Saturn SL harsh shifting problems

Filed Oct 19, 2009 · Engine · 95,000 miles · IL

When I start my car or park it after driving the rpms shoot up extremely high & the engine races. When I shut the car off the engine makes a loud clunk due to shutting it off with the rpms that high. I have had it diagnosed several times & no one knows what is wrong. I had the air idle sensor replaced thinking it was the problem but it is not. This is very bad for the engine.

Filed Feb 10, 2009 · Transmission · 10,000 miles · OH

I have had trouble with this car since new delay and hard shifts into reverse always, and forward gears quite frequently had saturn service dept check and they show no codes.

Filed Jun 16, 2008 · Transmission · 150,000 miles · MI

I have a 2002 sl1 (auto transmission)with over 150,000 miles on it. The transmission had started clunking when engaged in reverse and also when shifting between other gears. I decided to have my transmission rebuilt. I have had my car at a transmission shop for over a month now. The mechanics replaced my valve box and still am having the same issues. My mechanics is at a loss right now. I have read alot of blogs on the internet about the saturn transmissions and believe I am not going to get my car fixed by my current mechanic nor anyone else.

Filed Nov 27, 2007 · Transmission · 50,000 miles · PA

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 saturn sl2. While driving 30 MPH, the vehicle jerked and slammed into gear. The dealer stated that the motor mount failed and they changed the transmission fluid. Approximately ten days later, the failure recurred. The contact took the vehicle to a mechanic and he stated that the lining inside the transmission separated, which allowed debris to enter the gears and valves. As of november 27, 2007, the mechanic had not repaired the vehicle. The failure mileage was 50,000 and current mileage was 74,000.

Filed Aug 16, 2007 · Electrical · 157,645 miles · TX

Started my car, it ran a few seconds, then died. Before I could restart it, smoke started pouring out of the steering column and I smelled an electrical fire. I didn't start it again but found help to disconnect my battery. It's on it's way to the nearby saturn dealer who refuses to provide me with a loan car. I think this is a very unusual problem, and I've driven a lot of clunkers in the past without having to deal with anything like this.

Filed Jul 24, 2006 · Transmission · 75,000 miles · OH

1. I purchased my 2000 saturn sl1 from a used car dealer about 2 months ago. After I started the car and shifted into reverse. For a few seconds nothing happened and I thought I was either against a bump in the pavement or it was still in neutral. I gave it more gas. Suddenly, the car slammed into reverse and I nearly lost control and backed into a car. I checked the transmission fluid level to see if more was needed. It was full. A couple days late, it did it again. Now it does it about every third reverse shift. Also the service engine soon light came on. So, I checked the computer codes and they indicated a transmission problem. I got on the internet to see what had to be done to fix it. It turns out many saturn owners are having the same problem with their transmissions. There is even a service bulletin, the federal safety agency item number: 612478 this is very expensive repair to the transmission to fix a valve problem. Many saturn owners can't afford such a repair. So, they drive the car at the risk of backing into something or someone. Saturn obviously knew something was wrong a long time ago and didn't recall the vehicles.

Filed Jun 7, 2006 · Steering · 246,000 miles · MN

I was turning around slowly up into a driveway and there was a couple of clunking/scraping type noises steering went away completely. I have called saturn regarding recall 97v138000 however my vehicle happens to be a 1995 sl and my VIN number misses the recall status. I would like this to be remedied so that I can have my vehicle fixed under the recall because of the highly dangerous nature of this particular recall/problem.

