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

What owners actually said

622 reports

130,000 miles · Jul 14, 2013

Power Train

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WHILE I WAS OUT RUNNING ERRANDS I WAS COMING UP TO MAIN INTERSECTION ON THE HIGHWAY & LOST ALL POWER. ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING BUT I HAD NO POWER AT ALL. IT STOPPED SHIFTING. I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO PULL OFF THE SIDE OF ROAD BEFORE IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I WAS STRANDED THERE FOR AN HOUR BEFORE ANYONE COULD COME GET ME. I ENDED UP HAVING TO HAVE IT TOWED. THIS IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. I AM A SINGLE WOMAN IN THE SOUTH WITH NO IMMEDIATE FAMILY IN THIS STATE. I HAD NO WAY TO GET TO WORK FOR 2 WEEKS AND NO INCOME TO RENT A CAR. EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE READ ONLINE, IN CAR FORUMS AND ON COMPLAINT BOARDS SAY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. IF SO, WHY HASN'T GM HAD A RECALL ON THESE TRANSMISSIONS? I HAD TO HAVE A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION INSTALLED AT A GM DEALERSHIP THAT COST ME $4200.00 THAT I DID NOT HAVE. THE VEHICLE IS ONLY WORTH $3100, AT BEST, AT KELLY BLUE BOOK. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10524734

Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 2013

EquipmentPower Train

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2003 SATURN VUE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND MORE THE DATE OF SALE: 12/05/2008. THE LOAN OFFICER CLAIMS STATES EVERYTHING WAS OK WITH THE VUE BEFORE PURCHASE PER HER REVIEW. HOWEVER THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING, REAR HUB BEARING, NOISE COMING FROM LEFT SIDE BEGINNING JAN 14, 2009- TO CURRENT. WE REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND RETURN TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT WITH THE FOLLOWING REPORT: BRAKES MAKING NOISE ALL THE TIME AND BURNING SMELL FROM VENTS. SATURN DEALERSHIP IN CONCORD REPAIR: FRONT BRAKE ROTOR REFINISHING AND THE TEACH COMMENTS: UNABLE TO VERIFY ANY SMELLS THIS VISIT. A/C DRAIN NOT RESTRICTED. CALLED GM IN DETROIT, MI (NO HELP) AND THEY ARE AWARE THAT THE VUE WAS RETURN BECAUSE OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS; MY DAUGHTER MET THE LADY WHO PURCHASES THE VUE 2003 AT A FOSTER CARE MEETING IN CONCORD IN 2009, SHE ASK ABOUT THE RACK THAT WAS ON TOP OF VUE 3/24/2009: FILED A CLAIM WITH BBB AUTO LINE PROGRAM: CLAIM THE WARRANTY EXPIRED ON 7/31/06. I PURCHASE THE VUE IN 2008. --WHAT DOES THAT MEAN. ON MARCH 21, 2012 CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION WITH TRANSMISSION CENTER IN OUR AREA: ADVICE COULD NOT CONFIRM TRANS SLIPPAGE, IT NEEDS REAR HUB BEARING. WE REPLACE THE HUB BEARING, BUT THE NOISE AND SLIPPAGE CONTINUED. THAT SUMMER (JUNE 2012) I TRAVELED TO OAKLAND WITH THE DEBUTANTES (5 YOUNG LADIES INCLUDING MY GRANDDAUGHTER TO EAT) IN ROUTE IN TRAFFIC THE VUE BEGIN TO LOSE ITS POWER AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. CAR'S GOING AROUND US-IT WAS CRAZY AND NICE MEN CAN AND PUSH THE VUE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TODAY SUNDAY JULY 8, 2013 AND AT 1:50PM PST.--SPOKE WITH THE SALES CONSULTANT WHO PROMISES TO HAVE THE OWNER CALL ME BACK. HE DID AND ASKS HOW I CAN HELP YOU. I EXPLAINED ONCE AGAIN THE PROBLEM AND HE SAID" SOUNDS LIKE YOU NEED A NEW CAR". I DISCONNECTED THE CALLED...VERY DISRESPECTFULLY--NOT FUNNY. I'VE CHECK THE INTERNET AND CALLED OTHER TRANSMISSION CENTER: COST RANGE $3,999.00. PLEASE HELP ME RETRIEVE SOME OR ALL OF MY MONEY BACK. RESPECTFULLY [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATIO

NHTSA ODI #10523568

76,592 miles · Jul 4, 2013

Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

MOTOR TRANSMISSION FAILS TO MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARDS EVEN THOUGH ENGINE STARTS FINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10523152

123,000 miles · Jun 24, 2013

Electrical System

I HAVE A SATURN VUE 2003 SOMEONE WAS SITTING IN PASSENGER THEY THOUGHT I HAD MY CAR IN PARK AND THEY TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR AND WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN PARK THE PASSENGER DOOR WONT OPEN FROM INSIDE SO I WENT OUT AND TRIED TO OPEN THE PASSENGER FROM THE OUTSIDE. I WAS ABLE TO OPEN WITH THE REMOTE NOW I CAN'T GET IT TO OPEN WITH THE …

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NHTSA ODI #10521396

65,100 miles · Jun 20, 2013

Air Bags

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CAR PARKED AT WORK - INFORMED HORN WAS BLOWING ON CAR. TURNED OFF ALARM - STILL BLOWING. THUMPED CENTER OF STEERING WHEEL - BLOWING STOPPED. HAPPENED ONE WEEK LATER - SAME SCENARIO. TWO DAYS LATER - BLEW HORN AT DOG WHILE DRIVING - HAD TO THUMP CENTER OF STEERING WHEEL TO MAKE BLOWING STOP. HAVE HAD SIX (6) MORE INCIDENTS SINCE APRIL '13 = SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN HEAT BUILDS UP IN CAR. THUMPING CENTER OF STEERING WHEEL STOPS BLOWING. AFRAID TO DISCONNECT HORN DUE TO SAFETY OF HAVING A HORN. HAVE READ MULTIPLE, SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET - FOCUSES MAINLY ON '02 AND '03 SATURN VUE. WONDERING IF THERE IS A RECALL? HAVE SEEN ESTIMATES FOR REPAIR OF HORN SWITCHES AND AIRBAGS ABOVE $700.00. SEEMS TO BE CHRONIC PROBLEM - COULD LEAD TO FIRE IN AIRBAG DUE TO FAULTY SWITCH???? VERY CONCERNED. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10520972

Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 2013

Electrical SystemPower Train

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MUCH REGRET I EVER PURCHASED THIS SATURN VUE 2003, I LEFT MY HOME YESTERDAY WAS LEFT STRANDED IN THE ROAD AS THE TRANSMISSION STARTED FELT LIKE SKIPPING AND WHEN I HAD TO STOP FOR A VEHICLE COMING IN THE ROAD IT WOULDN'T DRIVE AT ALL! WOULDN'T GO IN GEAR FOR THE DRIVE OR REVERSE!! SO SOMEONE CALLED A SHERIFF. I THEN CALLED A FRIEND WHO HAD TO COME AND PUSH VEHICLE OUT OF ROAD TRAFFIC. THIS TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED IN 2010 IT'S AS IF IT WAS NEVER DONE! THIS IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION FOR WORK SO NEEDLESS TO SAY I AM OUT OF WORK YESTERDAY, AND TODAY!!! CALLING SATURN SERVICE AT 7:30 AM SURE THEY ARE GOING TO JUMP RIGHT ON IT (SARCASM). THE PAST MONTH THE ELECTRICAL WILL BLINK ON AND OFF. THEN AFTER A WHILE OF DRIVING IT GOES COMPLETELY OUT. UNTIL THE NEXT DRIVE THEN THE BLINKING STARTS. I HOPE NO ONE HAS A YOUNG NEW DRIVER ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THESE VEHICLES. THEY ARE BY NO MEANS SAFE!!! MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HANDLE WHAT I WENT THROUGH WITH THIS VEHICLE YESTERDAY. IT WOULD HAVE PUT A YOUNG FEMALE AT RISK!!! I DO NOT HAVE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO SINK INTO THIS VEHICLE I STILL OWE $7,000 ON AN UNDRIVEABLE VEHICLE. I AM A HOMEOWNER WITH A MORTGAGE AND A SINGLE PARENT THAT WORK HOURS HAVE BEEN CUT BACK DRASTICALLY AT WORK. I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE LAWSUIT UNTIL NOW I NOW UNDERSTAND WHY WHEN I WENT TO TRY AND TRADE THIS VEHICLE A FEW MONTHS BACK TO NO AVAIL MAKES SENSE NOW WHY NO CAR DEALER WANTED THIS VEHICLE!!! EVERYTHING MAKES SENSE WHY NO ONE WOULD TRADE! I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO TRADE VEHICLES UNTIL NOW. THIS IS MY LAST GM VEHICLE. TO SAY THE LEAST. I HAVE NO FAMILY HERE TO HELP WITH MY PROBLEM SO I AM CERTAINLY OPEN FOR SUGGESTIONS SHOULD SOMEONE HAVE ANY??? THANKS *TR

