURCHASED IT FOR. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 11329753
- Incident
- May 1, 2020
- Mileage
- 118,000 mi
I WAS DRIVING MY NIECE'S AND NEPHEW WAS HOLDING ONTO THE BARS IN THE CEILING AND IT CAME OFF THE BARS IN THE CEILING WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY WHOLE ROOF LINER CAME OFF I COULDN'T SEE I HAD TO PULL THE WHOLE LINER DOWN SO I WOULDN'T GET IN AN ACCIDENT I NOTICED AFTER I GOT HOME THE METAL BRACKETS THAT THE SCREWS WE'RE HOLDING ON WAS SPLIT I CANNOT FIX THEM BACK I FEEL IT'S A SAFETY HAZARD AND WE ALMOST GOT IN AN ACCIDENT IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED I HAVE LITTLE KIDS I TAKE CARE OF I FEEL IT'S A RECALL AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED THE BRACKETS AND THE LINER FELL OFF I THREW THE LINER AWAY THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION I WAS COMING FROM RICHMOND VA PICKED THEM UP TO COME TO MY MOM'S HOUSE IN KING WILLIAM VA I WAS ON INTERSTATE 95 I HAVE MORE PICTURES THAN THIS ## VIN PASSED ## 1999 SATURN SL2 ##
- NHTSA ID
- 11074200
- Incident
- Feb 18, 2018
- Mileage
- 125,080 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SATURN SL. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND RESTARTED AFTER TEN MINUTES. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE IGNITION FAILED TO RELEASE THE KEY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000. UPDATED 11/23/15*LJ *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10766344
- Incident
- Jun 17, 2015
- Mileage
- 140,000 mi
THE LOCK ON THE STEERING COLUMN IS TOO LOOSE TO BE TURNED EFFECTIVELY ONLY SOMEONE WHO HAS DRIVEN THE CAR FOR A WHILE KNOWS HOW TO GET THE KEY TO TURN SO THAT THE CAR CAN BE STARTED. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10626736
- Incident
- Jun 2, 2010
- Mileage
- 112,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SATURN SL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOST POWER AND VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS LOST CONNECTION WITH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BOX. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 225,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10618240
- Incident
- Jul 23, 2014
- Mileage
- 225,000 mi
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. IN ADDITION, THE KEY COULD BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WHEN DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10609952
- Incident
- Jan 7, 2012
- Mileage
- 140,000 mi
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE AIR BAGS SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED. NO KNOWN CAUSE- POSSIBLY BAD SENSORS. IT BROKE MY THUMB AND BURNED MY ARM. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10494953
- Incident
- Jan 8, 2013
- Mileage
- 156,000 mi
HAND BREAK BUTTON COMES OFF PREVENTING THE HAND BRAKE FROM LOCKING IN PLACE. *TT
- NHTSA ID
- 10422268
- Incident
- Aug 26, 2011
- Mileage
- 155,125 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT; VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
This service bulletin revision provides a repair procedure to Remove Debris from Evaporator Case, Disinfect evaporator or Apply Cooling coil coating and install blower motor control module to correct a customer concern of A/C Odor at start-up.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT
This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Procedures to Unlock Delco Radio with Theftlock.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code. The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable. E version update is to add administrative details.
EQUIPMENT
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code. The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.