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2003 Saturn Vue

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Vue years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Saturn Vue are substantially higher than the model-year median of 276.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

482 reports with mileage · 140 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 316 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 124 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 62 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

29 crash reports9 fire reports20 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

41 reports
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57,632 miles · Sep 9, 2009
Air Bags

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AS A CONSEQUENCE, IN A SITUATION THAT WARRANTS, THE AIR BAGS MAY FAIL TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT IS AWARE THAT A SERIOUS INJURY COULD OCCUR IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AS A CONSEQUENCE, IN A SITUATION THAT WARRANTS, THE AIR BAGS MAY FAIL TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT IS AWARE THAT A SERIOUS INJURY COULD OCCUR IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, SINCE THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 57,632.

NHTSA ODI #10283405

79,900 miles · Sep 8, 2009
Air BagsCrashInjury

ON 9/7/09, I WAS INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT IN A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON THE PASSENGER OR DRIVER'S SIDE, CAUSING MY FACE TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. I BLACKED OUT BEHIND THE WHEEL AND THE CAR FLIPPED AND THEN WRAPPED AROUND A TREE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10283289

120,000 miles · May 28, 2009
Air Bags

AIR BAG AND SERVICE LIGHT ON. BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER ONLY TO FIND OUT THE AIR BAG MODULE IS DEFECTIVE. DEALER SAID IT WOULD COST $750.00 TO REPAIR. TALKED TO LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP THEY SAID THEY THOUGHT THERE WAS A LAW THAT MANUFACTURERS HAVE TO CORRECT A SAFETY ISSUE FOR UP TO 10 YEARS AFTER CAR IS MANUFACTURED AT NO CHARGE TO …

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AIR BAG AND SERVICE LIGHT ON. BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER ONLY TO FIND OUT THE AIR BAG MODULE IS DEFECTIVE. DEALER SAID IT WOULD COST $750.00 TO REPAIR. TALKED TO LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP THEY SAID THEY THOUGHT THERE WAS A LAW THAT MANUFACTURERS HAVE TO CORRECT A SAFETY ISSUE FOR UP TO 10 YEARS AFTER CAR IS MANUFACTURED AT NO CHARGE TO CONSUMER. CALLED DEALER THEY SAID THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS OF COURSE. STUCK WITH PROBLEM AND CONCERNED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10270176

36,000 miles · May 23, 2009
Air BagsCrash

TRAVELING SOUTH BOUND AT APROX. 30-35 MPH ENTER BUSY URBAN INTERSECTION WHEN A CAR TRAVELING WEST BOUND RAN A RED LIGHT. I COLLIDED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF HIS VEHICLE STRAIGHT ON (T-BONED). CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE COMPLETE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. I SUFFERED BRUISING AND SORENESS FROM THE IMPAC…

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TRAVELING SOUTH BOUND AT APROX. 30-35 MPH ENTER BUSY URBAN INTERSECTION WHEN A CAR TRAVELING WEST BOUND RAN A RED LIGHT. I COLLIDED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF HIS VEHICLE STRAIGHT ON (T-BONED). CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE COMPLETE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. I SUFFERED BRUISING AND SORENESS FROM THE IMPACT. MY VEHICLE THE SATURN VUE WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10269781

38,000 miles · Apr 29, 2008
Air Bags

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE HORN ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED SHE REMOVED THE FUSES FOR THE HORN HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIRBAG PADDING CAUSED THE FAILURE. AS OF APRIL 29, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILUR…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE HORN ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED SHE REMOVED THE FUSES FOR THE HORN HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIRBAG PADDING CAUSED THE FAILURE. AS OF APRIL 29, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

NHTSA ODI #10226073

89,000 miles · Jan 30, 2008
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLID ON ICE, TRAVELED DOWN A HILL, AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FRONT END AND SIDES OF THE VEHICLE WERE DAMAGED. THE VEH…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLID ON ICE, TRAVELED DOWN A HILL, AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FRONT END AND SIDES OF THE VEHICLE WERE DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 89,000.

