NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
316 reportsClear category filter122,000 miles · Sep 25, 2009
Power Train
I HAVE A 2003 SATURN VUE WITH A VTI TRANSMISSION. IT IS STARTING TO REV HIGH RPM WHEN IT SHOULDN'T BE. I HAVE ALREADY TAKEN IT IN FOR 3 TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGES AND SEVERAL COMPUTER UPGRADES. IT HAS APPROXIMATELY 122000 MILES ON IT CURRENTLY. DID SATURN EVER RECALL THIS AFTER YOUR INVESTIGATION OF THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION? …
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I HAVE A 2003 SATURN VUE WITH A VTI TRANSMISSION. IT IS STARTING TO REV HIGH RPM WHEN IT SHOULDN'T BE. I HAVE ALREADY TAKEN IT IN FOR 3 TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGES AND SEVERAL COMPUTER UPGRADES. IT HAS APPROXIMATELY 122000 MILES ON IT CURRENTLY. DID SATURN EVER RECALL THIS AFTER YOUR INVESTIGATION OF THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION? I HAVE RECEIVED NO LETTER ON THIS FROM SATURN FOR A RECALL. HOW CAN THEY NOT BACK UP THEIR CRAPPY PRODUCT AND NOT MAKE IT RIGHT? PLEASE ADVISE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10285244
44,000 miles · Sep 11, 2009
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, HE CONCLUDED THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT CENTER BEARING FAILED. HE NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED BY A TECHNICIAN THAT THE COMPONENT WAS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER. THE PARTS ARE STILL UNAVAILABLE; THER…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, HE CONCLUDED THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT CENTER BEARING FAILED. HE NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED BY A TECHNICIAN THAT THE COMPONENT WAS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER. THE PARTS ARE STILL UNAVAILABLE; THEREFORE, NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 44,000.
NHTSA ODI #10283688
178,000 miles · Sep 1, 2009
Power Train
I PURCHASED MY 2003 SATURN VUE IN AUG OF 2006, IT HAD HIGHMILES WHEN I BOUGHT IT STARTED MAKING NOISES AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE IN 2008 I HAD IT TOWED TO THE TRANSMISSION SHOP THEY TOLD ME IT HAD A VTI TRANS AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE IT BECAUSE THE TRANS ONLY LAST FOR 2YRS. WELL NOW MY TRANS WAS REPLACE THE CAR MADE TH…
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I PURCHASED MY 2003 SATURN VUE IN AUG OF 2006, IT HAD HIGHMILES WHEN I BOUGHT IT STARTED MAKING NOISES AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE IN 2008 I HAD IT TOWED TO THE TRANSMISSION SHOP THEY TOLD ME IT HAD A VTI TRANS AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE IT BECAUSE THE TRANS ONLY LAST FOR 2YRS. WELL NOW MY TRANS WAS REPLACE THE CAR MADE THE SAME SOUND THIS MONTH AND NEEDS ANOTHER TRANSMISSION I CANT AFFORD TO KEEP PAYING FOR SATURNS MISTAKE IF YOU COULD PLEASE DO A RECALL OR TO HELP WITH THIS FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10282581
Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2009
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 SATURN VUE, MY CAR HAS BEEN MAKING STRANGE NOISES, LIKE MY BRAKES WERE GOING, MAKING A SCRAPING NOISE. I WAS PLANNING TO TAKE MY CAR TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT TOMORROW, HAVE THE BRAKES LOOKED OVER. TONIGHT I WAS VISITING MY DAUGHTER AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE, IT WOULD NOT MOVE. SO I TRIED T…
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WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 SATURN VUE, MY CAR HAS BEEN MAKING STRANGE NOISES, LIKE MY BRAKES WERE GOING, MAKING A SCRAPING NOISE. I WAS PLANNING TO TAKE MY CAR TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT TOMORROW, HAVE THE BRAKES LOOKED OVER. TONIGHT I WAS VISITING MY DAUGHTER AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE, IT WOULD NOT MOVE. SO I TRIED TO PUT IT IN DRIVE AND IT MOVED A LITTLE AND STOPPED. NOW I CANNOT GET THE CAR TO MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. I AM FILING A COMPLAINT BECAUSE I HAD RECEIVED A LETTER CONCERNING A CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT AND I WAS READING ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS BY ANOTHER PERSON WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND THROUGH THE INFO PROVIDED BY THIS INDIVIDUAL TO CONTACT THIS SITE. I BOUGHT MY CAR USED IN 2007. IS THERE ANY RECALL??? I KNOW THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT BY GOING TO SATURNVTI.CLASSACTION@LAKINLAW.COM BUT HAS THERE BEEN ANY RECALLS REGARDING THIS LAWSUIT. IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO SINCE THIS WAS SATURN'S MISTAKE. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE WAY THEY ARE HANDLING THIS. I REALLY DO LIKE MY SATURN VUE & YOU WOULD THINK SATURN WOULD DO RIGHT FOR THE CONSUMER OF THEIR DAMAGED VEHICLES. IF NOT I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER ONE & LET EVERYONE KNOW NOT TO BOTHER TO DO SO TOO. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10282042
110,000 miles · Aug 26, 2009
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE TRANSMISSION WHICH REQU…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE TRANSMISSION WHICH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS WILLING TO ASSIST 30% TOWARDS THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST OF $5,000. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 110,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. BL
