1995 SATURN SL2 User Comment / Complaint

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. contacted dealership for availability and price of bushing and was told bushing was integral to cable and entire cable must be replaced. cost of parts $197.10 plus tax. will probably end up drilling through the ball and bolting the cable to the shift lever although this may fatigue shifter cable and ultimately require cable replacement. had this happened on the highway or in traffic instead of a residential street, the result could have been catastrophic.