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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

62 reports

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56,699 miles · Feb 22, 2006

Engine And Engine Cooling

DRIVING CAR STARTED TO BLOW OIL FROM THE CAM COVER GASKET CAUSED BY MOISTURE/WATER ENTERING ENGINE BECAUSE OF MOISTURE BUILD UP IN PVC HOSE. WATER IN ENGINE FROZE CAUSING GASKET TO BLOW. TOTAL LOSS OF OIL IN ENGINE. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO DEALER. THEY REROUTED PVC HOSE TO PREVENT MOISTURE BUILD UP AGAIN. GASKET WAS REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10150959

Mileage unknown · Feb 7, 2006

Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

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2003 SATURN VUE HOOD RELEASE CABLE AND WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WAS REPLACED. *TS THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS REPLACED (WARRANTY). WHILE REPAIRING THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE PROMPT SHAFT CENTER BEARING WAS BROKEN (WARRANTY). THERE WAS NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSAXLE. THE TECHNICIAN UPDATED THE TCM AND ADDED CVT ADDITIVE (WARRANTY). THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS FAULTY (WARRANTY). THE AIR BAG AND HORN WERE ALSO REPLACED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10149784

41,000 miles · Dec 30, 2005

Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentPower Train

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PURCHASED MY SATURN VUE USED IN MARCH 2005...AT THAT TIME I HAD 6K MILES LEFT ON THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY...IN JUNE 2005 TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL SATURN DEALERSHIP TO TAKE CARE OF ALL NORMAL ISSUES & GET A MAINT CHECKUP...AT THAT TIME THEY REPLACED THE RESISTOR- ENGINE COOLING FAN (DUE TO BLOWING HOT AIR WHEN AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON), HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLY COMPOSITE ON FRONT LEFT (CRACKED WHERE BOLTED TO FRAME), OBD SYSTEM UPGRADE (RECALL), REPLACEMENT OF REAR LATERAL LINK ASSEMBLY (RECALL), AND LAST THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE WAS REPLACED/ADJUSTED & LUBED DUE TO GOING BAD - AT THAT TIME THEY NEVER DISCLOSED TO ME THAT THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED 3X'S SINCE JAN 2003. ON DEC 24TH @ 10:00AM...MY ENTIRE GEAR SHIFT ASSEMBLY FAILED AND LEFT ME STRANDED...THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT I PURCHASED IT FROM...DUE TO ME BEING 5,000 OVER MY WARRANTY...THEY WERE NOT GOING TO REPLACE IT...APPROX COST OF $450. I WENT DIRECTLY OVER TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP....FORT WAYNE, IN SATURN...A SERVICE CONSULTANT PULLED UP THE HISTORY OF MY VUE AND DISPLAYED TO ME THAT THE GEAR SHIFT HAD BEEN WORKED ON 4 OTHER TIMES...HIS SERVICE MANAGER STATED HE WOULD NOT TAKE CARE OF IT DUE TO THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED & IT WAS NOT HIS FAULT...I CALLED SATURN'S CORPORATE OFFICE INFORMED THEM OF THE ISSUE...THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD GET IT TAKEN CARE OF WITH NO QUESTIONS ASKED...WAITING TO SEE WHAT IS DONE...MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP....AS FOR THE SERVICE MANAGER @ FW, IN SATURN DEALERSHIP...I HAVE HEARD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT HOW HE TREATS CUSTOMERS FROM FRIENDS THAT ARE ALSO SATURN OWNERS... 8JB

