1998 Saturn Sl Transmission Problems

WHILE PARKING MY 1898 SATURN SL IN A HOSPITAL GARAGE, THE SHIFT LEVER WENT LIMP WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS NO WAY TO OPERATE THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN I REMOVED THE CONSOLE, I DISCOVERED THAT THE PLASTIC BUSHING THAT CONNECTS THE MANUAL SHIFT LEVER TO THE SHIFT CABLE WAS MISSING. THERE WAS NO LONGER ANY CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SHIFT LEVER AND THE CABLE TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE ENTIRE SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. SATURN TOLD ME THAT THE BUSHING IS MADE ONTO THE CABLE RATHER THAN BEING AVAILABLE AS A SEPARATE PART. IF THIS BUSHING HAD FAILED IN A TRAFFIC SITUATION IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE BUSHING SHOULD BE DESIGNED SUCH THAT IF IT BRAKES; THE SHIFT LEVER WILL REMAIN CONNECTED TO THE SHIFT CABLE AND JUST CAUSE SLOPPY SHIFTING THEREBY WARNING THE DRIVER THAT REPAIR IS REQUIRED. I STILL HAVE THE OLD SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10108486

Incident

Jan 23, 2005

Mileage

55,600 mi

VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING PROPERLY. TAKEN TO MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THAT VEHICLE WAS 5 QUARTS LOW ON TRANSMISSION FLUID AND VEHICLE WOULD HAVE STOPPED RUNNING IF NOT TAKEN CARE OF AT THAT TIME. ALTHOUGH VEHICLE ONLY HAD 35000 MILES ON IT TRANSMISSION, WHICH HAD DEFECT, HAD TO BE REBUILT FOR $2400+.*AK

NHTSA ID

10096031

Incident

Sep 13, 2004

Mileage

34,000 mi

MY WIFE'S '98 SATURN SL1 HAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000 MILES ON IT. ABOUT A WEEK AGO, SHE WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR. AFTER TAKING THE CENTER CONSOLE OUT, I NOTICED THAT A RUBBER GROMMET THAT ATTACHED THE SHIFT ROD TO THE SHIFT CABLES HAD ROTTED AND BROKEN IN HALF. NORMALLY, THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN VERY EASY TO REPLACE. A NEW GROMMET COULD VERY EASILY BE POPPED IN WITH AROUND 1/2 HOUR OF WORK. WHEN I APPROACHED THE LOCAL SATURN DEALERS, THEY SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE THE .50 CENT GROMMET AVAILABLE, AND THAT THE ENTIRE SHIFTER CABLE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED (THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CABLES THEMSELVES). THE PERSON WORKING THERE SAID THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE CABLES VERY OFTEN. TOTAL COST FOR THE CABLES AND LABOR IS AROUND $600. THEY DO NOT SELL THE GROMMET SEPERATELY. GETTING SUSPICIOUS, I WENT ON THE INTERNET TO RESEARCH THE PROBLEM. I FOUND MANY SITES WITH PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM (SEE HTTP://WWW.CHAOSMAGNET.COM/BLOG/ARCHIVES/000112.HTML, HTTP://WWW.AUTOGUIDE.NET/CGI-SEC/AUTOPARTS/MESSAGES/MSG.CGI?1589.SHTML, FOR EXAMPLE). ALL COULD EASILY HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM BY GETTING A NEW RUBBER GROMMET. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT SATURN NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT. SPENDING $600 FOR A $5 REPAIR IS REDICULOUS AND WRONG. ALSO, MY WIFE'S CAR IS COMPLETELY OUT OF COMISSION UNTIL THIS CAN BE REPLACED. MANY REPORTS FROM OTHER OWNERS I HAVE READ HAVE STATED THAT TO GET AROUND SPENDING $600, THEY ARE USING SELF MADE FIXES. THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS TO DO, AND COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS IN THE FUTURE. HOWEVER, THEIR OPTIONS ARE SOMEWHAT LIMITED UNLESS THEY WISH TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY. AGAIN, THIS PROBLEM COULD BE EASILY RECTIFIED IF SATURN WOULD SIMPLY MAKE THE GROMMET AVAILABLE FOR SALE. REGARDS, JAMES LANGFORD.

NHTSA ID

10086867

Incident

Jul 30, 2004

WHILE ACCELERATING TO 40 MPH CONSUMER SHIFTED FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR AND FLOOR SHIFTER FAILED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10068684

Incident

Apr 3, 2004

Mileage

35,000 mi

SHIFTER ARM CLUTCH LINKAGE BUSHING BROKE WHILE SHIFTING GEAR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10064554

Incident

Apr 2, 2004

Mileage

130,000 mi

MANUAL TRANSMISSION LINKAGE BROKE. THE PLASTIC THAT LOCKS THE BALL OF THE LINKAGE TO THE SOCKET OF THE SHIFTER CRACKED, AND BECAME SEPERATED WHILE IN OPERATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

10058553

Incident

Feb 19, 2004

CONSUMER NOTICED UPON STARTING VEHICLE PARK PAW WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK THIS HAPPENED ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. CONSUMER HAD TO ROCK THE VEHICLE, RESTART, PUMP THE BRAKES AND GIGGLE THE LEVER BEFORE IT WOULD RELEASE. WHEN CHANGING GEAR A SCRAPPING SOUND WAS HEARD AND SATURN STATED IT WOULD GET WORSE. AFTER FOUR TIMES, CONSUMER HAD IT REPLACED AT A COST OF $#144.09. CONSUMER NOTED SATURN WOULD NOT WORK ON HIS VEHICLE MAYBE BECAUSE HE FILLED A COMPLAINT FOR SHABBY WORK. *PH

