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Saturn SLModel year report

1999 Saturn SL Problems

Complaints
178filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
64,000miles, 73 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
27 mpgcombined, 1.9L 4-cyl FWD · 23 city / 33 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1999 Saturn SL (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report engine cooling problems, especially coolant loss and engine overheating, with many complaints describing coolant and oil mixing and a cracked head or head gasket. Brake vibration and transmission trouble are also common, and a group of complaints describes airbags deploying with little or no impact or failing to deploy in a crash. Most reports in the sample fall between roughly 30,000 and 110,000 miles.

  1. Engine cooling

    Coolant loss, overheating and oil/coolant mixing

    • 18 complaints (10%)
    • median 75,000 mi at 5.4 yrs old (13 state mileage)
    • filed 2001–2007

    Owners describe having to add coolant repeatedly, sometimes with no visible puddle under the car, and the low-coolant light coming on. Several complaints say the coolant turned milky or oil appeared in the coolant reservoir, and some report the engine shutting down or boiling over. According to the complaints, shops often found a cracked cylinder head, a failed head gasket or a cracked block; several owners say the head or gasket was replaced and the same problem came back. One owner reported a radiator that leaked from the top of the tank. Scattered from about 7,500 to 115,000 miles, with many reports clustered in the 45,000-100,000 mile range.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Check the coolant reservoir for a milky or oily film and the oil for a coolant smell; ask whether the head gasket or cylinder head has ever been replaced and whether the coolant temperature sensor was serviced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I have been adding coolant constantly. I took car for repair and was told the water pump needed replacement. I replaced the water pump and still having the problem with overheating. Saturn issued a bulletin 01-t-07 that talks about the sensor problem. They will only reimburse the customer if it's still under warranty. I am upset because I continue to pay for items that I probably don't need because the problem could not be found.”

    NHTSA complaint #10064068, filed 2004-03, 80,000 miles

    “At about 81200 miles, the low coolant light came on. Upon refilling the reservoir, I noticed that the coolant was discolored. I checked the oil and it was contaminated (milky colored). I took the car to my mechanic and was told the head was cracked. He also informed me that this is a chronic problem with Saturn sohc engines and that I should try to get Saturn to pay for the repair. After doing my own research, I found this to be true. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10118242, filed 2005-04, 81,280 miles
  2. Transmission and drivetrain

    Transmission slipping, no reverse or shifter cable failure

    • 18 complaints (10%)
    • median 81,000 mi at 9.8 yrs old (11 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $1,200 (median of 5 quotes)
    • filed 1999–2020

    Complaints describe automatic transmissions that quit with little warning, losing reverse or slipping after the car warms up, sometimes with the fluid at the correct level. Manual-transmission owners report a broken plastic shifter bushing that leaves the shifter limp, and one report describes a fractured shift cable that put the car into neutral while driving. Owners say dealers often could not duplicate the problem or quoted a large repair, and that in some cases the bushing is not sold separately from the cable. Reported from about 27,000 to 160,000 miles, with several reports in the 45,000-60,000 mile range.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Check that reverse engages firmly and take a test drive long enough for the transmission to warm up; on a manual, feel that the shifter moves crisply and ask whether the shift cable or bushing has been replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “My manual transmission 1999 Saturn sl2 1.8 ltr sohc was driving down the road and the shifter went limp. I was almost hit from behind. I found it was the cheap plastic shifter bushing which attaches the shift cable to the stick. I don't have the money to buy the entire cable, Saturn does not sell the bushing only, went to a junk yard and got the part for a dollar.”

    NHTSA complaint #10234119, filed 2008-07, 126,000 miles

    “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. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11329753, filed 2020-06, 118,000 miles
  3. Air bags

    Airbags deploy with little or no impact, or fail to deploy

    • 15 complaints (8%)
    • median 84,750 mi at 7.8 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
    • 11 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2001–2014

    Several owners report both front airbags deploying at very low speed, such as while pulling into a parking space or after brushing a curb. Others report the opposite: airbags that did not deploy in a collision. One owner also reported an airbag warning light flashing, and dealers were said to be diagnosing a wiring resistance issue. Reported from about 8,000 to 140,000 miles, with several cases under 50,000 miles.

    What to check: On a test drive, confirm the airbag warning light comes on briefly and then goes out; ask for any repair history tied to airbag sensors, wiring or deployment.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Our 99 Saturn sl2 sedan was involved in a 3 car accident. The Saturn was first rear ended by another vehicle first at about 45 MPH, then slammed into a car in front of our car which was stopped. The seat back broke (to the recline position). Further the air bags did not deploy. Luckily the seat belts were being worn at the time of the accident, and no injuries occurred.”

