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2000 Saturn Sl

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2000 Saturn Sl do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 171.5.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

59 reports with mileage · 89 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports3 fire reports6 injury reports

What owners actually said

148 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 2000
Tires

ALL TIRES ON CAR REPEATEDLY WENT FLAT WITHIN 2 WEEKS OF PURCHASE. FIRESTONE DID NOT REPAIR NOR REPLACE DESPITE NUMEROUS VISITS & CALLS. SATURN REFUSES TO ASSIST DESPITE NUMEROUS CALLS AND EMAILS. ALL TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY OWNER 2/00 FOR SAFETY/CONVENIENCE AFTER CHANGING TIRES DOZENS OF TIMES AND AIRING THEM EVERY DAY. NO P…

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ALL TIRES ON CAR REPEATEDLY WENT FLAT WITHIN 2 WEEKS OF PURCHASE. FIRESTONE DID NOT REPAIR NOR REPLACE DESPITE NUMEROUS VISITS & CALLS. SATURN REFUSES TO ASSIST DESPITE NUMEROUS CALLS AND EMAILS. ALL TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY OWNER 2/00 FOR SAFETY/CONVENIENCE AFTER CHANGING TIRES DOZENS OF TIMES AND AIRING THEM EVERY DAY. NO PROBLEMS SINCE NEW NON-FIRESTONE TIRES HAVE BEEN PUT ON. OTHER COMPLAINTS? CONVINCED THEY ARE DEFECTIVE AND NO ONE ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY.( DOT NUMBER: W2PAFA329 TIRE SIZE: 18565R15 )

NHTSA ODI #730128

Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 2000
Suspension

WHEN TRAVELING AT 45 TO 50 MPH VEHICLE WILL ZIGZAG, AND ITS VERY HARD TO STEER. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, AND HE STATED THAT THERE WAS NO ALIGNMENT PROBLEM. CONSUMER FEARED VEHICLE MAY DO THIS IN THE RAIN AND SLIDE OFF THE ROAD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #868220

Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 2000
Unknown Or Other

WHEN YOU TURN THE KEY TO THE ON POSITION ALL THE LIGHTS COME ON. IF YOU WAIT A MINUTE THEY ALL GO OUT EXECPT FOR ENGINE CHECK LIGHT. I TOOK TO DEALER, AND SAID IT STAYS ON LONGER THEN FIVEMINUTES, AND NOTHING WAS DONE* ABOUT IT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #725957

Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 2000
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

I WAS IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND WENT TO HIT THE BRAKES TO STOP AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP, IT DID NOT EVEN SLOW DOWN UNTIL I HIT THE OTHER CAR, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #725955

Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2000
Electrical System

A MAJOR SAFETY-CONCERN IS THE POOR ACCESSIBILITY OF THE HORN ON THE STEERING WHEEL. MY INABILITY TO QUICKLY-ACCESS THE HORN HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HIT SEVERAL SMALL ANIMALS AND HAS PREVENTED ME FROM EARLY-SIGNALING OTHER DRIVERS IN POTENTIALLY-DANGEROUS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #724661

Mileage unknown · Apr 2, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

OUR VEHICLE WAS RECALLED BY SATURN CAMPAIGN 00-C-09, AND THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. I CAN FIND NO REFERENCE TO THIS RECALL IN THE NHTSA RECALL DATABASE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #720911

Mileage unknown · Jan 20, 2000
Suspension

VEHICLE EXPERIENCE PROBLEM WITH PULLING TO THE RIGHT WHILE TRAVELING ON THE STREET. MORE SO AT HWY SPEEDS, WHICH CAUSES VEHICLE TO PULL. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING ELSE COULD BE DONE. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #855271

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 1999
Structure

THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DOOR IS IMPROPERLY WELDED TO THE VEHICLE AND IS TOTALLY OUT OF ALIGNMENT. BOTH THE DEALER AND THE FACTORY HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNREPAIRABLE AND POTENTIALLY UNSAFE. THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE PASSED QUALITY CONTROL AT EITHER THE FACTORY AND/OR THE DEALERSHIP. SATURN AND THE DEALERSHIP AR…

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THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DOOR IS IMPROPERLY WELDED TO THE VEHICLE AND IS TOTALLY OUT OF ALIGNMENT. BOTH THE DEALER AND THE FACTORY HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNREPAIRABLE AND POTENTIALLY UNSAFE. THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE PASSED QUALITY CONTROL AT EITHER THE FACTORY AND/OR THE DEALERSHIP. SATURN AND THE DEALERSHIP ARE CURRENTLY NEGOTIATING TO REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #714262

Official recalls

7

00V309000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Oct 12, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY." THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH AN INADEQUATE VENT VALVE WELD ON THE TOP PORTION OF THE FUEL TANK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL SPILLAGE COULD OCCUR DURING REFUELING OR IF THE VEHICLE WERE INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER. IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO ENSURE THE FUEL TANK VENT VALVE IS PROPERLY WELDED. IF NECESSARY, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY.

00V310000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:park/neutral Start Interlock Switch

Oct 12, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH AN IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE PARK LOCK CABLE ASSEMBLY. IF IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED, IT IS POSSIBLE TO SHIFT FROM THE "PARK" POSITION WITH THE IGNITION KEY REMOVED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH RESULTING FROM THE UNINTENDED MOVEMENT OF PARKED VEHICLES.

Remedy: SATURN IS ASKING OWNERS AND RETAILERS TO PERFORM A FUNCTIONAL CHECK OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE PARK LOCK CABLE ASSEMBLY OPERATION, AND IF NECESSARY, TO HAVE THE CABLE ADJUSTED. IF OWNERS ARE NOT COMFORTABLE PERFORMING THE FUNCTIONAL CHECK THEMSELVES, THEY CAN HAVE THEIR DEALER PERFORM THIS INSPECTION FOR THEM.

99V297000 · Structure:body

Oct 27, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A CONSOLE ARMREST FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACTS." THE ARMRESTS WERE PRODUCED WITH A LATCH THAT WILL NOT WITHSTAND THE VERTICAL FORCE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE LATCH MAY OPEN AND THE ARMREST OR THE CONTENTS OF THE CONSOLE COULD INJURE AN OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CONSOLE ARMREST LATCH.

99V280000 · 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.

99V231000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components

Aug 24, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 135, "PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH BRAKE PIPE ATTACHMENT NUTS THAT MAY NOT BE TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATIONS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE BRAKE PIPE NUTS ARE NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED, BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE BRAKE'S STOPPING DISTANCE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE PIPE NUTS FOR LEAKAGE, VERIFY THEY ARE TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATIONS, AND REPLACE THE BRAKE PIPES IF NEEDED.

99V230000 · Unknown Or Other

Aug 23, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH WELDS IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CARRIER ASSEMBLY THAT DO NOT MEET SATURN QUALITY STANDARDS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT, PARTICULARLY AN UNBELTED OCCUPANT, MAY HAVE AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY IN A FRONTAL CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLE'S INSTRUMENT PANEL CARRIER ASSEMBLY.

99V232000 · Structure:body:bumpers

Aug 23, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 581, "BUMPER STANDARD." THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH REAR BUMPER FASTENERS THAT MAY BE LOOSE OR MISSING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE FASTENERS ARE LOOSE OR MISSING, THE REAR BUMPER MAY NOT ABSORB ENERGY AS IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO IN THE EVENT OF A REAR END COLLISION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL VERIFY THAT THE REAR BUMPER BEAM FASTENERS ARE PRESENT AND PROPERLY TIGHTENED AND, IF MISSING, INSTALL NEW FASTENERS.

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.