Automatic Transmission Torque Converter problems of the 2004 Saturn VUE

On many occasions my 2004 Saturn Vue v6 awd appears to shudder when the automatic transmission is shifting from a lower gear at speeds usually less than 40mph. When this happens it is unnerving to say the least. I have read accounts of similar problems from other Saturn owners and have found that a service bulletin was issued 2/09/06. Concerning torque converter shudder. I believe that a recall should be issued as my vehicle had only a bit over 50000 miles when the problem first occurred. I subsequently took it to the local Saturn dealer and they could not find a problem although they had access to the service bulletin information. Shortly thereafter my extended warranty ran out and although they advised me to bring the vehicle back should the problem reoccur it is not at all clear whether the repair will be made at no cost to me. I believe that gm should fix this problem for all vehicles on a case by case basis whether under warranty or not, especially for vehicles under 100k miles. Any suggestions or assistance would be most helpful. ( the service bulletin number is 3713).

My 2004 Saturn Vue that has 54600 miles on it and the automatic transmission is slipping when I drive at a constant speed in a range form 35 - 55 miles per hr. I had in for a diagnosis at a Saturn dealership. They said it is the torque converter that is faulty and it will cost $2100 to replace it. This part has to be defected. I never had an automatic transmission problem in 40 years of driving cars.

There is a terrible whole vehicle shudder a low speeds and low rpm. It seems like the transmission goes into "lock - up torque converter" mode at too low rpms(about 1000 to 1200). This happens constantly at low speeds and is very distressing and distracting. You have to step down harder on the accelerator to kick the transmission into a lower gear which tends to make the car speed up. This is very distressing and distracting and must cause undo wear and tear on the drivetrain. There are many Saturn Vue (2004) owners nation wide with this problem. This and the wheel bearing and brake problems should be nation wide recalls. No wonder people are buying imports at an incredible rate.

My 2004 Saturn v6 Saturn Vue has started a shudder/growling noise in the drive train that's prevalent in the 20 -25, 30-35mph, 40 -45mph and now at 50-50mph. Or when moderately acceleration or coasting. The vehicle had about 100k miles on it now but started around 70k. I purchased the car at 68,500k miles. The frequency of occurrence is difficult to predict but seems to be happening as often as those specific conditions (mph/coasting) present - does not happen when accelerating quickly. I have taken my car to numerous shops engine repair, transmission, and other well names repair places. All of them tell me my car is fine,but the last shop which did the transmission check on computer said the engine had over 1,000 miss fires. I called to Saturn and there tech said " u don't have to explain no more" it is the torque converter and I have replaced many. " if this is such a well occurring problem why isn't Saturn paying for these repairs. My concern now is when it rains and the car stutters I lose all wheel traction going up heels and on turns. I feel like I have no control. I have read online and found may issues that are the same I believe Saturn needs to fix these manufacturing issues and not leave them on the consumer. I spent $10,000 on my Saturn and just finished college I do not have $4,5000 to spend on a car that is only worth $9,000 -$7,000 blue book.

Problem 1: my 2004 Saturn awd v6 Saturn Vue has developed a "shudder" in the drive train that's prevalent in the 20 -25 and 30-35mph range under moderate acceleration or coasting. Hooked up to a code reader, no codes appear; however, the torque converter is slipping as it displays a read out of over 8,000 rpm's when this occurs and the tachometer bounces back and forth with the shudder. Frequency of occurrence is higher in hotter weather and when car has been driven for several minutes. Slight whine also noticed by the transmission mechanic. Problem 2: this problem was noticed on 03-28-08. Vehicle was also purchased with defective horn. Two + weeks after the car was purchased I was hit in the rear quarter panel by a careless teenager that did not look before he backed out of his parking space. I realized shortly after that my horn was not properly working. There was no way I could have sounded the horn to alert him that he was about to back into me if had wanted to. Had it repaired recently in which the horn was found to be completely non-operational. Once repaired, it was apparent that all was working well with the horn as it honks when the doors are locked. We did not realize that the car would do that at the time that we purchased it. That should have been a big clue to the dealership that it was not functioning properly. I've been told that selling a car without a properly functioning horn is a safety violation. I'm appalled that this was not caught by the dealership! more over, they stuck me with an expensive bill to replace something that should have been operational at the time of sale! problem 3: repaired on 05-22-08. Also, both lower control arm bushings had to be replaced as they were found to have separated. Major front end noises heard prior to this getting fixed and slop in the front end when driving. Felt like car might loose control when cornering!.