NHTSA ODI #10520007

99,200 miles · May 15, 2013

Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION OF THIS VEHICLE HAS CAUSED A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ALREADY, BUT THEY ARE STILL BEING SOLD WITH THESE HORRIBLE TRANSMISSIONS. I BOUGHT MY 2003 VUE LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AGO AND WHILE I WAS DRIVING AROUND TO RUN ERRANDS MY TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO IN GEAR IN ORDER TO DRIVE. IT WOULD GO IN REVERSE, BUT NOT FORWARD. *…

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NHTSA ODI #10512237

98,000 miles · May 3, 2013

Power Train

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SATURN NOTIFIED ME THAT MY SATURN VUE VTI TRANSMISSION HAD A PROBLEM AND OFFERED TO REPAIR IT FOR 1/2 PRICE OR GIVE ME A CREDIT TOWARDS A NEW CAR. I DECIDED TO HAVE IT REPAIRED ON 8/17/2011 AT A GM DEALER. AFTER 20 MONTHS AND 27,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION BROKE AGAIN. I SPOKE WITH GM, THEY SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE VTI TRANSMISSION WAS NEVER FIXED SO THAT MEANS THE NEW ONE INSTALLED WAS DEFECTIVE. I ASKED THE GM REP TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO AND THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING. WHY WOULD THEY REPLACE A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT WITH ANOTHER DEFECTIVE PRODUCT AND THEN WASH THEIR HAND OF THE MATTER? GM SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS FRAUD. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD HAVE BEEN LISTED AS A RECALL AND MORE INFORMATION SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO THE CONSUMER. ESPECIALLY AFTER "WE THE PEOPLE" BAILED OUT GM FROM BANKRUPTCY. THERE ARE 100'S OF ACCOUNTS ON THE INTERNET FROM SATURN VUE OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE. I WOULD EXPECT THE GOVERNMENT TO LOOK INTO THIS AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10510513

Mileage unknown · Mar 3, 2013

Power Train

TRANSMISSION DONT WORK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10501130

88,000 miles · Feb 27, 2013

EnginePower Train

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IT DOSENT MATTER WHAT TIME OF DAY IT IS BUT WHEN I TURN ON CAR THERE IS A WHINDING NOISE THAT IS VERY DISTINCTIVE SOUND AND SEEMS TO BE GETTING LOUDER IN PARK AND NEUTRAL. WHEN I PUT CAR IN DRIVE IT GOES AWAY PUT IN PARK COMES BACK. I ALSO HAVE RATTLING IN LEFT FRONT DRIVER SIDE AROUND TIE ROAD END AREA. WHEN I TURN TO THE RIGHT BUT NOT TURNING LEFT AT THIS TIME. I WAS TOLD BY SOME ONE THE SATURN VUE 4CYLINDER HAVE SOME REAL PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION AND THAT THEY ARE GOING OUT. *TR ## VIN PASSED ##

NHTSA ODI #10500628

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