NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
316 reportsClear category filter15,000 miles · Nov 13, 2007
Power Train
YORK PA> SATURN HAS PATCHED UP MY 2003 VUE BY REPLACING VALVES SENSORS ETC. WHICH THEY WELL KNOW WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. AFTER REGULAR PREVENTABLE MAINTENANCE, 2003 SATURN VUE HAS CONTINUOUSLY EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FROM 10,000 POINT ON. VEHICLE WHILE JUST TRAVELING DOWN A ROAD AT 30-40 MPH), DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY…
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YORK PA> SATURN HAS PATCHED UP MY 2003 VUE BY REPLACING VALVES SENSORS ETC. WHICH THEY WELL KNOW WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. AFTER REGULAR PREVENTABLE MAINTENANCE, 2003 SATURN VUE HAS CONTINUOUSLY EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FROM 10,000 POINT ON. VEHICLE WHILE JUST TRAVELING DOWN A ROAD AT 30-40 MPH), DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY INTO HIGHER GEAR , MAKES LOUD GRINDING NOISES WHILE TURNING AND ACCELERATING AND OTHERWISE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY TRANSMISSION WAS LOOKED AT BY DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AVOIDING THE ISSUE OF TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. PROBLEMS CONTINUE AFTER SERVICING. HAVE READ EXTENSIVE REPORTS AND COMPLAINTS INVOLVING SATURN VUE VT1 TRANSMISSION. SATURN NEEDS TO HAVE A RECALL - IT'S 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!!!!!!!!!! THINK ABOUT ALL OF THESE UNHAPPY PEOPLE WHEN SALES GET TOUGH SATURN??? I WILL NOT CONSIDER ANOTHER SATURN UNDER THESE IRRESPONSIBLE CONDITIONS SATURN HAS BROUGHT ON ITSELF!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10208765
Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2007
Power Train
2003 SATURN VUE WITH ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. CUSTOMER STATES THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES WILL NOT ACCELERATE. MECHANIC TOLD HER THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE FIXED OR REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR WAS MADE, THE CAR IS SOMETIMES HARD TO ACCELERATE OR IT OVER ACCELERATES. *KB THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE AND IT SMEL…
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2003 SATURN VUE WITH ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. CUSTOMER STATES THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES WILL NOT ACCELERATE. MECHANIC TOLD HER THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE FIXED OR REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR WAS MADE, THE CAR IS SOMETIMES HARD TO ACCELERATE OR IT OVER ACCELERATES. *KB THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE AND IT SMELLED LIKE BURNT RUBBER. THE CONSUMER RETURNED THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, HOWEVER WHEN SHE PICKED IT UP AND BEGAN TO DRIVE, SEVERAL THINGS STARTED TO HAPPEN:THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN AND WOULDN'T ACCELERATE, AS SHE PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE WOULD BOLT AND SPEED UP, AND JUST BEFORE ARRIVING HOME, IT SLOWED DOWN AGAIN AND THE CONSUMER WAS BARELY ABLE TO PARK THE VEHICLE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10208249
24,000 miles · Aug 17, 2007
Power Train
TOTAL FAILURE OF THE VTI TRANSMISSION (SATURN VUE 2003, 4 CYL). REPLACED 3 TIMES. CAR JUNKED, WASTE OF OVER $20,000, I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL. MULTIPLE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS. CONTACT ME, ANYONE SO I CAN GET ON CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. SATURN SERVICE AND PRODUCTS TERRIBLE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10199980
79,000 miles · Aug 16, 2007
Power Train
AFTER REGULAR PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE, 2003 SATURN VUE HAS CONTINUOUSLY EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FROM 70,000K POINT ON. VEHICLE DROPS GEAR (OFTEN IN BUSY TRAFFIC, AT INTERSECTIONS, OCCASIONALLY WHILE JUST TRAVELING DOWN A ROAD AT 30-40 MPH), DOES NOT SHIFT INTO HIGHER GEAR (CAUSING SUDDEN LOSS OF SPEED DURING HIGHWAY T…
