NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
316 reportsClear category filter20,000 miles · Jul 14, 2008
Power Train
I HAVE BEEN PUT-OFF MANY TIMES BY SUTLIFF/YORK SATURN FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS YOU DESCRIBE IN YOUR COMPLAINT. HAD A VERY CLOSE CALL WITH A TRACTOR&TRAILER IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. MANY VISITS TO THE DEALER HAVE YIELDED NOTHING BUT A WASTE OF GAS. PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS I AM MAKING UP SIGNS TO DISPLAY AT ALL PUBLIC EVENTS IN THE GE…
Read full complaint
I HAVE BEEN PUT-OFF MANY TIMES BY SUTLIFF/YORK SATURN FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS YOU DESCRIBE IN YOUR COMPLAINT. HAD A VERY CLOSE CALL WITH A TRACTOR&TRAILER IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. MANY VISITS TO THE DEALER HAVE YIELDED NOTHING BUT A WASTE OF GAS. PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS I AM MAKING UP SIGNS TO DISPLAY AT ALL PUBLIC EVENTS IN THE GETTYSBURG, HANOVER, YORK, SHIPPENSBURG, MECHANICSBURG, BIGLERVILLE AREAS TELLING OF MY PROBLEMS WITH THE SATURN VUE!! ALSO DISPLAYING ONE IN MY VUE WINDOW FOR ALL WORK TRAFFIC 5 DAYS A WEEK TO SEE!*TR
NHTSA ODI #10234169
7,600 miles · Jun 19, 2008
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER TRANSMISSION REPEATEDLY FAILED. SHE HAS HAD TO TAKE HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THIS FAILURE OVER THE COURSE OF THREE YEARS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION TWICE. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS, THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO GRIND, LOSE POWER, AND FAILS TO PROPERLY …
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER TRANSMISSION REPEATEDLY FAILED. SHE HAS HAD TO TAKE HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THIS FAILURE OVER THE COURSE OF THREE YEARS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION TWICE. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS, THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO GRIND, LOSE POWER, AND FAILS TO PROPERLY ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AFTER THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,600.
NHTSA ODI #10231570
10,000 miles · Jun 16, 2008
Power Train
LET ALL CONSUMERS OF THE SATURN KNOW 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/TRANSAXLE 4 OR 5 DIFFERENT TIMES, WHICH THEY WELL KNOW WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I STILL EXPERIENCE TRANSMISSION FAILURE DURIN…
Read full complaint
LET ALL CONSUMERS OF THE SATURN KNOW 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/TRANSAXLE 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 TIL 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 #10231107
66,000 miles · Jun 5, 2008
Power Train
THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2003 SATURN VUE FAILED AT ONLY 66000 MILES. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE VTI VARIABLE TRANSMISSIONS WITH ALL OF THE PROBLEMS WHERE GM HAD TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY. MINE IS PARTIALLY COVERED, BUT I'M STILL OUT A COUPLE THOUSAND OUT-OF-POCKET. GM SHOULD HAVE RECALLED ALL OF THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND REPLACED THEM WIT…
Read full complaint
THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2003 SATURN VUE FAILED AT ONLY 66000 MILES. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE VTI VARIABLE TRANSMISSIONS WITH ALL OF THE PROBLEMS WHERE GM HAD TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY. MINE IS PARTIALLY COVERED, BUT I'M STILL OUT A COUPLE THOUSAND OUT-OF-POCKET. GM SHOULD HAVE RECALLED ALL OF THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND REPLACED THEM WITH A STANDARD AUTOMATIC. THEY ARE NO LONGER PRODUCED DUE TO QUALITY PROBLEMS. WHY HASN'T NHTSA ACTED ON THIS? A SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS HUNDREDS OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10230046
47,000 miles · Jun 2, 2008
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHENEVER THE CONTACT DRIVES LONGER THAN TWO HOURS AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY STOP ACCELERATING. ONCE THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF FOR AT LEAST 20 MINUTES, THE FAILURE NO LONGER EXISTS. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHENEVER THE CONTACT DRIVES LONGER THAN TWO HOURS AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY STOP ACCELERATING. ONCE THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF FOR AT LEAST 20 MINUTES, THE FAILURE NO LONGER EXISTS. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER, BUT IT STILL PERSISTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,400 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.
