NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
316 reportsClear category filter105,000 miles · Aug 1, 2012
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED INTO SECOND GEAR AND WOULD NOT SHIFT TO THE OTHER GEARS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION ALSO SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING AS WELL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED INTO SECOND GEAR AND WOULD NOT SHIFT TO THE OTHER GEARS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION ALSO SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING AS WELL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE TO THE TRANSMISSION DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE COMPONENTS AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TWO PRIOR TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENTS. THE DEALER ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
NHTSA ODI #10468867
109,000 miles · Mar 23, 2012
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE COULD ONLY BE DRIVEN IN FIRST OR SECOND GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT HE NEEDED THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE COULD ONLY BE DRIVEN IN FIRST OR SECOND GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT HE NEEDED THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WOULD POSSIBLY REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE BACK FROM THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 109,000.
NHTSA ODI #10452779
87,000 miles · Feb 29, 2012
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SLIGHTLY HESITATE BEFORE ACCELERATING. SHORTLY AFTER, THE CONTACT NOTICED A WARNING LIGHT DISPLAYING REDUCED ENGINE POWER. THE CONTACT BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THE VEHICLE WOULD…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SLIGHTLY HESITATE BEFORE ACCELERATING. SHORTLY AFTER, THE CONTACT NOTICED A WARNING LIGHT DISPLAYING REDUCED ENGINE POWER. THE CONTACT BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR SERVICED FOR THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 87,000.
NHTSA ODI #10449690
86,000 miles · Feb 20, 2012
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train
PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN AUGUST 2010 WITH 85000 MILES ON IT, ONE WEEK AFTER BUYING THE VEHICLE THE BODY CONTROL MODULE WENT OUT. AROUND SIX MONTHS LATER THE COIL PACK WENT OUT, TWO MONTHS AFTER THAT THE FRONT BEARINGS WENT OUT. AT ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS THE TUMBLER IN THE IGNITION WENT OUT. AT ABOUT NINE MONTHS THE THERMOSTAT WENT…
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PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN AUGUST 2010 WITH 85000 MILES ON IT, ONE WEEK AFTER BUYING THE VEHICLE THE BODY CONTROL MODULE WENT OUT. AROUND SIX MONTHS LATER THE COIL PACK WENT OUT, TWO MONTHS AFTER THAT THE FRONT BEARINGS WENT OUT. AT ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS THE TUMBLER IN THE IGNITION WENT OUT. AT ABOUT NINE MONTHS THE THERMOSTAT WENT OUT. WE NOW ARE BEING TOLD THAT THE RACK AND PINION AND TRANSMISSION ARE BAD AT 116000 MILES AND LESS THAN 18 MONTHS SINCE OUR PURCHASE DATE. AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES HAVING THESE SORT OF ISSUES. I ALSO HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST THE MAKER OF THE VEHICLE IN WHICH WE WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF. I FEEL THAT THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AND IT SEEMS QUITE RARE THAT ONE WOULD HAVE SO MANY ISSUES WITH A VEHICLE IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10448562
121,848 miles · Dec 14, 2011
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
MY SATURN VUE 2003 EXPERIENCES SERIOUS HESITATION IN POWER WHEN TRAVELING OVER 45 MPH. THE DANGEROUS SPUTTERING GETS HARDER WHEN I NEED TO DRIVE MORE THAN 45 MPH SUCH AS WHEN I HAVE TO TRAVEL ON PARKWAYS OR EXPRESSWAYS. ON DECEMBER 3, 2011, I ENTERED EXIT 36 OF THE GRAND CENTRAL PARKWAY AND MAINTAINED A STEADY SPEED OF 55 MPH IN…
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MY SATURN VUE 2003 EXPERIENCES SERIOUS HESITATION IN POWER WHEN TRAVELING OVER 45 MPH. THE DANGEROUS SPUTTERING GETS HARDER WHEN I NEED TO DRIVE MORE THAN 45 MPH SUCH AS WHEN I HAVE TO TRAVEL ON PARKWAYS OR EXPRESSWAYS. ON DECEMBER 3, 2011, I ENTERED EXIT 36 OF THE GRAND CENTRAL PARKWAY AND MAINTAINED A STEADY SPEED OF 55 MPH IN LIGHT TRAFFIC. AS THE TRAFFIC INCREASED TO EXIT 17, THE CAR BEGAN TO HESITATE AND APPEAR TO WANT TO COME TO A STOP. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN A DECREASED SPEED OF 45 MPH TO AVOID THE SPUTTERING AND HALTING. I GOT INTO THE RIGHT LANE AND EXITED THE PARKWAY AS MY CAR JOLTED THEN CAME TO A SUDDEN HALT. I TURNED THE CAR OFF, WAITED 15 MINUTES, PUT MY CAR IN DRIVE AND IT WOULD NOT DRIVE FORWARD. I PUT IT IN REVERSE AND MANEUVERED IT INTO AN OPEN SPACE ALONG THE CURB ON 78TH AVENUE. I TRIED AGAIN AND ONLY WITH HEAVY PRESSURE ON THE GAS PEDAL WAS THE CAR ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD ENOUGH TO ALLOW ME TO STRAIGHTEN INTO A POSITION TO BE TOWED. I CALLED AAA AND WAS TOWED TO A SATURN AUTHORIZED SERVICE PROVIDER, NORTHSHORE CHEVROLET OF SMITHTOWN, WHERE IT SITS TO THIS DAY. THE BRAND NEW 2010 VT1 TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10439883
95,477 miles · Dec 7, 2011
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT ENGINE STARTUP, A KNOCKING NOISE WAS EMITTED FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT ENGINE STARTUP, A KNOCKING NOISE WAS EMITTED FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,477 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,105.
