34 of the 222 complaints about the 1998 Saturn SL are about the transmission — 15% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 58,303 miles.
34
Complaints
4
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
POWER TRAIN
COOLANT AROUND THE SPARK PLUG NEAREST THE TRANSMISSION, ENGINE OIL IS VISIBLE IN COOLANT TANK. INTERNET SEARCH REVEALED A CRACKED HEAD DUE TO FACTORY DEFECT IN HEAD CASTING. GM DID NOT ISSUE A RECALL!
NHTSA complaint #10651527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY
WHILE PARKING MY 1898 SATURN SL IN A HOSPITAL GARAGE, THE SHIFT LEVER WENT LIMP WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS NO WAY TO OPERATE THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN I REMOVED THE CONSOLE, I DISCOVERED THAT THE PLASTIC BUSHING THAT CONNECTS THE MANUAL SHIFT LEVER TO THE SHIFT CABLE WAS MISSING. THERE WAS NO LONGER ANY CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SHIFT LEVER AND THE CABLE TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE ENTIRE SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. SATURN TOLD ME THAT THE BUSHING IS MADE ONTO THE CABLE RATHER THAN BEING AVAILABLE AS A SEPARATE PART. IF THIS BUSHING HAD FAILED IN A TRAFFIC SITUATION IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE BUSHING SHOULD BE DESIGNED SUCH THAT IF IT BRAKES; THE SHIFT LEVER WILL REMAIN CONNECTED TO THE SHIFT CABLE AND JUST CAUSE SLOPPY SHIFTING THEREBY WARNING THE DRIVER THAT REPAIR IS REQUIRED. I STILL HAVE THE OLD SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA complaint #10108486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THE CAM SWITCH WAS REPLACED TWICE, THE IDLE CONTROL WAS ADJUSTED AND THE THROTTLE WAS REPLACED YET THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED IN REVERSE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10001275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
MY 23 YR OLD SON WAS TRAVELING FROM VENTURA, CA AT 75 MPH ON FWY 99 N BOUND IN THE MIDDLE LANE (OF 3) AT ABOUT 1 A.M. IN FRESNO, CA. JUST BEFORE ARRIVING AT HIS EXIT TO HWY 41 N, THE REAR END BEGAN TO SKID TO THE LEFT. DRIVER STEERED INTO THE SKID TO CORRECT WHILE STEPPING ON THE BRAKES TO REDUCE SPEED. SUDDENLY THE REAR END OF THE CAR WAS HURLED INTO THE AIR CAUSING THE ENTIRE VEHICLE TO GO AIRBORNE, CLEARING THE THIRD LANE (FAR RIGHT LANE) AND LANDING ON TOP OF ASPHALT BERM AND SOFT, SANDY EMBANKMENT RESULTING IN THE CAR ROLLING AND GOING AIRBORNE, BOUNCING OFF THE REAR END OF THE CAR AND GOING AIRBORNE YET A THIRD TIME LANDING UPSIDE DOWN ON THE SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY WITH THE NOSE OF THE CAR EXTENDING INTO THE THIRD LANE. DRIVER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES BUT CHP OFFICERS WERE ASTONISHED IT WAS NOT A FATALITY. CAR WAS TOTALED. TALKS WITH SATURN HEADQUARTERS HAS ONLY RESULTED IN DENIAL THAT THE SPINDLE COULD HAVE CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. THEY INSIST A TIRE BLOWOUT WAS MOST LIKELY THE CAUSE. PERSONAL INVESTIGATION REVEALED THERE WAS NO BLOWOUT. EVIDENCE POINTS TOWARD THE SPINDLE BREAKING ALLOWING THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO FOLD DOWN UNDER THE CAR CAUSING IT TO SKID TO THE LEFT. THE APPLICATION OF BRAKES BROUGHT THE FRONT END OF THE CAR DOWN ENOUGH TO ALLOW THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO CATCH THE FRAME ASSEMBLY AND PITCH THE CAR INTO THE AIR WHILE TEARING OUT THE ENTIRE REAR WHEEL WELL ASSEMBLY. PARTS OF THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY WERE FOUND 40 FEET BEFORE THE IMPACT OF THE CAR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE (WHICH WOULD BE IMPACT #2) AS IT TUMBLED ACROSS THE FREEWAY EMBANKMENT. NO ONE SEEMS TO WANT TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE WRECKAGE INCLUDING OUR INSURANCE AND SATURN.
