1995 Saturn Sl Transmission Problems

1995 SATURN SL2 MANUAL TRANSMISSION SHIFTER CABLE BUSHING FAILURE WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, PUSHED IN CLUTCH TO SHIFT FROM REVERSE TO FIRST GEAR AND HEARD A "POP". TRANSMISSION WENT INTO SOME GEAR (NOT FIRST), ENGINE STALLED AND GEAR SHIFT LEVER WAS LOOSE AND FLOPPY. COASTED AROUND CORNER AND PARKED NEXT TO CURB. REPAIR NOT YET MADE. DISASSEMBLED CENTER CONSOLE TO EXPOSE SHIFTER MECHANISM AND FOUND BUSHING ON LOWER SHIFT CABLE HAD FAILED AND WAS IN 3 PIECES. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP FOR AVAILABILITY AND PRICE OF BUSHING AND WAS TOLD BUSHING WAS INTEGRAL TO CABLE AND ENTIRE CABLE MUST BE REPLACED. COST OF PARTS $197.10 PLUS TAX. WILL PROBABLY END UP DRILLING THROUGH THE BALL AND BOLTING THE CABLE TO THE SHIFT LEVER ALTHOUGH THIS MAY FATIGUE SHIFTER CABLE AND ULTIMATELY REQUIRE CABLE REPLACEMENT. HAD THIS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY OR IN TRAFFIC INSTEAD OF A RESIDENTIAL STREET, THE RESULT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. *JB

NHTSA ID

10154341

Incident

Mar 31, 2006

Mileage

172,171 mi

HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING CAR INTO GEAR, ESPECIALLY FROM PARK TO DRIVE. FINALLY, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. TOOK TO A CAR SERVICE CENTER WHERE THEY CONNECTED TO A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE THAT RESULTED IN A BAD TRANSMISSION THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. CAR HAS A LITTLE OVER 67,500 MILES. THE CAR IS A 1995 SATURN SL1. *JB

NHTSA ID

10104012

Incident

Dec 10, 2004

Mileage

67,500 mi

THERE WAS OIL IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. WHEN THE ENGINE WARMED UP IT WOULD LEAK FLUID IN THE DRIVEWAY. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CYLINDER CRACKED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10089208

Incident

Aug 17, 2004

Mileage

100,800 mi

TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTS FROM HIGH TO 3RD OR LOW. CAUSING HIGH RPM AT HIGHWAY SPEED. SOMETIMES REQUIRES YOU TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND RESTART THE ENGINE TO REGAIN NORMAL SHIFT SEQUENCE. PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED FOR MORE THAN A YEAR. SATURN SERVICE REPS SAY THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE AND THERE IS NO PROBLEM. NOT TRUE. NUMBER OF FAILURES BELOW REPRESENTS YEAR LONG PERIOD. *AK

NHTSA ID

10052413

Incident

Dec 28, 2003

THIS IS THE SAME AS COMPLAINT #855328, HAVING TO DO WITH THE NEUTRAL/ PARK SWITCH ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION I ALSO CAN MOVE SHIFT LEVER WITH CAR OFF AND NO FOOT ON THE BREAK. *JB

NHTSA ID

10049251

Incident

Jun 5, 2003

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SMOKED AND LEAKED TRANSMISSION FLUID. A TECHNICIAN SERVICED THE VEHICLE, AND INDICATED THAT TRANSMISSION CASE CRACKED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10048129

Mileage

37,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION PUMP FAILED. *YH

NHTSA ID

786033

Incident

Jul 1, 2002

CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE WHILE RESTING ALONG SIDE OF THE ROAD, CONSUMER TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER IT IGNITED UPON STARTING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 22-V641-822. *SLC

NHTSA ID

6900640

Incident

Oct 29, 2001

THE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT FAILED.*YH

NHTSA ID

785591

TRANSMISSION DROPS INTO SECOND GEAR FROM BOTH THIRD AND HIGH AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, CAUSING HIGH ENGINE RPMS AND RAPID SPEED REDUCTION AND HANDLING DIFFICULTIES CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT HAPPENS ON CURVES. SERVICE NOTIFIED NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT COULD NOT FIND CAUSE.*AK