NHTSA ODI #10216502

69,550 miles · Nov 7, 2007
Air BagsElectrical System

THE SWITCH IN THE AIRBAG MODULE GETS STUCK AND THE HORN BLOWS CONTINUOUSLY AND WHEN IT WANTS TO; IT HAS FAILED FOR ME AT LEAST 6 TIMES IN ONE DAY BEFORE BURNING OUT THE HORN. THEN AFTER A BODY CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED (NOT NEEDED) AND THE HORN THE FOLLOWING TUESDAY THE HORN BEGAN TO BLOW OUT OF CONTROL AGAIN. I HAVE HAD TO DI…

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THE SWITCH IN THE AIRBAG MODULE GETS STUCK AND THE HORN BLOWS CONTINUOUSLY AND WHEN IT WANTS TO; IT HAS FAILED FOR ME AT LEAST 6 TIMES IN ONE DAY BEFORE BURNING OUT THE HORN. THEN AFTER A BODY CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED (NOT NEEDED) AND THE HORN THE FOLLOWING TUESDAY THE HORN BEGAN TO BLOW OUT OF CONTROL AGAIN. I HAVE HAD TO DISABLE THE HORN (A SAFETY FEATURE OF A CAR) TO KEEP FROM IT BLOWING MORE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10208125

58,000 miles · May 10, 2007
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO SEVERAL TREES. THE VEHICLE ROLLED AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT INJURED HER NECK AND HER VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO SEVERAL TREES. THE VEHICLE ROLLED AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT INJURED HER NECK AND HER VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 58,000.

NHTSA ODI #10190391

50,101 miles · Mar 29, 2007
Air BagsElectrical SystemPower Train

FAILED VTI TRANSMISSION..STARTED ON 12/03/03 WITH 9199 MILES. REDUCED POWER LIGHT, CAR WOULD NOT GO WHEN PLACED IN GEAR, FIX-CODE P0107, MAP SENSOR LOW CIRCUIT VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM ON 6/28/04 WITH N14807 MILES. WRENCH LIT, SATURN ALLEGEDLY NOT FOUND ON 12-02-04 WITH 20178 MILES NOT PROPERLY SHIFTING,WRENCH L…

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FAILED VTI TRANSMISSION..STARTED ON 12/03/03 WITH 9199 MILES. REDUCED POWER LIGHT, CAR WOULD NOT GO WHEN PLACED IN GEAR, FIX-CODE P0107, MAP SENSOR LOW CIRCUIT VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM ON 6/28/04 WITH N14807 MILES. WRENCH LIT, SATURN ALLEGEDLY NOT FOUND ON 12-02-04 WITH 20178 MILES NOT PROPERLY SHIFTING,WRENCH LIGHT,FIXED. DTC B2707 INTO SHIFT LOCK TRANSMISSION ON 6/30/05 WITH 27797 MILES SES LIGHT, NOT FOUND. ON 7/17/06 WITH 48664 MI.LES WONT SHIFT GEARS. FIX TOTAL REBUILD AS PER SATURN EXTENDED WARRANTY. ON 11/21/06 4WITH 8664 MILES NOT SHIFTING , STOPPED, THEN WENT INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC. WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE, FIX ED AGAIN. ON 3/10/07 WITH 50107 MILES STOPPED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THEN WENT. INTERMITENTLY SHOOK IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHEN AT OPERATING TEMPERATURES. AS PER SATURN NOT FOUND. ALSO, AIR BAG/HORN ISSUES, ON 1/31/06 WITH 38441 MILES AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON. .SATURN ALLEDGED NOT FOUND ON 4/10/06, AND ON 41040 MILES AGAIN AIR BAG LI, AS PER SATURN DTCB1800472,,DTCB1001, REPLACED MODUAL ASSEMBLY.WAS CHARGED $578.40 .AFTER THAT HORN WAS GOING ON OWN , ASSUMED WAS PART OF ALARM SYSTEM . HORN BURNED OUT, AND SATURN WANTA ABOUT $1500 TO REPAIR WHEN THERE IWAS A AN ADMITTED DESIGN FLAW. ALARM SYSTEM WAS VERIFIED BY OUTSIDE SOURCE OPERATIONAL, NOT EVEN SURE IF AIR BAG WILL DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10186458

39,180 miles · Mar 17, 2007
Air BagsElectrical System

IT STARTED WITH HAVING STRANGE CLICKING IN THE TURN SIGNALS. THEN THE TEMP LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND THE NEEDLE WOULD BURY ITSELF INTO THE RED PORTION OF THE DIAL. WE NOTICED NO SMELL OR PROBLEMS WITH DRIVING THE CAR AND THE RADIATOR AND COOLANT RESEVIOR CHECKED OUT TO BE FINE. NEXT CAME THE OIL LIGHT ON AFTER WE HAD ALREADY HAD T…

