NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
622 reports145,000 miles · Aug 14, 2010
Electrical System
WE WERE DRIVING TO WORK IN OUR 2003 SATURN VUE 5 SPEED, GOING 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE RPM'S STARTED TO GO UP AND DOWN WHEN WE LET OFF THE GAS AND WOULD STALL WHEN WE WOULD SHIFT. WE FIGURED IT OUT PRETTY FAST AND LOOKED FOR AN ON RAMP WHILE WE TRIED TO "PIGEON" FOOT THE GAS AND BRAKE TO PREVENT A STALL I…
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WE WERE DRIVING TO WORK IN OUR 2003 SATURN VUE 5 SPEED, GOING 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE RPM'S STARTED TO GO UP AND DOWN WHEN WE LET OFF THE GAS AND WOULD STALL WHEN WE WOULD SHIFT. WE FIGURED IT OUT PRETTY FAST AND LOOKED FOR AN ON RAMP WHILE WE TRIED TO "PIGEON" FOOT THE GAS AND BRAKE TO PREVENT A STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY, THEN POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND THE DASHBOARD LOST POWER, WE KNEW THAT SOMETHING WAS VERY VERY WRONG AND THAT IF WE DIDN'T' GET OFF THE FREEWAY, WE COULD BE IN SERIOUS TROUBLE IF THE ENGINE LOST POWER. WE SPOTTED AN OFF RAMP AHEAD AND WITH NO POWER STEERING AND NO DASHBOARD LIGHTS WE CROSSED 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC, JUST AS WE HIT THE OFF RAMP THE CAR STARTED TO SPUTTER (RPM'S GOING UP AND DOWN) EVEN WITH OUR FOOT ON THE GAS, WE LOST ALL POWER AND THE ENGINE QUIT IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AND ALMOST GOT HIT BY A TRUCK COMING DOWN THE HILL. LUCKILY HE SWERVED AND MISSED ANOTHER CAR COMING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. WE PUSHED THE CAR TO AN INCLINE AND ROLLED THE CAR INTO A PARK AND RIDE WHERE MY HUSBAND TRIED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. HE FIGURED IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR SO WE HAD A FRIEND PICK ONE UP FOR US AND MEET AS THE PARK AND RIDE. HE REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND AS USUAL FOR JUMP STARTING A CAR, WE TURNED OFF ALL ELECTRICAL DRAWS (RADIO, A/C, FAN ECT.) THE CAR STARTED UP, THE RPM'S FLUCTUATED BRIEFLY, THEN IT WAS OK. 2 WEEKS LATER THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY GOING 50 MPH, LUCKILY WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OVER AND TRY TO FIX IT AGAIN. SAME THING, TURNED OFF ALL ELECTRICAL, JUMPED THE CAR AND STARTED RIGHT UP. 3 WEEKS LATER THE RPM'S STARTED FLUCTUATING AND WE FIGURED OUT WE NEEDED TO PIGEON THE GAS AND BRAKE SO IT WOULDN'T STALL AND LIMPED IT HOME. SATURN SAYS IT'S THE BCM COMPUTER AND IT'S A "COMMON" PROBLEM. WE NOW HAVE TO PAY $700 HUNDRED DOLLARS AND FIND A WAY TO GET THE SATURN TO THE DEALERSHIP WITHOUT WRECKING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10349341
Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 2010
Power Train
2003 SATURN VUE-TRANSMISSION GRINDS. IT TAKES SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE AND WHEN IT DOES START, IT STALLS GOING INTO DRIVE. CAN DRIVE IN REVERSE WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS BUT CAR WILL NOT IMMEDIATELY DRIVE WHEN PUT IN "DRIVE." IT CAN BE ANYWHERE BETWEEN A 30 SECOND TO 3-5 MINUTE DELAY BEFORE THE CAR WILL ACTUALLY DRIVE. T…
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2003 SATURN VUE-TRANSMISSION GRINDS. IT TAKES SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE AND WHEN IT DOES START, IT STALLS GOING INTO DRIVE. CAN DRIVE IN REVERSE WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS BUT CAR WILL NOT IMMEDIATELY DRIVE WHEN PUT IN "DRIVE." IT CAN BE ANYWHERE BETWEEN A 30 SECOND TO 3-5 MINUTE DELAY BEFORE THE CAR WILL ACTUALLY DRIVE. THE TRANSMISSION HAS NOW BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES SINCE 2004 DUE TO OTHER DEFECTS (JERKY GEAR SHIFTING, STALLING FOR SEVERAL SECONDS). EACH TIME THE CAR WORKS FOR A LITTLE WHILE (A YEAR OR SO) BUT THE JERKING BEGINS AGAIN. THIS LAST TRANSMISSION IS THE ABSOLUTE WORSE! THOUGH I'M REQUIRED TO PUT AN APPROXIMATE INCIDENT DATE, THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE MY PURCHASE IN 2004. THE STALLING OF IT GOING INTO DRIVE JUST STARTED 2010. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10347409
53,000 miles · Aug 4, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVisibility
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED SHE HAS HAD THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL BEARING AND IGNITION SWITCH REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILED AND THE ENGINE COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SPRAYER WAS ALSO DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE C…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED SHE HAS HAD THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL BEARING AND IGNITION SWITCH REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILED AND THE ENGINE COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SPRAYER WAS ALSO DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT STATED SHE DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO FURTHER REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 53,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
NHTSA ODI #10347233
113,200 miles · Jul 23, 2010
Power Train
2003 SATURN VUE, AUTO TRANSMISSION.... TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 99,400 MILES. SATURN DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE OF THE 100K WARRANTY. I HAD TO PAY 25% OF THE NEW TRANSMISSION, WHICH WAS $1,000. THE BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION CAME WITH A 12,000 WARRANTY. FOUR DAYS AGO, THE BRAND NEW FACTORY TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLI…