NHTSA ID

746235

THE VEHICLE HAS CAUSED ME NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS, IT EATS OIL WITHOUT ANY SIGN OF WHERE IT IS GOING. THE AUTO BELT TIGHTENER IS NOT WORKING AND COST AN ARM AND A LEG TO FIX. SUNROOF BROKE WITHOUT ANY NOTICE OR CAUSE, THE FAN SWITCH NEVER DID OPERATE CORRECTLY, NOW IT IS SHIFTING REAL HARD ALL THE TIME WHILE YOUR DRIVING, ONCE IT IS WARMED UP. THIS VEHICLE IS DEFINITELY A LEMON. AK SCC ***DIMSII IVOQ POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****744336

NHTSA ID

10006456

Incident

Jun 12, 1997

Mileage

45,000 mi

THE TRANSMISSION INTERNITTENTLY FAILS TO UPSHIFT. THE SPEED AT WHICH THIS OCCURS IS TYPICALLY 25-35 MPH. WE BROUGHT THE CAR TO SATURN OF STERLING (46980 HARRY BYRD HWY, STERLING, VA 20164, 703-450-8500) 6 TIMES UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY FAILED TO FIND ANY. *AK

NHTSA ID

741133

Incident

Aug 11, 1999

VEHICLE SLIPS OUT OF 3RD GEAR. *SLC

NHTSA ID

785134

Incident

Nov 1, 2000

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, HEARD A LOUD NOISE UNDER THE VEHICLE AND LOST POWER. PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO FIND TRANSMISSION FLUID AND PARTS OF THE HOUSING ON THE HIGHWAY.ALSO FOUND VARIOUS OTHER TRANSMISION PARTS FARTHER UP THE ROAD. *AK

NHTSA ID

718740

Incident

Feb 12, 2000

DRIVER IS ABLE TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER IN ANY POSITON WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKES WITH OR WITHOUT THE IGNITIN BEING ON. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

855328

Incident

Dec 28, 1999

THE REAR DEFROSTER FAILED CAUSING, WINDOWS TO FROST.

NHTSA ID

605603

Incident

Jun 1, 1995

THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. WHEN WE TOOK IT TO SATURN THEY TOLD US THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH 3RD GEAR AND THAT IT WOULD COST $1600. TO FIX. WE WENT FOR A SECOND OPINION AT THE HEMET CA. AAMCO. THEY VEIFIED THE PROBLEM AND "REPAIRED" IT FOR $1000. AT THE TIME IT SATIFIED US AS SATURN TOLD US IT WOULD BE $1600. JUST TO LOOK AND MORE IF THE PROBLEM WAS BIG. UNFORTUNATELY THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEGUN TO SLIP AGAIN. WE HAVEN'T CALLED AAMCO YET. WE DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU TO SEE IF THIS IS AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH THE SATURN VEHICLE! WE GOT THE IMPRESSION FROM THE AAMCO PEOPLE THAT THIS WASN'T AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM THAT THEY HAD RUN UP AGAINST. I AM SOMEWHAT DISATISFIED WITH THE SATURN CAR AND PEOPLE AS WE'VE HAD TO DO A LOT MORE WORK ON THE CAR THAN EXPECTED AND DEFINATELY MORE THAN THEY LEAD YOU TO BELIEVE IN THEIR ADVERTISING. SHAME ON ME FOR BELEIVING THEM! WE HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY 3 TIMES WITH NO EXPLANATION, REPLACE A MOTOR MOUNT, AND REPLACE A BELT TENSIONER. AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE MILES IT IS NOT HEAVILY USED. PLEASE SEND ANY INFO YOU CAN. THANKS!

NHTSA ID

711878

Incident

Oct 29, 1998

THE CONSUMER STATED HER CAR WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE .

NHTSA ID

844373

Incident

Aug 4, 1999

CAR HAS ONLY 38,000 MILES ON IT. IN THE LAST 30 DAYS, IT'S BEEN TOWED THREE TIMES. IT OVERHEATED, THE CLUTCH WENT OUT AND THEN THE ALTERNATOR WENT OUT.