NHTSA ODI #10229506
76,000 miles · May 23, 2008
Power Train
MY 2003 SATURN VUE WITH VTI TRANSMISSION IS BASICALLY A PIECE OF JUNK!!! I HAVE HAD 3 TRANSMISSIONS IN 13 MONTHS AND SATURN STILL CHARGES ME FOR LABOR! THEY ONLY GIVE ME A 12,000 MILE WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW THEIR TRANSMISSION DESIGN IS AT FAULT. THEY REFUSE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR COLOSSAL MISTAKE AND THEIR SO…
Read full complaint
MY 2003 SATURN VUE WITH VTI TRANSMISSION IS BASICALLY A PIECE OF JUNK!!! I HAVE HAD 3 TRANSMISSIONS IN 13 MONTHS AND SATURN STILL CHARGES ME FOR LABOR! THEY ONLY GIVE ME A 12,000 MILE WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW THEIR TRANSMISSION DESIGN IS AT FAULT. THEY REFUSE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR COLOSSAL MISTAKE AND THEIR SOLUTION WAS TO OFFER ME A WHOPPING 4 FREE OIL CHANGES! LIKE THAT MAKES UP FOR A $7000 TRANSMISSION! THEY KNEW IT WAS A BAD DESIGN AND STILL SHAFTED PEOPLE, THEY SHOULD GO TO JAIL FOR THEIR ACTIONS AND NOW SHOULD BE HELD 100% LIABLE FOR THE HASSLES ALL OF US WHO PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE HAVE HAD! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10228781
82,442 miles · May 23, 2008
Power Train
03 SATURN VUE AT ANDERSON HUMMER04/14/06.03/16/07SERVICE @RED LION CHEVY HESITATION ALMOST STALLING. GRINDING NOISE COULDN'T DUP PROB AFTER 33M TEST-DRIVE, REPLACED FRONT PADS&ROTORS.MILES IN 81258 OUT 81293, 04/03/07 NO POWER. STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF ROAD. ANDERSON SAID TOW CAR TO SATURN OF YORK RD. DEALER SAID WE NEED A NEW T…
Read full complaint
03 SATURN VUE AT ANDERSON HUMMER04/14/06.03/16/07SERVICE @RED LION CHEVY HESITATION ALMOST STALLING. GRINDING NOISE COULDN'T DUP PROB AFTER 33M TEST-DRIVE, REPLACED FRONT PADS&ROTORS.MILES IN 81258 OUT 81293, 04/03/07 NO POWER. STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF ROAD. ANDERSON SAID TOW CAR TO SATURN OF YORK RD. DEALER SAID WE NEED A NEW TRANS,$5,000.82,442 MILESVTI TRAN.TOTAL WAS $1,077.35 REFUNDED $578 OUT OF THE EXTENDED 5YR/75K MILE WARRANTY. DEALER INFORMED US TRANS REPAIR WAS UNDER A 1YR/12,000 MILE WARRANTY. PICKED UP CAR 04/19/07. ON 11/02/07 TOOK THE CAR IN TO BE SERVICED AGAIN,SATURN OF YORK, PA. SES LIGHT AND HES WHEN COLD. SES CODE P0841,TRANS CODE TECH NOTICED TRANS WHINE (LOW FLUID)LEAK AT RIGHT SHAFT SEAL, REPAIRED SEAL FILLED TRANS,ROAD TESTED FOR VTI OPERATION. NOISE IN THE REAR TIRE WHEN BRAKING. THEY CLEANED AND DEGLAZED THE REAR BRAKES ADJUSTED AND TEST DROVE. THIS COST AN ADDITIONAL $454.51.INSPECTED AT SATURN OF YORK ON 03/05/08, PASSED. 05/20/08 DROPPED THE CAR OFF AGAIN AT SATURN OF Y. CAR HAD BEGUN TO HAVE A VIBRATING SOUND IN THE REAR PASS SIDE AND NO POWER WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP/TURNING, IT FELT LIKE THE CAR WAS GOING TO STALL OUT. PER SATURN THE REAR DIFF NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, MY HUSBAND SPOKE WITH THE TECH THAT HAD LOOKED OVER MY CAR. VTI TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE, I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. SATURN HAS OFFERED TO PAY 50% OF THE $5000 TRANSMISSION REPAIR BUT I AM TOO SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR. I STILL OWE $9402.63. WE WENT TO SATURN OF YORK TO FIND OUT WHAT OUR TRADE IN OPTIONS WERE - WE WERE OFFERED $1000 FOR THE CAR! WILLING TO BUY SATURN AGAIN AS LONG AS NO VTI TRANS.SATURN IS NOT WILLING TO HELP US THEY ARE ASKING THAT WE PUT $4100 IN TO A CAR THAT THEY WOULD POSSIBLY GIVE US $4500 IN PERFECT CAR. VTI OF THE CAR IS SO LOW DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION USED. LAKIN LAW FIRM CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST SATURN FOR VTI TRANS.PA/MD WERE NOT IN 12 STATES INCLUDED.2 TRANS IN TWO YRS.EXTENDED WARRANTY NOT ACCEPTABLE,VTI TRANS IS A JOKE! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10228718
