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Kent of Fort Michell KY (05/05/08)
I have a 98 SL2. It has 160k miles on it. For the past year i have made numerous repairs, but to no avail. When shifting into reverse, the transmission jolts into reverse. After driving on the highway for a bit, the transmission starts to slip and eventually winds up not going past third gear. I've also had a lot of engine problems too, i've went threw 2 starters, 2 water pumps, and my engine is super loud.
Paulette of Inglewood CA (04/24/08)
On January 9, 1995 I purchased a brand new Saturn SC2. This car has had nothing but trouble with the automatic transmission, especially propensity to slam into reverse versus shifting. Now, with about 158,000 miles, even worse shifting problems. I am the only owner & driver, and have always driven gently. Although I repeatedly & consistently informed & discussed this problem with Saturn (who since have closed the showroom near me) -- all staff denied it could possibly be a bad transmission. (I learned from a friend -- who also purchased a Saturn before me -- that she got rid of her new Saturn due to the precise same problem.) Also, there is a large gap between the roof of the car & the seal of doors, causing rain to flood into my car -- soaking front seats. (Although this was a manufacturing design that got corrected with the 1996 models, Saturn refused to fix/repair my 1995 SC2 & denied and responsibility and dealership staff refused to provide any correction/repair of the blatent manufacturing error. Needless to say, I will never again purchase nor recommend anyone purchase a Saturn! Please tell me if there is anything I can do.
Patricia of Ashland OH (04/24/08)
i purchased a 2003 saturn vue in august 2007 from a local dealership. just a few months later i find out that the transmission is bad and it is a common problem in the vues.
Mike of Kissimmee FL (03/10/08)
I recently purchased a 2000 Saturn LS2 from my mother-in-law which at the the time had 40,000 miles on it. Soon after, I started experiencing transmision problems. Finally the check engine light came on and the shifting through gears was horrible. It would slam into gear no matter how easy it was driven. I drove it straight to the Saturn dealer where they hooked it up to their diagnostics. The problem, I was told, is a bad power control valve in the transmission. The tech told me it was a common problem in 2000/20001 LS series cars. The car now with 56,000 miles is of course out of warranty.
William of Adelanto CA (03/10/08)
I owned a 1998, SL1, five speed manual transmission Saturn that ran for 270k miles. Although I had some minor problems, it was an excellent and mostly dependable car. I bought a used 2000 SL2, automatic transmission, with 80k miles, two weeks ago. I HAD every confidence that this car would last me for at least as long as the previous Saturn I owned as it was owned by an older lady who took extremely good care of the car - I've seen 2 year old cars that looked and ran worse. Last Saturday I had the oil changed and when I put the car into reverse to leave the parking slot, reverse gear would not engage. The place that changed the oil diagnosed it as code P0732 improper or incorrect second gear ratio. I read above that WalMart or Jiffy Lube was blaimed for some of the issues on these automatic transmissions because the transmission filter was being mistaken for the oil filter. That's hogwash. The transmission filter cannot inadvertantly be changed or tampered with. It is practically inaccessible from underneath the car and the air filter casing has to be removed to get to it from under the hood. I know because I changed it myself and although it took me about 1 1/2 hours, even a trained mechanic would take longer to change the transmission filter and fluid than the 20 minutes it takes Walmart or Jiffy Lube to change the oil and filter. After reading the complaints above, it is apparent that this problem with Saturn automatic transmissions is an inherent issue that Saturn does not want to deal with except on a warranty basis. So much for Saturn reliabilty. And, unless they make good on their advertising claims, I will not own another Saturn, new or used. I will recommend to my friends, family, and enemies, to buy another make car in the future. I was wondering why their commercials are less frequent on national television and now I know. In the meantime, after reading the numerous complaints, I'm stuck with a car with relatively low mileage with a inherent transmission problem that Saturn will not acknowledge and make good for me or any other consumer. Lord help Saturn Corporation, they might lose .00001 percent in profits were they to attempt to repair the reputation they've ruined with many customers.
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Anika of Troy NY (02/18/08)
Hi Everyone, I'd like to let you know that I've had similar transmission problems with my 2001 SL2 Saturn. I purchased the car new in 2001 and have had no problems in the six years I've owned it. A couple of months ago, I started feeling a stall between first and second gear, and then it progressed to reverse as well. It does get worse with the cold and just this month, it began to bang when moving into those gears. I took it to a Transmissions shop this morning and was told it was the Valve and it would need to be replaced. A company called Sonic remanufacturers Transmissions Valve with all current upgrades for about $300. My repair guy said the valve is a little tricky to get to, and the repair should only take about 4-5 hrs. So in total the repair shouldn't be over $600 with part, shipping, and labor. I can't believe some people are paying $1,000 or more! Hopefully this info was helpful
Bob of Ahseville NE (01/17/08)
Ion 2 transmission not right bucks in 1st gear. I bought with less than 130000 miles on it. Saturn dealer says cant find a thing. Does happen more when cold. To the powers that be at Saturn This was my st venture back into american cars. I thought I'd give american cars another try because of saturns reputasion. I now am very SORRY. SATURN what afe you going to do ???????????? your reputation is on the line.
