Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 4 of 4 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
4 reports
117,330 miles · Nov 23, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY AND MARCH OF 2003 I EXPERIENCED REPEATED STALLING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY 1999 SATURN. NO ONE, INCLUDING A SATURN DEALER, KNEW WHAT WAS WRONG. BY TRIAL AND ERROR, IT SEEMED THAT IF I KEPT THE GAS TANK AT LEAST HALF FULL I COULD AVOID THE PROBLEM. IT WASN'T THE BEST SOLUTION, BUT IT SEEMED TO WORK. BUT TH…
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IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY AND MARCH OF 2003 I EXPERIENCED REPEATED STALLING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY 1999 SATURN. NO ONE, INCLUDING A SATURN DEALER, KNEW WHAT WAS WRONG. BY TRIAL AND ERROR, IT SEEMED THAT IF I KEPT THE GAS TANK AT LEAST HALF FULL I COULD AVOID THE PROBLEM. IT WASN'T THE BEST SOLUTION, BUT IT SEEMED TO WORK. BUT THIS PAST SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2004, IT STALLED AGAIN ON THE HIGHWAY. ON SUNDAY I DROVE IT AROUND TOWN AND IT WAS FINE. THEN TODAY IT STALLED AGAIN IN ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME SPOT AS TWO DAYS AGO. THE WORST PART IS THAT IT HAD ALMOST A FULL TANK OF GAS; THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE STALLING OCCURRED WITH THAT MUCH GAS IN THE TANK. IT NEVER HAPPENS ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK, ONLY ON THE WAY THERE. THE STALLING OCCURS AFTER I HAVE DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 65 MILES PER HOUR. THE CAR GIVES AN INDICATION THAT IT'S ABOUT TO DIE BY SHUDDERING. SO FAR I HAVE BEEN LUCKY THAT I AM ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER TURNING OFF THE CAR AND WAITING FIVE MINUTES, I CAN START IT UP AND CONTINUE MY DRIVE TO WORK, ABOUT ANOTHER 10 TO 15 MINUTES AWAY. IF I WAIT LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES, THE CAR STALLS AGAIN. I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF I WAS UNABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE SATURN DEALER I TOOK IT TO IN 2003 DIDN'T SEEM TO CARE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10100380
80,000 miles · Feb 19, 2004
Electrical System
A WIRE MELTED IN MY WIRING HARNESS BEHIND THE DASH BOARD. THIS STOPPED THE CAR FROM RUNNING. IF IT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING, IT COULD CAUSE A CRASH DUE TO THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER OR COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE.
NHTSA ODI #10058512
80,934 miles · Nov 28, 2003
Air BagsSeat BeltsSeatsCrashInjury
DRIVER WAS REARENED IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENT ON FREEWAY, DRIVERS SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK, DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, AND DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BROKE, AND DRIVER WAS LAID IN BACK SEAT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10047714
48,000 miles · Aug 30, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
I HAVE COMPLAINED FOR MORE THAN 2 YEARS ABOUT EXCESSIVE ENGINE NOISE BUT GOT NO MEANINGFUL RESPONSE UNTIL 48000 MILES WHEN A SERVICE TECHNICIAN (NOT AT A DEALER) FOUND THAT THE RESONATOR HAS A CRACK. CALLS TO EXHAUST SHOPS INDICATE THAT THIS IS NOT A RARE OCCURRENCE. ONE OF THE SELLING POINTS OF THE CAR WAS THE STAINLESS EXHAUST…
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I HAVE COMPLAINED FOR MORE THAN 2 YEARS ABOUT EXCESSIVE ENGINE NOISE BUT GOT NO MEANINGFUL RESPONSE UNTIL 48000 MILES WHEN A SERVICE TECHNICIAN (NOT AT A DEALER) FOUND THAT THE RESONATOR HAS A CRACK. CALLS TO EXHAUST SHOPS INDICATE THAT THIS IS NOT A RARE OCCURRENCE. ONE OF THE SELLING POINTS OF THE CAR WAS THE STAINLESS EXHAUST SYSTEM. SEEMS THAT WAS A MEANINGLESS POINT FOR THIS MODEL.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10036891
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1999 Saturn S-SERIES Sedan Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year