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Chart based on 75 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.
2010 Saturn Outlook
Engine not specified
60000 mi
Car went in for a routine oil change and they told me my torque tube needed to be replaced along with a right front strut.
at different speeds it would act like it was downshifting and then upshifting. We were told by someone that worked at a dealership that it was a well known problem with that vehicle. We traded it that weekend.
8060 mi
Transmission slips and engine revs up and then down again occasionally on 1-2 upshift only. The dealer re-programmed the transmission computer. I noticed the problem a few more times, then it went away.
11780 mi
As reported earlier, engine revs rise momentarily on 1-2 upshift only.
Shifting became unpredictable and rough, especially climbing hills. Transmission Control Module had to be removed and plastic discs which were ruptured were replaced as well as new o-rings. Put transmission back together and refilled transmission fluid. Issue was resolved for $10 in parts + cost of transmission fluid. Dealer wanted us to replace TCM for thousands, glad we did the repair ourselves.
102000 mi
Set Code indicating stuck on valve, vehicle would not shift out of 1st gear until engine stopped and restarted. Source of problem is completely contained in TCM or valve body, intermittent problem that now has gone away with no repair.
108000 mi
US $1400
bad seals on valve body leaking by, replaced valve body, engine powertrain diagnostic was accurate, car drivable during this time
81800 mi
US $460
check engine light and stabilitrac warning light on. riding rough.
Recall for trans reflash. Dealer could not locate reflash file on computer. Phone inquiry two weeks later got same result.
17000 mi
Sudden transmission failure. Would not shift after stop. Diagnostic result: 'No 3rd gear'. Dealer found internal debris & stuck valves. Repaired per mfgr direction, dealer replaced piece parts (valves, seals, ...).
99000 mi
US $225
Tranmission control module was noted but it seems to be more of a transmission problem because problem came back after a month after work was performd dealer said it was transmission module another shop replaced it and said there was band material signs of transission plate failure
22940 mi
C $450
Did a reset on computer transmission. Nothing changed.
47740 mi
C $1500
Rear wheel drive no longer work. Had to change sensor.
56580 mi
Transmission Failed. Doesn't shift gear anymore.6000$ damage, replaced tranny with new one.
79360 mi
C $1500
Solenoid stuck. Stuck in 2th gear. Had to change TCM (700$) because you can't change the solenoid alone. It's all part of the TCM.
55000 mi
leak in drive train
104000 mi
US $850
The forward end of the drive shaft dropped to the asphalt as a valet parking person retrieved the Saturn from parking. Two days earlier, we drove interstate from NC to FL!
3-5-R wave plate broke. Replaced with a brand new transmission.
6000 mi
Brought in to dealer for oil change and was told of transmission update that needed to be done. Also, guy drove it and noticed slow pickup on it and suggested update of software.
70000 mi
Car was not shifting internally properly. Would rev up when driving.
51000 mi
3/5 R wave plate, no reverse on vehicle repaired according to service bulletin published
50000 mi
US $400
Reverse broke and caused other internal damage
54800 mi
Transmission wave plate broken. Many parts in transmission replaced.
120900 mi
C $300
Transmission cooler line leaking. . Line replaced.
127280 mi
C $150
Transmission intermittently not shifting beyond first gear. Problem determined to be faulty Transmission Control Module (TCM) sensors. TCM removed and sensors repaired, then re-installed.
80900 mi
Transmission started slipping, now it's completely blown. Rebuilt.
Check Engine Light on. Transmission would not shift. Local shop reported fault code P0716, Input Speed Performance fault. Car still under warranty so I took it to dealer. Dealer corrected wrong software in computer and found no problem. Transmission failed at 6:15 AM Tuesday. Towed truck to dealer, found codes P0717, P0756, P0796, & P0842 in computer and metal pieces in transmission fluid. Found 3-5-R wave plate in pieces. Rebuilt transmission, replaced torque converter.
66700 mi
Transmission failed. Towed to dealer, dealer rebuilt transmission, 3 weeks later transmission would not shift. Dealer spent 2 weeks trying various fixes. Finally replaced torque converter and valve assembly and calls it fixed. We'll see
75000 mi
Torque converter locking up caused car to shutter during low speed acceleration. Dealer verified problem and, after multiple failed repair attempts, dealer and GM replaced transmission with new transmission and rebuilt transaxle.
90200 mi
US $1000
Torque Converter failed and was replaced. Partial warranty coverage but most cost excluded due to "wear & tear."
96000 mi
Transfer Case making noise
65000 mi
Buzz has developed in drive train. Dealer unable to identify. Kept car for 2-days and it still buzzes (1600-1800rpm) once warmed up.
I will take to a 3rd party transmission repair specialist to diagnose/repair.
119000 mi
US $3920
Rebuilt transmission with upgraded components. The transmission is still not 100 percent. Working with the shop to fine tune the repair (fingers crossed it all works out).
38000 mi
Power steering and transmission cooler had leaking hoses, hoses replaced.
24000 mi
I had the saturn parked on hill & it kept rolling in park. I had to put the parking brake on to keep it from rolling down the hill. Dealer could not find anything wrong & it never did it again.
