FaultScore

1994 Saturn SL transmission problems

36 of the 376 complaints about the 1994 Saturn SL are about the transmission — 10% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 110,115 miles.

C

36

Complaints

2

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Automatic Transmission 18 50.0%
Power Train 5 13.9%
Manual Transmission 5 13.9%
Floor Shift Assembly 3 8.3%
Clutch Assembly 2 5.6%
Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch 1 2.8%
Pedal/Hand Lever(Motorcycle) 1 2.8%
Axle Assembly 1 2.8%

Transmission & Drivetrain across every Saturn SL year

1992 13 4.1%
1993 28 8.9%
1994 36 11.4%
1995 42 13.3%
1996 37 11.7%
1997 25 7.9%
1998 34 10.8%
1999 23 7.3%
2000 36 11.4%
2001 20 6.3%
2002 22 7.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Monessen, PA

POWER TRAIN

I HAVE A 1994 SATURN SL2 VEHICLE AND WAS ALMOST IN A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHEN THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND CAUSED MY CAR TO COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN ON A HEAVILY TRAFFIC HIGHWAY. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED TO ME WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE TOTALLY REBUILT WITH A NEW TIMING CHAIN AND IT ONLY LAST 1 YEAR. I PAID OVER $1000 DOLLARS FOR THE REBUILT ENGINE INCLUDING LABOR AND THE ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN,I THINK ITS LUDICROUS BECAUSE MANY MECHANICS TOLD ME THAT SATURNS HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF ENGINE PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY TIMING BELTS. NOW I AM WITHOUT A VEHICLE ONCE AGAIN WITH NOT MANY OPTIONS. NEED SATURN TO HELP ME OUT!!!!!!!!!

NHTSA complaint #10289905 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,230 miles Commerce, GA

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY

SHIFTER CABLES BROKE WHERE IT CONNECTS TO SHIFTER.

NHTSA complaint #10222344 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 120,000 miles Winnsboro, SC

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY

MANUAL TRANSMISSION - GEAR SHIFT LINKAGE TO SHIFT CABLE -- BROKEN BUSHING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MANUAL FLOOR SHIFTER WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE SHIFT CABLE. THE CABLE FALLS OFF THE SHIFTER LINKAGE. SATURN PARTS (OEM) WANTS TO SELL ME THE ENTIRE SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY FOR ~$200 (PLUS 3 HOURS LABOR TO INSTALL IT) -- SHOULD BE A $5 FIX FOR THE BROKEN PLASTIC BUSHING. APPARENTLY THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AMONG SATURN OWNERS. (SEE HTTP://WWW.CHAOSMAGNET.COM/BLOG/ARCHIVES/000112.HTML ).

NHTSA complaint #10163429 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brandon, FL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AIR BAG LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING, REPLACED 2 OF THE COMPONENETS UNDER THE DASH ONE UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE UP IN THE CORNER AND THE OTHER UP BEHIND THE GLOVE BOX. COOLING FAN DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY MUST KEEP THE AC ON FOR THE FAN TO WORK. A FRIEND OF MINE HAS THE SAME CAR AND HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. TRIED TO FIX BY REPLACING THE SENSORS HAD A MECHANIC TRY TO TROUBLE SHOOT, CAN'T FIND A REASON SO IT IS NOT FIXED JUST KEEP AC ON ALWAYS. CAR VIBRATES AND CAN'T FIND A REASON STILL LOOKING FOR PROBLEM, VIBRATES SO MUCH BODY PARTS ON FRONT ARE BECOMING MISALIGNED! AND IT SEEMS THE AUTO-TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FUNNY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES AND THEN STAYS ON AFTER DRIVING APX. 1 MILE. CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. MY FRIEND HAS ALL THE SAME COMPLAINTS.

NHTSA complaint #10093917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Renton, WA Crash

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHEN I BRAKE IT BRAKES THEN LETS GO AND THEN BRAKES AGAIN AND KEEPS DOING THAT UNTIL I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. ALSO WHEN I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MY TRANSMISSION I THINK JERKS MY WHOLE CAR. AND THAT ALSO HAPPENS WHEN I PUT THYE CAR IN REVERSE. I HAVE TALKED TO 4 OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE A '9194 SATURN SL2 AND THEY HAVE ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS. I ALSO GOT TO DRIVE ONE OF THEM AND THERE CAR DOES EVERYTHING MINE DOES AND BOTH OF OUR GLOVE BOX LATCH HAS BROKE AND DOES NOT LATCH.

NHTSA complaint #746010 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Diego, CA

POWER TRAIN

AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT WAS DESIGNED WITHOUT A SAFETY FEATURE TO RETRACT BACKWARDS WHEN IT HITS AN OBJECT. ODOMETER WAS FAILING TO REGISTER CORRECT MILEAGE. MECHANIC REFUSED TO DO ANY REPAIRS DUE TO VEHICLE BEING OUT OF WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #883590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sarasota, FL

POWER TRAIN

ODOMETER HAS STOPPED WORKING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND ADMITTED TO CONSUMER THAT THEY KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM IN ODOMETERS FROM 1991-1994.

NHTSA complaint #877995 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Durham, NC

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

IS SHIFTER POPPING OUT RELATED TO "CHEWED UP" ACTUATOR CLUTCH CYL.?

NHTSA complaint #734909 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wetmore, KS

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

SATURN RELUCTANT TO COMMENT ON IF PROBLEMS WERE OF FACTORY DEFECTS, THEREFORE EVERYTHING WAS PAID FOR IN FULL (EXTREME AMOUNTS) BY MYSELF. ALSO, THE PRODUCTS, AFTER REPLACED FAILED WITHIN ONE MONTH AFTER THE "WARRANTY" EXPIRED. SATURN REFUSED TO COMPENSATE . NOS AFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY.

NHTSA complaint #721694 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LOS Angele, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

INTERNAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. MJS

NHTSA complaint #546435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NEW York City, NY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION IS CAUSING DELAY / TOTAL FAILURE IN REVERSE. THE MANUFACTURE HAS SENT OUT A BULLETIN, TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY WILL CAUSE A LONG DELAY OR TOTAL FAILURE WHEN THE CAR IS PUT IN REVERSE..

NHTSA complaint #837387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Batltimor, MD

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

WHEN PARKING VEHICLE JERKS FORWARD AND BACKWARD, AND GOES INTO ANOTHER GEAR MANUFACTUER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #844759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NEW Town, PA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

REVERSE GEAR WENT OUT, AND CONSUMER VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED DUE TO THE REVERSE GOING OUT.

NHTSA complaint #834496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wintersville, OH

POWER TRAIN

SEAT BELTS MOVE BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING AND THEY WON'T OPEN WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED. ALSO, SUN ROOF AND SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED/ NOISY ENGINE DUE TO TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. IN ADDITION, REPLACED EGR VALVE AND CANISTER.

NHTSA complaint #826207 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bermingham, MI

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. HAD TO BE REPLACED TWO TIMES. DEALER STATES CONTAMINATION AT THE FACTORY. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #827014 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wintersville, OH

POWER TRAIN

THE SPEEDOMETER SOMETIMES WORKS AND SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT WORK. THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #826224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Baton Roug, LA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW/ENGINE HEAD CRACKED. TEMPERATURE GAUGE DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION WOULD POP OUT OF GEAR.

NHTSA complaint #538334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Maywood, NJ

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #521841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Maywood, NJ

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

..

NHTSA complaint #521841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Springfield, VA

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

CAR LOCKED UP WHEN SHIFTING INTO FIRST GEAR.

NHTSA complaint #536041 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Waterbury, CT

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

VEHICLE MAKES A GRINDING NOISE DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #533125 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Eatonton, GA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR.

NHTSA complaint #523335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Maywood, NJ

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

LIGHTER FELL OUT OF SOCKET, THE VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE SHIFTS HARD INTO GEAR AND HAS NO REVERSE GEAR THE DEALER REMOVED ANF RECONDITIONED THE TRANSMISSION, THE SEATBELT PULLED BACK WHILE THE DOOR WAS OPED AND THE SEATBELT FAILED TO PROPERLY RESTRAIN THE DRIVER DURING AN ACCIDENT CAUSING HIM TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL, THE BRAKE PEDAL FEELS LOW DEALER RESURFACED THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS, THE BRAKES ALSO MAKE NOISE, THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM BEING MOVED, HORN FAILED. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #817087 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Southbury, CT

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

ENGINE FAILURE; ALSO, TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED.

NHTSA complaint #517928 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Goldsboro, NC

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS INTO REVERSE,SLIPS AND JERKS INTO GEAR.

NHTSA complaint #803081 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Temecula, CA

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

EXT 554: ENGINE LOSES POWER, POWER TO DRIVETRAIN IS INTERRUPTED WHEN SHIFTING GEARS, LOSES ACCELERATION, MANUAL TRANSMISSION, 5 SPEED.

NHTSA complaint #984827 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

East Haven, CT

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)

PREMATURE WEAR OF CLUTCH. *DSH

NHTSA complaint #503816 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Philadephia, PA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE IT STALLS AND JUMPS IN GEAR. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA complaint #976109 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Carol Stre, IL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *SKD

NHTSA complaint #484583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dallas, TX

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

EVERY FEW THOUSAND MILES THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP, AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE, AS WELL AS STALLING.

NHTSA complaint #968762 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1994 Saturn SL problems

← Full 1994 Saturn SL report