1999 SATURN SL Power Train Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1999 SATURN SL1. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN THE SHIFT CABLE FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. ON A LATER DATE, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BEFORE EXITING THE VEHICLE. WHEN HE RETURNED, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD INDEPENDENTLY DISENGAGED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BUTTON WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO ORDER THE NECESSARY PART FROM THE DEALER TO MAKE REPAIRS HIMSELF. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT HAD HE BEEN PARKED ON A HILL, THE VEHICLE COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE ROLLED AWAY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

Mileage: 103,000

THERE ARE PINS HOLDING TOGETHER THE DIFFERENTIAL IN MANUAL AND STANDARD TRANSMISSIONS. THIS PIN GETS WORN OUT AND FALLS OUT OF PLACE CAUSING THE DIFFERENTIAL GEARS TO EXPLODE OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING CHUNKS OF METAL TO FALL AND HIT THE PAVEMENT LEAVING HAZARDS ON THE ROAD WAY AND IN THE PROCESS CAUSES TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL BY LOCKING UP BOTH FRONT TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. I WAS A VICTIM OF THIS AND ALMOST STRUCK A VEHICLE HEAD ON AND IN THE PROCESS HIT SEVERAL OBSTACLE BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAM TO REST IN A DITCH. THE VEHICLE IS NOW AT AAMCO TRANSMISSION IN TULSA OK. ALL THIS INFORMATION ABOUT THE PINS ARE COMING FROM THEM. THIS HAPPENS IN ALL 1999 SATURN SL AND SL2 VEHICLES WITH THE STANDARD AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. MY VEHICLE IS THE 1999 SATURN SL2 WITH THE SOHC 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION. IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT COMPLAINTS THERE ARE MANY BEARING THE SAME PROBLEMS. *TR

Mileage: 160,000

WITHIN THE PAST FEW MONTHS WHEN I PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE IT JERKS VIOLENTLY. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT CONSISTENT. I ATTEMPTED TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT BY THE DEALER THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. UPON SPEAKING TO ONE OF THE ASSOCIATES AT THE DEALER THEY SAID THEY THINK THEY KNOW WHAT IT IS ... ITS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT WAIT UNTIL THE CAR DOES IT REGULARLY AND IT WILL COST APPROX $1200 TO FIX. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND SATURN/GM NEEDS TO DO A RECALL ON THESE TRANSMISSIONS. *TR

Mileage: 81,000

MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION 1999 SATURN SL2 1.8 LTR SOHC WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE SHIFTER WENT LIMP. I WAS ALMOST HIT FROM BEHIND. I FOUND IT WAS THE CHEAP PLASTIC SHIFTER BUSHING WHICH ATTACHES THE SHIFT CABLE TO THE STICK. I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO BUY THE ENTIRE CABLE, SATURN DOES NOT SELL THE BUSHING ONLY, WENT TO A JUNK YARD AND GOT THE PART FOR A DOLLAR. *TR

Mileage: 126,000

LIKE MANY OTHER OWNERS OF SATURN AUTOMOBILES WITH FIVE-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, I HAD THE BUSHING ON THE SHIFT CABLE BREAK. THE REPAIR SET ME BACK $400. FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN ON THE INTERNET (HTTP://WWW.CHAOSMAGNET.COM/BLOG/ARCHIVES/000112.HTML) AND OTHER WEBSITES, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. I HAVE A 1999 SATURN SL. ACCORDING TO REPORTS FROM MANY PEOPLE, THIS PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED OVER MANY MODEL YEARS. MY QUESTION TO YOU IS THIS: WHY HAS SATURN BEEN ALLOWED TO PROVIDE A KNOWN FAULTY DESIGN TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC? A SHIFT CABLE BREAKING (RATHER THE CHEAP PLASTIC BUSHING WHICH ATTACHES TO THE SHIFT LEVER BREAKING) WHEN THE DRIVER IS IN TRAFFIC OR ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM COULD CAUSE HAVOC AT THE VERY LEAST. A DRIVER UNABLE TO SHIFT THE GEARS OF HIS VEHICLE COULD CAUSE PROBLEMS TO OTHERS ON THE ROAD. I WONDER HOW MANY ACCIDENTS THIS DESIGN FAULT HAS CAUSED. AGAIN I ASK, WHY HAS THIS MANUFACTURER BEEN ALLOWED TO PROVIDE A FAULTY PRODUCT TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC? WITH THE ADVENT OF THE INTERNET, MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE A COMMON PROBLEM CAN DISCOVER JUST HOW LARGE THE MAGNITUDE OF ANY PROBLEM CAN BE. I WONDER IF THE EXECUTIVES OF SATURN EXPECT TO "SWEEP THIS PROBLEM UNDER THE CARPET" LIKE THE EXECUTIVES OF FORD DURING THE "FLAMING PINTO" ERA. LEE IACOCCA WAS EVEN ABLE TO GET A LARGE LOAN FROM THE AMERICAN TAXPAYERS TO HELP OUT CHRYSLER. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, LEE (THEN AT FORD) AND OTHER FORD EXECUTIVES DECIDED THAT PAYING INJURY LAWSUIT AWARDS WOULD BE CHEAPER THAN FIXING THE PROBLEM. WELL, THEY WERE WRONG -- THEY HAD TO DO BOTH. AGAIN I WONDER, WHY DOES THE U.S. GOVERNMENT ALLOW ANOTHER AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURER (SATURN) TO PRODUCE ANOTHER FAULTY PRODUCT? THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.*JB

CORRECTION OF INFORMATION IN PREVIOUS SUBMISSION #10166978. *JB

Mileage: 40,000

WHILE PULLING INSIDE OF THE GARAGE WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER CONTACTED A MECHANIC AND THE MECHANIC CAME OVER TO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE ASM-M CABLE LEVER FOR THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE STEERING AND BRAKES ALSO FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

