I have a '04 saturn vue,recently had new shifter cables installed because of hard shifter movement.Then the the began poping out of 1st gear about 30% of the time.Returned to the dealership,without even looking at the car they said it needed a new transmission,for about $3600,am I being rooked or what?

It is a known issue

https://www.google.com/search?q=2006+Saturn+Vue+had+trouble+going+in+reverse%2C+made+grinding+noise

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Could be master cylinder, clutch slave cylinder, or bad clutch. There is a plastic piece at the end of the clutch or shifter linkage that often fails at the transmission.
Can you see the shifter linkage from under the vehicle or interior under console to determine if the linkage is physically connected?

pull out the cup holder just a head of the shifter you will find the shift cables at the shifter end see if they are poped off there

I take it that you have a standard transmission ? there is no adjustment, but on the saturns the plastic insert on the shifter lever (remove the center console) is what breaks, Napa auto parts has the replacement part for about $20, or you can go to saturn and spend $200 on replacing both cables

The transmition is not the problem. The cables that run from the shifter to the transmition are the culpret. I recently rescued my wife from the road when the linkage broke on our VUE. I purchased new connectors and cables from the dealership and replaced them. For those that have the proper knowledge and skill set, you can replace them yourself. Others are better off having it done at a shop. The following is my personal experience and is not meant to be a guide, repair manual or procedure for those who lack formal automotive repair training! The new shifter cables come as a set. The cable with the white housing does not seem to be a problem. The cable with the black housing controls the push forward-pull back and the cable with the white housing controls the side to side movement. I found that the new cable with the black housing had the same sort of stiffness when I pushed and pulled the cable by hand. Then I noticed that the cable end was bent, causing it to bind in the housing. I straightened the end by bending it with my hands untill I felt the least amount of binding or resistance when pushing and pulling it. When I installed it the difference was amazing! I kept the old cable set for emergencies. The only tools you need to replace the cables and couplings are a 7mm socket on a screwdriver handle, a phillips head screwdriver and a pair of needle nose plyers. Remove the center console, (4, 7mm screws) and electrical connections. Then remove the plastic panels around the shifter, (7, phillips head screws and 2 plastic push pins) associated snap together panel fasteners and electrical connections. Pop each cable end off it's shifter joint/ball and push the collar back on each cable housing anchor. Pull the carpet back and push the rubber grommet through the firewall in the passenger footwell. Then pop the cable ends off at the transmition. Pull the old cable set out and reverse the procedure to install the new cables. There is an adjustment of the cable length. This should be done before replacing the plastic panels and center console. The new cable ends that attach to the shifter can be positioned/adjusted. Looking at the old cable pair you will see where the old clips were positioned and can start with that. Then run the shifter through all the gears to make sure they all engage. If you run out of travel on the shifter handle re-position the clips on the cable ends, as needed, to get full gear engagement without running out of travel.

Check the busings on BOTH ends of the shifter cables. First check underneath the center console that your bushing didn't break and cause your shifter to be limp and not move anywhere. This is a very common problem and can be remedied permanently by getting the delrin bushing found on ebay.

Next, if the above is fine, check the clips on the shifter side under the hood. There are 4 clips. Two hold the cable ends to the tower and slide horizontally. The other two hold the cables onto the transmission and slide on vertically. Sometimes these clips fall off and makes the shifter inoperable.

Finally if all of the above checks out the last possibility is that your shifter tower metal tab that the shifter cables attaches to is broken and sliding instead of pushing or pulling. This happened to my car but is not likely as my manual was in a raced Saturn previously so wear from that most likely caused it to break.

Yo tengo el mismo problema y me han dicho que sí es necesario cambiar el cable, mi problema es, donde comprar ese tipo de cable?

The shifter cables needed to be replaced. Aamco fixed the probelm for $428.40 (incl: material, labor & taxes).

Ms Derry ,I would check the pair of shift cables and shifter itself before suspecting internal transmission problems.The cables attach to the shifter then runs to the linkage on the transmission.One cable is responsible for side to side movement as the other is for moving front to back(like 1st to second) Center console removal is fairly simple which requires mounting screw(4) removal on the front sides and in the rear cup holder.This gives you an opportunity to view the shifter and cable operation from above while this movement should also be appreciated at the transmission linkage meaning someone shifts the vehicle as another inspects proper movement at the transmission.If all this is actuating properly,you may need to tear down and inspect transmission but hopefully it can be rectified with external repairs mentioned...good luck

Allen,
How have you arrived at your conclusion? Have you manually switched the gears by hand at the shifter control on the linkage where it connects to the transmission? If it is still stiff, your problem may be in your hand(so to speak), at the linkage Lubricate it. Another place is below shifter knob a $45 dollar part may be worn. If you have eliminated low fluid levels and do not detect any leaks in your hydraulic clutch fluids you may be looking at another more expensive repair.