1999 Saturn SL Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other SL years
- About as many complaints as other years 4th of 8 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 178 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Saturn SL. That ranks 4th out of 8 SL model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (45 complaints, 25%), typically at around 69,500 miles. Complaints mention 26 crashes, 1 fire, 20 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
- 178owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 26complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1999 Saturn SL problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 45 | 25% | 69,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 28 | 16% | 62,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 22 | 12% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 20 | 11% | 69,750 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 20 | 11% | 115,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 12 | 7% | 47,524 | — | — |
| Tires | 12 | 7% | 95,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 8 | 4% | 79,500 | — | — |
| Suspension | 8 | 4% | 30,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 7 | 4% | 27,701 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 | 4% | 39,613 | — | — |
| Visibility | 5 | 3% | 56,703 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 2% | 134,440 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 4 | 2% | 129,063 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 4 | 2% | 118,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 3 | 2% | 115,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 2 | 1% | 129,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 1% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 1% | 111,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 | 1% | 4,700 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 1% | 95,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1999 Saturn SL recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Seat belts:front:anchorage
Problem: 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.
Risk: In the event of a crash, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained.
Fix: Dealers will inspect these vehicles for proper installation and torque of the seat belt shoulder guide anchor bolts.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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…
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…
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…
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
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…
Other Saturn SL years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 SL | 131 | 0 |
| 2001 SL | 111 | 2 |
| 2000 SL | 148 | 7 |
| 1999 | 178 | 1 |
| 1998 SL | 168 | 0 |
| 1997 SL | 227 | 2 |
| 1996 SL | 287 | 1 |
| 1995 SL | 355 | 3 |
See all Saturn SL problems by year, every Saturn model, or the VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Saturn SL?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, service brakes, hydraulic, power train problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 45 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1999 Saturn SL?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1999 Saturn SL a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other SL model years, the 1999 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.