NHTSA ODI #10281821
87,000 miles · Aug 24, 2009
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HE PROCEEDED THROUGH A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED GEARS WITHOUT WARNING. FIRST GEAR BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION AND THE RPMS WERE APPROXIMATELY 6000; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE DROVE AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY FOR A MONTH. THE DEALER W…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HE PROCEEDED THROUGH A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED GEARS WITHOUT WARNING. FIRST GEAR BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION AND THE RPMS WERE APPROXIMATELY 6000; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE DROVE AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY FOR A MONTH. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH JUNE 2009, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND DROVE AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL GEAR. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BELT SLIPPED AND THAT THE FAILURE WAS COMMON FOR THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED VARIOUS PARTS WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION; HOWEVER, AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS WHILE DRIVING UPHILL, THE RPMS RANGE FROM HIGH TO LOW. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000.
NHTSA ODI #10281540
10,000 miles · Aug 20, 2009
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THERE WAS A NOISE PRESENT IN THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT DIDN'T NOTICE ANY WARNING LIGHTS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND INSPECTED WHERE IT WAS DETERMI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THERE WAS A NOISE PRESENT IN THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT DIDN'T NOTICE ANY WARNING LIGHTS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND INSPECTED WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT NO COST TO THE OWNER. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ON FOUR OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE RISK SINCE THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE COULD CAUSE A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,085.
NHTSA ODI #10281155
91,206 miles · Aug 14, 2009
Power Train
MY MANE IS NAKISHA PAUL AND I OWN A 2003 SATURN VUE.06/22/2007 MY TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED AT 91206 MILES AND NEED TO BE REPLACED 6/29/2007TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED @ A COST OF $4159 7/29/2009THE NEW TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED @137,000 IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC W/O WARNING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10280414
63,300 miles · Aug 14, 2009
Power Train
I HAVE A SATURN VUE 2003, THAT SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 50 MPH. I BELIEVE IT IS A VTI TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I FEAR THE WORSE WHEN DRIVING WITH MY KIDS, I DO NOT FEEL SAFE. I HATE TO DUMP ALOT OF MONEY INTO THIS VEHICLE IF THE PROBLEM WILL NOT BE PERMITTENTLY FIXED. THERE ARE ALOT OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS MATTER O…
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I HAVE A SATURN VUE 2003, THAT SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 50 MPH. I BELIEVE IT IS A VTI TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I FEAR THE WORSE WHEN DRIVING WITH MY KIDS, I DO NOT FEEL SAFE. I HATE TO DUMP ALOT OF MONEY INTO THIS VEHICLE IF THE PROBLEM WILL NOT BE PERMITTENTLY FIXED. THERE ARE ALOT OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS MATTER ON THESE VEHICLES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10280409
119,000 miles · Aug 4, 2009
Power Train
I PURCHASED A SATURN VUE IN 2003 WITH 7 MILES ON IT. 2 YEARS LATER AS I WAS DRIVING IT ON THE HIGHWAY, MY RPM'S GAVE WAY. CAUSE: TRANSMISSION... WAS COMPLETELY REPLACED BY SATURN, THANKFULLY WAS UNDER WARRANTY. NOW 3 YEARS LATER, I AM HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AGAIN. I CONTACTED SATURN AND THEY ADVISED ME THAT I WOULD HAV…
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I PURCHASED A SATURN VUE IN 2003 WITH 7 MILES ON IT. 2 YEARS LATER AS I WAS DRIVING IT ON THE HIGHWAY, MY RPM'S GAVE WAY. CAUSE: TRANSMISSION... WAS COMPLETELY REPLACED BY SATURN, THANKFULLY WAS UNDER WARRANTY. NOW 3 YEARS LATER, I AM HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AGAIN. I CONTACTED SATURN AND THEY ADVISED ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR 25% OF THE COST. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. THEY SOLD A CAR WITH DEFECTIVE PARTS. AS I HAVE RESEARCHED I HAVE NOTICED THAT MANY CONSUMERS ARE BEING HIT WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. GM/SATURN SHOULD REPLACE ALL TRANSMISSION AT NO COST, BEING THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO MAKE A TRANSMISSION THAT WOULD LAST. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10279315
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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