IllustrationOVER THE LAST FEW YEARS THE DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER HAS COME LOOSE SEVERAL TIMES. SATURN DEALER HAS RETIGHTENED IT. I HAVE RETIGHTENED IT. DEALER HAS RETIGHTENED IT AGAIN. I HAVE RETIGHTENED IT AGAIN. DEALER HAS NEVER OFFERED OR SUGGESTED AN ACTUAL REPAIR TO STOP THESE REPEATED LOOSENING OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER. *NM
1999 Saturn Sl
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1999 Saturn Sl do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 171.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sl years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
60–25K
1725–50K
1450–75K
1575–100K
16100–150K
5150K+
73 reports with mileage · 105 unknown
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 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
26 crash reports1 fire reports17 injury reports
Visibility complaints
5 reportsVEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. A TECHNICIAN FOUND THAT THE REAR BRAKES WERE OUT OF ADJUSTMENT, CAUSING NOISE, CONSUMER STATES THIS COULD POSSIBLY BE DUE TO FAULTY INSTALLATION OF THE TIRE ASSEMBLY. *JG
WHILE RAINING WINDSHIELD WIPER ARMS FELL OFF, CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SEE, AND HAD TO HAVE ARM OUT OF THE WINDOW TO HOLD WIPER AMR ON. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY ONLY TIGHTED UP THE BOLT. IT'S LOOSE AGAIN, VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SHOP OVER 6 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK THE DEALER STATES THAT WARM WEATHER CAUSES WIPERS TO STICK…
Read full complaint
WHILE RAINING WINDSHIELD WIPER ARMS FELL OFF, CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SEE, AND HAD TO HAVE ARM OUT OF THE WINDOW TO HOLD WIPER AMR ON. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY ONLY TIGHTED UP THE BOLT. IT'S LOOSE AGAIN, VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SHOP OVER 6 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK THE DEALER STATES THAT WARM WEATHER CAUSES WIPERS TO STICK TO WINDOW. *YH
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *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
Official recalls
199V280000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
Oct 20, 1999
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.