1995 Saturn SL Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 40about this part
- Share
- 11%of 355 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 67,500miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 40 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1995 Saturn SL, 11% of the 355 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 67,500 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Having a hard time getting car into gear, especially from park to drive. Finally, the service engine light went on. Took to a car service center where they connected to a diagnostic machine that resulted in a bad transmission that needs to be replaced. Car has a little over 67,500 miles. The car is a 1995 Saturn sl1.”
NHTSA complaint #10104012, filed 2004-12, 67,500 miles“1995 Saturn sl2 manual transmission shifter cable bushing failure while backing out of driveway, pushed in clutch to shift from reverse to first gear and heard a pop . Transmission went into some gear (not first), engine stalled and gear shift lever was loose and floppy. Coasted around corner and parked next to curb. Repair not yet made. Disassembled center console to expose shifter mechanism and found bushing on lower shift cable had failed and was in 3 pieces. …”
NHTSA complaint #10154341, filed 2006-04, 172,171 miles“There was oil in the transmission fluid. When the engine warmed up it would leak fluid in the driveway. Mechanic determined that the transmission cylinder cracked.”
NHTSA complaint #10089208, filed 2004-08, 100,800 miles“The transmission slips between 3rd and 4th gear. When we took it to Saturn they told us there was a problem with 3rd gear and that it would cost $1600. To fix. We went for a second opinion at the hemet ca. Aamco. They veified the problem and repaired it for $1000. At the time it satified us as Saturn told us it would be $1600. Just to look and more if the problem was big. Unfortunately the transmission has begun to slip again. We haven't called aamco yet. We decided to contact you to see if this is an inherent problem with the Saturn vehicle! …”
NHTSA complaint #711878, filed 1999-09“Transmission down shifts from high to 3rd or low. Causing high RPM at highway speed. Sometimes requires you to pull off the road and restart the engine to regain normal shift sequence. Problem has persisted for more than a year. Saturn service reps say they can not duplicate and there is no problem. Not true. Number of failures below represents year long period.”
NHTSA complaint #10052413, filed 2004-01Related recalls
- 94V217000Nov 8, 1994The automatic transaxle park lock cable assembly was improperly adjusted making it possible to shift from the "park" position with the ignition key removed…Covers: Saturn SL 1995, SW 1995, SC 1995
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 22 | 17% |
| 2001 | 20 | 18% |
| 2000 | 35 | 24% |
| 1999 | 22 | 12% |
| 1998 | 33 | 20% |
| 1997 | 23 | 10% |
| 1996 | 37 | 13% |
| 1995 | 40 | 11% |
| 1994 | 35 | 12% |
| 1993 | 26 | 15% |
| 1992 | 13 | 11% |
| 1991 | 1 | 3% |
Other parts of the 1995 Saturn SL
69 complaintsEngine cooling
67 complaintsBrakes
56 complaintsSteering
37 complaintsAir bags
31 complaintsElectrical system
27 complaintsVehicle speed control
24 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
16 complaintsTires
12 complaintsSeat belts
11 complaintsBody and structure
8 complaintsFuel system
7 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1995 Saturn SL
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology