2000 Saturn SL Power Train:automatic Transmission Problems

NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · data through 07/14/2026

22Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints

14.9%Of all 148 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How power train:automatic transmission ranks on this vehicle

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION22 · 14.9%

TIRES11 · 7.4%

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING11 · 7.4%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM10 · 6.8%

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE10 · 6.8%

Share of the 148 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2000 Saturn SL overview page.

What owners report

“DT- WAS ON THE INTERNET WONDERED IF THERE WAS A RECALL FOR SATURN SL2. THERE WAS, BUT IT DIDN'T INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE DUE TO VIN…”NHTSA complaint 10125374 — filed 06/15/2005

“WHILE SHIFTING IN REVERSE THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERATIVE. CONSUMER APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE. CONSUME RWAS UNABLE TO TURN OF…”NHTSA complaint 10076097 — filed 06/10/2004

“WITHOUT ANY WARNING, I GOT IN MY SATURN AND STARTED IT AND THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT WENT ON. AS I PUT IT IN REVERSE…”NHTSA complaint 10074820 — filed 06/04/2004

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2000 Saturn SL have power train:automatic transmission problems?

Power Train:automatic Transmission is the most-reported problem area on the 2000 Saturn SL: 22 of 148 complaints on file (14.9%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2000 Saturn SL have in total?

148 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 10 involved a crash, 3 involved a fire, 10 reported injuries, and 2 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's power train:automatic transmission category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.