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2003 SATURN VUE, AUTO TRANSMISSION.... TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 99,400 MILES. SATURN DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE OF THE 100K WARRANTY. I HAD TO PAY 25% OF THE NEW TRANSMISSION, WHICH WAS $1,000. THE BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION CAME WITH A 12,000 WARRANTY. FOUR DAYS AGO, THE BRAND NEW FACTORY TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP AND WHINE. CAR TAKEN BACK TO DEALERSHIP IN RALEIGH, NC. VUE NOW HAS 113,204 MILES. INFORMED THAT TRANSMISSION IS OUT OF THE PARAMETERS OF THE WARRANTY AND THE REPAIR COST WILL BE $5900!!! I CALLED CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS AND THEY COULDN'T CARE LESS ABOUT MY SITUATION. NOW I AM OUT OF A VEHICLE. SATURN KNEW OF THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION IN THESE VEHICLES BUT PUT A BANDAID ON THE SITUATION. PEOPLE WORK HARD FOR THE MONEY TO PURCHASE THESE VEHICLES JUST TO BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER SATURN! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10344820
99,000 miles · Jul 14, 2010
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. AFTER SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WAS HESITANT TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNING OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. AFTER SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WAS HESITANT TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNING OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
NHTSA ODI #10343191
88,570 miles · Jul 13, 2010
Seat Belts
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT FAILED AND HAD BECOME INOPERABLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WAS NOT A RECALL FOR THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,570 AND THE CURRENT MILEAG…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT FAILED AND HAD BECOME INOPERABLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WAS NOT A RECALL FOR THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,570 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,590. UPDATED 10/13/10. *LJ THE COSNUMER STATED THE REPAIRS WERE MADE BY A PRIVATE PARTY AND PAID FOR AT HER EXPENSE. UPDATED 10/19/10*JB
NHTSA ODI #10343059
130,000 miles · Jul 12, 2010
Electrical System
2003 SATURN VUE. COMPUTER FAILURE. INTERNET RESEARCH DONE BY ME SHOW MULTITUDES OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT COMPUTERS FAILING RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND DASH COMPONENTS. DOOR LOCK FAILURE AND SHIFT LEVER LOCKING UP. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10342559
62,000 miles · Jun 23, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control
2003 SATURN VUE -- SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMES ON AND VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD. RECURRING ISSUE. THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE BEGAN DECEMBER 2006 ADVISED BY DEALERSHIP, TECH "RESET LIGHT," RECURRED MAY 2007 ADVISED BY DEALERSHIP "WIRING AND/OR CONNECTER ISSUE," AUGUST 11, 13, & 14-21, 2008 HELD AT DEALERSHIP (RECURRED THREE T…
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2003 SATURN VUE -- SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMES ON AND VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD. RECURRING ISSUE. THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE BEGAN DECEMBER 2006 ADVISED BY DEALERSHIP, TECH "RESET LIGHT," RECURRED MAY 2007 ADVISED BY DEALERSHIP "WIRING AND/OR CONNECTER ISSUE," AUGUST 11, 13, & 14-21, 2008 HELD AT DEALERSHIP (RECURRED THREE TIMES) -- ADVISED BY DEALERSHIP "RESISTANCE LOW CIRCUIT/INTERNAL FAULT PEDAL SENSOR REPLACED," JULY 16-17 & 21-24, 2009 RECURRED ADVISED BY DEALERSHIP 1ST "PEDAL ACCELERATOR REPLACED," 2ND ADVISED "BROKEN WIRE BEHIND LEFT FRONT KICK PANEL - REPAIRED THROTTLE POSITION." JUNE 2010 ISSUE RECURRED, VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING EVALUATED BY IMPARTIAL AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR FACILITY. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS ON-GOING ISSUE(S) IS THAT WITHOUT WARNING YOU ARE LEFT STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, OR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD IN NEED OF A TOW BLOCKING TRAFFIC OR IN A PERILOUS SITUATION. THIS IS ONLY ONE OF THE MANY ON-GOING ISSUES THAT WAS ENCOUNTERED WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN SERVICE MORE THAN UTILIZED -- THIS VEHICLE IS THE TRUE REPRESENTATION OF A "LEMON". *TR
NHTSA ODI #10339803
105,000 miles · Jun 21, 2010
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. SHE STATED WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AND REFERRED HER TO HER DEALER. …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. SHE STATED WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AND REFERRED HER TO HER DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD FIRST NEED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST BEFORE DETERMINING THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, AT HER EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 105,000.
NHTSA ODI #10339360
68,500 miles · Jun 19, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
TIMING CHAIN BROKE ON 2003 SATURN VUE ON ATTEMPTING TO START VEHICLE IN THE MIDDLE OF A 3 HOUR HIGHWAY TRIP. NO PRIOR WARNING OF FAILURE. ENGINE VALVES BENT AND RECOMMENDATION OF NEW ENGINE FROM GM DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10339175
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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