NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
316 reportsClear category filter10,000 miles · Sep 23, 2008
Power Train
I PURCHASED MY NEW 2003 SATURN VUE FROM YORK PA SATURN (SUTLIFF GROUP) AND THEY HAVE PATCHED UP MY 2003 VUE BY REPLACING VALVES, SENSORS ETC. ON THE VTI TRANSMISSION/TRANSAXLES 4 OR 5 DIFFERENT TIMES, WHICH THEY WELL KNOW WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I STILL EXPERIENCE TRANSMISSION FAILURE DURING EXTENDED PERIODS OF DRIVING OR TIM…
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I PURCHASED MY NEW 2003 SATURN VUE FROM YORK PA SATURN (SUTLIFF GROUP) AND THEY HAVE PATCHED UP MY 2003 VUE BY REPLACING VALVES, SENSORS ETC. ON THE VTI TRANSMISSION/TRANSAXLES 4 OR 5 DIFFERENT TIMES, WHICH THEY WELL KNOW WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I STILL EXPERIENCE TRANSMISSION FAILURE DURING EXTENDED PERIODS OF DRIVING OR TIMES OF TRAFFIC JAM SITUATIONS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FROM THE 10,000 MILE POINT ON UNTIL THIS TIME. DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY INTO HIGHER GEAR , STILL MAKES GRINDING NOISES WHILE TURNING AND ACCELERATING AND OTHERWISE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY. TRANSMISSION WAS LOOKED AT BY DEALER 5 TIMES AVOIDING THE ISSUE OF TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS HAVE INVOKED ME TO START A MAJOR CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE SATURN CORP. SATURN NEEDS TO HAVE A REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION - CONSUMERS CAN'T AFFORD ALL OF THESE REPAIRS FOR WHAT IS CLEARLY A FAULTY TRANSMISSION THAT HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED! NEXT STEP IS CLASS ACTION SUIT BY OWNERS!!!! ALL I ASK IS FOR GM/SATURN TO REPLACE MY FAULTY DRIVE TRAIN (ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION) FREE OF ALL LABOR AND PARTS WITH THE NEW TYPE DRIVE TRAIN THAT IS IN THE NEW 2007-08 VUE !!! ITS THAT SIMPLE SATURN! AND UNTIL THIS HAPPENS THIS TRANSMITTAL WILL CONTINUE ON TO WEBSITES, PUBLIC POSTS, FLYERS, IN FRONT OF SATURN DEALERS ETC. ETC... PS. I HAVE COPIED THE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY, THE GOVERNMENT RECALL BUREAU, ASTM, AND OTHER SITES TO LET THEM KNOW OF THIS HAZARD/SAFETY PROBLEM. I SUGGEST ALL OTHER CONSUMERS OF THE FAULTY 02-03 VUE AND HAVE THESE SAME PROBLEMS TO TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS, WORKING COLLEAGUES, ETC. GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT SATURN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10243210
64,000 miles · Sep 18, 2008
Power TrainCrash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30-35 MPH, ALL FOUR WHEELS ON THE VEHICLE LOCKED IN PLACE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT AND LANDED SIDEWAYS IN THE CENTER OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD BE DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER ADVISED HER TO B…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30-35 MPH, ALL FOUR WHEELS ON THE VEHICLE LOCKED IN PLACE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT AND LANDED SIDEWAYS IN THE CENTER OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD BE DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER ADVISED HER TO BRING THEM THE VEHICLE AND PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE CONTACT HAS NOT YET TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE SHE IS UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING IT AGAIN WITH HER CHILDREN ON BOARD. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 64,000.
