NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
316 reportsClear category filter53,000 miles · Aug 4, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVisibility
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.
NHTSA ODI #10347233
113,200 miles · Jul 23, 2010
Power Train
2003 SATURN VUE, AUTO TRANSMISSION.... TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 99,400 MILES. SATURN DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE OF THE 100K WARRANTY. I HAD TO PAY 25% OF THE NEW TRANSMISSION, WHICH WAS $1,000. THE BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION CAME WITH A 12,000 WARRANTY. FOUR DAYS AGO, THE BRAND NEW FACTORY TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLI…
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2003 SATURN VUE, AUTO TRANSMISSION.... TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 99,400 MILES. SATURN DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE OF THE 100K WARRANTY. I HAD TO PAY 25% OF THE NEW TRANSMISSION, WHICH WAS $1,000. THE BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION CAME WITH A 12,000 WARRANTY. FOUR DAYS AGO, THE BRAND NEW FACTORY TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP AND WHINE. CAR TAKEN BACK TO DEALERSHIP IN RALEIGH, NC. VUE NOW HAS 113,204 MILES. INFORMED THAT TRANSMISSION IS OUT OF THE PARAMETERS OF THE WARRANTY AND THE REPAIR COST WILL BE $5900!!! I CALLED CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS AND THEY COULDN'T CARE LESS ABOUT MY SITUATION. NOW I AM OUT OF A VEHICLE. SATURN KNEW OF THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION IN THESE VEHICLES BUT PUT A BANDAID ON THE SITUATION. PEOPLE WORK HARD FOR THE MONEY TO PURCHASE THESE VEHICLES JUST TO BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER SATURN! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10344820
99,000 miles · Jul 14, 2010
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. AFTER SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WAS HESITANT TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNING OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. AFTER SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WAS HESITANT TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNING OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
NHTSA ODI #10343191
105,000 miles · Jun 21, 2010
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. SHE STATED WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AND REFERRED HER TO HER DEALER. …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. SHE STATED WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AND REFERRED HER TO HER DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD FIRST NEED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST BEFORE DETERMINING THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, AT HER EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 105,000.
NHTSA ODI #10339360
88,000 miles · Jun 17, 2010
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRAG AND LOSE POWER, MAKING AN UNUSUAL NOISE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND THE FAILURE SEEMED TO CEASE HOWEVER, THE UNUSUAL NOISE RETURNED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE FOR THE SECO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRAG AND LOSE POWER, MAKING AN UNUSUAL NOISE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND THE FAILURE SEEMED TO CEASE HOWEVER, THE UNUSUAL NOISE RETURNED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE FOR THE SECOND REPAIR AND MOST CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE. THE DEALER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 88,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 108,000.
NHTSA ODI #10336775
60,000 miles · Jun 13, 2010
Power Train
MUST CHANGE TIRES EVERY 10K, AROUND 30K CAR STARTED MAKING GRINDING NOISE TOWARD REAR. RECALL FOR SUSPENSION LOCKS STOPPED WORKING AT 50K. TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING UP AT 60K. CHANGED THERMOSTAT AT 65K. NOW WE DROVE IT AND ONE DAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND REDUCED POWER LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR STALLED. NOW IT STARTS BUT WON…
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MUST CHANGE TIRES EVERY 10K, AROUND 30K CAR STARTED MAKING GRINDING NOISE TOWARD REAR. RECALL FOR SUSPENSION LOCKS STOPPED WORKING AT 50K. TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING UP AT 60K. CHANGED THERMOSTAT AT 65K. NOW WE DROVE IT AND ONE DAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND REDUCED POWER LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR STALLED. NOW IT STARTS BUT WON'T GO VERY FAST , AROUND 10-15 MPH. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10336096
97,000 miles · Jun 8, 2010
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER RECEIVING NOTIFICATION OF AN UNKNOWN RECALL REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WERE NO FAILURES FOUND WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION. SIX MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER RECEIVING NOTIFICATION OF AN UNKNOWN RECALL REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WERE NO FAILURES FOUND WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION. SIX MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK VIOLENTLY AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE INITIAL DEALER SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE BECAUSE THE COMPONENT WAS UNDER RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.
NHTSA ODI #10335215
75,000 miles · Jun 7, 2010
Power Train
SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE (2003 SATURN VUE) IT HAS HAD ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER. I CALLED GM AND ASKED FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE IN THE MATTER AND WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE I BOUGHT THE CAR USED AND IT WAS NOT A GM CERTIFIED AUTO CENTER THEY WERE UNABLE TO EXTEND ANY TYPE OF SERVICE. THE SUV LOSES POWER, BEGINS TO "PUTT" WHEN IT RE…
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SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE (2003 SATURN VUE) IT HAS HAD ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER. I CALLED GM AND ASKED FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE IN THE MATTER AND WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE I BOUGHT THE CAR USED AND IT WAS NOT A GM CERTIFIED AUTO CENTER THEY WERE UNABLE TO EXTEND ANY TYPE OF SERVICE. THE SUV LOSES POWER, BEGINS TO "PUTT" WHEN IT REACHES A HALF OF A TANK GASOLINE. WHEN IN IDLE THE ENGINE SHAKES. GOING ON A CAMPING TRIP IN THE MOUNTAINS THIS BECAME A REAL PROBLEM. THE CAR DID NOT WANT TO CLIMB THE HILLS, SOME TIMES MOUNTAINS. THE TERRAIN WAS SCARY ENOUGH ON ITS OWN (CLIFFS OFF TO THE SIDE) AND NEEDED NO HELP FROM THE SUV NOT WANTING TO DRIVE LIKE IT WAS SUPPOSED TOO. WE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT SEVERAL TIMES AND HAVE ALSO ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT GM. GM TOLD US THAT BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUTSIDE OF THE 8 YEAR OR 100,000 MILE RANGE THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO ASSIST US. THAT BEING SAID. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO TWO GM CERTIFIED MECHANICS WHOM TELL ME THAT IT IS TWO SEPARATE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE FIXED. AS SEEN ONLINE WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES THIS HAS HAPPENED TOO. I REALLY HOPE THAT SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. MANY AMERICANS ARE FEELING THE FINANCIAL PULL WITH OUT GM SCREWING US, I REALLY DON'T NEED TO BE TREATED LIKE THIS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10335123
53,510 miles · Jun 2, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
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
NHTSA ODI #10334321
100,000 miles · Jun 1, 2010
Power Train
-TOTAL FAILURE OF THE VTI TRANSMISSION (SATURN VUE 2003, 4 CYL). .... THE COST OF THE REPAIR IS $5900 AND... MY 2003 SATURN VUE VTI TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 100,000K MILES. ... *TR
NHTSA ODI #10334057
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.