THE ENGINE LIGHT NEVER GOES OFF, THE IGNITION WANT TURN OR CRANK SOMETIMES, YOU CAN SMELL OIL WHEN THE CAR STOPS. *TR
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Vue years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
62 reportsMY CAR HAS 103,000 ON IT AND HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED. IT SUDDENLY DIED WITH NO WARNING WHILE I WAS DRIVING UP A HILL. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHOP, WHERE THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC. I HAVE A TRANSMISSION LEAK, A BAD INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT CAUSES THE ENGINE TO RUN INCREDIBLY LEAN, AND A SENSOR PROBLEM. THIS CAR IS BABIED, AND WITH S…
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MY CAR HAS 103,000 ON IT AND HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED. IT SUDDENLY DIED WITH NO WARNING WHILE I WAS DRIVING UP A HILL. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHOP, WHERE THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC. I HAVE A TRANSMISSION LEAK, A BAD INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT CAUSES THE ENGINE TO RUN INCREDIBLY LEAN, AND A SENSOR PROBLEM. THIS CAR IS BABIED, AND WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE SHOULD NOT BE EXPERIENCING ANY ISSUES WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE TRANSMISSION. THE SENSOR I CAN UNDERSTAND FAILING, BUT THE AMOUNT OF ISSUES THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD, AND THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS I HAVE SEEN FROM OTHER OWNERS OF THE 2003 SATURN VUE V6 AWD IS STAGGERING. THESE ARE CLEARLY VEHICLES WITH ISSUES AND SATURN OWNERS SHOULD RECEIVE SOME SORT OF COMPENSATION FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE ARE PUTTING OUT TO MAKE REPAIRS FOR SHODDY WORKMANSHIP. *TR
WHILE DRIVING MY SON NOTICED A SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE THAT WAS NOT NORMAL. WHEN WE STOPPED I OPENED THE HOOD AND INVESTIGATED. WHEN IDILING IT SOUNDED LIKE A CHAIN SLAPPING, AT 1000 RPMS THE SOUND WAS LIKE A WHIR INSTEAD OF A SLAP. AFTER LISTENING FOR A FEW MOMENTS I DECIDED IT SOUNDED LIKE THE TIMING CHAIN. THE NEXT D…
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WHILE DRIVING MY SON NOTICED A SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE THAT WAS NOT NORMAL. WHEN WE STOPPED I OPENED THE HOOD AND INVESTIGATED. WHEN IDILING IT SOUNDED LIKE A CHAIN SLAPPING, AT 1000 RPMS THE SOUND WAS LIKE A WHIR INSTEAD OF A SLAP. AFTER LISTENING FOR A FEW MOMENTS I DECIDED IT SOUNDED LIKE THE TIMING CHAIN. THE NEXT DAY MY WIFE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A CHEVROLET DEALER AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE TENSIONER HAD FAILED AND THE CHAIN WAS INDEED SLAPPING AROUND, BUT IT HAD NOT DAMAGED A VALVE. I CHECKED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT SATURN ENGINES, SUCH AS MINE (2.2L ENGINES), DID INDEED HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE TIMING CHAIN. A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THAT ENGINE, BUT ONLY 2000-2002 MODEL YEAR. TOTAL COST TO REPAIR WAS ALMOST $1400.00
TIMING CHAIN SLIPPED WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO BE REPLACED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED SHE HAS HAD THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL BEARING AND IGNITION SWITCH REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILED AND THE ENGINE COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SPRAYER WAS ALSO DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE C…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED SHE HAS HAD THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL BEARING AND IGNITION SWITCH REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILED AND THE ENGINE COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SPRAYER WAS ALSO DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT STATED SHE DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO FURTHER REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 53,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
TIMING CHAIN BROKE ON 2003 SATURN VUE ON ATTEMPTING TO START VEHICLE IN THE MIDDLE OF A 3 HOUR HIGHWAY TRIP. NO PRIOR WARNING OF FAILURE. ENGINE VALVES BENT AND RECOMMENDATION OF NEW ENGINE FROM GM DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. *TR
I PURCHASED A USED 2003 SATURN VUE 2.2L IN 2006. IN MAY 2010 WITH 95,000 MILES ON IT, IT STARTED RUNNING ROUGH. I WAS LEAVING FOR WORK ONE MORNING AND IT DIED AS I LEFT MY DRIVEWAY. CALLED MY AUTO SHOP AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE SHOP FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE WHOLE WAY THERE THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT WAS FLASHING. THE …
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I PURCHASED A USED 2003 SATURN VUE 2.2L IN 2006. IN MAY 2010 WITH 95,000 MILES ON IT, IT STARTED RUNNING ROUGH. I WAS LEAVING FOR WORK ONE MORNING AND IT DIED AS I LEFT MY DRIVEWAY. CALLED MY AUTO SHOP AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE SHOP FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE WHOLE WAY THERE THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT WAS FLASHING. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT 2 CYLINDERS WERE MISFIRING AND HAD FAILED AND THAT MEANT THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALONG WITH THAT THE SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE DAMAGE DONE BY THE MISFIRING. TOTAL COST: $350. PICKED UP THE CAR AND "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND WAS STEADY. IT HAPPENED TO BE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND SO I COULDN'T TAKE MY CAR BACK IN RIGHT AWAY. TOOK IT IN ON THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY, MIND YOU I GOT IT BACK ON FRIDAY NIGHT. NOW IT IS THE DOWNSTREAM O2 SENSOR, UPSTREAM O2 SENSOR AND POSSIBLY THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. WAS ADVISED TO DEFINITELY REPLACE THE DOWNSTREAM O2 SENSOR, BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE UPSTREAM O2 SENSOR AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER COULD REPAIR THEMSELVES AFTER RUNNING A WHILE. AFTER FINDING A RECALL ON MY YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL CALLED THE SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND BECAUSE I HAD PURCHASED IT USED THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE OR HELP ME IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FASHION. WITH THE SAME EXACT ISSUE AS THE RECALL, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY MY CAR WOULD NOT BE INCLUDED. *TR
TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, A LEAKAGE OF FLUID UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE COOLANT WAS MIXING WITH THE OIL WHICH REQUIRED A REPLACEMENT OF THE HEAD GASKET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT…
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TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, A LEAKAGE OF FLUID UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE COOLANT WAS MIXING WITH THE OIL WHICH REQUIRED A REPLACEMENT OF THE HEAD GASKET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THAT THE DEFECT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED UNDER THE SERVICE WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 91,000.
