RoadVitals

1999 Saturn Sl Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
35
Latest Aug 27, 2011
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
20%
of 178 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Saturn Sl submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 35 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming brake

The 25 most recent of 35, in the owner's own words

Brakes
Filed Aug 27, 2011

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
Brakes
Filed May 8, 2011

HAND BRAKE RELEASE BUTTON AND SPRING POPPED OUT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE. HAD THIS HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNATTENDED AND PARKED ON A HILL (AS IT TYPICALLY IS), THIS CAR COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS BODILY HARM OR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE.

NHTSA ID
10401594
Incident
Apr 11, 2011
Mileage
164,012 mi
BrakesTransmission
Filed Aug 24, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1999 SATURN SL1. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN THE SHIFT CABLE FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. ON A LATER DATE, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BEFORE EXITING THE VEHICLE. WHEN HE RETURNED, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD INDEPENDENTLY DISENGAGED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BUTTON WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO ORDER THE NECESSARY PART FROM THE DEALER TO MAKE REPAIRS HIMSELF. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT HAD HE BEEN PARKED ON A HILL, THE VEHICLE COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE ROLLED AWAY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

NHTSA ID
10351591
Incident
Jun 17, 2010
Mileage
103,000 mi
BrakesFuel system
Filed Dec 3, 2008

I BOUGHT A USED SATURN ON 8/23/08 FROM DESERT INN MOTORS, TOO MANY PROBLEMS AFTER 3 MONTHS , NEW BATTERY, BRAKE BAD, MOTOR PROBLEM TOO EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR, SO I TOLD THEM I'M NOT MAKING ANYMORE PAYMENTS, THEY TOLD ME TO BRING THE CAR BACK AND THEY WOULD REPLACE THE CAR, THEY REPO MY VEHICLE, SHADY BUSINESS PRACTICES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10250683
Incident
Dec 3, 2008
Mileage
134,440 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 30, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SATURN SL2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR BRAKE LIGHT DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. SHE HAS REPLACED THE FUSE AND BOLTS SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE SHORTAGES. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 05V245000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING: BRAKE LIGHTS). THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 137,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID
10197898
Incident
Jul 30, 2005
Mileage
90,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 1, 2006

MY HAND BRAKE BUTTON SUDDENLY POPPED OUT SHOWING TO BE BROKEN AND I COULD NO LONGER PUT THE HAND BRAKE IN PLACE. STILL TRYING TO FIND A FIX. DIFFICULT TO PARK ON STEEP DRIVEWAYS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10174936
Incident
Oct 15, 2006
BrakesEngine
Filed May 6, 2005

IN 2003 MY DAUGHTER BOUGHT A 1999 SATURN WITH 47000 MILES THAT HAD JUST BEEN TURNED IN FROM A LEASE FROM A DEALER AND IT STARTED SMOKING AND USING A QUART OF OIL PER 1,000AT WHICH TIME WE CONTACTED THIS AGENCY AND GM BECAUSE THE CAR WAS ALAWAYS DEALER SERVICED AND HAD NOT YET REACHED IT'S HALF LIFE. SATURN TOLD US THAT THIS WAS NORMAL HOWVER, THE CONDITION HAS ONLY WORSED OVER TIME AND IT'S NOW USING 1.5 QT'S PER 1000 MILES AND SMOKING WORSE. I BET THE EPA WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT. ADDITIONALLY THE ROTOR HAVE FAILED TWICE BECOMING WARPED AND THE MOTOR MOUNT HAS FAILED ALONG WITH A COOLENT TEMP SENSOR. MANY PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THESE SAME PROBLEMS AND GM KNOWS IT. ONCE AGAIN WE ASKED THEM FOR SOME GOODWILL AND THEY TURNED US DOWN SAYING THAT THE CAR (NOW) HAS TOO MANY MILES EVEN THO THEY SAID THAT IT WOULD BE DOCUMENTED BUT IT APPEARS THAT THEY HAVE STRUNG US ALONG DOING LEAK DOWN TEST AT OUR COST FROM 2003 AND FROM OUR GOV COMPLAINT UNTIL NOW WHILE TELLING US THAT THIS WAS NORMAL USE............ THAT WAS WRONG AND THEY SHOULD FACE A RECALL BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALLOWED A PROBLEMATIC ENGINE WHICH THEY KNEW ABOUT TO BE SOLD TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND THEN THEY REFUSED TO HELP THE CONSUMERS IN NEED. I'LL NEVER BUY A SATURN OR A GM AGAIN. AND, I PLAN TO SELL MY SONS NEW SATURN TOO AFTER THIS POOR TREATMENT.

NHTSA ID
10120135
Incident
Mar 3, 2004
Mileage
4,700 mi
BrakesEngine
Filed Dec 3, 2004

OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE GOING UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, MANUFACTURER WAS ONLY WILLING TO PAY $200.00 TOWARD THE COST OF REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS AFRAID THAT THE DEFECT MAY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO DEVELOP A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *AK.....VEHICLE EXPERIENCED VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL WHEN DRIVING 50 MPH DUE TO DEFECTIVE BRAKE ROTORS. ALSO, REPLACED ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK

NHTSA ID
10103089
Incident
Dec 2, 2004
Mileage
64,000 mi
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Oct 21, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES,THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A CAR HEAD ON. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER SEEKED MEDICAL ATTENTION THE NEXT DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID
10097417
Incident
Oct 21, 2004
Brakes
Filed Jan 6, 2004

