1999 Saturn SL sl review from North America

The check engine light came on at about 50,000 and it needed a fuel filter (not surprising it was a city driven car for first 30,000 so it had carbon build up)

This car was bought new for my mom in 1999 for her to drive to the store and other short trips. After 5 years and 30,000 miles, there were virtually no problems at all. An oil change every 3,000 is all we did. NOTHING ELSE! In 2004 my mom got a new car so my step dad started driving it to work when his 1999 corolla 's lease was up. He disliked the bare-bones car, no power windows, door locks, 5 speed trans. He treated it badly for the next two years. Example-when he parked it in the garage he would bang its mirror against the trash cans. when it started to have trouble starting I suspected it needed a fuel system clean-out. He stopped driving it in 2006 when he got a Hyundai tuscon. Now it is scratched up, but has no dents thanks to the plastic body panels. we still own it now because I (13 year old son) will drive it as my first car. it needed a new battery at 52,000 as it would not start at all. over all, it takes abuse very well and gets great mileage. I am someone who looks down on domestic cars and likes hondas and toyotas, but this car is rated better than average in consumer reports. you know, the half filled in red dot. pretty good for a saturn.