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AFTER REGULAR PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE, 2003 SATURN VUE HAS CONTINUOUSLY EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FROM 70,000K POINT ON. VEHICLE DROPS GEAR (OFTEN IN BUSY TRAFFIC, AT INTERSECTIONS, OCCASIONALLY WHILE JUST TRAVELING DOWN A ROAD AT 30-40 MPH), DOES NOT SHIFT INTO HIGHER GEAR (CAUSING SUDDEN LOSS OF SPEED DURING HIGHWAY TRAVEL), MAKES LOUD GRINDING NOISES WHILE TURNING AND ACCELERATING AND OTHERWISE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY. RECENTLY HAD VEHICLE SERVICED ($1,000 IN CHARGES) AND WAS TOLD THAT MODULAR WAS CRACKED AND TRANSMISSION FLUID NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PROBLEMS CONTINUE AFTER SERVICING. HAVE READ EXTENSIVE REPORTS AND COMPLAINTS INVOLVING SATURN VUE VT1 TRANSMISSION. SATURN NEEDS TO HAVE A RECALL - IT'S CONSUMERS CAN'T AFFORD ALL OF THESE REPAIRS FOR WHAT IS CLEARLY A FAULTY TRANSMISSION THAT HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED!*JB
NHTSA ODI #10199776
86,973 miles · Jul 26, 2007
Power Train
SATURN OF MANCHESTER HAS ADVISED US THAT SATURN IS NO LONGER UTILIZING THE VTI TRANSMISSION IN ANY OF THEIR AWD 4 CYL. SATURN VEHICLES, BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION JUST DID NOT WORK OUT. WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION IN OUR VEHICLE. HOWEVER, AS THE VEHICLE GETS OLDER, IT SEEMS TO REQUIRE MORE AND MORE TRANSMISSION …
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SATURN OF MANCHESTER HAS ADVISED US THAT SATURN IS NO LONGER UTILIZING THE VTI TRANSMISSION IN ANY OF THEIR AWD 4 CYL. SATURN VEHICLES, BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION JUST DID NOT WORK OUT. WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION IN OUR VEHICLE. HOWEVER, AS THE VEHICLE GETS OLDER, IT SEEMS TO REQUIRE MORE AND MORE TRANSMISSION SERVICE. THE 100,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY WE PURCHASED OURSELVES IS NOW ALMOST OVER. AS SENIORS LIVING ON A FIXED INCOME, WE THOUGHT THIS AUTOMOBILE WOULD LAST US FOR MORE THAN ONLY 100,000 MILES. WHO WOULD BUY IT KNOWING ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION? WE THINK THIS PROBLEM MAKES THIS MODEL A LEMON FROM THE BEGINNING. WE HAVE READ SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE VTI TRANSMISSION ON THIS VUE. WE READ THAT OVER 88,000 WERE SOLD. THE ONLY THING SATURN HAS DONE, IS EXTEND THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY FROM 36000 TO 75000 MILES. SATURN CLAIMS TO HAVE ALL AMERICAN PARTS, BUT THIS TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN MADE IN HUNGARY. THERE IS IN PROGRESS A CLASS ACTION SUITE BEING FORMED AGAINST SATURN FOR USING THE VTI TRANSMISSION. WE FOUND THE FOLLOWING ONLINE: "26TH MAR 2007, 07:15 THERE IS CURRENT A CLASS ACTION CASE UNDER REVIEW IN MADISON CO, IL FOR THE AWD 2.2 SATURN VUE TRANSMISSION. IF YOU EMAIL OR PHONE US, WE WILL GIVE YOU THE ATTORNEY'S EMAIL ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER, AND NAME OF THE INVESTIGATOR AND HIS PHONE NUMBER. WE PURSUED IT AND HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE INVESTIGATOR AT THE LAW FIRM. HE CLAIMS THAT HE NOW HAS JUST ABOUT ENOUGH CLAIMS IN ENOUGH STATES TO FILE A CLASS ACTION CASE AGAINST SATURN CORPORATION. WOULD YOU PLEASE BE KIND ENOUGH TO LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM ASAP. SEE IF THIS IS TRUE OR NOT AND LET US KNOW IF WE CAN CLAIM OUR CAR AS A LEMON OR GET SOME KIND OF COMPENSATION? JUST YESTERDAY, THE SATURN SERVICE HAD TO REPLACE HALF OF THE VTI TRANSMISSION AND GAVE US A 12,000 MILE WARRANTY ON IT. THIS WARRANTY DOES US NO GOOD BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE 13,000 MILES OF WARRANTY ON OUR WARRANTY WE PURCHASED OURSELVES, SO THEY OVERLAP. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10197572
92,500 miles · Jun 7, 2007
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. ON MAY 10, 2007, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE ENGINE WOULD RUN BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. ON MAY 10, 2007, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE ENGINE WOULD RUN BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 92,500. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION WAS 50,000 AND THEN CHANGED THE MILEAGE TO 75,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE COST OF THE REPAIR IS $4,950 AND A CREDIT WAS ISSUED BY THE DEALER OF $1,000. THE CONSUMER STATED WANTED TO KNOW WHY WAS THE FULL AMOUNT NOT PROVIDED? UPDATED 09/05/07 *TR