Janice of Ellicott City MD (01/14/08)
Saturn Vue - transmission 'went up'. When driving it would 'chug' (which we had told them before but they could not replicate and said nothing was wrong.) It kept chugging intermittently over a year, then finally chugged itself right down to nothing. Left me on the side of the road. Towed it to Saturn who said the transmission had gone up and it needed to be replaced - to the tune of 6500.00. Had it back about 3 months and had the EXACT same problem. Took it back, they said - 'some transmissions have had defects'. They did put in a new one (supposedly) at no cost, and said the manifold needed to be replaced which we declined at the time. Drove it off the lost and the car cut off on the way home. Family member felt like maybe the 'timing' or idle was set too low. Drove it another day - it cut off three times in traffic. DANGEROUS! Called Saturn and their reply was - we DID tell you the manifold needed to be replaced. Um, no - don't think thats it. Just FIX the car right. After a 6500.00 dollar repair its unlikely I can afford anything else. VERY disappointed to say the least.
Debra of Haskell NJ (01/09/08)
Out of the blue the VTI transmission on my 2003 Saturn Vue blew. I was informend that I can't rebuild the transmission. There are no parts availavle because Saturn does not use the VTI transmission anymore becuase of all the problems it had. There was no warning to the transmission problem- no service lights came on, and I was never informed about the faulty transmission. Saturn was aware of the problems with the VTI transmissions and that is why it is no longer used. Now my car is at the dealership becuase it is undrivable. The service representitive could not tell me if my car was safe to drive- he said it was in bad shape.
Travis of Florence KY (12/21/07)
My girlfriend has a 2002 Saturn SL1, which she purchased used about 2 years ago. The car had approx. 45,000 miles on it. After putting about 20,000 miles more on the car the transmission started acting up. The car would slam into gear and downshift very roughly. Fortunately, we had an extended warranty on the car. After setting up an appointment with Saturn to have the problem diagnosed, the reverse gear started hesitating for long periods of time. By the time we got the car to the dealership, reverse was completely out.
I had to push the car out of the parking space to pull it where the tech. wanted the car. We were given a loaner car while the car was being checked out. A couple of days later we receied a call with the diagnosis of the problem. The valve body needed replaced, which was covered in the warranty. After the dealership contacted the company which the warranty was through, they only agreed to put a new transmission in the car.
Well come to find out the transmission was remanufactured. The cost of the total repair was well over 3,000 dollars. To me this seemed a little steep for a remanufactured transmission, but the cost was covered none the less.
Now only 12,000 miles later the car is doing the same thing as before. The car is still under a parts and labor warranty through the dealership as well as the extended warranty through a separate company. we have an appointment to have the car looked at, once again, later this week. I'm pretty sure that whatever repairs are needed will be covered by at least one of the warranties, but what about when there is no longer a warranty? This is our only mode of transportation, and neither of us can afford out of pocket expenses that are as high as the last.
I mean the last repair hasn't even lasted 15,000 miles, so I can't help but wonder how long this one will last. I truly believe that General Motors needs to look a little further into this. There are a lot of dissatisfied customers that seem to be having the same or similar problems that we are. I think there should be a consumer report on this matter, after all a vehicle is a very expensive investment. This has been my ongoing experience with Saturn. I can only hope the problem is resolved for good this time, but I'm not very optimistic. What do we as consumers do?
Juanita of Decatur GA (11/16/07)
I purchased a 2003 Saturn Vue in April 2007 It is now November 2007 and the transmission is gone it was making a grinding noise when I purchased the vehicle, so they checked and told me there was nothing wrong with it, so I drove it about another week took it back they told me there was nothing wrong with it again, now here it is November and the transmission has gone out. With only having 70,000 miles at purchase and 77000 miles now. I wish that I would have done some checking on Saturn before purchasing this vehicle.
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Sheila of Morrow GA (08/27/07)
I purchased a 2001 Saturn - S series and I've had nothing but problems with the transmission since I drove off the lot with the car. I purchased the Car on May 3, 2001. I took the car back to the dealer on Wedneday, May 8, 2001 explaining that the car doesn't shift into gear, it jerks and jumps and stalls. The guy checked the car out, told me there was nothing wrong, and sent me home. Several months later, I take the car back with the same complaints. They check the car, tell me there's nothing wrong, and send me home.
The car's engine starts revving when it's in park. I take it back to them, they check it out, tell me there's nothing wrong, and send me home. This goes on periodically for the next three years. I pull into a parking lot to go to the grocery store, come out, and the car won't start. After about 3 hours of waiting to be towed, a guy comes up and looks at the battery and finds that the battery cable is defected. It has been taped on with maskin tape and the tape has burned off. They fix that because the car was still under warranty, but of course they tell me that I put the tape on the battery cable.
Mind you, I bought the car brand new. Well, low and behold I continue to have problems with the transmission on the car and by now the warranty is up. I take it into the dealer, they check the car out, and sure enough, they finally know what's wrong with it. It needs a new transmission valve that's going to cost $1,000.00 to fix! What a miracle. The finally saw what I've been telling them for three years. Anyway, I take somewhere else to get it fixed and now, I'm still paying late fees on the car because I refused to pay car notes on the months I had to make a repair over $200.00. Oh, I forgot. I had to have a master brake cylinder fixed on the car; replace the starter; replace the transmission valve; replace something on the engine that costed $300.00; and now replace the entire transmission. And this was all before I even finished paying for the car.
I've lost time from work, which means money; the cost of repairs was more than I had to give on a brand new car; and, on top of that, a couple of times I've had to get a rental car while waiting for the saturn to be repaired. I don't understand why there has not been a recall on that car or why a class action suit has not been filed against the makers of saturn. I am extremely disappointed in this car and I will never recommend or purchase another American-made car.
Ruth of Ormond Beach FL (08/27/07)
Bought a 2003 Saturn vue with 53000 miles onit. I was told that 53000 was nothing on that type of vehicle. I pay 12000 for it.1 week after buying it, the tranny was acting up, making noises, shifting hard. Icalled, they looked at it, told me it was just the way these vihicles shifted. Two weeks later I called back and askare you sure???? something just isnt right I was told again oh its nothing mam, your just used to a different kind of tranny. So I have been driving it for 6 months, and my warranty is expired, I was not offered another extended warranty and idnt bother to fight further on it...now I wish I had. I am a traveling nurse Im from PA but I drove down to Fl to work for a year. The other night I was driving to work and the car just stopped. DEAD. In the middle of no where, In a town, state where I know no one. Alone. It cost me $150.00 to tow, $50.00 for a taxi and then $100.00 for Saturn to look at it. It is the tranny, I was right. Its gone. I was told atleast 2500.00-6000.They are not sure yet. Here I am in another state, I owe 11000 on the vehicle.And Saturn will not lift one finger to help any of us out of this jam.I could have been another statistic sitting along that desolate highway so men before you go and buy your wife think of this.....it does happen to alot of saturn owners. And this multi million dollar company will do NOTHING to help. So now I am renting a car to get to work...out of my own pocket and I have a car that I dont know what to do with. If I trade it, I will lose a ton of money. IF I let them repo it, there goes my credit. And Im a single mom, $6000.00 just isnt in my budeget. DONT buy from Saturn. Your better off with Japenese cars.
Joel of Lewisburg TN (08/08/07)
I have a 2002 SL2. Oil/filter changed every 3000 miles. As of August 2007 I have 157,000+ Miles. My engine is running just as well as 60,000 miles. My automatic transmission, however, decided to start slamming on downshifts at around 120,000 miles. I've taken great care of my car's engine and transmission. I've also owned 2 other saturns that have reached 200,000 miles with no issues that I have treated much much worse. Due to the cost of the transmission, I would recommend (I'm NOT a mechanic) just manually downshifting. So far I've made it 35,000+ miles doing just that. A remanufactured trans doesn't cost much more...so I might as well run this one into the ground. I am extremely irritated that there has been no recall about this due to all the people affected.
Aaron of Sacramento CA (08/08/07)
I bought my car Saturn Ion 03 brand new. Ever since I bought it there has been nothing but trouble. The car skip gears since the first 3 months, took it to the dealership and of course they don't see anything wrong with it. It makes a loud revving sound when you start it, started about 2 years ago. The recalled signals lights were replaced but the left one is out again. The trunk doesn't want to close. The car did shut off on me twice in the last 4 years. I can't believe I've had so much trouble with it.
Karen of Greensburg PA (08/02/07)
I own a 2001 sl2 Saturn. It has 49,800 miles on it. It has a buck in the transmission. I took it to Cochran Saturn of Monroeville because Saturn told me they decide on helping with repairs on out of warranty vehicles on a case by case basis. They told me it would be approx. $1300 and didn't even consider covering it or helping with the cost. I see that this is a common repair problem with my year of Saturn. What can be done for all of us who have experienced this. I do not have the money to repair my car. They also said I needed a idler pulley and belt. The belt would be $26 if I replaced it with the pulley if not the belt would be $70! How can the price change on the same part? Perhaps someone can take a closer look at these issues.
Lucy of Morgantown WV (07/19/07)
I drive a Saturn 2002 SL 2. I had a few days for the last few weeks where the car was shifting hard into the gears. I thought it was related to the transmission and made need new fluid.
On my way back from Pittsburgh yesterday the car really started jumping each time it shifted. So I had my father tow me to my house. So my brother and my dad look at the car, and see that the last time I had my transmission cleaned that they didnt clean it. They just put more liquid in. They then took off the filter and found metal shavings and a foul burnt smell.
The transmission fluid was drained and the new filter was put on. However the filter didnt seal. Even though according to Advanced Auto Parts that is the correct filter for my car. I had my brother go and take back the wrong filter and get more transmission fluid. He installs it and it too does not seal. So now I have a car I can't drive any where because I can't find the correct filter.
The part should be easy enough to replace but some how it has been a nightmare. Does any one know where or who I get the needed part for? I hate to think that my car is falling apart after 5.5 years and 78,000 miles, and if the filter can not be fixed or replaced I don't know what I will do. I guess I will have to consider trading it in.
Diana of Chapel Hill NC (06/28/07)
I have a 2001 Saturn with 45,000 miles on the car. The transmission went out completely on my way back from vacation when I pulled off to get gas. The car made the telltale grinding sound and wouldn't accelerate. The car is in the shop now and I expect the bill to be $2200. This is my second Saturn. I had been a very happy Saturn owner and was considering Saturn for my next car but now I know that I will never buy another Saturn.
Melissa of West Chicago IL (06/07/07)
My 2002 SL1 started jumping or lurching into gear as I accelerated and then when I would put into reverse. I took it to Saturn dealer who of course found multipl things wrong. The first being some module and then transmission problem. Was going to cost be min. of $1300 for them to just take the trans apart. Took it to Aamco for 2nd opinion and they proceeded to tell us that this is inherent problem in SL1s. SL2s (which we alos have one of those 2001) has different trasnmission than SL1. I have taken excellent care of this car for 5.5 years with about 75ooo miles. Aamco is repairing for about half the cost of Saturn. Also independent car repair shop said exact same thing about SL1 transmission problems. After reading all these other people's complaints--why has a class action law suit not been filed???? I too believe Saturn is aware of this and never issued a recall or warning to customers. At very least they shoudl call all of them in and inspect and those that do have a problem--should be fixed at no charge to customer. It gets even better--service shop offered to have Saturn salesman call us to see what car would be worth on a trade in!!! Can we say SCAM? Like I would even consider buying another Saturn at this point!!
Makidah of Detroit MI (04/16/07)
Initially battery died on January 29, 2007. After purchasing a new battery, the engine indicator lights did not go out. So I took car to Saturn to have this corrected. After the codes were reset, the Service Advisor stated the car was taken for a test drive and the results were the transmission was bad. The code was a P1811. The car was shifting gears harshly during the test drive. Saturn fixed the problem and two months later on April 15, 2007, the gears began to shift harshly again with the indicator lights reduced power and service light. Took the car in the next morning and the Service Advisor stated it was a code P1510, something to do with the throttle. The advisor spoke to a representative of mine and said that there are over 200 codes which could mean any number of things. Not very comforting! The other problem was with the horn. Thought maybe a fuse needed replacing. Okay this was not the case. No problem I thought. The advisor stated I needed a new horn with a new connector replacement. My car had not been upgraded, so why did I need an upgraded part??
Steve of San Bernardino CA (03/06/07)
Last year the same symptoms that many complain of occurred to us. Our 2001 Saturn SL 2 started slamming into gears along with the erratic and hard shifting that so many, no, TOO many owners of the same make of vehicle are experiencing in a relatively short period of their vehicles life! I took it to Rollings who assured us it was common for this make and model but assured us it could be fixed. It never fully recovered. For some time after those repairs, on occasion, it would act up i.e.(slipping in and out of gears, shifting inordinately hard etc...)
Finally, last week it did start doing the exact same thing all over again. I took it in to Rollings and told them. They (Rollings) looked it over and wanted me to leave before they would touch it. The on duty repairman, (Mike), seemed irritated by my presence and insistence that it was doing the exact same thing that it was doing the last time they worked on it. Finally, he became very condescending and said...
if you have a cough and go to the Dr. it is not always going to be the same cold. Fair enough; so I took it to a specialist, AAMCO, who now wants $1600.00 to rebuild it calling it internal rather than external problems with a minimum charge of $700.00 to drop the transmission from the car; extras may also be added and it has been my life’s experience they are.
Simple question: Is this a scam? I'm serious! IF; Saturn knows they have a problem; IF; Car Repair shops know about it WHY won't they be advocates or even at the very least, apologists for them?????? I called in today to let AAMCO know that We can't afford the repairs I don't think any Saturn owner who bought their cars in good faith should have to afford this... I am fuming mad! I am so angry about this whole industry, even though I am a conservative, I believe the whole industry should be placed under tight National Government controls.
Honestly? We now have no vehicle for a considerable amout of time while we try and save up for a new car. Or save up to pay for the repairs on this one ,(only for the purpose to get it into a drivable condition so we can get rid of the leather seats lemon). Do you think Saturn would at least buy us bus passes in the mean time?
Gary of Foster RI (12/05/06)
I have two saturns 2001 and 2002 and have had the pin come loose in the transmission causing the housing to crack and the fluid to pour out. I also think this is a factory design problem the clips holding the pin do not do a good job under stress the clips pop and the pin slide out cause housing damage beyond repair.
The transmission housing is distroyed this has happend twice both time the entire transmission had to be replace I will never buy another Saturn because they know this is a problem but will not own up to it. When I talked to service they said it was from abuse but said they weld in the pins on Saturn race cars. I wonder why? I hope by more of us writting in they will own up to there mistake.
Robin of Wichita KS (10/26/06)
I have a 2002 Saturn Vue with 73,000 on it and I was informed today that my torque converter clutch basically exploded inside the transmission and that I need a entirely new transmission. I'm not complaining about the saturn dealership, they were as helpful as they could be given the situation. but I was told they want %5,200 plus labor to fix the problem. I contacted Saturn customer line to see if since another saturn model had trouble withthe transmissions if there was any hope for help for me in the form of a relacement or assistance towards the bill and they basically told me, too bad for you!
Holly of Trenton GA (09/26/06)
We purchased a 2004 Saturn Vue with 30,000 miles in May 06. We have put 10,000 miles on it and the transmission has went out. We have had it connected to 3 different computers and all mechanics have encouraged us to take it to the Saturn of Chattanooga Dealership for a 4th diagnosis. Apparently, the Transmission Control Module and Throttle Positions Signal needs replaced, which is approximately $500 each plus labor. I am very discouraged about what I have found concerning other Saturn transmissions having similar problems. I feel that this is a Saturn/GM problem that should be recalled and corrected asap. This is one of the few cars made in the USA that people like and in order to keep Americans buying USA MADE- Saturn, GM or any other USA mfg should go that extra mile to keep their customers. Word of mouth will either help or hurt a company.
Jeffrey of Davie FL (08/11/06)
It appears from researching that saturns have an inherent transmission valve body issue that should warrent a recall. I have a 1997 SL-1 with 70,000 (yes that is a lot, but it seems many cars have same issue) miles. My reverse slams and 3rd and 4th gears go aou when it warms up. The transmission shop states its the valve body and the torque converter along with 2 broken mounts and a rear seal leak. I guess these cars are just not reliable with inherent faults in the transmission. I do recall one time Saturn had a motor mount recall. I've had many care with more miles and less repair bills.
Jennifer of Pittsburgh PA (04/20/06)
My Saturn SC2 is 3 1/2 years old with only 33,000 miles on it. I purchased this car brand new and was diligent about maintaining this car with oil changes (every 3,000 miles) and other check ups. This was my 2nd Saturn and it will be my last. I drove my car to my office with no problems. A few hours later, I began the drive to my first sales call. About 50 yards down the road, the car started jerking horribly while I accelerated. I immediately drove it to the nearest mechanic. He drove the car around the block and told me that there was something wrong with the transmission. He explained that there should NOT be transmission problems in a car with so few miles, so he suggested I take the car back to the dealer.
I took the car to Saturn of Wexford. I explained my situation. Roger, the Service Manager, explained that it probably was NOT the transmission because of the low mileage and agreed to check the car. About an hour later, he called me to let me know that the problem WAS the transmission. I asked if this was something I could have done to the car. He told me, “No.” He quoted the repairs at $966, none of which would be covered by my 3 year / 36,000 mile warranty, because the car was 3 1/2 years old. I called a local transmission shop and explained my situation. He told me that the price seemed high (by about $250), but he suggested that I keep the car at the dealer because he believed that “Saturn” and/or “GM” would, at least, offer a discount due to the fact that the Body Valve should not have broken at 33,000 miles. (He explained that it would be more difficult to get that discount if I had it repaired at a garage other than the dealer.)
So, I gave the dealer permission to fix my car and called Saturn Customer Care to explain my story. The bill totaled $1030.67. Saturn Customer Care took a full week to get back to me to tell me that they would offer me a $150 gift certificate to the Saturn dealer in my area towards my next service. This is my only means of transportation and I chose a Saturn due to their marketing of themselves as being so reliable and dependable. My plan was to keep trading in my Saturns for new ones when they reached 50,000 as to always have a somewhat “new” car, which would not break down on me or leave me with extremely costly repairs. Even with my limited knowledge of cars, I know that a car with 33,000 miles on it should need $1030 worth of transmission work.
Paulette of Deerfield Beach FL (03/10/06)
I am writing to inquire whether there has been a recall on defective transmissions, or any specific transmission components. Saturn has marketed and promoted its automobiles by touting their dependability, longevity and virtually trouble-free upkeep. How, then, is it possible that after only 5 years and 63,000 miles my transmission needed to be replaced? If Saturn’s publicity campaign is to be believed, this should not have happened.
It leads me to believe that I may have been sold a defective car? I maintained my vehicle in great condition and was diligent in bringing it in for recommended check-ups. Saturn’s regular maintenance fees are rather costly, yet at no time was my transmission checked by your Service Department. Please note that when I bought my car (a 2000 SL-1 Model), I also purchased the highly recommended “Extended Warranty” for my vehicle which expired on June 2005.
Had your mechanics done a thorough check of the transmission, they would have (should have) caught any incipient or existing defects. 3 professional mechanics were quite surprised that the transmission had to be replaced in such a relatively short time. I am terribly distraught over this unfortunate occurrence and hope that I shall receive a satisfactory reply regarding the above.
Danett of Marietta GA (12/27/05)
For approximately 8 months, I have been going back and forth for the same matter at the service center. I noticed that my 2004 Saturn Ion Level 1 was taking a long time to shift into the next gear and while at a complete stop (for instance a stop light) would jump forward and making rumbling noises. I brought the car in to the Saturn Dealership on Cobb Parkway in Marietta, GA and was told when I went to pick up the vehicle that all they needed to do was install the latest 'codes/updates' for the transmission. These latest codes/updates have been downloaded/installed into my car more than 4 times. I have 'test driven' the car with a service technician and have also had the 'service manager' test drive the car only to be told that after driving another 2004 Saturn Ion the car is running NORMAL. That is utterly ridiculous!
My car is covered under a 3 year or 36000 mile warranty it is currently at 33089, my car has been paid for in FULL, I should NOT have to keep going back to have a persistent problem bandaged. These codes/downloads/updates are obviously NOT resolving this issue, additonally, when my warranty is up that means I have to come out of my pocket to have these latest codes/downloads/updates installed and installed and installed! Either replace my transmission or take back the car and give me a FULL refund.
Robert of Hamburg PA (09/15/05)
In July, I bought a used Saturn car from a local Chrysler dealer. While test driving the mechanic and I noticed a hesitation in the transmission while shifting in reverse. The Chrysler dealer agreed to my taking it to a Saturn dealer to get repaired. After several tries and $1123.00 the problem still exists. It's called "reverse slam". The service manager at the Saturn service shop said he never heard of "reverse slam". Now he is saying "he won't work on it because he doesn't experience any problems when he tests it. I have had two independent mechanics tell me there is a definite slam when it goes in reverse.
I am 68 years old, and I feel I am being taken advantage of.
Deanna of Pacific Grove CA (08/03/05)
2000 Saturn with 37,100 miles on it, automatic transmission went out. Reverse gear quit working, slams into 2nd gear.Single mother, only breadwinner, this is our only car. I don't know how I am am going to pay for this. Have no backup car or money in the bank.
Julie of Ann Arbor MI (07/31/05)
Saturn 2001 SL, Transmission died. I took to our Haas Tranmission in Dexter MI, very reliable. Tells me that a pin came out of the transmission and this causes a hole to wear in the case, fluid pours out, gears slip, etc. Mr. Haas says that the Saturn is a good transmission and runs forever unless this happens. This is a common problem he sees. This a manufacturing defect, no way this should happen to a 4 year old transmission. Web search seems to confirm this is a common problem (Automan on your site says there is a problem with Saturn Transmissions). I will be contacting Saturn to see if they will remedy the situation.
Elaine of Attleboro MA (07/28/05)
We brought our 4 year old Saturn (L Series) to the dealership due to transmission problems because our mechanic told us it was a transmission problem. The dealer's mechanic gave us an estimate of $1400.00. The main office in TN got in contact with the dealer and they will offer to pay only $500 of this bill. This car has less than 40k miles on it, we have all the records from our own mechanic on maintenance and never had any problems with this car, but they didn't care that we have these records. I feel this is an insult that they will not cover more for this problem due to the low mileage and the age of the car.
Don of Texas City TX (8/8/03):
Automatic trasmission pump burned out at 20,000 miles. Saturn replaced the pump. At 23,000 miles the transmission imploded. Saturn said I would have to pay $3000 to have it replaced since it was out of warranty. After days of discussion with Saturn Customer Service they agreed to pay half the cost of a rebuilt trasmission which I reluctently accepted. At 24,000 miles the transmission now slams very hard into each gear as it changes gears. This may happen today but not the next day. It is as if the problem corrects itself one day and returns a day or so later.
I spoke to a Saturn service person and he suggested that I replace the battery. His thought was that the computor was not getting the correct amps or voltage. I had the battery replaced and the problem stopped for about a week and returned again.I have noticed other people have complained about this same problem with their Saturns. I have a feeling that Saturn knows what the cause is and refuses to admit it because they would have to pay the cost of repairs.
This is the only means of transportation that we own. We are retired and have used this 1999 Saturn SL2 very little. We are really disgusted that this car only lasted 24,000. We have a bad feeling that we will now have to go in debt for a new car.
Randey of Sportsylvania VA (7/3/03):
I have a 1995 Saturn SL1 with 40,000 miles on it. The car will go into reverse fine when cold but be very slow in responding to reverse when the transmission is warmed up. I brought the car to the Saturn dealer who stated that the upper valve body needed to be replaced. No hesitation is the remedy needed. I did not have the $700 to replace the valve body so continue to drive the vehicle. With all the transmission problems being cited, why doesn't Saturn come to the plate and accept some responsibility for the poor quality and replace the transmissions at no charge to the vehicle owner? Not getting 40K miles of trouble-free milage from any vehicle is sad.
Paul of Metairie LA (6/9/03):
I purchased a 1999 SL-1 new in July of 99. I bought the extended warranty to 60,000 miles. Around 55k the transmission began to slam into reverse when shifted. The problem got worse with the slamming now noted in the forward gears. I took the car into the dealer for repair. The problem was diagnosed as a faulty electronic transmission wiring harness. The wiring was replaced under the warranty. I was concerned about transmission damage from the slamming and I was told not to worry, the transmission was fine.
Just after the warranty was up, the slamming started again. I took the vehicle back in and was told the harness was bad again but it would take several days to fix because the dealer didn't have the parts in stock. I didn't hear from the dealer for a few days so I stopped in since it's right on my way to work. When I questioned the service group about the repairs, I was told that I now needed a new transmission, mine was damaged beyond repair. I was taken into an office with 3 people present all representing the dealership. I was made an offer of a 3 way split of the repair cost of $1800 -- GM 1/3, dealership 1/3 and me 1/3.
I had no choice but to pay. No loaner car was offered although one individual said Saturn would pay for an Enterprise rental. This was not true, all they would do was give me their discount at Enterprise which was the same rate I always get when renting from Enterprise. I believe that the transmission was damaged by the first wiring harness. In fact one mechanic at the dealership told me the slamming would indeed cause failure and another at the same dealership said that was not possible. Who do I believe? I was also told by one of the mechanics that the part needed to fix the trasmission wasn't in stock since they couldn't keep them on the shelf. That raised a red flag.
Also, if Saturn felt they had no liability for the transmission failure, why the offer of a split? I know they were not just being nice, I've been around too long for that. I think it is obvious that there are inherent problems with Saturn transmissions just by reading through this web site and seeing articles in mechanic's magazines that the general public does not see. I analyze diesel engine failures in my profession and realize that all manufacturers of gas, diesel and other fueled equipment all experience inherent defects of one kind or another and I respect those problems and know it must be frustrating to handle them. What I don't respect are the manufacturers that instead of owning up to a certain piece of equipment's shortcoming, they pass the burden along to the consumer under any other guise than that of a known defect.
Rachel of Mountain Home, AR (3/12/02):
We purchased a 2001 Saturn S-Series last March. Began having trouble with the transmission right away. In Oct. we took it into the Saturn dealership (3 hours away), they kept it and after much debate allowed us a loaner car (I was 7 months pregnant at the time). They kept it for two weeks, admitting there was a defect in the manufacturing of the transmission.
The third week, I went into premature labor and they wanted their loaner car back. Finally they agreed, since I was in the hospital with our son to bring the car back to us, without working on the transmission at all. The service manager said to "drive it until it breaks". That's what we did.
In February the transmission completely went out. and we had to call roadside assistance. The dealership from the beginning was very uncooperative from the beginning about renting a vehicle ect. the customer service people said they've already bent over backwards for us once. They said for two full days that the transmission had faulty wiring and it was taking time for them to find it. Then on the THIRD day we get a call, "bad news Mrs. S, the last time you got your oil changed by Bubba-type untrained mechanics at Wal-mart they took off your transmission filter by mistake and (one time they said smashed it, another time they just said left visible marks on it) so therefore the $1000 worth of repairs you need to rebuild the transmission will not be covered on your warranty.
They knew there would be no way to prove Wal-mart did this, as well as no way to prove they didn't. I told them I was planning to contact the Better Business Bureau and they laughed, "do what you have to do, we get this all the time. ... Had another one in today from a Jiffy Lube." They seemed quite proud of the fact that consumers are truly being hurt. Apparently, on this make of car the transmission filter is easily mistaken for the oil filter. Yet, we were not warned of the likelihood of this happening. And the service people at Saturn very well may have done the damage themselves to cover for an already faulty transmission. However, there is no way to prove they did or didn't. Either way Saturn should have to stand behind their product and not brag when the consumer suffers.
It has been a very stressful ordeal. My husband works evenings and I am at home with no transportation and a four month old baby who was in the hospital two weeks ago for a respiratory virus. We bought into the "caring" Saturn commercials and the promises made when we bought the car. And in less than a year we've had this new car in the shop a month and it is costing us $1000 (with a new baby that's tough) and they are treating us like there is absolutely nothing we can do about it.
We asked Automan about this. His reply:
Saturns do have problems with their transmissions from the get go. In fact, servicing them for over 10 years now, some Saturns seem genuinely possessed by demonic forces, seriously. While some Saturns are a dream others can be a nightmare. The whole transmission filter missing thing sounds like fraud to me. You would not have gotten very far down the road without one. Seek legal counsel, sue for the cost of the repair of the transmission. Given the prior problems with the unit, any lawyer should have you a settlement check fairly quickly.
P.S. Stay away from any Wal Mart or Jiffy Lube (any quick service oil change places) and find a full service, knowledgeable mechanic that will treat you right.
Kasi of El Cajon CA (9/12/01):
I bought a 95 Saturn in August of 98. I was basically very happy with the service and friendliness of the dealership. After about 6 months I noticed that my car shifted hard sometimes when placing it in reverse and sometimes shifting it out of reverse. As it kept getting worse I took it into Saturn they said they could not duplicate the problem so there was nothing wrong. I offered to test drive it with a service dept. employee but they said that was not allowed. So I kept driving thinking it may be something I was doing.
After a couple more months the problem kept getting worse I took it back in and again they said they could not duplicate the problem. I left very disappointed but figured there was nothing else I could do. Now that the warranty is gone on the vehicle I started driving it one day and it wouldn't go into reverse at all. This time I took it into a transmission specialist. They have looked at the transmission and reported that the valve body is completely worn out and it has been that way for at least a year. I will need to either rebuild the transmission or replace it. I called Saturn to tell them what was going on and they said it was nothing wrong with the transmission each time the test drove it and there was nothing they can do about it. I am currently trying to talk to management or the regional district to see if there is something that can be done.
Jeff of Hanover, MD, writes:
About a year ago I took my wife's Saturn in because the transmission was slamming into gear as the car was accelerating. Saturn could not duplicate the problem and said there was nothing wrong. About seven months go by and the car starts doing it worse to the point where it felt like someone was running into the rear of you. We took the car to Saturn again, they have it for a couple days and said the valve body was bad and was replaced it under warranty.
I go to Saturn and pick it up, I don't even make it out of the driveway of Saturn and the car is still slaming into gear. Obviously no one even bothered to test drive it. So they keep it another day and said they can't find anything wrong with it and just did some minor adjustment on the valve body.
I pick the car up and it is fine for four days. It starts doing it again but intermitently so I wait until it does it more so I don't waste my time taking it up there. I take it up there and they keep it for a week this time and trll me they are going to replace the top half of the valve body. I pick it up and don't even make it out of the driveway of saturn and it is still doing it. I go inside and all of the service people are gone for the day so I ask for the main manager and tell him that the car is not fixed and no one could be test driving it beacause of the fact that 2 times I picked it up the thing is doing the exact thing it was before they said they fixed it.So I leave the car there for another week.
I called Saturn Corp and a regional manager called back and I explained the situation to him and he told me that what Saturn was doing was right and if I didn't like it to take it to another dealer. We got the car back and while its not slamming it doesn't shift right. My wife will not drive the car. We went to a Chevy dealer and traded it in even though it was only worth $5,000 and we owed $9,000 on it. Now our car payment is astronomical but at least we are not afraid of breaking down or having a feeling of someone slamming you in the rear. The quality of work and service from Saturn of Ellicott City and Saturn Corp. is sorry to say the least.
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