Total Complaints
6 filings
SATURN S-SERIES SEDAN · model year
1999 SATURN S-SERIES SEDAN
6 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1999SATURNS-SERIES SEDAN carries 6 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 6 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1999 S-SERIES SEDAN is engine and engine cooling:exhaust system with 1 filings, followed by seat belts:front:buckle assembly (1) and seats:front assembly:recliner (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 14 investigation files overlapping the 1999 S-SERIES SEDAN. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
6
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
6
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
3 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 1 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20041123ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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 TURNIN
Mileage: 117,330
20040219ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
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.
Mileage: 80,000
20031128CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
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
Mileage: 80,934
20031128CrashSEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
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
Mileage: 80,934
20031128CrashAIR BAGS
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
Mileage: 80,934
20030830ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
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
Mileage: 48,000
Compare 1999SATURNS-SERIES SEDAN to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
EA11014Engineering AnalysisClosed
Electric Power Steering Failure
RQ10004Recall QueryClosed
Electric Power Steering Failure
PE09016Preliminary EvaluationClosed
OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES STICK UNLATCHED
PE08061Preliminary EvaluationClosed
TIMING CHAIN BREAKS, ENGINE STALL
DP08002Defect PetitionClosed
TIMING CHAIN FAILURE-STALL
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1999 SATURN S-SERIES SEDAN have?▼
The 1999 SATURN S-SERIES SEDAN has 6 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 6 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 SATURN S-SERIES SEDAN?▼
The most-complained component for the 1999 SATURN S-SERIES SEDAN is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY and SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER.
Is the 1999 SATURN S-SERIES SEDAN safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.