Filed Aug 7, 2005 · Transmission · 37,100 miles · CA

Reverse gear had been acting funny (not going into reverse and allowing the car to slide forward before grabbing). Grinding sound was noted, took car into aaa approved facility, they could not find anything wrong. Finally reverse gear just quit (as I was trying to parallel park) and "service engine soon" light came on. This whole process took about a month from start to finish. Took it back to aaa approved facility who put in on the computer and found various codes p0300, p0732, p1599, p0732, p1599. The mileage on this car is 37,134. I bought it new in 2000. Called saturn in stevens creek, was told that I needed to bring it to a saturn dealership. Explained to them that the nearest one is approx. 2 hours from where I live and I was not comfortable driving a car with transmission problems that distance.(2nd into 3rd gear was now very rough shifting). Was told that was the only option. This is my only car so this was not an option at all. Checked around this area to find someone to fix it. Aamco will no longer repair transmissions in saturn cars because they are so unreliable. Found a repair shop through word of mouth who said they will fix it for $1,700.00. They did research and found a bulletin (# 00-t-24) which deals exactly with this problem and suggests how to fix it. In the bulletin (of which I have a copy) it states "this condition may be caused by an improperly machined surface finish on the area of the input shaft hub where the seals ride. Improper surface finish on the input shaft hub allows cross leakage between the 1st and 2nd/ rev clutches". This is the fault of saturn and they should pay for any repairs. In addition to the $1,700.00 for repairs, I am having to rent an economy car for a week at a cost of $163.58. Again, this car has only 37,134 miles on it.

Filed Aug 7, 2005 · Transmission · 37,100 miles · CA

Reverse gear had been acting funny (not going into reverse and allowing the car to slide forward before grabbing). Grinding sound was noted, took car into aaa approved facility, they could not find anything wrong. Finally reverse gear just quit (as I was trying to parallel park) and "service engine soon" light came on. This whole process took about a month from start to finish. Took it back to aaa approved facility who put in on the computer and found various codes p0300, p0732, p1599, p0732, p1599. The mileage on this car is 37,134. I bought it new in 2000. Called saturn in stevens creek, was told that I needed to bring it to a saturn dealership. Explained to them that the nearest one is approx. 2 hours from where I live and I was not comfortable driving a car with transmission problems that distance.(2nd into 3rd gear was now very rough shifting). Was told that was the only option. This is my only car so this was not an option at all. Checked around this area to find someone to fix it. Aamco will no longer repair transmissions in saturn cars because they are so unreliable. Found a repair shop through word of mouth who said they will fix it for $1,700.00. They did research and found a bulletin (# 00-t-24) which deals exactly with this problem and suggests how to fix it. In the bulletin (of which I have a copy) it states "this condition may be caused by an improperly machined surface finish on the area of the input shaft hub where the seals ride. Improper surface finish on the input shaft hub allows cross leakage between the 1st and 2nd/ rev clutches". This is the fault of saturn and they should pay for any repairs. In addition to the $1,700.00 for repairs, I am having to rent an economy car for a week at a cost of $163.58. Again, this car has only 37,134 miles on it.

Filed Jun 3, 2005 · Brakes · IL

For 3 years I have been complaining to saturn about my saturn s series cars. One is an sl2 the other is a saturn wagon. In both cases when the weather has been either snowy or rainy or the roads have been slick when I try to turn the corner in the cars the brakes do not engage initally. I hear a clunking like noise which saturn has yet to be able to reproduce & then my attempts to engage the brakes do not work as soon as they should. This has caused quite a bit of concern since I could be on the freeway when this happens or just driving my children to school & when I take a corner the brakes do not fully engage. I was first told that I needed to replace the brakes which I did & it still didn't make a difference beyond the first month after being repaired. I have been told it was the tires again replaced but problem still has come back. I was told the roads are just slick due to the first rains, snow etc of the season. I have taken it to saturn who says they can't find the problem & although I have a history of complaining about it they have yet to offer a solution. Thankfully we have yet to have an accident since I have on occasion resorted to using the emergency brake in order to avoid a collision but since I saw the article about the gm trucks having the same problem I thought that maybe someone would listen to me & have the s series saturns checked out as well. I showed a copy of the gm truck brake recall to my local saturn & asked them to check this on my car & was told it wasn't necessary since it couldn't possibly be this as I don't have a truck. I have listed the most recent incident date & the number of failures for this current year.