1996 Saturn SL 1 review from North America
"Never again!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
On his way to work on Sept. 16, 2008, my boyfriend heard a strange sound and then lost use of 2,4,R gears.
In morning rush hour traffic on US 1, he continued to work with the use of 1,3 gears.
We troubleshooted on-line and through friends with mechanical experience and temporarily used a zip tie confirming that the defective part was the shift cable bushing.
Local stores do not carry the part as it is carried by dealer only.
Saturn does not sell the part without the entire assembly (manual transmission shift cable bushing with clip Part # 14043) and has priced without installation at $198.00.
The parts manager did not even ask me for the model, said he has plenty in stock and that there is a minimum 3 hour installation with labor priced at $95/hr.
He also stated that as this is a common defect he has known of people to use zip ties and their own nut/bolt system to remedy.
Upon further Internet research I have found thousands of complaints for the same exact problem, some owners with unfortunate outcomes.
It is a blessing that I was not driving that day with my 2 young children, as I probably would have lost control of the vehicle!
It is amazing to me that Saturn has been allowed to sell such dangerous vehicles with no recall!
More horrifying is that I found the part (Shift Cable Bushing #620-1411) at Napa Auto Parts for $19.95 and Saturn insists on selling the entire assembly taking advantage of people who just don't know better.
This REAKS of SCAM to the CRIMINAL LEVEL!!!
General comments?
It's pretty good on gas.
The oil burns off so quickly!
The a/c has to frequently be recharged to get could air to blow then only for 2 weeks!
No wonder my friend gave it away to me for free no fee, she couldn't see charging, maybe Saturn should do the same!
Recommended reviews
| Tiresomely reliable, occasionally fun |
|
| It's reliable, driveable, practical, and all around pleasure to own |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Model year | 1996 |
| Year of manufacture | 1996 |
| First year of ownership | 2008 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2008 |
| Engine and transmission | Manual |
| Performance marks | 5 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 2 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 3 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 3 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 5 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 260000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 294981 miles |
| Previous car | Hyundai Sonata |
| Date of Entry | 18th September, 2008 |