    NHTSA complaint #10156520, filed 2006-05, 90,000 miles

    “I was involved in a rear end collision to my 1999 sl1 Saturn sedan that caused the rear seat to collapse so that I was prone after the accident and neither air bag deployed (driver or passenger).”

    NHTSA complaint #10173101, filed 2006-11, 79,500 miles
  4. Brakes

    Brake vibration and warped rotors

    • 13 complaints (7%)
    • median 30,000 mi at 5.3 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2000–2011

    Owners describe a judder or shaking through the steering wheel that gets worse as the brakes are applied. Complaints say the front rotors were found warped and were replaced or resurfaced, and that the vibration returned after a while. A few owners also report brake fade or a pedal that did not stop the car as expected, and one describes a floor mat that slid under the pedals. Mostly reported between about 60,000 and 165,000 miles; some owners noticed it soon after buying the car used.

    What to check: Drive and brake from highway speed to feel for steering-wheel shake, and ask for records showing when rotors and pads were last replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “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. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10120135, filed 2005-05, 4,700 miles

    “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. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10052540, filed 2004-01, 60,000 miles

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 178 consumer complaints for the 1999 Saturn SL. 73 of the complaints include a mileage, and 32% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 64,000 miles. Of all complaints, 26 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 20 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 18 technical service bulletins for this model year.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Vehicle speed control (7), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (5), Fuel system (4), Other or unknown (4), Body and structure (3), Engine (2), Exterior lighting (2), Latches, locks and linkages (2), Equipment (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Engine cooling: “Once my Saturn SL as at least 2 others that I know of that own this same type of vehicle, hit 100k miles or just slightly over, the head gasket blows. I loved the car until this point and would have purchased another if this wasn't a common issue with saturns.”

NHTSA complaint #10197621, filed 2007-07, 100,400 miles

Brakes: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #10250683, filed 2008-12, 134,440 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “Within the past few months when I put the vehicle in reverse it jerks violently. This problem is not consistent. I attempted to have it looked at by the dealer they said they couldn't replicate the problem. Upon speaking to one of the associates at the dealer they said they think they know what it is ... Its a common problem but wait until the car does it regularly and it will cost approx $1200 to fix. This is a known problem and Saturn/GM needs to do a recall on these transmissions.”

NHTSA complaint #10247291, filed 2008-10, 81,000 miles

Air bags: “I was stopped at a red light and when the light turned green I made a right turn and turned to close to the curb and bumped it and both airbags deployed. The dealer says it's not their responsibility to fix, that I should call my insurance company and make a claim. My insurance says that if I make a claim I could be canceled since I have two prior claims that have been filed. All I did was catch the curb with the side of my front tire. The dealer says it will cost $2,100.00 to repair. The car is a 1999 Saturn SL and is not worth that. …”

NHTSA complaint #10259406, filed 2009-02, 111,445 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

32% of the 73 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 44,300 and 107,327 miles.

4%0–104%10–2523%25–5019%50–7521%75–10022%100–1507%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (73 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 64,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’98’0134’04’07’10’14’20
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1999 Saturn SL. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
SL · sedan not rated5 / 5———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1999 Saturn SL version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
SL FWD1.9L 4-cyl5-speed manual253629$2,300
SL FWD1.9L 4-cyl4-speed automatic233327$2,500
SL FWD1.9L 4-cyl5-speed manual233427$2,500
SL FWD1.9L 4-cyl4-speed automatic223226$2,600

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 1999 Saturn SL → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 18 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 18 bulletins →

Other model years of the Saturn SL

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
200213159,8680—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200111164,0002—27Not compared (before 2008)Rising
200014857,7147—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199917864,0001—27Not compared (before 2008)Falling
199816866,2500—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199722786,3002—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199628795,0001—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1995355100,4003—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1994286118,5001—26Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1993175113,4502—26Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1992123140,0002—26Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19912985,0001—26Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Saturn SL model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 1999 Saturn SL?

Owners of this model year most often report engine cooling problems, especially coolant loss and engine overheating, with many complaints describing coolant and oil mixing and a cracked head or head gasket. The issues reported most often: Coolant loss, overheating and oil/coolant mixing; Transmission slipping, no reverse or shifter cable failure; Airbags deploy with little or no impact, or fail to deploy.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1999 Saturn SL have?

NHTSA recorded 178 consumer complaints for the 1999 Saturn SL as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1999 Saturn SL is reported most often?

Engine cooling is named most often, in 45 complaints (25% of the total), followed by brakes with 34.

Has the 1999 Saturn SL been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1999 Saturn SL get?

The EPA rates the 1999 Saturn SL (SL, 1.9L 4-cyl) at 27 mpg combined, 23 city and 33 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,500 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1999 Saturn SL reported?

Among the 73 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 64,000 miles and the middle half falls between 44,300 and 107,327 miles; 32% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.