Transmission complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I have a 2002 Saturn sl2 and I've had to replace my transmission twice now. I believe that the dealership in manchester, nh knowingly sold it to me like this since I had brought up a very slight speed up effect the car had to the car sales woman, and she had told me that it was because the car had a slightly more powerful engine than the 4.0 I was used to (it had a 4.6) and the jump was just the "extra power". I haven't even owned the car for 18 months yet. It's a piece of crap and I have a pretty bitter taste in my mouth from dealing with the car dealerships in nh and in md. The dealership in salisbury, md wanted to charge me $3100 for a new transmission. …
One evening last week I noticed that when I would shift gears after being parked, it felt like something dropped under my car. The same night, I would be driving about 35-40 miles and hour in the 1-2 RPM range, all of a sudden the gauge would quickly jump to 3 rpms and then drop back down. It did this consistently every 2-3 minutes. I took my car to a local transmission shop the next morning because I felt that it was a serious problem. The body valve was damaged which was the main problem. That was replaced along with a few other parts. When I was paying ($2895) the man that had been helping me informed me that his shop had encountered many transmission problems with my model car (2002 Saturn sl1) and that they checked in to any kind of recall or bulletins. He said that he felt that GM would be issuing a bulletin relatively soon. …
My 2001 Saturn sl2 recently developed a sever 'buck' in the automatic transmission when it shifts. That is, when it changes gears it either slams into the next or hesitates then slams. Reverse is the most severe as it slammed so hard that it broke the muffler from its mount at the very rear of the vehicle. The fluid has been changed ahead of schedule on the transmission, and the oils changes have also been timely. I've read on several forums that this is not only symptomatic of the make and model of my car, but predominate in quite a few of the models in the Saturn family. I've since had the fluid changed to no avail of correcting the problem. The symptoms described are exactly synonymous with others posted elsewhere on electronic mediums such as here: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/saturn_trans.html. …
Only had the car for a couple of months - started having problems with the transmission..... Kept shifting real hard from 2nd to 3rd (automatic). Took it to our mechanic and said it was out of his hands and referred us to a transmission specialist. Had the car towed to them and once he looked it over it needed a new transmission!!!! Only had 60,000 miles - go figure. Valve body!! Wrote a letter to the Saturn corporate office about the problem to see what they could do and told us that we should have taken the car to a Saturn service station. We already were in the process of getting it repair, costing us $ 2,000.00!!!! I feel that Saturn should look into their customer's complaints and realize that there actually is a problem with this models transmission. This could lead to an injury or something more serious. I don't think Saturn would like to have that on their shoulders!! …
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. …
Without any warning, I got in my Saturn and started it and the "service engine soon" light went on. As I put it in reverse to put it in a parking space, there was no reverse movement, only reving engine. The dealer I took it to, told me this was a "known" problem (a nut gets loose and falls off, inside the transmission. I also needed a transmission service. I was suspecious at first but I was not close to home so I paid the $440.oo. Today I find that there are identical and nearly identical complaints and that this problem is known since apr 2000, one month after I purchased the vehicle new. This is so obvious a warranty situation and I want to be reimbursed with credit card interest !!!!!
There are pins holding together the differential in manual and standard transmissions. This pin gets worn out and falls out of place causing the differential gears to explode out of the bottom of the transmission causing chunks of metal to fall and hit the pavement leaving hazards on the road way and in the process causes total loss of control by locking up both front tires on the vehicle. I was a victim of this and almost struck a vehicle head on and in the process hit several obstacle before the vehicle cam to rest in a ditch. The vehicle is now at aamco transmission in tulsa OK. All this information about the pins are coming from them. This happens in all 1999 Saturn SL and sl2 vehicles with the standard and automatic transmissions. My vehicle is the 1999 Saturn sl2 with the sohc 5 speed transmission. If you take a look at complaints there are many bearing the same problems.
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 ! …
Related recalls (2)
Power train › Automatic transmission › Park/neutral start interlock switch
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.
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.
Power train › Clutch assembly › Pedal/hand lever(motorcycle)
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."
Remedy: Consumers are being asked to inspect the park lock cable. If it does not perform correctly, dealers will make the necessary adjustments.
Frequently asked questions
Which Saturn SL years have transmission problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1995 (40), 1996 (37), 2000 (35), 1998 (33) and 1997 (23) model years. Transmission complaints make up 11% of all complaints for the 1995.
Is there a recall for Saturn SL transmission problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 00V-310 (park/neutral start interlock switch, Oct 12, 2000); 94V-217 (pedal/hand lever(motorcycle), Nov 8, 1994). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Saturn SL transmission problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 65,000 miles; 36% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the automatic transmission (118 mentions), followed by the manual transmission (40).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.