1996 SATURN SL1'S HAVE A PROBLEM REFERRED TO AS "DELAYED ENGAGEMENT IN REVERSE. WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE IT WILL NOT MOVE, CAUSING POTENTIAL PROBLEMS. THIS IS DUE TO THE VALVE BODY ON THE TRANSMISSION WEARING EXCESSIVELY, ALLOWING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID TO FLOW AROUND A POPPET BEFORE ENGAGING. SATURN IS AWARE …
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1996 SATURN SL1'S HAVE A PROBLEM REFERRED TO AS "DELAYED ENGAGEMENT IN REVERSE. WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE IT WILL NOT MOVE, CAUSING POTENTIAL PROBLEMS. THIS IS DUE TO THE VALVE BODY ON THE TRANSMISSION WEARING EXCESSIVELY, ALLOWING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID TO FLOW AROUND A POPPET BEFORE ENGAGING. SATURN IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND SO ARE THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR PLACES. SATURN REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM THOUGH THEY HAVE ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE PROBLEM AND AT ABOUT $1000 PER REPAIR PER VEHICLE SATURN HAS A VESTED INTEREST IN NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THE PROBLEM. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10023280
Mileage unknown · May 15, 2003
Power Train
MANUAL TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR, AT TIMES IT MUST BE SHOVED TO GO IN TO AND OUT OF REVERSE, FIRST, AND THIRD GEARS. THIS PROBLEM IS BECOMING WORSE AND IS AT LEAST REMOTELY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT CAN TAKE AS MUCH AS 30 SECONDS OR SO TO SHIFT GEARS. THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT SEEM TO BE AFFECTED BY ANY EXTERNAL SOURCE. *J…
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MANUAL TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR, AT TIMES IT MUST BE SHOVED TO GO IN TO AND OUT OF REVERSE, FIRST, AND THIRD GEARS. THIS PROBLEM IS BECOMING WORSE AND IS AT LEAST REMOTELY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT CAN TAKE AS MUCH AS 30 SECONDS OR SO TO SHIFT GEARS. THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT SEEM TO BE AFFECTED BY ANY EXTERNAL SOURCE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10018766
95,000 miles · Mar 17, 2003
Power Train
MANUAL TRANSMISSION POPS OUT OF GEAR AND GRINDS. SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T GET IT INTO GEAR. ALL COMPONETS OF THE CLUTCH ARE FINE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10010631
Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 2002
Power Train
IN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT CAR--FORTUNATELY WHILE PARKED--THE GEAR SHIFT SUDDENLY WENT LOOSE IN MY HAND. DISASSEMBLY REVEALS THAT THE COUPLING AT THE BASE OF THE GEAR STICK HAS A PLASTIC CLIP WHICH HAS BROKEN. A CALL TO SATURN OF HONOLULU PRODUCED THE RESPONSE THAT THEY WERE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM AS THEY HAVE BEEN "GETTING QUI…
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IN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT CAR--FORTUNATELY WHILE PARKED--THE GEAR SHIFT SUDDENLY WENT LOOSE IN MY HAND. DISASSEMBLY REVEALS THAT THE COUPLING AT THE BASE OF THE GEAR STICK HAS A PLASTIC CLIP WHICH HAS BROKEN. A CALL TO SATURN OF HONOLULU PRODUCED THE RESPONSE THAT THEY WERE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM AS THEY HAVE BEEN "GETTING QUITE A FEW OF THOSE LATELY". THE FIX REQUIRES NEW "CABLES" AS THE PLASTIC CLIP WHICH BROKE IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE "CABLE"--WHICH LOOKS MORE LIKE A BAR TRANSLATING THE FORCE OF GEAR STICK FORWARD TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I AM CONCERNED THAT IF THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY VEHICLES AS HE STATED IT COULD REPEAT EVEN AFTER THE CABLES ARE REPLACED. IF THIS FAILURE WERE TO OCCUR IN TRAFFIC OR ON A HILL IT COULD LEAVE THE DRIVER IN THE WRONG GEAR OR WORSE NOT IN ANY GEAR AND PRESENT A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE BROKEN PIECE WHICH I WILL BE HAPPY TO E-MAIL.*AK
NHTSA ODI #765248
Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
ENGINE CUT OFF, ENGINE SURGED,TACHOMETER BOUCES,REPLACED VALVE GUIDES AT 60000 MILES, COMPRESION STILL NOT CORRECT, CK ENGINE LIGHT ALWAYS COMES ON, BURNS OIL, 2 QTS MORE THAN SPECS SAY. SEAT BELT LIGHT STAYS ON EVEN WHEN IN USE.
NHTSA ODI #742185
Mileage unknown · Dec 26, 2000
Power Train
AFTER DRIVING FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME THE VEHICLE SLAMS INTO REVERSE WHEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR REPAIR THE PROBLEM. NLM
NHTSA ODI #785187
Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2000
Power Train
AT 32,000 MILE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #873150
Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 2000
Power Train
AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES, WHEN I STOP AND PUT CAR IN REVERSE, IT HESITATES THEN ABRUPTLY SHIFTS INTO REVERSE. I HAVE CHECKED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS AND FOUND TSB#96-T-38A IN REGARDS TO HARSH ENGAGEMENT INTO REVERSE ON THE SATURNS. THIS SOUNDS EXACTLY LIKE MY PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #733603
Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train
SQUEALING NOISE FROM ENGINE AREA IN RAINY WEATHER, DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE DRIVE BELT DUE TO IT BEING DRY AND CRACKED. *SLC
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL STEERING. THE PINION BEARING CAGE IN THE STEERING GEAR CAN SEPARATE UNDER HIGH STEERING SYSTEM LOAD CONDITIONS, SUCH AS PARKING LOT OR SIMILAR LOW SPEED MANEUVERS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PINION GEAR DISENGAGING FROM THE RACK CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE MANUAL STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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