NHTSA ODI #10242778
65,000 miles · Sep 13, 2008
Power Train
LETTER EMAILED TO SATURN CORPORATION, 09/13/2008 DEAR SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE, RE: 2003 SATURN VUE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2008, I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT AND DECREASED POWER LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER CONTACTING THE LOCAL SATURN, IT WAS SUGGESTED TO HAVE MY VUE TOWED. SO, I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO …
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LETTER EMAILED TO SATURN CORPORATION, 09/13/2008 DEAR SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE, RE: 2003 SATURN VUE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2008, I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT AND DECREASED POWER LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER CONTACTING THE LOCAL SATURN, IT WAS SUGGESTED TO HAVE MY VUE TOWED. SO, I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST SATURN DEALERSHIP, CAVENDAR, IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. TODAY, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2008, A DEALERSHIP REPRESENTATIVE CALLED ME THAT THEY HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2008 TO CONTACT SOMEONE AT SATURN IN REGARD TO A POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. AFTER READING SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION USED IN THE 2003 SATURN VUE, DOES THE SATURN CORPORATION / GENERAL MOTORS HAVE A RECALL TO REPAIR THESE TRANSMISSIONS. MY CAR IS AT ABOUT 65,000 MILES. I BOUGHT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AT THE TIME OF THIS NEW CAR PURCHASE IN 2003. THE WARRANTY ONLY LASTED FOR A TOTAL OF 5 YEARS OR 75,000 MILES. THE FIVE YEARS ENDED IN APPROXIMATELY MARCH OF 2008. AFTER READING SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION USED IN THE 2003 SATURN VUE, DOES THE SATURN CORPORATION / GENERAL MOTORS HAVE A RECALL TO REPAIR THESE TRANSMISSIONS? I HOPE THAT SATURN REALLY DOES CARE ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS. SINCERELY, STEVEN WEIDNER, SATURN VUE OWNER, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS SEPTEMBER 13, 2008. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10242068
84,000 miles · Sep 3, 2008
Power Train
PURCHASED 2003 SATURN VUE 12 MONTHS AGO. 4 MONTHS AFTER OWNING IT, THE MILEAGE EXCEEDED THE 83,000 MILE WARRANTY AND THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION WENT OUT LEAVING ME STRANDED ON A BACK ROAD IN FLORIDA, BY MYSELF. IM A TRAVEL NURSE, I WAS OUT OF STATE AT THE TIME. IT COST ME 150.00 TO TOW IT AND 250.00 FOR SATURN TO LOOK AT IT, THEY…
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PURCHASED 2003 SATURN VUE 12 MONTHS AGO. 4 MONTHS AFTER OWNING IT, THE MILEAGE EXCEEDED THE 83,000 MILE WARRANTY AND THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION WENT OUT LEAVING ME STRANDED ON A BACK ROAD IN FLORIDA, BY MYSELF. IM A TRAVEL NURSE, I WAS OUT OF STATE AT THE TIME. IT COST ME 150.00 TO TOW IT AND 250.00 FOR SATURN TO LOOK AT IT, THEY WANTED 6000.00 TO FIX IT. A SMALL DEALERSHIP FIXED THE VTI TRANSMISSION IN IT AND IT LASTED ANOTHER 12000 MILES. IT IS AGAIN BROKE DOWN. I OWE 10000 ON THE CAR AND SATURN WONT RECALL THE VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW THEY HAVE LEFT 1000S OF CUSTOMERS OUT. I HAVE WORKED ALL MY LIFE TO MAINTAIN MY CREDIT NOW THANKS TO SATURN IT WILL BE RUINED. YET THEY HAVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND THEY CANT HELP US OUT. THANKS SATURN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10240833
86,263 miles · Aug 27, 2008
Power Train
3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE USED, THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AS I WENT UP A HILL. AFTER A FEW HOURS OF SITTING IT WORKED AGAIN SO I TOOK IT TO A DEALER. I HAD PURCHASED A POWERTRAIN WARRANTY SO REPAIRS WERE COVERED, BUT THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THERE HAD BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR. THIS OCCURRED AT ABOUT 5…
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3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE USED, THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AS I WENT UP A HILL. AFTER A FEW HOURS OF SITTING IT WORKED AGAIN SO I TOOK IT TO A DEALER. I HAD PURCHASED A POWERTRAIN WARRANTY SO REPAIRS WERE COVERED, BUT THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THERE HAD BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR. THIS OCCURRED AT ABOUT 55,000 MILES. NOW ABOUT A YEAR LATER AT 86,000 MILES AND JUST OVER THE WARRANTY LIMITS, THE TRANSMISSION HAS TROUBLE ENGAGING WHEN I PUT IT INTO DRIVE. I HAVE SINCE DONE SOME SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON YET THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10239886
250 miles · Aug 23, 2008
Power Train