NHTSA complaint #10102120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING PROPERLY. TAKEN TO MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THAT VEHICLE WAS 5 QUARTS LOW ON TRANSMISSION FLUID AND VEHICLE WOULD HAVE STOPPED RUNNING IF NOT TAKEN CARE OF AT THAT TIME. ALTHOUGH VEHICLE ONLY HAD 35000 MILES ON IT TRANSMISSION, WHICH HAD DEFECT, HAD TO BE REBUILT FOR $2400+.
NHTSA complaint #10096031 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:COLUMN SHIFT ASSEMBLY
MY WIFE'S '98 SATURN SL1 HAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000 MILES ON IT. ABOUT A WEEK AGO, SHE WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR. AFTER TAKING THE CENTER CONSOLE OUT, I NOTICED THAT A RUBBER GROMMET THAT ATTACHED THE SHIFT ROD TO THE SHIFT CABLES HAD ROTTED AND BROKEN IN HALF. NORMALLY, THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN VERY EASY TO REPLACE. A NEW GROMMET COULD VERY EASILY BE POPPED IN WITH AROUND 1/2 HOUR OF WORK. WHEN I APPROACHED THE LOCAL SATURN DEALERS, THEY SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE THE .50 CENT GROMMET AVAILABLE, AND THAT THE ENTIRE SHIFTER CABLE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED (THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CABLES THEMSELVES). THE PERSON WORKING THERE SAID THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE CABLES VERY OFTEN. TOTAL COST FOR THE CABLES AND LABOR IS AROUND $600. THEY DO NOT SELL THE GROMMET SEPERATELY. GETTING SUSPICIOUS, I WENT ON THE INTERNET TO RESEARCH THE PROBLEM. I FOUND MANY SITES WITH PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM (SEE HTTP://WWW.CHAOSMAGNET.COM/BLOG/ARCHIVES/000112.HTML, HTTP://WWW.AUTOGUIDE.NET/CGI-SEC/AUTOPARTS/MESSAGES/MSG.CGI?1589.SHTML, FOR EXAMPLE). ALL COULD EASILY HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM BY GETTING A NEW RUBBER GROMMET. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT SATURN NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT. SPENDING $600 FOR A $5 REPAIR IS REDICULOUS AND WRONG. ALSO, MY WIFE'S CAR IS COMPLETELY OUT OF COMISSION UNTIL THIS CAN BE REPLACED. MANY REPORTS FROM OTHER OWNERS I HAVE READ HAVE STATED THAT TO GET AROUND SPENDING $600, THEY ARE USING SELF MADE FIXES. THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS TO DO, AND COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS IN THE FUTURE. HOWEVER, THEIR OPTIONS ARE SOMEWHAT LIMITED UNLESS THEY WISH TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY. AGAIN, THIS PROBLEM COULD BE EASILY RECTIFIED IF SATURN WOULD SIMPLY MAKE THE GROMMET AVAILABLE FOR SALE. REGARDS, JAMES LANGFORD.
NHTSA complaint #10086867 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY
WHILE ACCELERATING TO 40 MPH CONSUMER SHIFTED FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR AND FLOOR SHIFTER FAILED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10068684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
1998 SATURN WITH 49,000 MILES NEEDED THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION TO BE REBUILT. THE VALVE BODIES ARE KEPT IN STOCK AT SATURN OF ROUTE 23 BECAUSE THIS IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SATURN. THE CAR HAD BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED, TRANS SERVICE AT 25,500 MILES. SATURN WILL TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY IN THE COST OF REPAIRS. I'VE NOTED THAT SATURN IS ON SEVERAL WEBB SITES WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURES DOCUMENTED.
NHTSA complaint #10068767 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY
SHIFTER ARM CLUTCH LINKAGE BUSHING BROKE WHILE SHIFTING GEAR.
NHTSA complaint #10064554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY
MANUAL TRANSMISSION LINKAGE BROKE. THE PLASTIC THAT LOCKS THE BALL OF THE LINKAGE TO THE SOCKET OF THE SHIFTER CRACKED, AND BECAME SEPERATED WHILE IN OPERATION.
NHTSA complaint #10058553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
PROBLEMS WITH GEAR SHIFT ON 1998 SATURN SL1. *MR THE GEAR SHIFT WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK AND THE BCSI SOLENOID WAS REPLACED. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10046670 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
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.
NHTSA complaint #10042391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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.
NHTSA complaint #10033577 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
SMALL PLASTIC RING IN SHIFTER LINKAGE BROKE WHILE IN TRAFFIC LEAVING CAR STUCK IN FIRST GEAR.
NHTSA complaint #10010318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISION HESITATES AND JERKS BEFORE GOING INTO ANY GEAR. PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FOR 3 MONTHS.DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND FOUND A FAULTY TRANSMISSION VALVE.
