2000 Saturn LS transmission problems

Filed Feb 3, 2010 · Engine, Steering · 102,999 miles · NY

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 saturn ls1. He stated the vehicle was consuming large quantities of engine oil. The dealer stated the rack and pinion assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken for a second opinion to a local mechanic where the power steering reservoir was replaced and the failure ceased. On a separate occasion, while driving at speeds of over 10 MPH or attempting a left or right turn, the vehicle would lose power. Also, while in the reverse mode, the vehicle would stall. The dealer could not duplicate the problem. The failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer over 4 additional times and the failure could not be duplicated. There were no recalls on the vehicle and no further repairs were made to the vehicle. The failure and current mileages were under 103,000.

Filed Jan 17, 2010 · Engine, Transmission · 125,000 miles · OH

I started the car and backed out of the driveway when a put it in forward it stalled. It started again and I drove to my destination. It also started again and I was able to return home. While I was driving to and from my appointment I could not maintain speed going up hills on the highway. When I went to start the car the next day it turned over but did not start. From there on it would not turn over at all. My mechanic says there no compression on any of the cylinders and it is most likely the timing chain.

Filed Jul 16, 2009 · Transmission · 73,210 miles · HI

I have a 2000 saturn ls2. I was approaching a red light. I downshifted from 3rd to 2nd without incident. When I tried to shift down to 1st, I heard a pop and the gear shift lever was completely disconnected to the linkage. This was very disconcerting. When I called the mechanic and told them what happened the first question was 'do you have a saturn?" I found out that this problem is caused by failure of a plastic bushing which costs less than $20 but which saturn is charging $800 to replace along with a lot of other parts. They will not sell just the bushing. I bought one on ebay for $19.99. If this happened on the freeway or while pulling into traffic causing a stall, it could result in a serious accident. I suggested that saturn ought to be fixing this for free and they laughed at me.

Filed Jul 31, 2008 · Airbags, Electrical · 93,000 miles · MD

My 2000 saturn ls1 completely shut down while driving, and never started again. It will cost $2500 for a used motor and installation, plus $175 for the tow and the diagnostics; and now I'm enduring significant transportation challenges without a vehicle.

Filed Jun 11, 2008 · Transmission · 73,800 miles · VA

I purchased a 2000 saturn ls 1 from carmax with 63,000 miles on it in september, 2007. Since february, 2008, I have spent more than $2,600 in repairs on the car; $1,600 was the timing chain which broke when the car only had 73,000 miles on it! I was told this was not a typical problem and that it was early for it to have broken. I see through my research that this is not untypical and is a frequent problem.

Filed Apr 6, 2006 · Engine, Transmission · OH

Transmission slipping and occasional stalling of car, particularly when stopping. Car finally would not start again. Dealership did not find fault with car. Personal mechanic investigated and determined the crank sensor had gone bad, so the car could not monitor the MPH and find the gears appropriately.

Filed Feb 14, 2006 · Electrical, Engine · SC

I have had ongoing problems with this vehicle since I purchased it in 2003. I purchase this car in august 2003. In october 2003, the car would not start. It was discovered that the wrong type bolt was in the battery causing the car not to start. I purchased the bolt at the dealership had it installed. In october 2004, the car started shifting hard. I took it to the dealership and was told that it needed some type of valve and that would solve the problem. Again, the dealership installed this valve and everything was fine. November 2005, the blower for the heating and defogger only works when the car has sat out in the sun for a while. It does not work in the morning when the car is initially started in the mornings. Three days before christmas 2005, with only approximately 68,000 miles on this car, the timing belt broke. It did not damage the motor and I had it repaired at a cost of around $900.00. This time I did not have the dealership do the repairs because it would have been very inconvenient and expensive for me to have the car towed the dealership from where it broke down. While looking through my owners manual, I noticed that it stated that my timing belt should last at least to 100,000 miles (my thirteen year old nissan's timing belt lasted until 120,000 miles). When I addressed this with your customer care line, I was told that the 100,000 miles was just a suggestion and that the belt could actually go at any time. I guess maybe the word suggestion/suggested should have been put in the owners manual because that is not how I understood it when I read it as printed. January 2006, the car starts hard shifting again and again I took it to the dealership and was told that this time the transmission can't seem to figure out the speed of the car and it would cost an additional $80.00 for them to track it down.

Filed Jan 6, 2006 · Transmission · NJ

2000 saturn ls, 6 cylinder, had slippage of the transmission followed by the service light. By the time I reached the dealer the car was bucking and felt like I was repeatedly being hit from behind. The mechanic told me it was the sensor module and when it broke the pressure was full open and that's what caused that problem. Subsequently the light came on again, the transmission slipped and the module was replaced again. It then happened a 3rd time and the module was replaced again. When driving it home after repair, I noticed that the trans was slipping a little. Took it back into the shop, they say they can't rip down the trans unless the light comes on and it gives codes again. I only have 11,000 miles on the warranty. I believe there is another problem with the transmission.

Filed Dec 21, 2004 · Transmission · CA

Transmission shifts hard into gears. Service light comes on, but no codes show up on scanner I have found many people with same problem over the internet.

Filed Nov 30, 2004 · Transmission · 23,655 miles · OH

This 2000 saturn ls1 was purchased new 1/12/00. On 3/20/01 and 23655 miles, the car was taken to the dealer due to clutch pedal low to the floor and it was difficult to shift gears. They replaced the concentric slave cylinder. On 5/28/02 and 46235 miles, the car was taken to the dealer due to ses light on and running rough in r, 1rst, and 2nd gear. They replaced the concentric slave cylinder. On 11/29/04 and 79906 miles, the car had to be towed to the dealer due to the clutch pedal not holding pressure and the gears could not be shifted. They replaced the concentric slave cylinder. The same part is failing every 20 to 30 thousand miles with no explanation from the saturn service reps.