NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
316 reportsClear category filter4 miles · May 14, 2008
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT MAKES A LOUD WHINING NOISE AND HESITATES WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER APPROXIMATELY THREE TIMES FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEED…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT MAKES A LOUD WHINING NOISE AND HESITATES WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER APPROXIMATELY THREE TIMES FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4.
NHTSA ODI #10227755
Mileage unknown · May 8, 2008
Power Train
2003 SATURN VUE HAS MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS! OURS HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ONCE ONLY 60,000 MILES AGO AND NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. I HAVE READ A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE SATURN CORP IS NO HELP! THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE PROBLEMS. I KNOW AS A LARGE FAMILY WE CANNOT AFFORD A C…
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2003 SATURN VUE HAS MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS! OURS HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ONCE ONLY 60,000 MILES AGO AND NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. I HAVE READ A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE SATURN CORP IS NO HELP! THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE PROBLEMS. I KNOW AS A LARGE FAMILY WE CANNOT AFFORD A CAR PAYMENT AND TO PAY $5000+ TO FIX IT! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10227059
47,000 miles · Apr 30, 2008
Power Train
ABOUT TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION IN 2003 SATURN VUE FOR THE FOURTH TIME IN ONE CALENDAR YEAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10226294
90,000 miles · Mar 13, 2008
Power Train
DELAYED IN SHIFTING, NO WARNING CAR WILL SHIFT OUT OF GEAR AT FREEWAY SPEEDS TRANSMISSION FAILURE X4, REPLACE OLD ONE WITH NEW ONE FAILURE X2 AT 15,000 MILES,CALLED DEALERSHIP AND CORPORATE OFFICE NO HELP, FOUND OUT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING THIS MAKE AND MODEL, IM SURPRISED NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT THIS PROB…
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DELAYED IN SHIFTING, NO WARNING CAR WILL SHIFT OUT OF GEAR AT FREEWAY SPEEDS TRANSMISSION FAILURE X4, REPLACE OLD ONE WITH NEW ONE FAILURE X2 AT 15,000 MILES,CALLED DEALERSHIP AND CORPORATE OFFICE NO HELP, FOUND OUT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING THIS MAKE AND MODEL, IM SURPRISED NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10221036
Mileage unknown · Mar 7, 2008
Power Train
TRANSMISSION SLIPS, AUTO SUDDENLY STOPPED ON FREEWAY, IT DID NOT SPEED AT ALL BUT 30 TO 40 MILES PER HOUR AFTER A PULL-OVER 30 MINUTES BREAK. IT CONTINUES SLIPPING AND SHAKING DURING STOPS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10220335
59,000 miles · Mar 3, 2008
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AND GREATER, THE TRANSMISSION MAKES STRANGE NOISES, HESITATES, JERKS, VIBRATES, HOPS, SLIPS, AND SLAMS INTO GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO GEAR UPON TAKE OFF. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION FOUR TIMES ON THE FOLLOWING DATES: 12/05/2007, 12/08/2007, 01/0…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AND GREATER, THE TRANSMISSION MAKES STRANGE NOISES, HESITATES, JERKS, VIBRATES, HOPS, SLIPS, AND SLAMS INTO GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO GEAR UPON TAKE OFF. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION FOUR TIMES ON THE FOLLOWING DATES: 12/05/2007, 12/08/2007, 01/09/2008, AND 02/11/2008. THE TIRES WERE ALSO BALANCED DURING THE FOURTH REPAIR, BUT THIS DID NOT CORRECT ANYTHING. ONE OF THE TRANSMISSIONS HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVEN 50 MILES. THE NEXT TIME THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, THE DEALER HAD THE VEHICLE FOR TWENTY ONE DAYS. THE DEALER OFFERED HIM A $1,000 CERTIFICATE TO TRADE THE VEHICLE. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED A FIFTH TIME. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
NHTSA ODI #10219906
58,000 miles · Feb 25, 2008
Power Train
FLAGGED. [ FLAG MESSAGE - MARK AS UNREAD ] SUBJECT: RE: SATURN DEFECT DATE: MON, 25 FEB 2008 16:38:45 -0500 FROM: "PUB INQ WEB MAILBOX" <PUBINQ@NTSB.GOV> ADD MOBILE ALERT THE CORRECT AGENCY TO CONTACT WOULD BE THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, WWW.NHTSA.DOT.GOV. SUSAN STEVENSON INFORMAT…
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FLAGGED. [ FLAG MESSAGE - MARK AS UNREAD ] SUBJECT: RE: SATURN DEFECT DATE: MON, 25 FEB 2008 16:38:45 -0500 FROM: "PUB INQ WEB MAILBOX" <PUBINQ@NTSB.GOV> ADD MOBILE ALERT THE CORRECT AGENCY TO CONTACT WOULD BE THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, WWW.NHTSA.DOT.GOV. SUSAN STEVENSON INFORMATION SPECIALIST NTSB RECORDS MANAGEMENT DIVISION 490 L'ENFANT PLAZA EAST, SW WASHINGTON, DC 20594 800-877-6799 -----ORIGINAL MESSAGE----- FROM: PUBLICMAIL@NTSB.GOV [MAILTO:PUBLICMAIL@NTSB.GOV] SENT: MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2008 3:20 PM TO: PUB INQ WEB MAILBOX SUBJECT: PUBLIC CORRESPONDENCE THE FOLLOWING REQUEST WAS RECEIVED FROM THE NTSB WEB SITENONE USA HIGHWAY MESSAGE: I AM TYING TO FIND OUT IF THE NTSB HAS INVESTIGATED THE VTI TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THAT SATURN IS IGNORING. THIS IS WELL DOCUMENTED THAT SATURN KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT RECALL THEM OR COME UP WITH A PERMANENT FIX. I AM ON MY THIRD TRANNY AND THESE ARE A REAL SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE OF THE FREQUENCY AND QUICKNESS WITH NO WARNING THAT THEY ARE BREAKING. MINE HAS LEFT ME AND/OR MY WIFE STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD OR THE INTERSECTION TWICE NOW. IS IT NOT GOING TO BE INVESTIGATED UNTIL AFTER SOMEONE GETS KILLED OR SERIOUSLY HURT? HAS THE NTSB ALREADY DONE AN INVESTIGATION AND FOUND NOTHING? PLEASE LET ME KNOW THANK YOU *** THIS REQUEST FOR AN INFORMATION PRODUCT REQUIRES A RESPONSE *** *TR
