I OWN A 2002 SATURN SL PURCHASED IN JUNE OF 2002 WITH ABOUT 51K MILES AT THE TIME OF THE PROBLEM IN LATE MARCH. THE CAR IS A STANDARD TRANSMISSION. I WAS DRIVING MY SON TO SCHOOL IN THE MORNING WHEN I SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER TO THE WHEELS ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO OPERATE. I WAS ON A STRAIGHT ROAD, AND WAS CRUISING AT 45MPH WITH NO SHIFTING AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. UPON HAVING THE CAR TOWED TO THE LOCAL SATURN DEALER IN DANBURY, I WAS TOLD THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY HAD "COME APART" AND SINCE THE CAR WAS OVER 36K ,WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CLUTCH WAS REBUILT BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE PARTS WERE NOT RETURNED TO ME. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO SATURN CORP TO NO SATISFACTION. IN MY OPINION, THERE IS NO WAY A CLUTCH SHOULD SIMPLY COME APART AFTER ONLY 50K MILES AND LESS THAN 2 YEARS SERVICE. I HAVE DRIVEN STANDARD TRANSMISSIONS FOR MUCH OF MY LIFE, AND HAVE NEVER REPLACED THE CLUTCH OR TRANSMISSION. THE CAR JUST PRIOR TO THIS PURCHASE HAD NEARLY 200K MILES ON THE ORIGINAL CLUTCH, AND MY OTHER CARS WERE STILL RUNNING AT OVER 125K WITH THE ORGINAL CLUTCH WHEN I TRADED THEM IN. DRIVER WEAR & TEAR SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE. THE CAR HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED BY THE SATURN DEALER. NO FLUIDS WERE PRESENT OR NOISE PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT WERE NOTICED. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE MOST OF MY DRIVING IS HIGHWAY (APPROX 125 MILES/DAY) AND THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER COULD HAVE BEEN HIGHLY DANGEROUS IN SOME SITUATIONS. THANK YOU ALLOWING ME TO VENT MY FRUSTRATION.
1995
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
BALL OF BALL AND SOCKET LINKAGE AT SHIFTER ON MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSED THE INABILITY TO SHIFT GEARS. THIS PROBLEM CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. CAR WAS STUCK IN GEAR IT WAS INITIALLY IN. REPORTED ISSUE TO SATURN DEALERSHIP. THEY SEEM TO BE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM SINCE I DID NOT NEED TO FULLY DESCRIBE THE PROBLEM. *JB