NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
622 reports153,000 miles · Jun 21, 2011
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED WITH THE FLICKERING OF FOUR AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS BEGAN TO OPERATE. THE FAILURES RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION OR NOT. THE VEHICLE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED WITH THE FLICKERING OF FOUR AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS BEGAN TO OPERATE. THE FAILURES RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION OR NOT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.
NHTSA ODI #10407690
86,013 miles · Jun 8, 2011
Power Train
WE OWN A 2003 SATURN VUE THAT HAS 86,013 MILES ON IT. WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW AT THE LOCAL SATURN DEALERSHIP. ON MAY 31, 2011 WHILE WE WERE ON THE HIGHWAY OUR CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 10 MPH. WE TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY AND WAS TOLD THE VTI TRANSMISSION WAS OUT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10405555
140,000 miles · Jun 6, 2011
Power Train
THIS IS REGARDING MY 2003 SATURN VUE. THE VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 140K MILES ON IT AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS MAKING NOISE AT ABOUT EXACTLY 95K, THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY GAVE OUT WITHOUT NO INDICATION, JUST COASTED OFF THE ROAD UNTIL THE CAR FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. THE CAR ONLY IDLES I HAVE NO GEARS. AFTER I CALLED SATURN TO REPORT T…
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THIS IS REGARDING MY 2003 SATURN VUE. THE VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 140K MILES ON IT AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS MAKING NOISE AT ABOUT EXACTLY 95K, THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY GAVE OUT WITHOUT NO INDICATION, JUST COASTED OFF THE ROAD UNTIL THE CAR FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. THE CAR ONLY IDLES I HAVE NO GEARS. AFTER I CALLED SATURN TO REPORT THIS, THEY INDICATED TO TAKE IT TO A SATURN DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED, I INFORMED THEM THAT I COULD NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND THEY INDICATED THAT I COULD HAVE IT TOWED. I TOLD THEM I WASN'T GOING TO INCUR THE EXPENSE OF TOWING FOR SOMEONE TO INFORM ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS BAD. AT THIS POINT, STILL WAITING FOR SATURN TO CALL TO LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING THEY WILL DO, I AM NOT HOPEFUL, SHE INDICATED TO ME THAT THE WARRANTY RAN OUT AT 100K OR MARCH OF THIS YEAR AND IT WAS MAY WHEN I CONTACTED THEM. WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT EVERYONE HAS WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD HONOR SOMETHING... *TR
NHTSA ODI #10405341
102,000 miles · Jun 6, 2011
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VIT TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT IT COULD BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, IT MAY OR MAY NOT LAST BEYOND 20,000 MILES. THE DEALER GUARANTEED THE REPAIR FOR ONE YEAR OR 12,000 MILES WITH EXCEEDS THE CONTACTS COMMUT…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VIT TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT IT COULD BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, IT MAY OR MAY NOT LAST BEYOND 20,000 MILES. THE DEALER GUARANTEED THE REPAIR FOR ONE YEAR OR 12,000 MILES WITH EXCEEDS THE CONTACTS COMMUTE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD GIVE HER $5,000 TOWARDS A NEW VEHICLE; HOWEVER, SHE COULD NOT AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
NHTSA ODI #10404581
87,000 miles · May 26, 2011
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND LEFT IDLE FOR SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE BECOMING RESPONSIVE YET, THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. IN ADDITION, THERE WERE GASOLINE FUMES ENTERING INTO THE INTERI…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND LEFT IDLE FOR SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE BECOMING RESPONSIVE YET, THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. IN ADDITION, THERE WERE GASOLINE FUMES ENTERING INTO THE INTERIOR CABIN OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CONTACT HAD TO DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN TO AVOID BECOMING SICK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT EVEN IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, THE FAILURE COULD POSSIBLY RECUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO VERIFIED THE DEALER'S ADVICE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 87,000. UPDATED 07/15/11
NHTSA ODI #10402826
Mileage unknown · May 23, 2011
Unknown Or Other
2003 SATURN VUE 4WD. KEY NOT TURNING, HARD TO START. HAVE TO KEEP MAKING NEW KEYS TO WORK. CONTACTED SATURN DEALER AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS EVER DONE ON MY VEHICLE. I PURCHASED IT USED APPROX 2 YEARS AGO FROM CAPITAL FORD AUTO CREDIT. I AM BEING TOLD THAT THE RECALL IS CLOSED AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO UNLESS I PAY …
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2003 SATURN VUE 4WD. KEY NOT TURNING, HARD TO START. HAVE TO KEEP MAKING NEW KEYS TO WORK. CONTACTED SATURN DEALER AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS EVER DONE ON MY VEHICLE. I PURCHASED IT USED APPROX 2 YEARS AGO FROM CAPITAL FORD AUTO CREDIT. I AM BEING TOLD THAT THE RECALL IS CLOSED AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO UNLESS I PAY FOR IT. SINCE THERE WAS A RECALL AND NOTHING WAS DONE, I DON'T THINK THIS IS ACCEPTABLE. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF 4 AND I NEED A SAFE DEPENDABLE CAR THAT IS WHAT I THOUGHT WHEN I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE. ALONG WITH THE OTHER RECALLS AS WELL. THIS WAS HAPPENING TO ME OFF AND ON, BUT NOW IT WAS EVERY TIME I GET IN MY CAR. IT TAKES LIKE 10 MINUTES TO START. TODAY I WENT TO MAKE A NEW KEY, BUT TO MAKE A NEW KEY EVERY COUPLE MONTHS AND TO KNOW THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT HAVING THE RECALL FIXED IT CRAZY. AND NOW THAT I AM CHECKING INTO THIS AND FINDING OUT NOTHING EVER WAS DONE ON ANY RECALL, I WOULD GREAT APPRECIATE IT IF ALL WAS FIXED NOW. THANK YOU. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10402439
67,600 miles · May 21, 2011
Air Bags
AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON- FOR A FEW YEARS. WHICH, IN TURN, KEEPS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. DEALER LOOKED AT IT A FEW YEARS AGO, AND SAID ALL THAT COULD BE DONE WOULD BE FIX THE COMPUTER. IT WOULD NEED A REPLACEMENT AND THAT WOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILITY. IT WOULD COST WELL OVER $500. WONDER IF THERE IS A RECALL OR SOME WAY I …
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AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON- FOR A FEW YEARS. WHICH, IN TURN, KEEPS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. DEALER LOOKED AT IT A FEW YEARS AGO, AND SAID ALL THAT COULD BE DONE WOULD BE FIX THE COMPUTER. IT WOULD NEED A REPLACEMENT AND THAT WOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILITY. IT WOULD COST WELL OVER $500. WONDER IF THERE IS A RECALL OR SOME WAY I WOULD NOT NEED TO PAY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10402271
106,000 miles · Apr 28, 2011
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND ON THE RIGHT SIDE IT DISPLAYED REDUCE SPEED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AS IS AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE M…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND ON THE RIGHT SIDE IT DISPLAYED REDUCE SPEED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AS IS AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 108,445 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
NHTSA ODI #10398120
28,000 miles · Apr 18, 2011
Electrical System
BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) FAILURE WITH LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND GAUGES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10396684
69,800 miles · Apr 13, 2011
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND THE SPEED DROPPED TO 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE IN THE FRON…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND THE SPEED DROPPED TO 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AND SHAKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS OCCURRING CONSISTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,800. UPDATED 04/25/11 *BF
NHTSA ODI #10395742
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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