15,000 miles · May 20, 2008
Power Train
REPEATED MANUAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. SHIFT CABLE BINDINGS AND CLIPS/ADJUSTERS BROKE, LEAVING THE CAR UNDRIVABLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN LESS THAN 4.5 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. THE VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 15K MILES WHEN THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED, AND ABOUT 43K MILES THE SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT TO G…
Read full complaint
REPEATED MANUAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. SHIFT CABLE BINDINGS AND CLIPS/ADJUSTERS BROKE, LEAVING THE CAR UNDRIVABLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN LESS THAN 4.5 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. THE VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 15K MILES WHEN THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED, AND ABOUT 43K MILES THE SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT TO GET INTO GEAR AT TIMES, EVEN AFTER REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE TO FIX THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE SHIFT CABLES AND ADJUSTERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN 4.5 YEARS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10228375
146,000 miles · May 20, 2008
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY SLIP OUT OF GEAR. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SILENTLY RECALLED THI…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY SLIP OUT OF GEAR. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SILENTLY RECALLED THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL IN 2003 FOR TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE DEALER FURTHER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY REFERRED HIM TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 146,000.
NHTSA ODI #10228351
71,000 miles · May 14, 2008
Power Train
2003 SATURN VUE, BOUGHT USED FROM SATURN OF APPLETON. THEY KNOW THIS VEHICLE HAS A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION BUT THEY CONTINUE TO SELL THIS VEHICLE TO THE UNSUSPECTING PUBLIC, KNOWING THE REPAIR COSTS ARE OUT OF SITE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE COMPANY CARES. IT IS OUTRAGEOUS TO ME THAT THEY HAVE THIS ATTITUDE AND ARE ALLOWED TO …
Read full complaint
2003 SATURN VUE, BOUGHT USED FROM SATURN OF APPLETON. THEY KNOW THIS VEHICLE HAS A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION BUT THEY CONTINUE TO SELL THIS VEHICLE TO THE UNSUSPECTING PUBLIC, KNOWING THE REPAIR COSTS ARE OUT OF SITE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE COMPANY CARES. IT IS OUTRAGEOUS TO ME THAT THEY HAVE THIS ATTITUDE AND ARE ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH IT. SATURN IS GETTING ALOT OF FREE ADVERTISING FROM ME! SCREW US? SCREW THEM! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10227811
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.
Illustration