Power Train. Review the 316 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 124 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 62 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

29 crash reports9 fire reports20 injury reports

Power Train complaints

316 reports

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Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 2005

Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSteering

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I PURCHASED MY 2003 AWD V6 VUE NEW FROM THE SAME DEALERSHIP THAT I TAKE IT TO FOR REPAIRS. SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT, I HAVE REPORTED SEVERAL TIMES THAT THE VEHICLE "STALLS" WHILE ACCELERATING. USUALLY AROUND 40 MPH. THE RPM'S REV UP (TO THE RED) AND THE CAR GOES NOWHERE, LIKE IT HAS SUDDENLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THIS HAPPENS WHILE ACCELERATING AFTER A STOP. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHERE I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED. I FEEL THE DEALERSHIP IS TRYING TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM, BUT HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET IT TO REPEAT. WE ARE NOW LOOKING AT HAVING ONE OF THE SERVICE TECH DRIVE IT FOR A WEEK OR TWO TO SEE IF THEY CAN GET IT TO OCCUR. IT HAPPENS TO ME AT LEAST 3-6 TIMES A MONTH, BUT INTERMITTENTLY. I DO NOT HAVE A VTI TRANSMISSION. I HAVE TWO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH MY VUE THAT HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO BE FIXED; THE FIRST IS THE STEERING/ALIGNMENT. IF I HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL STRAIGHT ON, THE CAR GOES TO THE LEFT. THE DEALERSHIP WILL FIX THE ALIGNMENT, AND WITHIN 2 DAYS IT OFF AGAIN. I HAVE TO STEER TO THE RIGHT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT. IT HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN A WRECK AND I CAN SEE NO REASON FOR THE ALIGNMENT TO GO OFF SO QUICKLY. SECONDLY, THE CAR MAKES A LOUD POPPING SOUND WHEN IDLING IF THE A/C OR HEATER IS ON. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS IS NORMAL. IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT. THE VENTS ALSO BLOW AIR WHEN THE SYSTEM IS OFF. MY VUE HAS 46,001 MILES. I STAND BEHIND THE VEHICLE AND MY DEALERSHIP. I JUST WISH THEY COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT IS CAUSING IT TO REV OUT THE WAY IT DOES. IT IS QUITE ALARMING WHEN IT HAPPENS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10136576

22,000 miles · Jul 7, 2005

Power TrainSuspension

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I HAVE A 2003 SATURN VUE AWD V6 VIN [XXX]. WHEN I HAD BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND IN THE FRONT DRIVE-TRAIN WHILE TURNING AT ANY SPEED. I WAS ABOUT TO PURCHASE ANOTHER VUE FROM A USED CAR DEALERSHIP, BUT UPON READING THE CAR FACTS REPORT IT WAS A 'FACTORY BUY BACK' FOR AN UN-FIXED POPPING SOUND IN THE FRONT END SUBSEQUENTLY I DID NOT PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE. THE OTHER DAY I WAS OUT FISHING DOWN A DIRT ROAD I HAD PASSED MY FAVORITE SPOT. SO, I HAD TO MAKE A 3 POINT TURN ON THE UNEVEN ROAD, I TURNED THE WHEEL ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT AND THE FRONT LEFT TIRE WENT INTO A POT HOLE, I PUT IT INTO REVERSE GIVING IT GAS WHILE TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND HEARD A SOUND POP!-CRUUUNCH! AFTER A QUICK FIELD INSPECTION IT LOOKED LIKE THE CV BOOT CAME LOOSE AND LOST ALL THE GREASE . SO I DROVE IT REAL SLOW BACK HOME AND AFTER TAKING THE TIRE OFF I SAW THAT THERE WAS METAL SHAVINGS, BEARINGS, PIECES ECT. ON THE FRONT LEFT AXLE. SATURN TOLD ME THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT THROUGH THE WARRANTY AN I AM STILL AWAITING THE RETURN OF MY VEHICLE. IT IS TO MY BELIEF THAT THIS IS AN OFTEN OCCURING PROBLEM. SHOULD THIS HAPPEN TO SOMEONE WHO DID NOT REALIZE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE PROBLEM DEATH COULD RESULT FROM HARD BRAKING OR EVASIVE MANUVERING WITH THIS EXISTING CONDITION TO THE AXLE. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #10127791

16,358 miles · Jun 10, 2005

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

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CONSUMER STATES: TOOK IN VEHICLE ON 5 SEPARATE TIMES FOR TRANSMISSION, WHINING NOISE WAS HEARD, ALMOST LIKE THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING. WAS ON HIGHWAY, AND NO MATTER HOW MUCH GAS CONSUMER GAVE IT VEHICLE WOULDN'T MOVE. WHEN GIVING IT MORE GAS THE ENGINE WOULD REV BUT STILL WOULDN'T GO. BEFORE PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION, AT A SEPARATE TIME, SOMETHING WITH THE COMPUTER WENT WRONG. IT COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. SUCH AS GAS GAUGE SHOWED EMPTY TANK AND SPEEDOMETER WENT TO ZERO.*AK WHEN AT A STOP IDLE SEEMS TO DROP AND WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOP, VEHICLE HESTIATES AND LURCHES. TRANSAXLE SPEED SENSOR REPLACED. TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE REPROGRAMED DUE TO WHINING NOISE. HOOD WON'T OPEN. HOOD CABLE READJUSTED. DRIVER AND PASSENGER WASHER NOZZLE MISSING AND REPLACED. STEERING WHEEL MAKING NOISE. SHAFT BOOT GREASED. SERVICE ENGINE SOON (SES) LIGHT ON. OXYGEN SENSOR WAS CONTAMINATED AND REPLACED. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10120562