CLUTCH CHATTERS WHEN IN REVERSE. IT DID THIS FROM DAY ONE. WE HAVE NOT HAD IT FIXED DUE TO NO DEALER CLOSE TO MONTEREY CA. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10239458
47,000 miles · Aug 22, 2008
Power Train
2003 SATURN VUE, PURCHASED 11/2002. NOW STARTING TO STALL PERIODICALLY WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, ONLY 48,000 MILES AND TERRIBLY NOISY, GRINDING SOUND WHEN SLOWING AND STARTING. HAD KEPT LETTER FROM SATURN DATED 3/2004 EXTENDING WARRANTY FOR FAULTY VTI TRANSMISSION, ONLY GOOD FOR 5YEARS AFTER PURCHASE OR 75,000 MILES. AFTER …
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2003 SATURN VUE, PURCHASED 11/2002. NOW STARTING TO STALL PERIODICALLY WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, ONLY 48,000 MILES AND TERRIBLY NOISY, GRINDING SOUND WHEN SLOWING AND STARTING. HAD KEPT LETTER FROM SATURN DATED 3/2004 EXTENDING WARRANTY FOR FAULTY VTI TRANSMISSION, ONLY GOOD FOR 5YEARS AFTER PURCHASE OR 75,000 MILES. AFTER VIEWING ALL OF THE CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET WHERE TRANSMISSIONS HAVE FAILED BETWEEN 50-60,000 MILES. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL. I'M UNFORTUNATELY OUTSIDE OF MY 5 YEAR PERIOD FOR ASSISTANCE IN REPAIRS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10239378
Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2008
Power Train
MY COMPLAINT IS AGAINST SATURN...MY FAMILY HAS OWNED 4 SATURNS IN THE PAST 8 YEARS...3 OF THESE HAVE HAD FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS AFTER OWNING THEM FOR A LITTLE OVER 5 YEARS... THE OTHER ONE IS AN 07 SO IT HAS 4 YEARS LEFT I GUESS... REGULAR MECHANICS WILL NOT EVEN TAKE A JOB WORKING ON THEM... SATURN WANTS OVER $4500 FOR A …
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MY COMPLAINT IS AGAINST SATURN...MY FAMILY HAS OWNED 4 SATURNS IN THE PAST 8 YEARS...3 OF THESE HAVE HAD FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS AFTER OWNING THEM FOR A LITTLE OVER 5 YEARS... THE OTHER ONE IS AN 07 SO IT HAS 4 YEARS LEFT I GUESS... REGULAR MECHANICS WILL NOT EVEN TAKE A JOB WORKING ON THEM... SATURN WANTS OVER $4500 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION NOT COUNTING LABOR... A FRIEND OF OURS ALSO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HER 2003 VUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10238406
46,000 miles · Jul 25, 2008
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. AFTER PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN APPROXIMATELY 40 FEET AWAY, THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT COASTED TO A STOP AND HAD TO PUSH THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE; THEREFORE, …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. AFTER PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN APPROXIMATELY 40 FEET AWAY, THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT COASTED TO A STOP AND HAD TO PUSH THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE; THEREFORE, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. APPROXIMATELY SEVEN MONTHS LATER, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY INSTALLED A NEW TRANSMISSION. AFTER 30,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE REPAIRS WOULD COST $6,000. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 09/17/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE FIRST TIME SHE HE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRAMISSION, A PART WAS REPLACED, THE SECOND AND THIRD TIME THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. UPDATE 09/24/08. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10235784
118,000 miles · Jul 18, 2008
Power Train
HEY - I PURCHASED A 2003 SATURN VUE IN FEB, 2008, AROUND MAY 1ST THE TRANSMISSION DIED ON IT. SINCE THEN I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. WHICH GM WILL NOT CALL A RECALL ON THESE TRANSMISSION. THEY ARE SO BAD THAT YOU CAN NOT FIND A WRECKED SATURN SO YOU CAN GET THE TRANSMISSION OUT TO RE…
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HEY - I PURCHASED A 2003 SATURN VUE IN FEB, 2008, AROUND MAY 1ST THE TRANSMISSION DIED ON IT. SINCE THEN I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. WHICH GM WILL NOT CALL A RECALL ON THESE TRANSMISSION. THEY ARE SO BAD THAT YOU CAN NOT FIND A WRECKED SATURN SO YOU CAN GET THE TRANSMISSION OUT TO REPLACE MINE. YOU CAN GET A REFURBISHED ONE FROM SATURN FOR $4,500.00. TO ME WITH THE PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE READ ABOUT GM SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION. GM KNOWS THAT THESE TRANSMISSION ARE DEFECTED BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT USING THEM ANYMORE. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU COULD AT LEAST TELL ME THE STEPS I WILL NEED TO TAKE TO TRY AND GET A RECALL ON THIS TYPE TRANSMISSION. THANKS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10234791
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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