← New search

2003 Saturn Vue

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Vue years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Saturn Vue are substantially higher than the model-year median of 276.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

482 reports with mileage · 140 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • 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
114,000 miles · May 1, 2010
Power Train

2003 SATURN VUE. TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING. COMING OFF OF A BRIDGE TO A BUSY INTERSECTION AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. A LOT OF SEMI'S TRAVEL THIS ROAD AND AN ACCIDENT COULD HAVE EASILY HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10328309

91,000 miles · Apr 19, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, A LEAKAGE OF FLUID UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE COOLANT WAS MIXING WITH THE OIL WHICH REQUIRED A REPLACEMENT OF THE HEAD GASKET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT…

Read full complaint

TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, A LEAKAGE OF FLUID UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE COOLANT WAS MIXING WITH THE OIL WHICH REQUIRED A REPLACEMENT OF THE HEAD GASKET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THAT THE DEFECT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED UNDER THE SERVICE WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 91,000.

NHTSA ODI #10326499

85,047 miles · Apr 16, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY 2003 SATURN VUE IS SHUTTING DOWN WITHOUT WARNING OR NOTICE EVEN ON THE EXPRESSWAY. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ONE DAY AND WENT OUT AND SINCE THEN MY CAR WILL SHUT OFF AND NOT START BACK UP. THE CAR WILL ATTEMPT TO TURN OVER BUT NOT RUN AS IF IT IS NOT GETTING ANY GAS. I HAD TO BE PUSHED INTO A CVS PAKING LOT BECAUSE I WA…

Read full complaint

MY 2003 SATURN VUE IS SHUTTING DOWN WITHOUT WARNING OR NOTICE EVEN ON THE EXPRESSWAY. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ONE DAY AND WENT OUT AND SINCE THEN MY CAR WILL SHUT OFF AND NOT START BACK UP. THE CAR WILL ATTEMPT TO TURN OVER BUT NOT RUN AS IF IT IS NOT GETTING ANY GAS. I HAD TO BE PUSHED INTO A CVS PAKING LOT BECAUSE I WAS IN THE RIGHT TURNING LANE. AFTER WAITING 15 TO 20 MINUTES LATER, THE CAR STARTED UP, I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND IT SHUTS DOWN AGAIN. IT TOOK ME 30 MINUTES TO GO 2.5 MILES BECAUSE THE CAR CONSTANTLY SHUT DOWN FOUR TIMES. THE TOTAL TIME IT TOOK ME TO GO 10 MILES FROM MY HOME, TO MY DESTINATION, AND BACK WAS 3 HOURS. I TOOK THE CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS ORIGINALLY TOLD IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP; TEST REVEALED THIS WAS NOT THE PROBLEM BUT IT COULD BE A BAD CRANKSHAFT SENSOR, OR AN ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND THE APPROXIMATE COST WOULD BE OVER $600 DEPENDING ON THE PROBLEM. A CAR SHUTTING DOWN WHILE DRIVING IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR ME AND TO OTHERS. I AM LITERALLY AFRAID OF DRIVING MY OWN CAR NOW DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. WHILE RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ONLINE IT APPEARS THIS PROBLEM IS OCCURRING FREQUENTLY AND A RECALL SHOULD BE IN ORDER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10326086

108,000 miles · Apr 12, 2010
Power Train

I HAD A 2003 SATURN VUE WITH A VTI TRANSMISSION. IN APRIL 2007 THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, AND I PAID $4773 TO REPAIR IT. ON APRIL 3, 2010, THE VUE SUDDENLY MADE A LOUD NOISE AND STOPPED WORKING ON THE RAILROAD TRACKS. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO GET HELP PUSHING THE VEHICLE OFF THE TRACKS. THE SATURN ASSIST…

Read full complaint

I HAD A 2003 SATURN VUE WITH A VTI TRANSMISSION. IN APRIL 2007 THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, AND I PAID $4773 TO REPAIR IT. ON APRIL 3, 2010, THE VUE SUDDENLY MADE A LOUD NOISE AND STOPPED WORKING ON THE RAILROAD TRACKS. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO GET HELP PUSHING THE VEHICLE OFF THE TRACKS. THE SATURN ASSISTANCE CENTER INDICATED THAT ASSISTANCE MIGHT BE AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE IT HAD FAILED ONCE BEFORE. I FOLLOWED THEIR DIRECTION TOWING THE VEHICLE TO SATURN OF ROSEVILLE TO HAVE THEM DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. SATURN OF ROSEVILLE DIAGNOSED AN INTERNAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. AFTER TALKING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT SATURN OF ROSEVILLE, THE ASSISTANCE CENTER SAID THEY COULD OFFER ME NO ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT WAS A DIFFERENT PART OF THE TRANSMISSION THAT FAILED THAN THE FAILURE IN 2007. I WAS VERBALLY INFORMED THAT THE BILL TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION WOULD BE WELL OVER $5000. BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE, I DID NOT WANT TO SPEND A TOTAL OF OVER $10,000 IN TOTAL TRANSMISSION REPAIR COSTS BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION IS KNOWN TO BE DEFECTIVE. SINCE GM DID NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE FOR A REPEAT REPAIR, I DONATED THE CAR TO A CHARITY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10325253

115,000 miles · Apr 11, 2010
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10324975

62,645 miles · Apr 6, 2010
Power Train

VTI TRANSMISSION IN 2003 SATURN VUE WENT OUT, STRANDING ME ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN AN UNSAFE AREA. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH SATURN VUES AND IONS, BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. GM NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS AND RECALL ALL OF THE EFFECTED VEHICLES. I WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE MY VEHICLE IS PAST THE DATE, EVEN THOUGH…

Read full complaint

VTI TRANSMISSION IN 2003 SATURN VUE WENT OUT, STRANDING ME ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN AN UNSAFE AREA. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH SATURN VUES AND IONS, BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. GM NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS AND RECALL ALL OF THE EFFECTED VEHICLES. I WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE MY VEHICLE IS PAST THE DATE, EVEN THOUGH MY MILEAGE IS ONLY 62,000 (WELL BELOW THE 75,000 THAT GM IS SUPPOSED TO COVER UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY), I WOULD HAVE TO PAY HALF, WHICH IS $2,500. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY A SINGLE PENNY FOR THIS NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10323976

Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

2003 SATURN VUE. CONSUMER STATES DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. *TGW AFTER THREE MONTHS OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE SELLER, THE CONSUMER NOTICE THE VEHICLE WOULD SLIP INTO A WEIRD GEAR AND THE ENGINE WOULD SOUND AS IF IT WERE RUNNING HARDER. THE ISSUE OCCURRED AT RANDOM INTERVALS WITH NO NOTICEABLE PATTERN. THE CONSU…

Read full complaint

2003 SATURN VUE. CONSUMER STATES DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. *TGW AFTER THREE MONTHS OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE SELLER, THE CONSUMER NOTICE THE VEHICLE WOULD SLIP INTO A WEIRD GEAR AND THE ENGINE WOULD SOUND AS IF IT WERE RUNNING HARDER. THE ISSUE OCCURRED AT RANDOM INTERVALS WITH NO NOTICEABLE PATTERN. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT WAS THE WAY IT WAS SUPPOSED TO SOUND, BUT THEY WOULD INSPECTED IT. WHEN THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THE MILEAGE WAS VIRTUALLY THE SAME AND WONDERED IF THEY TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE. 4-5 WEEKS LATER, THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GM STATING THE VEHICLE HAD A POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE VTI TRANSMISSION INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED NOTHING COULD BE DONE FOR HIM BASED ON THE MILEAGE. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM BEFORE THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE EXCLUDED HIM. ALSO, THE COOLANT LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER FOUND THE WATER PUMP LEAKING. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10320896

69,000 miles · Mar 22, 2010
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILED ON THE PA TURNPIKE AND LOST POWER IN AN UNSAFE PULL OFF OF HIGHWAY.*DT

NHTSA ODI #10321473

93,000 miles · Mar 21, 2010
Power Train

MY 2003 SATURN VUE WITH VTI TRANSMISSION BROKE DOWN ON 3/12/10. CAR WAS TOWED AND IS AT DEALERSHIP AWAITING A NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AND PAID FOR BY GM, INSTEAD, I HAVE TO PAY $2,500 (HALF THE COST) WHICH I CANNOT AFFORD!! THE TRANSMISSION IS A FACTORY DEFECT AND ISN'T AT THE RECALL STAGE YET AS I WAS TOLD …

Read full complaint

MY 2003 SATURN VUE WITH VTI TRANSMISSION BROKE DOWN ON 3/12/10. CAR WAS TOWED AND IS AT DEALERSHIP AWAITING A NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AND PAID FOR BY GM, INSTEAD, I HAVE TO PAY $2,500 (HALF THE COST) WHICH I CANNOT AFFORD!! THE TRANSMISSION IS A FACTORY DEFECT AND ISN'T AT THE RECALL STAGE YET AS I WAS TOLD GM HAS TO HAVE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS BEFORE IT TURNS INTO A RECALL. PLEASE ADD MY COMPLAINT TO THE LIST AND HOPEFULLY THE FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS WILL BE RECALLED AND WE WILL BE REIMBURSED. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10321223

87,900 miles · Mar 3, 2010
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VIEW. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 29 TO 30 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER WITHOUT WARNING AND SHE NOTICED THAT THE RPMS INCREASED TO 4000. SHE EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE THREE TIMES AND THE THIRD TIME, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WER…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VIEW. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 29 TO 30 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER WITHOUT WARNING AND SHE NOTICED THAT THE RPMS INCREASED TO 4000. SHE EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE THREE TIMES AND THE THIRD TIME, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE, AND THEY WILL GIVE HER 50% TOWARD THE REPLACEMENT OR THEY COULD GIVE HER $ 5,000 TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A NEW VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 87,900.

NHTSA ODI #10316347

Official recalls

1

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

2

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

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.