NHTSA ODI #10192656
59,000 miles · May 29, 2007
Power Train
MY 2003 SATURN VUE VTI TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 59K MILES. IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION. THIS NEW TRANSMISSION LASTED 12 HUNDRED MILES. IT WAS AGAIN REPAIRED UNDER THE WARRANTY, THEN 1200 MILES LATER IT FAILED AGAIN. IT WAS "REBUILT" BY THE SATURN DEALERSHIP EACH TIME. IT IS NOW DRIVING EXACTLY T…
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MY 2003 SATURN VUE VTI TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 59K MILES. IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION. THIS NEW TRANSMISSION LASTED 12 HUNDRED MILES. IT WAS AGAIN REPAIRED UNDER THE WARRANTY, THEN 1200 MILES LATER IT FAILED AGAIN. IT WAS "REBUILT" BY THE SATURN DEALERSHIP EACH TIME. IT IS NOW DRIVING EXACTLY THE WAY IT DID AFTER THE 2ND REPAIR AND I BELIEVE IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL IT FAILS AGAIN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10191881
Mileage unknown · May 10, 2007
Latches/locks/linkagesPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic
2003 VUE CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD A RECALL AND AFTER HAVING IT FIX IT BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER THEN THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED**CC THE DRIVERS DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE, THE BRAKES SQUEALED WHENEVER THE CONSUMER BACKED-UP AND THE REAR WIPER WAS REPLACED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10191102
Mileage unknown · May 2, 2007
Power Train
2003 SATURN VUE VTI WITH A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. CUSTOMER STATES THAT IT HAS BEEN MANY REPOSTS OF BAD TRANSMISSIONS**CC *TR
NHTSA ODI #10190076
50,101 miles · Mar 29, 2007
Air BagsElectrical SystemPower Train
FAILED VTI TRANSMISSION..STARTED ON 12/03/03 WITH 9199 MILES. REDUCED POWER LIGHT, CAR WOULD NOT GO WHEN PLACED IN GEAR, FIX-CODE P0107, MAP SENSOR LOW CIRCUIT VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM ON 6/28/04 WITH N14807 MILES. WRENCH LIT, SATURN ALLEGEDLY NOT FOUND ON 12-02-04 WITH 20178 MILES NOT PROPERLY SHIFTING,WRENCH L…
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FAILED VTI TRANSMISSION..STARTED ON 12/03/03 WITH 9199 MILES. REDUCED POWER LIGHT, CAR WOULD NOT GO WHEN PLACED IN GEAR, FIX-CODE P0107, MAP SENSOR LOW CIRCUIT VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM ON 6/28/04 WITH N14807 MILES. WRENCH LIT, SATURN ALLEGEDLY NOT FOUND ON 12-02-04 WITH 20178 MILES NOT PROPERLY SHIFTING,WRENCH LIGHT,FIXED. DTC B2707 INTO SHIFT LOCK TRANSMISSION ON 6/30/05 WITH 27797 MILES SES LIGHT, NOT FOUND. ON 7/17/06 WITH 48664 MI.LES WONT SHIFT GEARS. FIX TOTAL REBUILD AS PER SATURN EXTENDED WARRANTY. ON 11/21/06 4WITH 8664 MILES NOT SHIFTING , STOPPED, THEN WENT INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC. WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE, FIX ED AGAIN. ON 3/10/07 WITH 50107 MILES STOPPED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THEN WENT. INTERMITENTLY SHOOK IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHEN AT OPERATING TEMPERATURES. AS PER SATURN NOT FOUND. ALSO, AIR BAG/HORN ISSUES, ON 1/31/06 WITH 38441 MILES AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON. .SATURN ALLEDGED NOT FOUND ON 4/10/06, AND ON 41040 MILES AGAIN AIR BAG LI, AS PER SATURN DTCB1800472,,DTCB1001, REPLACED MODUAL ASSEMBLY.WAS CHARGED $578.40 .AFTER THAT HORN WAS GOING ON OWN , ASSUMED WAS PART OF ALARM SYSTEM . HORN BURNED OUT, AND SATURN WANTA ABOUT $1500 TO REPAIR WHEN THERE IWAS A AN ADMITTED DESIGN FLAW. ALARM SYSTEM WAS VERIFIED BY OUTSIDE SOURCE OPERATIONAL, NOT EVEN SURE IF AIR BAG WILL DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10186458
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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