NHTSA ID

706513

Incident

Apr 30, 1999

THE TRANSMISSION BROKE AND THE DEALER CAN OFFER NO CAUSE, SEALED TRANSMISSION

NHTSA ID

705650

Incident

Apr 12, 1999

THE CAR STARTED TO MAKE A RATTLING NOISE SUDDENLY, OVER A DISTANCE OF A FEW BLOCKS. THE NOISE STARTED TO GET LOUDER, TURNING INTO A GRINDING METAL NOISE. THE CAR THEN TOTALLY STALLED OUT, LOSING ALL POWER, AND LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF OF THE ROAD DUE TO A DOWNHILL SLOPE. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO HOUSER'S AUTOMOTIVE, INC., OF BROOKHAVEN, PA (610) 874-9285. THE TRANSMISSION HAD A HOLE IN ITS CASING ABOUT SIX INCHES IN DIAMETER AND THE INTERNAL TRANSMISSION PARTS COULD LITERALLY BE SEEN. WHEN THE MECHANICS PUT THE SATURN ON THE HOIST, THEY EXAMINED THE TRANSMISSION AND SAW THAT A PIN, OR ROD, ABOUT 3/4 INCH THICK, HAD BROKEN AND MOST OF IT WAS MISSING. THE ONE END OF THE ROD WAS GONE, AND THE HOLE ON ONE END OF THIS INTERNAL COMPONENT WAS EMPTY, BUT THE OTHER END OF THE ROD WAS STILL IN PLACE ON THE OPPOSITE END OF THE ROD IN THIS MIDDLE INTERNAL COMPONENT. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD TOTALLY LEAKED OUT. THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. I SAVED THE TRANSMISSION AND I ALSO TOOK PICTURES THAT CLEARLY SHOW THE MISSING CASING OF THE TRANSMISSION. IF THE CASING HAD BROKEN ON ITS UPPER SIDE AGAINST THE UNDERBODY OF THE CAR, IT COULD HAVE PENETRATED THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR CAUSING SERIOUS OR FATAL INJURY TO MY FAMILY. LUCKILY IT BROKE THROUGH THE DOWNSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION CASING, FACING THE ROAD AND DID NOT CAUSE ANY BODILY HARM TO ANYONE. THE MECHANICS SAID IT WAS DEFINITELY A DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION. IT WAS SOMETHING THEY HAD NEVER SEEN HAPPEN BEFORE. SATURN HAS TOTALLY DENIED ANY REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR COSTS, EVEN DENYING ANY REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE NEW SATURN TRANSMISSION THAT WAS INSTALLED, SINCE NO REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSIONS WERE AVAILABLE FOR THE SATURN.

NHTSA ID

704047

Incident

Feb 19, 1999

LOCATOR SWITCH ON SUNROOF FAILED CAUSING CABLES TO FAIL AND GUIDES TO BREAK. SUNROODF IS RARELY USED THIS FAILURE SHOULD NOT OCCUR. COST OF PARTS IS WAY OVERPRICED. SUNROOF REPAIR IS ESTIMATED AT $650.00 PLUS TAX. VALVE BODY ASSEMBLY ON TRANSMISSION IS FAILLING AS TRANSMISSION DELAYS AND SHIFTS HARD THROUGH THE GEARS. PART CONTROLS THE FLOW OF TRANSMISSION FLUID TO THE GEARS.

NHTSA ID

700285

Incident

Oct 17, 1998

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION SLAMMING INTO GEAR WHEN ENGAGED. THIS CONDITION BELIEVED TO CAUSE THE MOTOR MOUNTS TO COLLAPSE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

827843

Incident

Jun 1, 1998

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN CARPORT, NOTICED FLUID ON THE GROUND UNDERNEATH. IT HAD STARTED TO LEAK TRANSMISSION FLUID. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP & THE MECHANIC SAID THAT IT WAS A GASKET & IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

823781

Incident

Apr 10, 1998

TRANSMISSION JUMPS OUT OF THIRD/FOURTH GEARS. *AK

NHTSA ID

526368