While driving to work this morning, my gear shifter just went "loose" and the car was stuck in gear without any ability to shift. Fortunately, I wasn't hit as I was crossing the road at 6:19 in the am and I was able to pull over safely into the emergency lane. The failure was the shift cable bushing had broken. Http://www.carsurvey.org/viewcomments_review_80337.html will show more detailed comments from other consumers. Shouldn't something that can cause such a loss of control be made out of something a bit more durable than plastic and also be sold as an individual part and not a $250 assembly that costs another $250 to install? The part was ordered from saturn and will be installed by a local aamcco transmission repair shop that was the closest place to my home. The incident occurred about 1 mile away from my house.
Saturn SL won't shift problems
11 of the 2,211 owner complaints about the Saturn SL describe stuck in gear or won't shift, most of them for the 1998 model year.
- owner complaints
- 11
- worst model year
- 1998
By model year
- 20012
- 20002
- 19984
- 19962
- 19941
Often reported together
What owners say
Plastic bushing on transmission cable broke. Have to buy the entire cable ($240), plastic "bushing" is not available to purchase by itself - but the cable is not broken, only the plastic "bushing." saturn doesn't even have a part number for that part. Found information on the internet where other saturn owners had the same problem, so it is apparently a common occurrence. Reference website: http://www.coolgoose.com/sites/flemco/car/car.html for a detailed description of this saturn owner's experience (same as mine, except my transmission was stuck in first gear). I may also be posting my incident on the internet to my blog, so as to warn people who are looking to purchase a saturn.
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.
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.
My 2000 saturn sl1 has a problem which I feel is a manufacturer's defect. When put into reverse, the car either does not shift at all, or, hesitates then shifts unexpectedly, or shifts only when gas and brake are pressed at the same time. This is a very dangerous problem that is just an accident waiting to happen.
Manual transmission will not shift into gear, at times it must be shoved to go in to and out of reverse, first, and third gears. This problem is becoming worse and is at least remotely dangerous because it can take as much as 30 seconds or so to shift gears. This problem does not seem to be affected by any external source.
Small plastic ring in shifter linkage broke while in traffic leaving car stuck in first gear.
I have only had this car 11 months. It only has 42, almost 43,000 miles on it and the transmission needs to be replaced. I dont understand that. I need some help getting my car repaired or replaced. I came to a complete stop and put the car in reverse to park. It wouldnt go into reverse. I took it to the dealer the following morning and they told me that I need a new transmission but couldnt explain how or why it happened. Help!! Please!!ak
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.
At 32,000 mile vehicle will not shift into reverse. Dealer notified. Feel free to provide any further information on this matter.
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 won't shift
Which Saturn SL years have stuck in gear or won't shift problems?
The model years with the most reports are 1998 (4 complaints), 1996 (2 complaints) and 2000 (2 complaints).
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