Transmission seems to stall sometimes on acceleration
17980 mi
Oil leak from defect seal on transmission.
60140 mi
Transmission erratic when accelerating.
96000 mi
3-5-R Wave Plate failure, Soleniod failure. Damage to internal components as a result. $2465 in parts were replaced $2100 in labor.
143000 mi
US $92
Driver side front CV Joint started making mechanical clicking noises while turning.
89000 mi
I had a "Pressure Solenoid" that was not working.
17980 mi
Car refuses to shift down to a lower gear at highway speeds when accelerator is depressed lightly. Accelerator must be pressed heavily, at which point transmission shifts down 2 or 3 gears. Service reported "normal behavior".
112000 mi
Transmission was intermittently sticking in first gear and would not shift through gears. Also had not reverse when problem would happen. Dealer serviced the transmission with a special service pack from GM as this was a known problem.
113200 mi
Took vehicle for transmission special service for 3-5-R wave plate. Came back from dealer with worse problems than it went in. Dealer had the Saturn for 2 weeks and sent trans to a trans shop for specialty work.
106500 mi
US $750
Broken wave plate.
70000 mi
3-5-reverse shift hub fail. repaired under 60/100k powertrain warranty
58500 mi
Reverse clutch plate needed to be replaced
173000 mi
Transmission has ceased functioning and no longer feasible to continue repairs.
77000 mi
Transmission would not go into reverse nor out of 1st gear. Many parts replaced internally.
82000 mi
Having trouble shifting out of 1st or 2nd gear after using towing mode. Intermittent problem
76000 mi
US $3600
transmission needed to be replaced
139000 mi
US $4400
Complete failure. Transmission rebuilt
28520 mi
C $49
Transaxle seal replaced. Transmission removed, seal replaced, transmission replaced.
Failure to shift from 3rd to 4th, check engine light. Decided to do full transmission replacement for 3 year/100k warranty on new tranny rather than risk a rebuild. I do tow with this vehicle.
2000 mi
I had the transmission update done when I took it in.
61000 mi
US $90
warning light returned and vehicle taken to dealer. Transmission removed, several gears replaced. Vehicle returned to service for one day and then taken back to dealer due to transmission fluid leak. O ring replaced in transfer case.
104000 mi
US $3200
Rebuilt transmission due to some kind of pressure disk failure known for these transmissions
105000 mi
new torque converter started to shudder. Replacing it again. Chevy did come out with a satisfaction claim against these transmissions and covered 1700 of the 3600 it cost to do the transmission initially
62000 mi
Transmission hiccups, transmission overhauled.
51000 mi
the tranny rebuilt with less than 1500 miles it went out again do to faulty parts.
Technical Service Bulletin had been issued for a transmission recalibration. Engine was slow to accelerate and had a lag at certain speeds. Software update remedied the problem.
36580 mi
C $540
CV Joint cracked and leaking fluid. Replaced and steering aligned.
48980 mi
C $5000
The car broke down on way to dealer due to problems with it shifting between gears. Diagnosed as black transmission fluid with metal filings in the fluid and needing transmission replacement. Transmission rebuilt. (Had vehicle towed to this shop from dealer) diagnosed as clutch wave plate having broke which damaged other parts in transmission when it broke. Known issue with transmission and updated parts are available. (Dealer refused to cover the work as the policy from gm that would have paid for the repair expired in feb 2017 - this is a known problem with these transmissions.)
7000 mi
reprogram computer. they refused to do this until
Saturn customer service called.
82000 mi
Transmission went out in while driving down road, transmission was rebuilt under warranty.
140000 mi
US $600
Axel leaking so caused issues with transmission shifting irregular. Repaired and reprogrammed transmission at GM dealer.
174000 mi
US $135
Replaced both front half-axles. CV joint was failing on the passenger side.
Purchased new axles from 1A Auto(.com).
Took advantage of Autozone free tool rental for special tools.
174000 mi
Replaced with rebuilt transmission.
Warranty covered since I had last replaced it in May, 2015 for $4200.
3000 mi
Transmission software update
2000 mi
Tranny lag reprogram
28000 mi
Same shifting lag problem. When travelling at any speed any quick lift off the pedal followed by a quick depression of the accelerator causes a substantial lag period before acceleration happens
33000 mi
Intermittently will not shift into park correctly, car rolls away when exiting the vehicle when this happens.
38000 mi
Car will not always go into park. Something in transmission or Trans linkage not engaging. Car rolls away in park if safety brake not applied. Car will not always go into park. Something in transmission or Trans linkage not engaging. Car rolls away in park if safety brake not applied.
80000 mi
Transmission imploded. Dealer recommended total replacement with a rebuilt transmission.
Transmission leaking - replaced front seal for torque converter.
1000 mi
Had Transmission Re-Flash software updated per Service Buletin issued by GM/Saturn. Also had spoiler & mud flaps in stalled while in the shop. Everything went fine and vehichle drives much better.
See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how
frequently Saturn Outlook problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.