NHTSA complaint #8014651 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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.
NHTSA complaint #8003027 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #752535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CLUTCH WAS IN PERFECT CONDITIONS, FALIURE WAS IN THE PRESSURE PLATE THAT OPERATES THE CLUTCH. PARTS DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS NOT UN-COMMON FOR MANUAL TRANSMITIONS ON SL1 FROM 96-99 AND WHEN NEW PARTS WERE PURCHASED AT THE DEALER, THERE HAD BEEN A DESIGN CHANGE WHICH INCREASED THE TOTAL COST FOR THE REPAIR. WHY WAS A NEW DESIGN IMPLEMENTED IF THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE OLD ONE. JUST IN HAWAII/OAHU THERE HAS BEEN ABOUT HALF A DOZEN OF LOW MILAGE MANUAL TRANS WITH CLUTCH SYSTEM FALIRES.
NHTSA complaint #750132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CLUTCH WAS IN PERFECT CONDITIONS, FALIURE WAS IN THE PRESSURE PLATE THAT OPERATES THE CLUTCH. PARTS DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS NOT UN-COMMON FOR MANUAL TRANSMITIONS ON SL1 FROM 96-99 AND WHEN NEW PARTS WERE PURCHASED AT THE DEALER, THERE HAD BEEN A DESIGN CHANGE WHICH INCREASED THE TOTAL COST FOR THE REPAIR. WHY WAS A NEW DESIGN IMPLEMENTED IF THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE OLD ONE. JUST IN HAWAII/OAHU THERE HAS BEEN ABOUT HALF A DOZEN OF LOW MILAGE MANUAL TRANS WITH CLUTCH SYSTEM FALIRES.
NHTSA complaint #750132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAUTION: SATURN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISION MAY BE DANGEROUS IF IT HESITATES AND CLUNKS INTO GEAR OR DOWNSHIFTS INAPPROPRIATELY. SATURN'S COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM MAY NOT DETECT DANGEROUS TRANSMISSION CONTROL CONDITION. SATURN CORP. POLICY ON PAYING DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC WORK FOR WARRANTY ITEMS MAY DISCOURAGE DEALER FROM FURTHER INVESTIGATING POSSIBLY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS.
NHTSA complaint #745830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 55MPH ON WET ROADS VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED INTO LOW GEAR AT HIGHWAY SPEED. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE BRIDGE WHICH GUIDED HIM TO A STOP. TWICE VEHICLE WAS IN SHOP FOR CLUNKING, AND TWICE WITH DOWNSHIFTING ADDED. VEHICLE IN A REPAIR SHOP TO SEE WHAT DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE.*AK THE CONSUMER SAYS THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE ADDRESSED THE SYMPTEMS OF POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM DURING THE 4 SERVICE PERIODS. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE CONSUMER WAS SEKKING FINANCIAL REIMBERSEMENT FOR THE LOSS AND EXPENSES.
NHTSA complaint #885831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE, STOPPED AFTER INCREASING SPEED. SHORTLY AFTER, CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE FROM UNDER HOOD. PARKED VEHICLE,AND NEXT MORNING THERE WAS TRANSMISSION FLUID UNDER VEHICLE, TOWED TO DEALER, WHO FOUND A DIFFERENTIAL PIN HAD COME LOOSE IN TRANSMISSION, AND CAUSED A HOLE IN TRANSMISSION.
NHTSA complaint #885024 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
VEHICLE'S TRACTION CONTROL FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HYDROPLANE AND SPIN OUT OF CONTROL AND OFF HIGHWAY. WHILE SPINNING, ABS BRAKES FAILED AND CAUSED WHEELS TO LOCK UP.
NHTSA complaint #849684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
IGNITION KEY STICKING DUE TO FAULTY BRAKE LOCK SHIFT AND CABLE PARK INTERLOCK.
NHTSA complaint #536547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA complaint #712656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED. YH
NHTSA complaint #606846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #607056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE WANDERS FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHEN DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30-60MPH. LOUD BANGING NOISE OCCURS WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. HIGH FREQUENCY WHINING FROM THE ENGINE THAT ADDS TO THE NOISE. ALSO, TRANSMISSION SHIFTING HAS TOO LITTLE OR TOO MUCH POWER. DEALER/WESTERN REGION MFR. CONTACTED AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #835267 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
TRANSMISSION CONVERTER HOUSING WAS POUROUS AND ALLOWED TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK OUT. THE CONVERTER HOUSING HAD TO BE REPLACED, WITH NEW GASKETS, FILTER AND SEALANT.
NHTSA complaint #539957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY. THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA complaint #834736 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.