NHTSA ODI #10438913
61,421 miles · Dec 6, 2011
Power Train
ON THE 27TH OF AUGUST 2011 THE POWER TRAIN (VTI TRANSMISSION) QUIT WORKING. I WAS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND HAD APPLIED MY BRAKES, WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN THE VTI TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE. I WAS LEFT STRANDED WITH ONLY REVERSE. SATURN HAD ISSUED A VTI TRANSMISSION LETTER SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE THAT STATED THEY KNEW THEIR WAS…
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ON THE 27TH OF AUGUST 2011 THE POWER TRAIN (VTI TRANSMISSION) QUIT WORKING. I WAS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND HAD APPLIED MY BRAKES, WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN THE VTI TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE. I WAS LEFT STRANDED WITH ONLY REVERSE. SATURN HAD ISSUED A VTI TRANSMISSION LETTER SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE THAT STATED THEY KNEW THEIR WAS A DEFECT WITH THE VTI TRANSMISSION AND ALL TRANSMISSION WORK WOULD BE 100% COVERED. NOW THE NEW OWNER OF GM STATES HE DOESN'T HAVE TO HONOR THAT VTI TRANSMISSION LETTER. SINCE THAT INCIDENT THE VTI TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT THREE MORE TIMES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10438743
55,700 miles · Nov 16, 2011
Power Train
THIS VEHICLE WAS 6 CYLINDER MODEL WITH AWD. IT HAS A STANDARD 5 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT (SLIPPED) COMPLETELY GOING UP A LOW RISE. AFTER STOPPING AND STARTING UP AGAIN, IT WORKED AGAIN FOR ANOTHER FEW HUNDRED YARDS AND THEN WENT OUT AGAIN JUST AS WE WENT INTO AN INTERSECTION. WE WERE ABLE TO PULL …
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THIS VEHICLE WAS 6 CYLINDER MODEL WITH AWD. IT HAS A STANDARD 5 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT (SLIPPED) COMPLETELY GOING UP A LOW RISE. AFTER STOPPING AND STARTING UP AGAIN, IT WORKED AGAIN FOR ANOTHER FEW HUNDRED YARDS AND THEN WENT OUT AGAIN JUST AS WE WENT INTO AN INTERSECTION. WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OVER AND CALL FOR A TOW. A TOTAL REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS REQUIRED AT CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10436042
114,000 miles · Nov 15, 2011
Power Train
I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW IN 2003 AND AM THE ONLY DRIVER. OTHER THAN THE NOW DEFUNCT TRANSMISSION, THE CAR IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE, BOTH INSIDE AND OUT. WHILE DRIVING APPX. 70MPH ON THE FREEWAY, MY VUE LOST POWER DOWN TO 30MPH AND RPMS INCREASED TO OVER 5000. THE "CHECK ENGINE" AND "REDUCED POWER" WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATE…
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I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW IN 2003 AND AM THE ONLY DRIVER. OTHER THAN THE NOW DEFUNCT TRANSMISSION, THE CAR IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE, BOTH INSIDE AND OUT. WHILE DRIVING APPX. 70MPH ON THE FREEWAY, MY VUE LOST POWER DOWN TO 30MPH AND RPMS INCREASED TO OVER 5000. THE "CHECK ENGINE" AND "REDUCED POWER" WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. I MANAGED TO DRIVE THE CAR TO THE RECOMMENDED GM SERVICE CENTER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VTI TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. SERVICE ADVISOR CONTACTED GM AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULDN'T PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. CAR IS STILL AT GM SERVICE CENTER AS THERE IS NO WAY TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION AND ASSURE ME THAT THE $5000 IT WILL COST ME WILL LAST SINCE THEY CAN NOT GET A NEW TRANSMISSION, ONLY REBUILD ANOTHER ONE THAT HAS FAILED. THIS CAR IS ONLY 8 YEARS OLD WITH 114K MILES AND BASED ON MY HISTORY WITH SATURN VEHICLES, MY EXPECTATION WAS THAT IT SHOULD HAVE LASTED AT LEAST ANOTHER 3 YEARS AND 50K MILES. ALSO, BASED ON THE INFORMATION I HAVE READ ONLINE FROM OTHER VUE OWNERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM, IT APPEARS THAT GM IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE LEVEL OF RESPONSE OR ASSISTANCE TO US. HOW CAN IT BE THAT SOMEONE WITH 120K MILES GETS THEIR REPAIR/REPLACEMENT AT NO CHARGE AND OTHERS WITH LESS MILEAGE CAN NOT? THERE IS NO CONSISTENCY, IT IS A CRAP SHOOT AS TO THE RESPONSE YOU WILL RECEIVE. I STILL HAVE THE LETTERS I RECEIVED FROM SATURN NOTIFYING ME THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS DESTINED TO FAIL. GM SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING RELIEF TO ALL OF US, EQUALLY, SINCE THEY KNEW THAT EVENTUALLY WE WOULD ALL BE AFFECTED. I AM INCLUDED IN THE CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT WITH LAKIN CHAPMAN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10435725
Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 2011
Power Train
2003 SATURN VUE. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE TRANSMISSION *TGW
NHTSA ODI #10431092
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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