VehicleVerdict

1999 Saturn SL engine problems

The 1999 Saturn SL has 51 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 22% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

51

Engine complaints

22%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

SL engine complaints by model year75 complaints1991: 2 complaints1992: 28 complaints1993: 36 complaints1994: 50 complaints1995: 75 complaints1996: 71 complaints1997: 41 complaints1998: 29 complaints1999: 51 complaints2000: 38 complaints2001: 20 complaints2002: 22 complaints
SL engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

WHILE EXITING THE FREEWAY, I CAME TO A STOP AT THE END OF THE RAMP AT A RED LIGHT, THE AUTO STALLED, I TRIED TO RESTART IT WITHOUT SUCCESS, I THEN SAW BLACK SMOKE BILLOWING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, BY THE THME THE FIRE DEPT. ARRIVED THE FRONT END OF THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · June 5, 2000 · fire

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 1999 Saturn SL have?

NHTSA has 51 complaints about the 1999 Saturn SL engine — 22% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.