NHTSA ODI #10146575

16,445 miles · Oct 26, 2005

Engine And Engine Cooling

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MY 2003 SATURN VUE W/VTI TRANS HAS HAD 4 EPISODES OF NEAR-STALLING, HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION IN 3-WEEK PERIOD IN OCTOBER. 1ST EPISODE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND WHEN GAS PEDAL PUSHED. FINALLY RESPONDED WITH A LURCHING FORWARD. TEMP IN 90'S OUTSIDE. SECOND EPISODE SITTING FOR 8 HOURS AT WORK. HEATER TURNED ON. WENT TO LEAVE PARKING LOT & STOPPED AT SIGN. WHEN ACCELERATOR DEPRESSED, THERE WAS BRIEF RESPONSE AND THEN A "NEAR-STALL"/HESITATION. HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN SUCCESSION BEFORE LEAVING PARKING LOT. THIRD EPISODE 3 DAYS LATER. VEHICLE WAS IN CONDO PARKING LOT FOR 2 HRS. I WENT OUT TO GO TO THE GROCERY STORE. DIDN'T PUT ON A/C OR HEAT. BACKED UP VEHICLE. WHEN STARTED TO DRIVE FORWARD, IT NEAR-STALLED/HESITATED BEFORE GETTING OUT ONTO ROAD. FOURTH EPISODE 7 DAYS LATER. LEFT WORK AFTER 8 HOURS INTO BUSY TRAFFIC. HAD 2 MORE INCIDENTS IN TRAFFIC. LEFT THIS STREET AND WENT TO POST OFFICE. PARKED OUTSIDE AND WENT IN FOR 5 MINUTES. BACKED VEHICLE UP AND NEAR-STALL HAPPENED AGAIN. WENT TO DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES AFTER THESE EPISODES. HOOKED UP TO COMPUTER AND NOTHING WAS FOUND, NOTHING DONE TO FIX IT. GM TOLD ME, "IF YOU'RE EVER IN THE AREA WHEN IT HAPPENS, STOP BY RIGHT AWAY." I DON'T LIVE CLOSE TO THEM. TOLD ME TO RUN OUT THE GAS TANK COMPLETELY UNTIL THE LOW FUEL LIGHT GOES ON AND FILL W/93 OCTANE AT BP AMOCO. STILL NO RESOLUTION FOR PROBLEM. SEVERE SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME AND THOSE AROUND ME. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10140899

Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 2005

Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSteering

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I PURCHASED MY 2003 AWD V6 VUE NEW FROM THE SAME DEALERSHIP THAT I TAKE IT TO FOR REPAIRS. SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT, I HAVE REPORTED SEVERAL TIMES THAT THE VEHICLE "STALLS" WHILE ACCELERATING. USUALLY AROUND 40 MPH. THE RPM'S REV UP (TO THE RED) AND THE CAR GOES NOWHERE, LIKE IT HAS SUDDENLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THIS HAPPENS WHILE ACCELERATING AFTER A STOP. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHERE I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED. I FEEL THE DEALERSHIP IS TRYING TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM, BUT HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET IT TO REPEAT. WE ARE NOW LOOKING AT HAVING ONE OF THE SERVICE TECH DRIVE IT FOR A WEEK OR TWO TO SEE IF THEY CAN GET IT TO OCCUR. IT HAPPENS TO ME AT LEAST 3-6 TIMES A MONTH, BUT INTERMITTENTLY. I DO NOT HAVE A VTI TRANSMISSION. I HAVE TWO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH MY VUE THAT HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO BE FIXED; THE FIRST IS THE STEERING/ALIGNMENT. IF I HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL STRAIGHT ON, THE CAR GOES TO THE LEFT. THE DEALERSHIP WILL FIX THE ALIGNMENT, AND WITHIN 2 DAYS IT OFF AGAIN. I HAVE TO STEER TO THE RIGHT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT. IT HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN A WRECK AND I CAN SEE NO REASON FOR THE ALIGNMENT TO GO OFF SO QUICKLY. SECONDLY, THE CAR MAKES A LOUD POPPING SOUND WHEN IDLING IF THE A/C OR HEATER IS ON. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS IS NORMAL. IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT. THE VENTS ALSO BLOW AIR WHEN THE SYSTEM IS OFF. MY VUE HAS 46,001 MILES. I STAND BEHIND THE VEHICLE AND MY DEALERSHIP. I JUST WISH THEY COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT IS CAUSING IT TO REV OUT THE WAY IT DOES. IT IS QUITE ALARMING WHEN IT HAPPENS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10136576

