Your vehicle report
1999 Saturn SL
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 178
- Received Oct 1998 to Jun 2020
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Head gasket leaks coolant into engine15 complaints · 8.4% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Seat belt fails to latch or retract14 complaints · 7.9% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Airbags fail to deploy in crashes13 complaints · 7.3% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #99V280000Vehicle 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.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 26 crashes, 1 fire, 20 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 17 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
- Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines
- Front brake rotors warp and wear early
- Brakes make grinding or squealing noise
1 more problem
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 17 |
| 2000 | 22 |
| 2001 | 23 |
| 2002 | 17 |
| 2003 | 34 |
| 2004 | 19 |
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 178 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head gasket leaks coolant into engine | 15 | 8.4% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 14 | 7.9% | – | NHTSA recall #99V280000 |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 13 | 7.3% | – | |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 11 | 6.2% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 9 | 5.1% | – | |
| Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines | 7 | 3.9% | – | |
| Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed | 6 | 3.4% | – | |
| Front brake rotors warp and wear early | 5 | 2.8% | – | |
| Transmission fails or loses power while driving | 5 | 2.8% | – | |
| Windshield wipers work intermittently or fail | 4 | 2.3% | – | |
| Ignition key sticks or will not turn | 4 | 2.3% | – | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 4 | 2.3% | – | |
| Brakes make grinding or squealing noise | 4 | 2.3% | – | |
| Airbag warning light stays on | 3 | 1.7% | – | |
| Parking brake fails to hold or release | 3 | 1.7% | – | |
| Engine burns excessive oil between changes | 3 | 1.7% | – | |
| Transmission will not engage reverse gear | 3 | 1.7% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #99V280000October 20, 1999265,698 vehicles affected
seat belts: front: anchorage
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.
In the event of a crash, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect these vehicles for proper installation and torque of the seat belt shoulder guide anchor bolts.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 1999 Saturn SL.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN