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

13,000 miles · Apr 21, 2009

Power Train

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OWN A 2003 SATURN VUE AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. WE TOOK IT IN FOR A RECALL IN 2005 AND THEY CLAIMED THEY FIXED IT. A YEAR LATER WE HAD TO TAKE IT BACK IN TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM FIXED AND PAID FOR IT SINCE IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. CURRENTLY WE ARE UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VUE DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM THE TRANS IS COMPLETELY OUT AND SATURN WILL NOT REPLACE IT, INSTEAD THEY WANT $9000 TO REPAIR THE TRANS. THE ONLY SYMPATHY WE GET IS "OH 2003 VUES HAVE BAD TRANS IN THEM". SO WE ARE NOW STUCK WITH A CAR THAT DOES NOT RUN IN OUR DRIVEWAY WONDERING WHAT TO DO WITH IT. EVERY AUTO SHOP WE TAKE IT TO DOES NOT WANT TO FIX IT BECAUSE OF THE TYPE OF TRANS THAT IT IS OR THEY TELL US WE HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER BECAUSE IT IS "DEALER TRADEMARKED" FOR THE PARTS. I USED TO LOVE SATURN AND TELL EVERYONE THEY WERE THE BEST AND I WILL ALWAYS OWN AND BUY SATURN PRODUCTS. SINCE ALL THE PROBLEMS AND THE LACK OF HELP FROM SATURN I NO LONGER TALK THEM UP ,BUT TELL EVERYONE I KNOW TO NEVER BUY SATURN BECAUSE YOU WILL GET JUNK AND THEY WILL NOT HELP YOU IN ANYWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10266211

10,000 miles · Apr 20, 2009

Power Train

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I PURCHASED MY NEW 2003 SATURN VUE FROM YORK PA SATURN (SUTLIFF GROUP) AND THEY HAVE PATCHED UP MY 2003 VUE BY REPLACING VALVES, SENSORS ETC. ON THE VTI TRANSMISSION/TRANSAXLES 5 OR 6 DIFFERENT TIMES, WHICH THEY WELL KNOW WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I STILL EXPERIENCE TRANSMISSION FAILURE DURING EXTENDED PERIODS OF DRIVING OR TIMES OF TRAFFIC STOP SITUATIONS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FROM THE 10,000 MILE POINT ON UNTIL THIS TIME. DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY INTO HIGHER GEAR , STILL MAKES GRINDING NOISES WHILE TURNING AND ACCELERATING AND OTHERWISE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY. TRANSMISSION WAS LOOKED AT BY DEALER 5 TIMES AVOIDING THE ISSUE OF TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS HAVE INVOKED ME TO START A MAJOR CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE SATURN CORP. SATURN IS NOW BEING DECIDED IN THE COURT SYSTEM (CAS) THE FINAL DECISION SHOULD BE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS SO KEEP CHECKING BACK ON THIS AND OTHER SITES THAT ATTRACT LEMON VEHICLES! ALL I ASK IS FOR GM/SATURN TO REPLACE MY FAULTY DRIVE TRAIN (ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION) FREE OF ALL LABOR AND PARTS WITH THE NEW TYPE DRIVE TRAIN THAT IS IN THE NEW 2007-08 VUE OR REPLACE WITH A NEW VEHICLE!!! ITS THAT SIMPLE SATURN! AND UNTIL THIS HAPPENS THIS TRANSMITTAL WILL CONTINUE ON TO WEBSITES, PUBLIC POSTS, FLYERS, IN FRONT OF SATURN DEALERS ETC. ETC... PS. I HAVE COPIED JUST ABOUT EVERY PERSON AND BUSINESS THAT HAS EXPOSURE TO INTERSECTIONS SHOPPING MALLS ETC. SO TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS, WORKING COLLEAGUES, ETC. GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT GM/SATURN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10266046

Mileage unknown · Apr 14, 2009

EquipmentPower Train

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THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF THE COMPLAINT THAT I FILED YESTERDAY (# 10265132). I AM THE GUY WHO LIVES IN LAS VEGAS. I GOT MY CAR BACK FROM SATURN LAST THURSDAY WITH A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION IN IT. WHEN I STARTED MY CAR AND WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE THE DEALERSHIP I HEARD A GRINDING NOISE THAT WAS NEVER PRESENT BEFORE SO I TOLD SATURN TO TAKE IT BACK AND FIX IT AGAIN. THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO HEAR THE SOUND AND GAVE THE CAR BACK TO ME THE NEXT DAY (FRIDAY 04/10/09). I DROVE THE CAR HOME (ABOUT 4 MILES) AND DID NOT DRIVE IT UNTIL I WENT TO WORK ON MONDAY (04/13/09). WORK IS 15 MILES AWAY. WHEN I LEFT WORK I WAS SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT WITH MY CAR IN DRIVE AND MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE ONLY! WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD LIKE AS IF I WERE TO PUSH THE GAS PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I WAS INCHES FROM HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE TEMP WENT DEAD COLD. THEN I PUT IT BACK INTO DRIVE AND THE TEMP WHEN BACK TO WHERE IT WAS BEFORE. THIS HAPPENED ONCE MORE BEFORE THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN. I GOT ON THE FREEWAY AND MY CAR DID NOT FEEL RIGHT (VERY SLUGGISH). I HAD TO PUSH THE GAS PEDAL ABOUT 3/4 OF THE WAY TO THE FLOOR FOR THE CAR TO MOVE MORE THAN JUST A LITTLE. THE ENGINE NOISE WAS BACK EVEN LOUDER THAN BEFORE. I MADE IT TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE CLOSED FOR THE DAY SO I LEFT MY CAR OVER NIGHT. THE NEXT DAY MY WIFE DROPPED ME OFF AT THE DEALERSHIP. I NEEDED TO PULL MY CAR INTO THE SERVICE BAY SO I STARTED MY CAR BUT JUST TURNING THE KEY BUT NOT PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL AND THE ENGINE REVVED TO OVER 3000 RPM. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND THE CAR DID NOT MOVE. I NOTICED THAT MY DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WERE FLASHING. THE MORE GAS I GAVE THE CAR THE FASTER THE DAYTIME LIGHTS WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF. THE SATURN MECHANIC TEST DROVE MY CAR AND USED SOME INSTRUMENT PLUGGED UNDER THE DASH. HE CAME BACK FROM THE DRIVE AND TOLD ME THAT IT WAS MY TRANSMISSION AGAIN! THIS IS MY 4TH TRANSMISSION IN THE LAST 1 1/2 YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10265322