Mileage unknown · Jul 8, 2005

Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. SHE STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WILL REV AT ABOUT 35 MPH. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. THE CAR WILL JERK AND HESITATE. SHE HAS NOTICED THIS ON ROADS WITH A SLIGHT INCLINE. SHE CAN TRAVEL THE SAME ROAD TWICE AND THE PROBLEM MAY OR MAY NOT OCCUR.*AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #10123860

16,358 miles · Jun 10, 2005

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

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CONSUMER STATES: TOOK IN VEHICLE ON 5 SEPARATE TIMES FOR TRANSMISSION, WHINING NOISE WAS HEARD, ALMOST LIKE THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING. WAS ON HIGHWAY, AND NO MATTER HOW MUCH GAS CONSUMER GAVE IT VEHICLE WOULDN'T MOVE. WHEN GIVING IT MORE GAS THE ENGINE WOULD REV BUT STILL WOULDN'T GO. BEFORE PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION, AT A SEPARATE TIME, SOMETHING WITH THE COMPUTER WENT WRONG. IT COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. SUCH AS GAS GAUGE SHOWED EMPTY TANK AND SPEEDOMETER WENT TO ZERO.*AK WHEN AT A STOP IDLE SEEMS TO DROP AND WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOP, VEHICLE HESTIATES AND LURCHES. TRANSAXLE SPEED SENSOR REPLACED. TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE REPROGRAMED DUE TO WHINING NOISE. HOOD WON'T OPEN. HOOD CABLE READJUSTED. DRIVER AND PASSENGER WASHER NOZZLE MISSING AND REPLACED. STEERING WHEEL MAKING NOISE. SHAFT BOOT GREASED. SERVICE ENGINE SOON (SES) LIGHT ON. OXYGEN SENSOR WAS CONTAMINATED AND REPLACED. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10120562

40,000 miles · May 10, 2005

Engine And Engine CoolingLatches/locks/linkagesVehicle Speed Control

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SATURN VUE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, CATALYTIC CONVERTER SHIELD, WINDSHIELD, ACCELERATOR, REAR SUSPENSION, DEFECTIVE PASSENGER SIDE BALL JOINTS, STRUTS AND BUSHINGS.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE DEFECTIVE CATALYTIC CONVERTER SHIELD WAS REPLACED, THERE WAS NOISE UNDER THE VEHICLE IN THE EXHAUST AREA OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE MUFFLER. THE WINDSHIELD RATTLED AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK RESULTING IN SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE DRIVER'S DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10121506

20,000 miles · Jan 25, 2005

Engine And Engine Cooling

THE MORNING AFTER THE BLIZZARD I STARTED MY 2003 SATURN VUE WITH 20,000 MILES ON IT, I NOTICED A TICKING SOUND FROM ENGINE,I CONTINUED TO SHOVEL MY VUE OUT THINKING THE CAR IS COLD AND IT WILL BE OK . WELL THE SOUND DID NOT GO AWAY. CONCERNED I SHUT OFF CAR AND CALLED SATURN. TODAY I AM TOLD IT MIGHT BE A TIMING BELT TENSION TH…

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NHTSA ODI #10107896

15,400 miles · Sep 29, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

COOLANT LIGHT APPEARS & I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR MORE THEN 5 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, THE CAR LEAKS, THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, THE COOLANT IS MIXING WITH THE OIL. THE HOSE HAS BEEN REPLACED & THE ENGINE HAS BEEN PULLED OUT FROM THE CAR, BUT THEY STILL COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS STARTED IN OCTOBER…

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NHTSA ODI #10093305

Official recalls

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

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

Suspension:rear