I just received a 1999 saturn sl 2 series a year ago from my mother for my very first car. I got it at about 100,000 miles and it is now currently at 122,446. I noticed about a month ago while I would be driving, usually after about 1-2 miles after starting up the car and driving, my gears began to slip. I kept up with just about monthly oil changes, accompanied by transmission fluid checked and topped off. My transmission oil has never been low. Then, about 4 days ago I went to leave from my work orientation, and I couldn?t back up my car from my parking spot, the reverse had went out. So I put the car back in drive, then back to reverse thinking maybe it didn?t go into reverse all the way and it did not work. I revved up the engine, nothing happening until I did it pretty hard, and eventually it started rolling back a little. I looked up on the internet to see if this was a pretty big issue or not, and I realize I see it a lot in 1999 saturns. A recall I believe would be the best option for fixing this issue and would further prevent people from spending so much money. I took my car to a mechanic and it?s currently sitting there now. I don?t know what they are going to tell me. I believe it could be a small part that just needs replaced, but I?m sure they?re going to just have me purchase a whole new transmission which is not what I prefer to do as a 18 year old college student. Especially if the car was only 700$ that I purchased it for.
Saturn SL slipping problems
13 of the 2,211 owner complaints about the Saturn SL describe transmission slipping, most of them for the 1995 model year.
- owner complaints
- 13
- worst model year
- 1995
By model year
- 20001
- 19993
- 19971
- 19961
- 19953
- 19942
- 19931
- 19921
Often reported together
Transmission failure 2Stalling 1Shudder 1Jerking 1Adaptive cruise 1
What owners say
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!!
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.
Steering gear assembly and slip ring broke . While driving consumer noticed a problem in steering wheel. Consumer stopped to check vehicle ,and wiggled steering wheel about 6-8 seconds, and steering wheel broke. Contact technician, and dealer stated it just happened. *ak the consumer later found out that the steering assembly and its related parts failed. Nlm
The shift lever, and release button was loose at purchase. When shifting the lever slides very easy pass the gear without stopping, while driving and reaching for the radio the lever was touched by wrist and slipped into neutral without even pushing the batton on the lever. The dealer has been contacted.
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!
Transmission required repair on three occasions, valve body, connector and gasket, failures causing slipping. Mjs
Automatic transmission shifts into reverse,slips and jerks into gear.
Driver replaced batteries 4 times, transmission slipping in 2nd gear, replaced generator wiring as per service recall, also replaced motor mounts and brake rotors and pads.
On two occasions the transmission slipped out of gear . Please describe.
Related recalls
Power train: automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles, equipped with automatic transaxles, fail to comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 114, "theft protection." these vehicles were built with an improperly adjusted automatic transaxle park lock cable assembly. If improperly adjusted, it is possible to shift from the "park" position with the ignition key removed.
- Risk
- This condition increases the risk of a crash resulting from the unintended movement of parked vehicles.
- Remedy
- Saturn is asking owners and retailers to perform a functional check of the automatic transaxle park lock cable assembly operation, and if necessary, to have the cable adjusted. If owners are not comfortable performing the functional check themselves, they can have their dealer perform this inspection for them.
Recall number 00V310000 · Recall details
Power train: clutch assembly: pedal/hand lever(motorcycle)
- What is wrong
- The automatic transaxle park lock cable assembly was improperly adjusted making it possible to shift from the "park" position with the ignition key removed, or remove the ignition key with the shift lever in a position other than "park." this does not meet the requirements of fmvss 114, "theft protection."
- Risk
- Consequence of non-compliance: unintended vehicle movement can occur which could result in an accident.
- Remedy
- Consumers are being asked to inspect the park lock cable. If it does not perform correctly, dealers will make the necessary adjustments.
Recall number 94V217000 · Recall details
Power train
- What is wrong
- The transaxle valve assemblies were improperly machined. Vehicles may not properly engage in neutral or park, even though the gear selector indicates the vehicle is in neutral or park.
- Risk
- If the gear selector indicates the vehicle is in park orneutral, it could be in reverse or drive. If this happens, the car could startin reverse or drive, or might move unexpectedly, which may result in a vehiclecrash or injury to persons outside the vehicle, without prior warning.
- Remedy
- Replace the defective valve bodies.
Recall number 92V098000 · Recall details
Questions about the Saturn SL slipping
Which Saturn SL years have transmission slipping problems?
The model years with the most reports are 1995 (3 complaints), 1999 (3 complaints) and 1994 (2 complaints).
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