Mileage: 50,000

EXPLOSION IN TRANSMISSION OF 1999 SATURN SL2. *JB

Mileage: 56,039

BAD BEARING IN MANUAL TRANSMISSION- ESTIMATE AROUND $1000-OPTIONS: TAKE TIS ONE APART OR BUY USED TRANSMISSION- THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN IN A CAR THIS NEW- CAR DOESN'T EVEN HAVE 48000 MILES YET. *AK

Mileage: 47,000

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 30MPH, STARTING HEAR A NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TOOK IMMEDIATELY TO THE MECHANIC AND FOUND PROBLEM WITH DEFECTED FRONT AXLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS CONSUMER WAS TOLD HUMAN ERROR, SEAL WASN'T PACKED WITH ENOUGH GREASE AT THE FACTORY. CONSUMER FELT THAT SHE SHOULD'VE BEEN REIMBURSED FOR HALF OF THE OUT OF POCKET REPAIRS WHICH TOTALED $240.30. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THIS FAILURE IS REAR AND HAPPENS IN OLDER MODEL VEHICLES AND EVEN THAT IS REAR. *PH

Mileage: 27,200

WHILE DRIVING FOURTH GEAR ON THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION DOESN'T ENGAGE PROPERLY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN 5000 MILES [NO SLIPPING OR SHUDDERING FLUID NOT BURNT AND LEVEL HAS NEVER CHANGED] JUST QUIT LIKE THAT WITH NO WARNING!! MY DELEMIA HELP!! =I HAVE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED FROM THE ONTARIO SATURN THE CAR APPEARED TO BE AS NEW- EVEN THE COMPLETE ENGINE COMPARTMENT NOT 1 TRACE OF DUST AND IT HAD 40,202- MILES ON IT = I ASK HOW IT COULD BE SO CLEAN AND NEW LOOKING =REPLY- THAT THE CARS ARE MAINTAINED BY THERE! SERVICE DEPT. CAR HAS 45,724 MILES ON IT NOW AND IT HAS NO REVERSE THEY WANT 550.00 FOR LABOR AND 3400.00 FOR THE AUTOMATIC TRANS AXLE I PAID $ 8798.00 5 MONTHS A GO AND HAVE NO IDEA THAT A ECONOMICAL CAR COULD BE SO ---- = ---- EXPENSIVE!! PLUS THERE CHARGING 18 % ON MY LOAN SO IVE ONLY PAID 186.00 OFF THE BALANCE OF THE LOAN CANT AFFORD TO FIX IT . DONT KNOW HOW IT HAPPENED BUT MY PAYMENTS ARE STILL DUE ! BUT I HAVE NO TRANS TO MAKE IT TO WORK!! PLEASE !! HELP!! *AK

Mileage: 45,966

SHIFT CABLES BROKE WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY LEAVING VEHICLE DISABLED. MILEAGE WAS 50700.*AK

Mileage: 50,700

CLUTCH STARTS SLIPPING SUDDENLY. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED, AND WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.*AK WHILE IN CRUISE CONTROL AT 5MPH VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE TO 8MPH. *TS

Mileage: 43,000

1999 SATURN SL2 WITH 30,500 MILES TRANSMISSION EXPLODED.

Mileage: 30,550

CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS BURNT.*JB

DIFFERENTIAL PIN DISLODGED, CAUSING CRACK IN TRANSMISSION. *AK

DIFFERENTIAL PIN DISLODGED, CAUSING CRACK IN TRANSMISSION. *AK

VEHICLE BUCKS WHEN TRANSMISSION SHIFTS, JERKS BACK AND FORTH. ALSO, LOSES POWER WHEN GOING UPHILL. SHIFTS INTO WRONG GEAR WHILE DRIVING. DEALER CANNOT REMEDY.*AK

SECOND OCCURRANCE: 7-26-99 REPORTED TRANS. BUCKS WHEN ACCELERATING. TRANSAXLE-RESET ADAPTIVES, SAID NOTHING WRONG. 08- 25-99 LOST REVERSE GEAR AGAIN..DEALER REFUSED TO SUPPLY PAPERWORK FOR WORK PERFORMED. SAID NOT IN COMPUTER YET. AFTER 3 CALLS, MAILED HAND-WRITTEN WORK-ORDER POST-MARKED 9-10-99. TO DATE HAVE NOT RECEIVED COMPUTER PRINTOUT.

I WISH THE STATE HAD MORE STRINGENT LEMON LAWS. I WILL HAVE HAD TO BRING MY CAR IN FOR REPAIRS 5 TIMES NOW, AND I FEEL THAT IS RIDICULOUS FOR A CAR IVE ONLY HAD FOR 6 MONTHS. THERE ARE PROBLEMS THAT EXIST NOW AND HAVE REOCCURRED OR PROBABLY WILL. SATURN SHOULD DEFINITELY PRODUCE BUT BETTER CARS IF THEY WANT PEOPLE TO BUY THEM... I CERTAINLY WON'T BUY ANOTHER ONE OR ANY GM PRODUCT. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED SATURN DIRECTLY BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AS I HAD DEALINGS WITH ANOTHER SATURN. FURTHERMORE, BRINGING THE CAR TO THE DEALER SEEMS TO BE A HASSLE. I HAVE TO GO OUT OF MY WAY TO GET MY "LEMON CAR" FIXED REPEATEDLY FOR MINOR PROBLEMS WHICH ARE REALLY ANNOYANCES. NO DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY.

WHEN FLOOR GEAR SHIFT IS TOUCHED OR BUMPED,THE SHIFT WILL POP OUT OF GEAR SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. *AK