I PURCHASED A 1999 SATURN SL2 W/ 23,000MI. AT 60,000MI I BEGAN TO FEEL A JUDDER/VIBRATION FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. I TOOK IT TO A SATURN DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE ROTORS WE'RE WARPED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WENT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND HAD NON-OEM BRAKE ROTORS INSTALLED AND AFTER APPROXIAMETELY 65,000MI, BEGAN TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. AFTER LEAVING THE CAR WITH THE REPAIR SHOP, THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, BUT MY ROTORS KEEP WARPING. THE REPAIR SHOP CUT THE ROTORS "SLIGHTLY" AND NOW AT 70,000MI I STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE IS DEFINIETLY WRONG WITH THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT ROTORS DO WARP BUT THEY SHOULD LAST FOR APPROX. 70,000MI, AND I SHOULD NOT BE FEELING THE JUDDER/VIBRATION IN MY STEERING WHEEL.*AK

NHTSA ID
10052540
Incident
Jan 6, 2004
Mileage
60,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Sep 16, 2003

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

NHTSA ID
10040051
Mileage
29,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 12, 2003

BRAKE ROTORS WARPED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10032703
Incident
Aug 30, 2001
Mileage
18,128 mi
BrakesEngine
Filed May 13, 2003

DEFECTIVE BRAKES DUE TO BRAKE CYLINDER LEAKAGE, AND ENGINE STALLED. PH

NHTSA ID
10022184
Brakes
Filed Jan 3, 2003

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE SHIFT GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID
10002020
Incident
Dec 18, 2002
BrakesElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Oct 9, 2002

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BATTERY WAS NOT HOLDING ITS CHARGE.*JB

NHTSA ID
567781
Brakes
Filed Aug 8, 2002

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL FELT SPONGY, AND THERE WAS EXTENDED STOPPPING DISTANCE. VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY DEALER, WHO STATED BRAKES WERE IN WORKING ORDER.*AK CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES WOULD GRIND AND SQUEAK.*JB

NHTSA ID
8015863
Incident
Jun 15, 2002
BrakesEngineVisibility
Filed May 1, 2002

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. A TECHNICIAN FOUND THAT THE REAR BRAKES WERE OUT OF ADJUSTMENT, CAUSING NOISE, CONSUMER STATES THIS COULD POSSIBLY BE DUE TO FAULTY INSTALLATION OF THE TIRE ASSEMBLY. *JG

NHTSA ID
565541
BrakesDriver assistanceFuel system+2 more
Filed Mar 6, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AT 60-65 MPH STEERING WHEEL WILL START TO SHAKE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM AFTER NINE ATTEMPTS.*AK CONSUMER STATES ROUGH IDLE WHEN WARM. DEALER REPLACED PCM/ECM, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXIST. POWER STEERING FLUID LOW. EXPERIENCING SHIMMY WHEN BRAKING. NOISE FROM GAS TANK WHEN COMING TO A STOP. *TT

NHTSA ID
8005064
Incident
Jul 1, 1999
Brakes
Filed Oct 23, 2001

PARKING BRAKE FELL APART CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL BACKWARDS INTO STREET, THE SPRING FOUND ON THE FLOOR.

NHTSA ID
9004979
Incident
Sep 10, 2001
Brakes
Filed Aug 22, 2001
Crash reported

ACCORDING TO DIAGRAMMED POLICE REPORT AND PERSONAL PHOTOS TAKEN (I CAN PROVIDE COPIES OF ALL, SATURN SKIDDED APPROXIMATELY 80 FT DUE TO LEFT, FRONT BRAKE LOCKING AT 35 MPH. VEHICLE STARTED TO TURN TO RIGHT JUST BEFORE IMPACTING A SUBURBAN REAREND. SATURN DOES NOT HAVE ABS; HOWEVER, AT 35 MPH MOST VEHICLES WILL STOP BEFORE 80 FEET. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW OF OTHER INCIDENTS. *AK

NHTSA ID
750962
Incident
Jul 11, 2001
Brakes
Filed Aug 20, 2001

VEHICLE HAS HAD 3 MULTIPLE INCIDENTS OF HEAVY BRAKE PULSATION CAUSED BY FRONT ROTORS, AND ONE FAILURE OF ABS SENSORS CAUSING ABS FAILURE. DEALER CANNOT CORRECT RECURRING PULSATION PROBLEMS.*AK

NHTSA ID
750772
Incident
Mar 1, 1999
Brakes
Filed Aug 5, 2001

THE QUALITY OF THE ROTORS IS QUESTIONABLE AND MAY LEAD TO BRAKE FAILURES. *AK

NHTSA ID
749859
Incident
Sep 2, 1999
Brakes
Filed Jul 12, 2001

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH APPLIED BRAKES AND PEDAL FELT SOFT AND SPONGY, NO BRAKING ACTION. THIS HAPPENED 2 MORE TIMES. NO ACCIDENT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, WHO DID NOTHING MORE THAN LOOK AT THE BRAKE PADS AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG.*AK

NHTSA ID
892599
Incident
Jan 1, 2001
Brakes
Filed Apr 12, 2001

BRAKES SQUEAK WHEN DRIVING, WAS ADVISED BY MECHANIC THAT FRONT PADS AND REAR SHOES ARE AT 90% NO PROBLEM, WAS ADVISED THAT SQUEAKING IS NORMAL DUE TO MOISTURE, HUMIDITY AND MORNING DEW.

NHTSA ID
560777
Brakes
Filed Apr 4, 2001

VEHICLE VIBRATES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AT SPEED OVER 45 MPH. DEALER REPLACED PADS. BUT, IT DID NOT REMEDY SITUATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
885049
Incident
Jan 1, 2001

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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .