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Saturn Transmission Problems

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Saturn • Aura • Vue --- • Engine problems • Transmission problems • Airbags • Ignition interlock • Oozing goo • Miscellaneous woes • The Shamrock Saturn --- Recalls/News • Penske Scraps Plan to Buy Saturn; Brand Likely to Die • Penske Hopes to Drive Saturn Off GM's Lot • Saturn Climbing the Roadway to Heaven • Saturn Aura Gets a 5,000-Mile Road Test • NHTSA Probes Timing Chain Again • NHTSA Recalls Saturn L Series • NHTSA Probes Saturn Timing Chain Failures • Saturn Astra Named Safest Car Under $25,000 • Saturn Outlook Gets Top Marks from Consumer Reports • Saturn Targets Toyota, Honda for Side-by-Side Tests • Saturn Sky Prices Go Sky High • Saturn VUE Recalled • L-Series Cars Recalled

Daniel of Jamestown, OH September 9, 2009

We have a 2004 Saturn ION. In 2007 the transmission went out on the car and they replaced it. In June 2008 the transmission went out again and again they replaced it. In April 2009 we could tell that the transmission was slipping so we took it to Saturn of Dayton North and were told that there was nothing wrong with it and was charged 102.00 diagnosis fee.

Four months later my wife (who is six months pregnant) was driving home from work and the transmission completely went out. She was stuck on the side of a dangerous country road that semi's commonly use with no shoulder. We had it towed to Saturn of Dayton North where the next morning a mechanic there told us that he was experiencing the same problem with the car when he test drove it.

Monday comes and the manager calls and tells us that he can't find anything wrong with the car. We told him that we knew it was the transmission and they just fixed it a year ago and they needed to find the problem. They had the car a week until they called and said they couldn't find anything wrong with it and wanted to charge us 102.00. We told them we weren't paying a diagnosis if they didn't find the problem and that we were going to pick the car up and take it somewhere else to prove it was the transmission.

Thirty minutes later they called back and said yes it was the transmission and that they would fix it but only cover 75% due to a class action lawsuit due to the fact that the car has 100,000 miles on it and wanted to charge us over 1000. We pointed out that this is the third transmission and this transmission only has a little over 20,000 miles on it. Both times before it was fixed the car was under 100,000 miles.

We contacted corporate and was told on Wednesday that they would cover the whole amount. Friday Saturn of Dayton North called and told us we could get the car. Saturday we drove 35 miles to get the car only to be told the lady handling our claim never sent the payment authorization and that she had nothing in her files on our car. They insisted we had to pay over 1000 to release the car. We left it there and contacted corporate again and today we got a call and they won't cover the full amount of the transmission.

As of now the car is still sitting at Saturn. We both work and have to scramble everyday to borrow a car, waisting alof of gas money returning cars, paying people gas to take us to work. They keep hiding behind the class action lawsuit, which doesn't even apply because this is the third transmission in three years. They can't "fix" something where they know it's going to keep breaking year after year. We are going to be out 1000 to fix the transmission, 102 that we paid them four months ago for them to tell us the transmission was fine.

Kelly of Erie, PA September 9, 2009

I own and have owned a 2001 Saturn SL1 4 door sedan for a little less the 4 years. I bought the car used from a dealership and when I first bought it, she ran great. About a year ago I started having MAJOR problems with it. The car doesn't shift it slams... doesn't matter what gear but reverse is definitly the worst. I have a hard time getting up to speed on the highway and when I try and stop the car rev's hard making it very hard to break.

I have taken excellent care of my car and while the miles are a bit high 125,000 I didn't not expect the transmission to fail as it has. How is it that so many people are having this SAME issue but Saturn has done NOTHING to repair the defects? That is totally irresponsible and agrovating. I know that to replace my tranny it's going to cost me upwards of 3000 dollars... I can't afford that. I'm going to have to junk the car. And that ticks me off.

ernest of port matilda, PA August 28, 2009

2006 Saturn Ion Quad Coupe. Purcahsed new. Has 45,000 miles on it. have replaced brake rotors three times. Now the transmission is making noises and we are told it is shot and must be replaced at a cost of approx. 4,500.00.

Lori of Calgary, AB July 4, 2009

Purchased a 2006 Saturn Ion, (lease) and now, having 105000k, no warranty is left but my transmission is gone. I went to put my car in drive and it didn't budge. It only goes in reverse. I feel that even though the warranty is no longer valid, a car worth anything should not be having this type of mechanical issue at 100 000k. I feel it is defective and should have been recalled. At this point I am expected to pay an outrageous 4000+ and my lease is not up until October 2009.

something is not right when a brand new vehicle has transmission problems this early into the game. I expected to get another 100 000K out of this car, because I have out of my other cars that I purchased used. This one I purchased new, 11km I believe, when I drove it off the lot. Didn't make much of a difference did it?

It has been over one week since I had to get my car towed to the dealership, I towed it there thinking that they would be willing to help me but obviously they are not since the quote came back at over 4000. My car still sits there, pending on go ahead but I am concerned that the dealership had not done all that they can do to lessen this financial burden from me. I am not able to drive the car so even for me to get an independent quote is impossible since they don't have the vehicle to examine.

Kathleen of Pittsburgh, PA July 3, 2009

2001 Saturn with 70,000 mile had to have transmission replaced Gillece cost 2500.00 This is a common problem and should have been recalled.

Joseph of Maple Grove, MN April 20, 2009

Joseph of Maple Grove MN (04/20/09)
I just purchased a used 2006 Saturn Ion from my neighbor. My neighbor took it to the local Saturn dealership to have it all checked out before I bought it. The 25 point vehicle inspection came back good,except for a stabilizer link, that should be looked at. I have had the car for only one and a half months and with in that time The key stuck in the ignition and the car would not shut off, It needed a new ignition cylinder which cost 310.00, Then 2 weeks later, The gears are slipping and I'm told that 2nd and 4th gears are shot and we need a new transmission. There are only 55,000 miles on this vehicle. I realize we did not purchase this car from a certified saturn dealership, however, 55,000 miles is very LOW mileage as far as needing a new transmission.

I have only added 1000 miles to this vehicle since it was checked by the dealership, and the transmission cover and fluid checked out. Now all of a sudden the transmission fluid is pitch black? Was it checked at all? The gentleman at the Saturn dealership in Brooklyn Park, mn was very nice, His name was Joe, and said, he thought that Saturn would probably help me out with this. As far as the key episode, I have read so many of the same reports of this problem happening to many ion customers, to the point Saturn should have this recalled. How many complaints until something is recalled by a company, any laws regarding this?

Saturn is going to replace the transmission for a 1000.00 fee, telling us that the full price would have been 4500.00 My parents have had trnsmissions in their vehicles replaced over the years and have never spent more than 2500.00 Is this charge normal and customary for a dealership? We finally got things squared away to set up an appt. to finally have this fixed. Customer service was laughable, calling and leaving messages when they knew no-one would be available, and just really prolonging this whole process. The actual dealship guy, Joe was extremely professional, and had great customer relations, and made me feel at ease, I was really at my wits end after I received the news about the transmission needing to be replaced. I have been without my car now for almost 2 weeks now, and need to wait 2-3 more days for the tranny to get to the dealership, but then hopefully this will be the end to this nightmare!

Having to get rides to and from college, and to and from work on a daily basis, for almost 2 weeks. Purchasing my first car on my own was a nightmare. I am 19 years old, and was excited to finally have a halfway decent car with low miles, only to have to encounter all these problems. Now not only do I need to finish paying for this car, but I get to add a few 's to the loan I wasn't expecting. Thanks for listening.

Rob of Las Vegas, NV April 7, 2009

Rob of Las Vegas NV (04/07/09)
I was driving my car (2003 Saturn Vue) to work yesterday morning when the service engine soon light came on. I was joking with my wife that the last time this light came on is when my VTI transmission went out. As it turns out, the joke was on me. I took my car to the Saturn dealer where i purchased it in Las Vegas and when they called me today I was told that for the 3rd time in the last year, my VTI transmission needed to be replaced AGAIN! The only good news about this is that Saturn is paying for it because i am the original owner. I really sincerely feel for those of you who have had to pay for this out of your own pocket. It is not right.

Overall this had been a pretty good car with the exception of a few minor issues. The one bit of advice that i would tell anyone who reads this post is that you should take your car to the Saturn dealership especially if you are the original owner. Since the VTI transmission was never an Official Recall, if i had not had my car towed into the dealer and took it to some other mechanic to fix it, i would have had to pay the entire cost to fix it and that is messed up.

History of my VTI issues: In the middle of the desert between California and Las Vegas, NV at 1 am, my check engine soon light comes on. A few days later when I was back in Las Vegas (Thank God this did not happen in the middle of the desert) I was driving through a light when the car just stopped moving. Had it towed to the dealership and Saturn fixed it. One week later, my wife and 3 kids were in my car and the tranmission when out again. It was the summer so that day when she broke down with no water it was about 115 degrees out. Has the car towed to the Saturn dealer again and they fixed it again.

Now less than a year later my 2003 Saturn Vue is back at the dealer having its 4th transmission put in (I am counting the one it came with also). This is not acceptable and I am very dissapointed with my Saturn. For those of you who are the original owners of your Vue, please take it to the dealer so that they can eat the cost to fix the piece of junk car that they sold us (cost = 3,000 for the parts + labor)

Lost time and hardship on my wife and kids who ended up driving me 1 hour to work and 1 hour home from work each day that my car was at the dealer since Saturn would not pay for a rental car.

Nicole of Rensselaer, NY March 30, 2009

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