NHTSA ID

10042391

Incident

Aug 24, 2003

Mileage

61,007 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT SENOR AND COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR, HOWEVER THE ENGINE STALLED AGAIN. *AK THE POWER STEERING AND IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE GEAR DID NOT SHIFT PROPERLY, MAINLY IN FIRST GEAR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10033577

Incident

Aug 1, 2003

SMALL PLASTIC RING IN SHIFTER LINKAGE BROKE WHILE IN TRAFFIC LEAVING CAR STUCK IN FIRST GEAR.*JB

NHTSA ID

10010318

Incident

Feb 20, 2003

Mileage

79,500 mi

THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THE CAM SWITCH WAS REPLACED TWICE, THE IDLE CONTROL WAS ADJUSTED AND THE THROTTLE WAS REPLACED YET THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED IN REVERSE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10001275

Incident

Jun 1, 1999

Mileage

11,979 mi

TRANSMISION HESITATES AND JERKS BEFORE GOING INTO ANY GEAR. PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FOR 3 MONTHS.DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND FOUND A FAULTY TRANSMISSION VALVE.*AK

NHTSA ID

8014651

Incident

May 1, 2002

WHEN ACCELERATING TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SHIFT INTO GEAR. ALSO, BATTERY IS LEAKING FLUID, DETERIORATING WIRE HARNESS TO TRANSMISSION. DEALER STATED PROBLEM WILL REOCCUR BECAUSE WIRES DO NOT HAVE A PROTECTIVE COVERING. *AK

NHTSA ID

8003027

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

752535

Incident

Sep 22, 2001

CLUTCH WAS IN PERFECT CONDITIONS, FALIURE WAS IN THE PRESSURE PLATE THAT OPERATES THE CLUTCH. PARTS DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS NOT UN-COMMON FOR MANUAL TRANSMITIONS ON SL1 FROM 96-99 AND WHEN NEW PARTS WERE PURCHASED AT THE DEALER, THERE HAD BEEN A DESIGN CHANGE WHICH INCREASED THE TOTAL COST FOR THE REPAIR. WHY WAS A NEW DESIGN IMPLEMENTED IF THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE OLD ONE. JUST IN HAWAII/OAHU THERE HAS BEEN ABOUT HALF A DOZEN OF LOW MILAGE MANUAL TRANS WITH CLUTCH SYSTEM FALIRES.

NHTSA ID

750132

Incident

Jul 17, 2001

CAUTION: SATURN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISION MAY BE DANGEROUS IF IT HESITATES AND CLUNKS INTO GEAR OR DOWNSHIFTS INAPPROPRIATELY. SATURN'S COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM MAY NOT DETECT DANGEROUS TRANSMISSION CONTROL CONDITION. SATURN CORP. POLICY ON PAYING DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC WORK FOR WARRANTY ITEMS MAY DISCOURAGE DEALER FROM FURTHER INVESTIGATING POSSIBLY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS.*AK

NHTSA ID

745830

Incident

Mar 12, 2001

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 55MPH ON WET ROADS VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED INTO LOW GEAR AT HIGHWAY SPEED. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE BRIDGE WHICH GUIDED HIM TO A STOP. TWICE VEHICLE WAS IN SHOP FOR CLUNKING, AND TWICE WITH DOWNSHIFTING ADDED. VEHICLE IN A REPAIR SHOP TO SEE WHAT DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE.*AK THE CONSUMER SAYS THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE ADDRESSED THE SYMPTEMS OF POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM DURING THE 4 SERVICE PERIODS. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE CONSUMER WAS SEKKING FINANCIAL REIMBERSEMENT FOR THE LOSS AND EXPENSES. *YH

NHTSA ID

885831

Incident

Mar 12, 2001

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE, STOPPED AFTER INCREASING SPEED. SHORTLY AFTER, CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE FROM UNDER HOOD. PARKED VEHICLE,AND NEXT MORNING THERE WAS TRANSMISSION FLUID UNDER VEHICLE, TOWED TO DEALER, WHO FOUND A DIFFERENTIAL PIN HAD COME LOOSE IN TRANSMISSION, AND CAUSED A HOLE IN TRANSMISSION. *AK

NHTSA ID

885024

Incident

Mar 30, 2001

VEHICLE'S TRACTION CONTROL FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HYDROPLANE AND SPIN OUT OF CONTROL AND OFF HIGHWAY. WHILE SPINNING, ABS BRAKES FAILED AND CAUSED WHEELS TO LOCK UP.

NHTSA ID

849684

Incident

Aug 13, 1999

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID

712656

Incident

Sep 12, 1999

VEHICLE WANDERS FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHEN DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30-60MPH. LOUD BANGING NOISE OCCURS WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. HIGH FREQUENCY WHINING FROM THE ENGINE THAT ADDS TO THE NOISE. ALSO, TRANSMISSION SHIFTING HAS TOO LITTLE OR TOO MUCH POWER. DEALER/WESTERN REGION MFR. CONTACTED AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

835267

Incident

Feb 25, 1998

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY. THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID

834736

Incident

Jan 22, 1999

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

NHTSA ID

607056

Incident

Jul 6, 1998

THE COOLANT OVERFLOW TANK CAP NOT TIGHT. YH

NHTSA ID

606846

Incident

Jun 1, 1998

TRANSMISSION JERKING AND EXPERIENCES UNWANTED SURGES ALMOST RESULTING IN COLLISIONS.

NHTSA ID

542537

THE PROBLEM IN A NUTSHELL IS UNEXPECTED/UNPREDICTABLE APPARENT LOSS OF BRAKING.

NHTSA ID

700051

Incident

Feb 1, 1998