Total Complaints
10 filings
SATURN SATURN · model year
1999 SATURN SATURN
10 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1999SATURNSATURN carries 10 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 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 SATURN is service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:rotor with 2 filings, followed by air bags:frontal (1) and seat belts:front (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 SATURN. 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.
10
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 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 |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 2 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 |
| CHILD SEAT | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20070819SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
BRAKE ROTORS WARPED AND CORRODED AT 39,660 MILES. *JB
Mileage: 39,990
20040127ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
I HAVE A 2003 SATURN ION. THE HORN IS VERY HARD TO OPERATE. WHEN IT IS ACTIVATED IT MAKES A VERY ACCEPTABLE LOUD NOISE. BUT IT IS NOT EASY TO FIND THE LOCATION ON THE WHEEL WHERE IT WILL FUNCTION NOR IS IT EASY TO ACTIVATE. I AM AFRAID THAT WHEN IT IS NEEDED IN AN EMERGENCY, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ACTIVATE IT. WHEN I ASKED MY DEALER TO ADJUST IT, HE SAID , THE HORN WAS IN A COMPLETELY SEALED UNIT WITH NO ADJUSTMENTS. WHEN I TOLD HIM THIS WAS UNSAFE. HIS RESPONSE WAS, THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO AT THIS LEVEL. I CALLED SATURNS CORPORATE OFFICE AND SPOKE TO BOTH A REPRESENTATIVE AND HER SUPERVISOR. I WAS TOLD THE HORN WAS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED AND THEY WOULD DO NOTHING FURTHER AT THIS TIME, WHEN I ASKED HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE WERE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM, I WAS TOLD, WE DO NOT HAVE THOSE STATISTICS AVAILABLE. BEFORE I BOUGHT THE SATURN ION, I WAS DRIVING A MERCURY TOPAZ. I HAD NO DIFFICULTY WITH THE HORN. I OCCASIONALLY DRIVE MY HUSBANDS TOYOTA COROLLA. AGAIN NO P
20030620SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
VEHICLE TRANSMISSION COVER IS LEAKING/ BRAKE ROTORS NEED RESURFACING. *MR THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS DARK AND THE COVER LEAKED. THE SERVICE DEALER SUGGESTED RESURFACING THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND DISCOVERED THAT TWO TRANSMISSION BOLTS ON THE TRANSMISSION LEAKED. THE SERVICE DEALER ALSO COMMENTED THE TRANSMISSION COVER WAS OF BAD DESIGN. *SCC *JB
20030620POWER TRAIN
VEHICLE TRANSMISSION COVER IS LEAKING/ BRAKE ROTORS NEED RESURFACING. *MR THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS DARK AND THE COVER LEAKED. THE SERVICE DEALER SUGGESTED RESURFACING THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND DISCOVERED THAT TWO TRANSMISSION BOLTS ON THE TRANSMISSION LEAKED. THE SERVICE DEALER ALSO COMMENTED THE TRANSMISSION COVER WAS OF BAD DESIGN. *SCC *JB
20021210ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING WATER TO LEAK INTO THE OIL SYSTEM. DEALER NOTIFIED.TS
20021024VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE THE PEDAL SNAP AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND WILL BE FORCE TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED TS
20000103CHILD SEAT
THE SATURN VEHICLE I OWN HAS ANGLED SEATS. THE ANGLE IS FOR SAFETY PURPOSES TO INSURE THE PASSENGERS IS SITTING BACK DURING IMPACT. HOWEVER, WHEN USING A REAR FACING CAR SEAT IT IS A PROBLEM. THE INFANT SEAT MUST BE SECURLY FASTENED WITH THE SEAT BELT. DUE TO THE ANGLE, THE SEAT LEANS FORWARD. THIS RESULTS IN THE INFANT HANGING FORWARD. IN ORDER TO ELIMINATE THE INCLINE, CONSUMER MUST USE TWO ROLLED BATH TOWELS PLACED UNDER THE SEAT THEN INSATLL THE CAR SEAT. THIS CREATES THE CORRECT ANGLE THE CHILD CAN SIT. ALSO IN AN INFANT CARRIER THE BAR MUST GO BACK. USING THE TOWELS PUSHES THE SEAT BACK WHICH BUTTS IT UP AGAINIST THE FRONT SEAT, AND YOU CANNOT PUSH THE SEAT BACK ANY. WE ALSO TRIED A REGULAR CAR SEAT (NOT AN INFANT CARRIER), AND IT ALSO REQUIRED A ROLLED TOWEL FOR THE RIGHT ADJUSTMENT. MY CONCERN IS THAT IN TIME WITH MOMENT THE TOWELS ALLOWS MOMENT AND THE SEAT WORKS ITS WAY LOOSE. I CONTACTED SATURN AND THEY STATED THEY DO NOT TEST CAR SEATS IN THEIR VEHICLES. THEY SUGGESTED I T
19990628EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THE HORRIBLE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ON ALL SATURNS ARE BLINDING AND DANGEROUS TO ALL DRIVERS. BY ATTRACTING OUR ATTENTION FOR SEVERAL DANGEROUS SECONDS, THEY ALSO MAKE THEMSELVES THE TARGET OF COLLISIONS AS THE HUMAN EYE IS ATTACTED TO THE BRIGHTEST SPOT IN ITS VIEW. PROFESSIONAL DRIVING SCHOOLS TEACH THAT THIS IS EXACTLY WHERE ONE WILL STEER THEIR CAR IN AN ACCIDENT AVOIDANCE MANEUVER.
19990222CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND DRIVER'S SIDE/PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. ALSO, SHOULDER LAP BELT DIDN'T SUPPORT THE CONSUMER, CAUSING CONSUMER TO BE PUSHED TOWARDS THE WINDSHIELD. *AK
19990222CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND DRIVER'S SIDE/PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. ALSO, SHOULDER LAP BELT DIDN'T SUPPORT THE CONSUMER, CAUSING CONSUMER TO BE PUSHED TOWARDS THE WINDSHIELD. *AK
Compare 1999SATURNSATURN 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 SATURN have?▼
The 1999 SATURN SATURN has 10 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 SATURN SATURN?▼
The most-complained component for the 1999 SATURN SATURN is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS:FRONTAL and SEAT BELTS:FRONT.
Is the 1999 SATURN SATURN 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.