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IT STARTED WITH HAVING STRANGE CLICKING IN THE TURN SIGNALS. THEN THE TEMP LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND THE NEEDLE WOULD BURY ITSELF INTO THE RED PORTION OF THE DIAL. WE NOTICED NO SMELL OR PROBLEMS WITH DRIVING THE CAR AND THE RADIATOR AND COOLANT RESEVIOR CHECKED OUT TO BE FINE. NEXT CAME THE OIL LIGHT ON AFTER WE HAD ALREADY HAD THE OIL CHANGED. THEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD STAY ON LONGER AFTER STARTING THE CAR. THEN AS SUDDENLY AS THINGS STARTED, EVERYTHING WENT BACK TO NORMAL EXCEPT THE TURN SIGNALS. A FEW WEEKS LATER IT BEGAN. THIS TIME WITH THE HORN GETTING STUCK, THEN THE SERVICE LIGHT COMING ON AND STAYING ON ALONG WITH THE OIL LIGHT. THEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT STARTED STAYING ON LONGER AND LONGER. BY THIS TIME IT IS WINTER AND I'M HEARING STRANGE SOUNDS FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. ONE DAY WE NOTICE THE HORN IS NO LONGER WORKING AND THE FRONT END SOUND LIKE IT'S GOING TO FALL OFF. WE'RE AFRAID TO USE THE HEATER DEFROSTER TOO MUCH FOR FEAR THE CAR MAY OVER HEAT. I TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR OIL CHANGE AND DIAGNOTIC. IT WAS NOT BOUGHT AT A SATURN DEALER. I AM TOLD THAT THE HOUSING FOR THE OIL FILTER IS BROKEN AND NEEDS REPLACING. I PAY FOR HALF OF THAT. I NEED NEW LINKS IN THE FRONT. THE HORN WORKS. THE TEMP GAUGE IS GOING INTO THE RED. AFTER I EXPLAINED WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH THE GAUGES. IT WAS SUGGESTED I TAKE IT TO A SATURN DEALER. I WENT TO MY LOCAL SATURN DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE FRONT LINKS. THEY DIAGNOSED THE OTHER PROBLEMS AS: AIRBAG STEER WHEEL CONTACTS COLLAPSED - $800.00, SHORTED BCM- $449.00, HORN SHORTED- $101.00, FUSE BLOWN-$23.60, NOT INCLUDING LABOR. SPOKE WITH SATURN CORP, THEY HAVE AGREED TO PAY $500.00 TOWARD REPAIR OF AIRBAG AS LONG AS WE GO TO THE SATURN DEALER. PRESENTLY WE'RE SEEKING MONETARY ASSISTANCE FROM THE SELLING DEALERSHIP WHICH HAS MOVED OVER 50 MILES AWAY. THIS CASE IS STILL PENDING.

NHTSA ODI #10185375

Official recalls

1

14V490000 · Electrical System:ignition

Aug 8, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2002-2004 Saturn Vue vehicles manufactured September 11, 2001, to April 6, 2004. In the affected vehicles, it may be possible for the key to be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if the transmission is not in the "Park" position; or (b) for a manual transmission, if the parking brake is not engaged and the transmission is not in the "Reverse" position. This potential for rollaway increases the risk for a crash and occupant or pedestrian injuries.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle to see if the key can be pulled out when the ignition is off. If it can, dealers will replace the ignition cylinder and keys, free of charge. The recall began in October 2014. Owners may contact Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 14506. Note: Until a vehicle has been remedied, owners and operators are advised that when exiting, to be sure that the vehicle is in "Park," or in the case of a manual transmission, that the vehicle is in the "Reverse" position and the parking brake is engaged.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

