1999 Saturn Sl: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 232 complaints
232
Total Complaints
76,000mi
Median Mileage
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Top Issue
35
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

47,308 25th Percentile
76,000 Median Mileage
111,722 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
17
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
12
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
9
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
9
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
9
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
8
AIR BAGS
8
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
7
TIRES
6

Severity Assessment

35
Crashes
1
Fires
32
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"WHEN FLOOR GEAR SHIFT IS TOUCHED OR BUMPED,THE SHIFT WILL POP OUT OF GEAR SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. *AK"
"WHEN SNOW BUILDS UP ON THE WINDSHIELD THE THE WIPERS BECOME INOPERATIVE BECAUSE THE BOLTS HOLDING THEM COME LOOSE. DLR SAYS THAT IT IS NORMAL. *AK"
"VEHICLE REAR ENDED WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP. DRIVERS' SIDE SEAT BACK LET GO, AND SEAT BELT RELEASED, CAUSING DRIVER TO BE THROWN FORWARD AND BACKWARDS. THIS WAS A LOW IMPACT COLLISION,AND NO INJURY WOULD HAVE OCCURRED IF SEAT AND BELT HAD HELD UP DURING COLLISION. *AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28