AI Damage2000 Saturn SL: common problems
Owners of the 2000 Saturn SL filed 148 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 148
- involving a crash
- 10
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 24% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 23% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 18% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 10% of all complaints
- 5 Tires 7% of all complaints
- 6 Steering 7% of all complaints
- 7 Suspension 5% of all complaints
- 8 Exterior lighting 4% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 35 complaints (24% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 34 complaints (23% of all).
- Electrical system: 26 complaints (18% of all).
- Service brakes: 15 complaints (10% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Tires: 11 complaints (7% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.9 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 148 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 35 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 34 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 26 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 15 | 2 | 0 |
| Tires | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 4 | 4 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Hit mountain head on and car rolled and air bags did not deploy. Rear tire and drum broke off car while doing 50 mile per hour
The seat belts worked, but the air bags did not deploy. My car was totaled. I was injured and taken by ambulance to the hospital.
While stopping vehicle was rear-ended. After the collision both front seat backs collapsed and fell back onto rear seats.
Vehicle hit an embankment at 40 mph, and neither airbag deployed. No injuries, vehicle was totalled.
Consumer was pulling out of parking space in reverse when accelerator pedal became stuck and reversed at a high rate of speed, causing consumer to hit a tree in parking lot. Cause was unknown.
Vehicle was involved in a chain reaction accident that caused seat back to collapse. Dealer has not been contacted at this time. Ak
Vehicle was slowing down to come to a stop and another vehicle rear ended sl1. Upon impact, both front seats collapsed backwards onto rear seats. Managed to pull vehicle over to side of road. Driver/ passenger couldn't see out off windshield.
My front tire blew out on I-85 and I hit several trees.( dot number: n/a tire size: pr 185 )
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 2,662 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 7% most complained about).
On average one model year of the SL has 185 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 148, below average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2000 Saturn SL?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, engine and cooling, electrical system. Total complaints: 148. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (8%), warning lights, check engine (8%), vibration (5%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2000 Saturn SL?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2000 Saturn SL from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2000 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.