Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 09E012000 · 2009 · reported 04/07/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
2000 Saturn SL Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Power Train:automatic Transmission — runs 2.2× the fleet median for that category across the 2391 model-years tracked on this site.
148Complaints
8Recalls
10Crashes
3Fires
10Injured
2Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Power Train:automatic Transmission (14.9% of complaints) — is covered by 1 NHTSA recall campaign.
Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints here are 2.2× the median for that category across the 2391 model-years tracked on this site.
1 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 5 rest on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train:automatic Transmission | 22 · 14.9% | Recalled | Recall 00V310000 |
| Tires | 11 · 7.4% | No official action | — |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 11 · 7.4% | No official action | — |
| Electrical System | 10 · 6.8% | No official action | — |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:engine | 10 · 6.8% | No official action | — |
| Electrical System:ignition | 7 · 4.7% | No official action | — |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 148 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 8 campaigns
Structure:body:bumpers
NHTSA campaign 99V232000 · 1999 · reported 08/23/1999
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. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components
NHTSA campaign 99V231000 · 1999 · reported 08/24/1999
IF THE BRAKE PIPE NUTS ARE NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED, BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE BRAKE'S STOPPING DISTANCE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Unknown Or Other
NHTSA campaign 99V230000 · 1999 · reported 08/23/1999
A FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT, PARTICULARLY AN UNBELTED OCCUPANT, MAY HAVE AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY IN A FRONTAL CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Power Train:automatic Transmission:park/neutral Start Interlock Switch
NHTSA campaign 00V310000 · 2000 · reported 10/12/2000
THIS CONDITION INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH RESULTING FROM THE UNINTENDED MOVEMENT OF PARKED VEHICLES. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
NHTSA campaign 00V309000 · 2000 · reported 10/12/2000
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. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Seat Belts:front:anchorage
NHTSA campaign 99V280000 · 1999 · reported 10/20/1999
IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Structure:body
NHTSA campaign 99V297000 · 1999 · reported 10/27/1999
IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE LATCH MAY OPEN AND THE ARMREST OR THE CONTENTS OF THE CONSOLE COULD INJURE AN OCCUPANT. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“DT- WAS ON THE INTERNET WONDERED IF THERE WAS A RECALL FOR SATURN SL2. THERE WAS, BUT IT DIDN'T INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE DUE TO VIN…”NHTSA complaint 10125374 — filed 06/15/2005 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
“WHILE SHIFTING IN REVERSE THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERATIVE. CONSUMER APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE. CONSUME RWAS UNABLE TO TURN OF…”NHTSA complaint 10076097 — filed 06/10/2004 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
“WITHOUT ANY WARNING, I GOT IN MY SATURN AND STARTED IT AND THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT WENT ON. AS I PUT IT IN REVERSE…”NHTSA complaint 10074820 — filed 06/04/2004 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2000 Saturn SL?
Power train:automatic transmission issues are the most-reported category, cited in 22 of 148 NHTSA complaints (14.9%), followed by tires (11), engine and engine cooling (11), electrical system (10). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 2000 Saturn SL have?
148 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 10 involved a crash, 3 involved a fire, and 10 reported injuries. 2 deaths were reported.
Does the 2000 Saturn SL have any recalls?
Yes — 8 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 09E012000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 2000 Saturn SL's reported problems?
1 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page is backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.