NHTSA ODI #10219108
102,000 miles · Feb 23, 2008
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR DOWN THE ROAD AND STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN WHEN PULLING OFF THE CAR STARTED TO JERK AND WOULD NOT GO WHEN IT DID GO AFTER ABOUT A SECOND AND I WAS ALREADY OUT IN THE ROAD THE CAR WAS STALLING AND ME AND MY THREE CHILDREN WAS ALMOST HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. TOOK THE CAR INTO A SHOP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE TRAN…
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WHILE DRIVING THE CAR DOWN THE ROAD AND STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN WHEN PULLING OFF THE CAR STARTED TO JERK AND WOULD NOT GO WHEN IT DID GO AFTER ABOUT A SECOND AND I WAS ALREADY OUT IN THE ROAD THE CAR WAS STALLING AND ME AND MY THREE CHILDREN WAS ALMOST HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. TOOK THE CAR INTO A SHOP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHICH A TRANSMISSION CANNOT BE FOUND TO FIT THIS CAR BUT ONE WHICH ALMOST 8000. AND NOW I AM READING ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS AND NOW AM SCARED TO TAKE A CHANCE TO FIX IT NOW THAT IT MAY NOT TAKE SINCE ALL OF THE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE RECALL THIS TYPE TRANSMISSION BEFORE SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS TO SOMEONE AND THEIR CHILDREN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10218959
79,500 miles · Feb 20, 2008
Power Train
I OWN A 2003 SATURN VUE AWD CAR THAT HAS 79,500 MILES. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR SINCE PURCHASING IT BRAND NEW IN 2003. THE BIGGEST ISSUE INVOLVED THE POWER TRAIN. A SECONDARY BELT IN THE ENGINE BROKE WHILE THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN THE SECONDARY BELT BROKE IS TANGLED WITH THE TIMING BELT…
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I OWN A 2003 SATURN VUE AWD CAR THAT HAS 79,500 MILES. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR SINCE PURCHASING IT BRAND NEW IN 2003. THE BIGGEST ISSUE INVOLVED THE POWER TRAIN. A SECONDARY BELT IN THE ENGINE BROKE WHILE THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN THE SECONDARY BELT BROKE IS TANGLED WITH THE TIMING BELT CAUSING THE TIMING BELT TO SKIP A TOOTH. 12 VALVES WERE BENT. I CONTACTED A SATURN DEALERSHIP REGARDING THE ISSUE WITH THE POWER TRAIN AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST 7000.00 TO REPAIR. I HAVE HAD THE ENGINE REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. NO WARNING LIGHTS EVER APPEARED TO DENOTE ANY ISSUE WITH THE POWER TRAIN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10218697
93,480 miles · Jan 28, 2008
Power Train
THE VEHICLE WAS RIDING SMOOTHLY ON THE INTERSTATE. THE VEHICLE AFTER 25 MILES OF HIGHWAY TRAVEL SUDDENLY DECREASED IN SPEED. AT THE SAME TIME THE TRANSMISSION RESPONDED WITH A LOAD CONTINUAL ROAR. I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE AND I WAS ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND MAKE IT TO THE MEDIAN WITHOUT INJURY. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED THE REM…
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THE VEHICLE WAS RIDING SMOOTHLY ON THE INTERSTATE. THE VEHICLE AFTER 25 MILES OF HIGHWAY TRAVEL SUDDENLY DECREASED IN SPEED. AT THE SAME TIME THE TRANSMISSION RESPONDED WITH A LOAD CONTINUAL ROAR. I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE AND I WAS ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND MAKE IT TO THE MEDIAN WITHOUT INJURY. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED THE REMAINING 30 MILES AT A TOTAL COST OF $120.00. I WAS TOLD BY THE REPAIR TECHNICIAN THAT IT WOULD TAKE $5,583.00 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION THAT WAS UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE SATURN DEALERSHIP QUOTED THE REPAIR AT $6,000.00. I CURRENTLY OWE $7,800.00 ON THE PRICE OF THE VEHICLE PURCHASED 2 YEARS AGO. THE CAR IS UNDER THE 5 YEAR WARRANTY MARK BUT HAS 93,500 WHICH FALLS SHORT OF THE EXTENDED TRANSMISSION WARRANTY. I AM UNABLE TO AFFORD TO REPAIR IT AND WILL NOT SINCE I'VE HEARD STORIES OF OTHERS NEEDING TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION 2 YEARS LATER. I CAN'T SELL THE CAR FOR 2 REASONS. THE 1ST I DON'T WANT TO PASS THE PROBLEM ON TO SOMEONE ELSE. THE 2ND I STILL HAVE A NOTE ON THE LOAN AND THE HIGHEST OFFER THE SATURN DEALER WILL GIVE US IS $1,500 WITH OR WITHOUT A NEW TRANSMISSION. I AM NOT IN A FINANCIAL POSITION TO HAVE 2 CAR NOTES WITH 1 CAR. I DO NOT NO WHAT ELSE TO DO. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10216289
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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