Mileage unknown · Apr 18, 2005

Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolinePower Train

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PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION EQUIPMENT ON 2003 SATURN VUE.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***.*MR THREE WEEKS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE CONSUMER WAS NOTIFIED OF A TRANSMISSION RELATED RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. FOUR MONTHS LATER THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING IN TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (VTI TRANSMISSION). THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE VTI TRANSMISSION BUT INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE WITH A DIFFERENT TYPE OF TRANSMISSION THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY. THE STARTER AND REAR WIPER MOTOR WAS REPLACED. BOTH FUEL SENDERS FAILED RESULTING IN INACCURATE FUEL READINGS. THE LIFTGATE BECAME STUCK WHEN OPENED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10119004

5,637 miles · Mar 28, 2005

Power Train

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AFTER HAVING MY (BRAND NEW) 2003 SATURN VUE FOR 4 MONTHS, IT STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION ON MY WAY TO WORK. THE CAR WAS TOWED AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY SATURN. AFTER THAT, I HAVE HAD OTHER INSTANCES OF POOR PERFORMANCE BY THE VEHICLE, WHICH, AGAIN WAS RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION. EACH TIME, SATURN EITHER REPLACED OR REPAIRED THE PART(S) THAT WERE CAUSING THE PROBLEMS. I JUST RECENTLY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE WAY THE CAR WAS DRIVING AND I TOOK IT IN TO FIND OUT THAT I HAD YET ANOTHER TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AS WELL AS A MALFUNCTIONING REAR SUSPENSION, WHICH I FOUND OUT HAD BEEN RECALLED. ALL PARTS WERE EITHER REPAIRED OR REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10115942

35,000 miles · Feb 7, 2005

Power Train

2003 SATUN VUE TRANSMISSON FAILURE IT STOP RIGHT IN FRONT SATURN SHOW ROOM *JB

NHTSA ODI #10110000

38,600 miles · Feb 3, 2005

Power Train

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I HAVE BEEN HAVING CONTINUAL ALL WHEEL DRIVE ISSUES WITH MY 2003 SATURN VUE. IT HAS BEEN STUCK IN BOTH SAND AND SNOW OF MODERATE DEPTH AND BEEN UNABLE TO DRIVE OUT UNDER IT'S POWER. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER A NUMBER OF TIMES AND NOW I AM TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM IS IN FACT A "SAFETY FEATURE". THE FEATURE NEARLY RESULTED IN A SERIOUS COLLISION WITH A SNOW PLOW WHEN MY VEHICLE BECAME STUCK IN ONLY 4" OF SNOW. I AM BEING TOLD BY OTHER VUE OWNERS THAT THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH BOTH THE TRANSMISSION AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL BEARINGS. I BOUGHT AN ALL WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE AND PAID EXTRA FOR THIS FEATURE. I AM NOW SADDLED WITH VEHICLE THAT DOES NOT PERFORM AS ADVERTISED AND HAS ALREADY CAUSED A NEAR DISASTER. I HAVE REPORTED MY PROBLEM TO SATURN AND THE DEALER. A FORMAL FILE HAS BEEN STARTED. NO REPAIR HAS BEEN MADE SINCE SATRUN CLAIMS THIS TO BE A "SAFETY FEATURE" PER THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE FREDERICK SATURN DEALERSHIP. IT IS NOT SAFE AND WILL RESULT IN ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10108492

Mileage unknown · Jan 26, 2005

Power Train

WHEN CONSUMER STOP FOR RED LIGHT, THEN STEP ON ACCELERATOR, CAR HESITATES THEN LURCHES FORWARD ABRUPTLY. *BF WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE CONSUMER HEARD A HUMMING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECREASED IN SPEED TO AROUND 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPROGRAMMED THE SOFTWARE. THREE WEEKS AFTER THE VEHICLE WA…

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NHTSA ODI #10110977

14,000 miles · Jan 11, 2005

Power Train

2003 VUE, PURCHASED NEW 9/03- 4 CYCLINDER VTI TRANSMISSION FAILED ON 4 OCCASSIONS, CAR WOULD LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING. OCCURED BETWEEN 6-04 AND 9-04 - VERY UNSAFE PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. HAPPENED ON 4 OCCASSIONS, ONCE CAR LOST POWER TOTALLY - HAD TO BE TOWED. DEALER FIXED A DIFFERENT PROBLEM 3 DIFFERENT TIMES, PROBLEM REMAINED…

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NHTSA ODI #10106099

27,000 miles · Nov 29, 2004

Power Train

VEHICLE WOULD DECELERATE WHILE DRIVING FROM A STOP POSTION, AND TRANSMISSION WOULD MAKE A GRINDING NOISE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10101745

Official recalls

14V490000 · Electrical System:ignition

Aug 8, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2002-2004 Saturn Vue vehicles manufactured September 11, 2001, to April 6, 2004. In the affected vehicles, it may be possible for the key to be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if the transmission is not in the "Park" position; or (b) for a manual transmission, if the parking brake is not engaged and the transmission is not in the "Reverse" position. This potential for rollaway increases the risk for a crash and occupant or pedestrian injuries.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle to see if the key can be pulled out when the ignition is off. If it can, dealers will replace the ignition cylinder and keys, free of charge. The recall began in October 2014. Owners may contact Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 14506. Note: Until a vehicle has been remedied, owners and operators are advised that when exiting, to be sure that the vehicle is in "Park," or in the case of a manual transmission, that the vehicle is in the "Reverse" position and the parking brake is engaged.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

PE06006 · 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

Suspension:rear