PE06006 · Timing Chain Failure

Opened Jan 24, 2006 · Closed Jun 6, 2006

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

ON DECEMBER 12, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A DEFECT PETITION (DP05-008) REQUESTING THE INVESTIGATION OF TIMING CHAIN FAILURES THAT COULD CAUSE STALLING IN SATURN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.2L (L61) ENGINE. ODI OPENED PE06-006 ON JANUARY 24, 2006, WITH 24 VEHICLE OWNER COMPLAINTS THAT ALLEGED A BROKEN TIMING CHAIN CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP OPERATING.ON APRIL 12, 2006, ODI RECEIVED INFORMATION FROM GENERAL MOTORS (GM) CONCERNING TIMING CHAIN FAILURES IN APPROXIMATELY 412,000 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2000 THROUGH 2003 SATURN L-SERIES AND ION VEHICLES WITH 2.2L ENGINES. GM'S RESPONSE INCLUDED 1,020 OWNER COMPLAINTS AND FIELD REPORTS CONCERNING TIMING CHAIN FAILURE, INCLUDING 228 THAT ALLEGED THE FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING.GM ALSO PROVIDED WARRANTY CLAIM DATA THAT SHOWED 1,902 SUBJECT VEHICLES RECEIVING TIMING CHAIN REPAIRS, INCLUDING 261 WHICH INDICATED THAT A STALL WHILE DRIVING RESULTED FROM THE FAILURE.THE GM COMPLAINTS, FIELD REPORTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS THAT DID NOT CONTAIN SUFFICIENT INFORMATION TO DETERMINE THAT A STALL WHILE DRIVING OCCURRED WERE PROVIDED IN THE CATEGORY OTHER.GM STATED THAT THE MAJORITY OF THESE INCIDENTS PROBABLY OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLES WERE PARKED SINCE THE TIMING CHAIN IS MORE LIKELY TO BREAK DURING HIGH CHAIN LOAD SITUATIONS, SUCH AS ENGINE STARTUP.GM'S DATA SHOWED ELEVATED FAILURE RATES IN APPROXIMATELY 20,500 MY 2001 L-SERIES VEHICLES PRODUCED DURING A FOUR MONTH PERIOD FROM NOVEMBER 2000 THROUGH FEBRUARY 2001.OVER ONE-THIRD OF GM'S TOTAL COMPLAINTS AND FIELD REPORTS (34.3%) AND WARRANTY CLAIMS (38.2%) INVOLVED L-SERIES VEHICLES BUILT DURING THE 4-MONTH PERIOD, WHICH ARE ONLY ABOUT 5% OF SUBJECT VEHICLE PRODUCTION.THE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE RATE IN THE VEHICLES BUILT DURING THIS RANGE IS OVER 10 TIMES GREATER THAN THE REMAINING SUBJECT VEHICLE POPULATION. FOR THE MY 2001 L-SERIES VEHICLES BUILT DURING THE 4-MONTH PERIOD, THE 36-MONTH FAILURE RATE FOR REPAIRS INVOLVING STALL WHILE DRIVING IS SLIGHTLY UNDER ONE PERCENT.HOWEVER, IF THE INCIDENTS CODED AS OTHER ARE ADDED, THE 36-MONTH FAILURE RATE RISES TO NEARLY FIVE PERCENT FOR THOSE VEHICLES.ODI AND GM ARE CONTINUING TO ASSESS THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS CODED BY GM AS OTHER THAT INVOLVE INCIDENTS OF STALL WHILE DRIVING.GM'S STATISTICAL MODELING OF THE FAILURE DATA INITIALLY CONCLUDED THAT THE FAILURE RATES WERE DECLINING WITH AGE AND MILEAGE FOR ANY SET OF WARRANTY DATA ANALYZED (E.G., STALL WHILE DRIVING, OTHER OR COMBINED).HOWEVER, SUBSEQUENT ANALYSIS SHOWED THAT THE FAILURE RATES ARE INCREASING. BASED ON THE HIGH COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY RATES FOR TIMING CHAIN FAILURE IN THE 4-MONTH PRODUCTION PERIOD FOR THE MY 2001 L-SERIES VEHICLES, THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO FURTHER ASSESS THE FREQUENCY OF STALL INCIDENTS DUE TO TIMING CHAIN FAILURES IN THOSE VEHICLES (EA06-009).

PE04052 · Rear Suspension Toe Control Link

Opened Jul 22, 2004 · Closed Nov 1, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension; Suspension:rear

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES DURING CERTAIN SEVERE DRIVING MANEUVERS.THE INVESTIGATION WAS PROMPTED BY NHTSA-CONDUCTED NCAP DYNAMIC ROLLOVER TEST INCIDENTS INVOLVING MY 2004 SATURN VUE VEHICLES AND ONE CONSUMER COMPLAINT THAT ALLEGED WHEN RECOVERING FROM A ROAD EDGE DEPARTURE, THE LEFT-REAR WHEEL OF A MY 2003 SATURN VUE ?BENT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE,? RESULTING IN A ROLLOVER CRASH.ODI ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE DURING THE NCAP TESTS WAS THE RESULT OF WHEEL RIM-PAVEMENT CONTACT TRANSMITTING SIGNIFICANT COMPRESSIVE FORCES TO THE TOE CONTROL LINK, THUS CAUSING IT TO BUCKLE.THIS FAILURE OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED DURING A SEVERE TEST USED TO ASSESS ROLL STABILITY.THE FORCES GENERATED DURING THIS TYPE OF WHEEL-RIM PAVEMENT CONTACT ARE MORE THAN SIX TIMES THE GREATEST FORCES MEASURED DURING GM?S MOST SEVERE VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION TESTING.ODI INSPECTION AND ANALYSIS OF CONSUMER COMPLAINT VEHICLES SHOWED THAT DAMAGE TO THE TOE CONTROL LINK APPEARED TO BE THE RESULT OF VEHICLE CRASHES AND DID NOT PRECIPITATE THE CRASHES.TO DATE, ODI IS AWARE OF NO VEHICLE CRASHES OR ROLLOVER INCIDENTS RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.ADDITIONALLY, THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A VOLUNTARY CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO STRENGTHEN THE REAR SUSPENSION OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST. THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE SUMMARY REPORT ATTACHED FOR FURTHER DETAIL.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Suspension

