NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
20 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Jun 16, 2007
Power Train
PLASTIC BUSHING ON TRANSMISSION CABLE BROKE. HAVE TO BUY THE ENTIRE CABLE ($240), PLASTIC "BUSHING" IS NOT AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE BY ITSELF - BUT THE CABLE IS NOT BROKEN, ONLY THE PLASTIC "BUSHING." SATURN DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A PART NUMBER FOR THAT PART. FOUND INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET WHERE OTHER SATURN OWNERS HAD THE SAME P…
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PLASTIC BUSHING ON TRANSMISSION CABLE BROKE. HAVE TO BUY THE ENTIRE CABLE ($240), PLASTIC "BUSHING" IS NOT AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE BY ITSELF - BUT THE CABLE IS NOT BROKEN, ONLY THE PLASTIC "BUSHING." SATURN DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A PART NUMBER FOR THAT PART. FOUND INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET WHERE OTHER SATURN OWNERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, SO IT IS APPARENTLY A COMMON OCCURRENCE. REFERENCE WEBSITE: HTTP://WWW.COOLGOOSE.COM/SITES/FLEMCO/CAR/CAR.HTML FOR A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THIS SATURN OWNER'S EXPERIENCE (SAME AS MINE, EXCEPT MY TRANSMISSION WAS STUCK IN FIRST GEAR). I MAY ALSO BE POSTING MY INCIDENT ON THE INTERNET TO MY BLOG, SO AS TO WARN PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING TO PURCHASE A SATURN. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10193511
65,945 miles · Oct 26, 2005
Power Train
I WAS DRIVING GOING ABOUT 55 WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO LOOSE POWER I PUSHED ON THE GAS AND IT WENT UP TO 5 RPM BEFORE KICKING IN THE TRANSMISSION THEN IT KEPT DOING THAT WHERE THE RMP HAD TO GO WAY UP BEFORE KICKING. I TOOK IT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE IT LOOK AT BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. HOWEVER IT TOOK THEM…
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I WAS DRIVING GOING ABOUT 55 WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO LOOSE POWER I PUSHED ON THE GAS AND IT WENT UP TO 5 RPM BEFORE KICKING IN THE TRANSMISSION THEN IT KEPT DOING THAT WHERE THE RMP HAD TO GO WAY UP BEFORE KICKING. I TOOK IT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE IT LOOK AT BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. HOWEVER IT TOOK THEM THREE TIMES TO FIND OUT ABOUT MY BRAKE PROBLEMS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10140843
53,000 miles · Aug 29, 2005
Power Train
THE TRANSMISSION STARTED GOING OUT ON MY 2001 SATURN SL1 (AUTOMATIC), WHICH ONLY HAS 53,000 MILES ON IT. A SATURN SERVICE AGENT ACCIDENTALLY (I THINK) TOLD ME THAT THE VALVE BODY "TENDS TO GO OUT" IN THAT MODEL. A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST HAS VERIFIED THAT, AND IS REPEATEDLY REPAIRING TRANSMISSIONS ON THIS MODEL. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10134678
Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2005
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DO SO. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10109502
50,000 miles · Jan 13, 2004
Power Train
AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE ON AND WHEN PLACING THE GEAR IN PARK OR NEUTRAL VEHICLE JUMPED FORWARD. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND THAT THAT VALVE BODY ASSEMBLY HAD BEEN REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10053889
55,153 miles · Jul 24, 2003
EquipmentPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic
THE VEHICLE BRAKE ROTOR WARP SEVERAL TIMES WHICH CAUSED VIBRATION WHILE BRAKING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ROTORS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED FROM A STOP THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE ALSO ACTS AS IF IT WANT TO STALL WHEN SITTING IDLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE EITHER CONCERN. THE RADIO LIGHT WAS INOPERATIV…
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THE VEHICLE BRAKE ROTOR WARP SEVERAL TIMES WHICH CAUSED VIBRATION WHILE BRAKING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ROTORS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED FROM A STOP THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE ALSO ACTS AS IF IT WANT TO STALL WHEN SITTING IDLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE EITHER CONCERN. THE RADIO LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE THEREFORE THE DEALER REPLACED THE RADIO. *AK *CB *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10025025
24,000 miles · Mar 12, 2003
Power Train
THE AXLE SQUEAKED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION.*JB. FRONT LEFT AXLE HAS BEEN REPLACED, BUT NOISE CONTINUED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN LOCATED THE PROBLEM-AXLE SEALS. TECHNICIAN REPLACED BOTH AXLE SEALS, AND PROBLEM HAS BEEN SOLVED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10011541
5,000 miles · Jan 15, 2003
Electrical SystemPower Train
2001 SL1 SATURN
NHTSA ODI #10002740
Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 2002
Power Train
WHEN DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WILL AT TIMES JUMP OUT OF FIFTH GEAR, AND HAS ALSO COME OUT OF THIRD GEAR ON 2 OCCASIONS, THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AFTER THE LAST REPAIR ATTEMPT CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THEY LUBED THE GEARSHIFT MECHANISM TO ALLOW GREATER EASE OF SHIFTING, THEN THE VEHICLE DISPLAYE…
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WHEN DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WILL AT TIMES JUMP OUT OF FIFTH GEAR, AND HAS ALSO COME OUT OF THIRD GEAR ON 2 OCCASIONS, THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AFTER THE LAST REPAIR ATTEMPT CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THEY LUBED THE GEARSHIFT MECHANISM TO ALLOW GREATER EASE OF SHIFTING, THEN THE VEHICLE DISPLAYED THE LONGEST PERIOD OF NORMAL FUNCTIONING SINCE THE FIRST REPAIR, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE BEGAN DISPLAYING THE SAME PROBLEMS ALL OVER AGAIN.*JB
NHTSA ODI #565505
Mileage unknown · Feb 2, 2001
Power Train
WHILE IN 5TH GEAR AT 65 MPH VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, THERE WAS A TRUCK RIGHT BEHIND CONSUMER WHEN THIS HAPPENED. *AK THERE WAS A SECOND OCCASION WHEN AT AN INTERSECTION IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, VEHICLE WAS IN THIRD GEAR AND AS CONSUMER ACCELERATED, TRANSMISSION SLAMMED INTO NEUTRAL, CAUSING RAPID DECELERATION, AFT…
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WHILE IN 5TH GEAR AT 65 MPH VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, THERE WAS A TRUCK RIGHT BEHIND CONSUMER WHEN THIS HAPPENED. *AK THERE WAS A SECOND OCCASION WHEN AT AN INTERSECTION IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, VEHICLE WAS IN THIRD GEAR AND AS CONSUMER ACCELERATED, TRANSMISSION SLAMMED INTO NEUTRAL, CAUSING RAPID DECELERATION, AFTER FIRST INCIDENT, DEALER ADJUSTED A BUSHING AND STATED PROBLEM SHOULD NOT REOCCUR, HOWEVER IT DID AND DEALER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE AND IT WAS DUE TO THE WAY THE TRANSMISSION WAS ENGINEERED. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #879693
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