MY 2003 SATURN VUE IS SHUTTING DOWN WITHOUT WARNING OR NOTICE EVEN ON THE EXPRESSWAY. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ONE DAY AND WENT OUT AND SINCE THEN MY CAR WILL SHUT OFF AND NOT START BACK UP. THE CAR WILL ATTEMPT TO TURN OVER BUT NOT RUN AS IF IT IS NOT GETTING ANY GAS. I HAD TO BE PUSHED INTO A CVS PAKING LOT BECAUSE I WA…
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MY 2003 SATURN VUE IS SHUTTING DOWN WITHOUT WARNING OR NOTICE EVEN ON THE EXPRESSWAY. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ONE DAY AND WENT OUT AND SINCE THEN MY CAR WILL SHUT OFF AND NOT START BACK UP. THE CAR WILL ATTEMPT TO TURN OVER BUT NOT RUN AS IF IT IS NOT GETTING ANY GAS. I HAD TO BE PUSHED INTO A CVS PAKING LOT BECAUSE I WAS IN THE RIGHT TURNING LANE. AFTER WAITING 15 TO 20 MINUTES LATER, THE CAR STARTED UP, I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND IT SHUTS DOWN AGAIN. IT TOOK ME 30 MINUTES TO GO 2.5 MILES BECAUSE THE CAR CONSTANTLY SHUT DOWN FOUR TIMES. THE TOTAL TIME IT TOOK ME TO GO 10 MILES FROM MY HOME, TO MY DESTINATION, AND BACK WAS 3 HOURS. I TOOK THE CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS ORIGINALLY TOLD IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP; TEST REVEALED THIS WAS NOT THE PROBLEM BUT IT COULD BE A BAD CRANKSHAFT SENSOR, OR AN ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND THE APPROXIMATE COST WOULD BE OVER $600 DEPENDING ON THE PROBLEM. A CAR SHUTTING DOWN WHILE DRIVING IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR ME AND TO OTHERS. I AM LITERALLY AFRAID OF DRIVING MY OWN CAR NOW DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. WHILE RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ONLINE IT APPEARS THIS PROBLEM IS OCCURRING FREQUENTLY AND A RECALL SHOULD BE IN ORDER. *TR
2003 SATURN VUE. CONSUMER STATES DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. *TGW AFTER THREE MONTHS OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE SELLER, THE CONSUMER NOTICE THE VEHICLE WOULD SLIP INTO A WEIRD GEAR AND THE ENGINE WOULD SOUND AS IF IT WERE RUNNING HARDER. THE ISSUE OCCURRED AT RANDOM INTERVALS WITH NO NOTICEABLE PATTERN. THE CONSU…
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2003 SATURN VUE. CONSUMER STATES DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. *TGW AFTER THREE MONTHS OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE SELLER, THE CONSUMER NOTICE THE VEHICLE WOULD SLIP INTO A WEIRD GEAR AND THE ENGINE WOULD SOUND AS IF IT WERE RUNNING HARDER. THE ISSUE OCCURRED AT RANDOM INTERVALS WITH NO NOTICEABLE PATTERN. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT WAS THE WAY IT WAS SUPPOSED TO SOUND, BUT THEY WOULD INSPECTED IT. WHEN THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THE MILEAGE WAS VIRTUALLY THE SAME AND WONDERED IF THEY TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE. 4-5 WEEKS LATER, THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GM STATING THE VEHICLE HAD A POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE VTI TRANSMISSION INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED NOTHING COULD BE DONE FOR HIM BASED ON THE MILEAGE. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM BEFORE THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE EXCLUDED HIM. ALSO, THE COOLANT LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER FOUND THE WATER PUMP LEAKING. *JB
Official recalls
114V490000 · 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
2PE06006 · 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.
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