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES DURING CERTAIN SEVERE DRIVING MANEUVERS.THE INVESTIGATION WAS PROMPTED BY NHTSA-CONDUCTED NCAP DYNAMIC ROLLOVER TEST INCIDENTS INVOLVING MY 2004 SATURN VUE VEHICLES AND ONE CONSUMER COMPLAINT THAT ALLEGED WHEN RECOVERING FROM A ROAD EDGE DEPARTURE, THE LEFT-REAR WHEEL OF A MY 2003 SATURN VUE ?BENT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE,? RESULTING IN A ROLLOVER CRASH.ODI ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE DURING THE NCAP TESTS WAS THE RESULT OF WHEEL RIM-PAVEMENT CONTACT TRANSMITTING SIGNIFICANT COMPRESSIVE FORCES TO THE TOE CONTROL LINK, THUS CAUSING IT TO BUCKLE.THIS FAILURE OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED DURING A SEVERE TEST USED TO ASSESS ROLL STABILITY.THE FORCES GENERATED DURING THIS TYPE OF WHEEL-RIM PAVEMENT CONTACT ARE MORE THAN SIX TIMES THE GREATEST FORCES MEASURED DURING GM?S MOST SEVERE VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION TESTING.ODI INSPECTION AND ANALYSIS OF CONSUMER COMPLAINT VEHICLES SHOWED THAT DAMAGE TO THE TOE CONTROL LINK APPEARED TO BE THE RESULT OF VEHICLE CRASHES AND DID NOT PRECIPITATE THE CRASHES.TO DATE, ODI IS AWARE OF NO VEHICLE CRASHES OR ROLLOVER INCIDENTS RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.ADDITIONALLY, THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A VOLUNTARY CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO STRENGTHEN THE REAR SUSPENSION OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST. THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE SUMMARY REPORT ATTACHED FOR FURTHER DETAIL.

Suspension:rear

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES DURING CERTAIN SEVERE DRIVING MANEUVERS.THE INVESTIGATION WAS PROMPTED BY NHTSA-CONDUCTED NCAP DYNAMIC ROLLOVER TEST INCIDENTS INVOLVING MY 2004 SATURN VUE VEHICLES AND ONE CONSUMER COMPLAINT THAT ALLEGED WHEN RECOVERING FROM A ROAD EDGE DEPARTURE, THE LEFT-REAR WHEEL OF A MY 2003 SATURN VUE ?BENT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE,? RESULTING IN A ROLLOVER CRASH.ODI ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE DURING THE NCAP TESTS WAS THE RESULT OF WHEEL RIM-PAVEMENT CONTACT TRANSMITTING SIGNIFICANT COMPRESSIVE FORCES TO THE TOE CONTROL LINK, THUS CAUSING IT TO BUCKLE.THIS FAILURE OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED DURING A SEVERE TEST USED TO ASSESS ROLL STABILITY.THE FORCES GENERATED DURING THIS TYPE OF WHEEL-RIM PAVEMENT CONTACT ARE MORE THAN SIX TIMES THE GREATEST FORCES MEASURED DURING GM?S MOST SEVERE VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION TESTING.ODI INSPECTION AND ANALYSIS OF CONSUMER COMPLAINT VEHICLES SHOWED THAT DAMAGE TO THE TOE CONTROL LINK APPEARED TO BE THE RESULT OF VEHICLE CRASHES AND DID NOT PRECIPITATE THE CRASHES.TO DATE, ODI IS AWARE OF NO VEHICLE CRASHES OR ROLLOVER INCIDENTS RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.ADDITIONALLY, THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A VOLUNTARY CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO STRENGTHEN THE REAR SUSPENSION OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST. THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE SUMMARY REPORT ATTACHED FOR FURTHER DETAIL.