Mileage unknown · Apr 13, 2009

Power Train

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I OWN A 2003 SATURN VUE THAT I BOUGHT NEW FROM THE DEALER IN OCTOBER OF 2002. I JUST GOT MY CAR BACK FROM THE DEALER LAST FRIDAY WITH THE 3RD TRANSMISSION THAT HAS BEEN INSTALLED IN THE CAR IN THE LAST 1 1/2 YEARS. THIS IS DUE TO THE ISSUE THAT EVERYONE HAS BEEN REPORTING WITH THE VTI TRANSMISSIONS. SINCE THE CAR IS ON IT'S 4TH TRANSMISSION (I AM COUNTING THE ONE THAT CAME WITH IT WHEN I GOT IT NEW) I AM CONCERNED THAT I WILL BE OUT OF LUCK WHEN MY MILEAGE REACHES 100,000 MILES. SATURN SAID THEY WOULD NOT COVER ANY ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION AFTER 100,000 MILES EVEN THOUGH I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW. I WAS LEFT STRANDED THE 1ST TIME, MY WIFE AND 3 KIDS WERE STRANDED THE 2ND TIME (WE LIVE IN LAS VEGAS AND THIS WAS IN THE SUMMER WHEN IT WAS ABOUT 115 DEGREES). THE LAST TIME (THIS LAST WEEK) THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT SOON CAME ON AND I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE DEALERSHIP BEFORE I BROKE DOWN. YOU CAN IMAGE HOW HAPPY I WAS WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT THE REASON FOR THE SERVICE LIGHT WAS MY TRANSMISSION! I AM HONESTLY VERY EASY ON THIS CAR, I HAVE NEVER FLOORED IT OR DRIVEN AT REALLY HIGH RPM'S. I WANT THIS ON RECORD SO THAT WHEN THE DAY COMES (AND I BELIEVE THAT IT WILL) WHEN SATURN COMPLETELY TURNS IT BACK ON ME AND I HAVE TO SUE THEM IN ORDER TO GET MY CAR FIXED THAT I AM A GOOD CAR OWNER (AS I AM SURE MOST OF YOU ARE) WHO TOOK REALLY GOOD CARE OF MY CAR AND ONLY HAD IT SERVICED AT THE DEALER. SATURN SHOULD MAKE THIS RIGHT AND FIX THESE TRANSMISSIONS. WHY AM I NOW ON MY 4TH TRANSMISSION? WHY DID THEY NOT FIX THIS ISSUE. I REALLY HOPE THAT SOMEONE FROM THE NHTSA INVESTIGATES THIS ISSUE! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10265132

Mileage unknown · Apr 12, 2009

Equipment

ERHDERAERHSERHSERHSTRHERHERHHHGERGADRGRDH ER H RH AER HAE RH ER H ERH ER H ERH ER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10265042

Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2009

Power Train

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THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION IS A 2003 SATURN VUE. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITH 53,048 MILES ON IT, SO I AGREED TO BUY IT IN "AS IS" CONDITION. I GOT THE VEHICLE ON DEC. 31ST 2007, AND I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT. I FELT A WEIRD SHAKE THAT REMINDED ME OF WHEN A BATTERY WAS DYING. ON HILLS THE TRUCK WOULD ROLL BACKWARDS, AND KICK HARD WHEN I PUSHED THE GAS. IT WOULD JUST RANDOMLY JERK, AND IT DID THIS ALL THROUGHOUT MY OWNERSHIP. THE TRUCK WAS SERVICED REGULARLY, AND MECHANICS NEVER SAW A PROBLEM. FINALLY, ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO, THE TRUCK ENCOUNTERED MAJOR PROBLEMS. THE TRUCK DECIDED THAT IT WAS NO LONGER GOING TO ACCELERATE, IT WAS A FIGHT TO MOVE FORWARD. THE RPMS STAYED BETWEEN 1-3 EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION. THE TRANSMISSION IS UNIQUE, AND IS SAID TO HAVE LESS PARTS. IT IS SAID TO BE BAD BECAUSE THE TRUCK IS TOO HEAVY FOR THE TRANSMISSION. IT IS A MINIMUM OF 3 THOUSAND DOLLARS TO REPAIR. THEY SAY THAT THE PROBLEM WILL REOCCUR. THE REPAIRS ARE FREQUENT AND COSTLY AND SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10264832

75,000 miles · Apr 9, 2009

Power Train

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THERE WERE NO RECALLS LISTED FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE THAT WERE SIMILAR TO HER FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 75,000.

NHTSA ODI #10264811

41,000 miles · Mar 31, 2009

Fuel System, Gasoline

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR WOULD CONSISTENTLY ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE FUEL CAP. TWO MONTHS AFTER THE REPAIR, SHE NOTICED THAT THE FUEL NOZZLE SHUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY OR PREMATURELY WHILE FILLING THE VEHICLE AND/OR SES LAMP WITH DTC P0446 EVAP VENT SYSTEM PERFORMANCE SET. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WOULD COST $1,000 TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED ACCORDING TO TSB NUMBER 10017570. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED DUE TO THE EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

NHTSA ODI #10263762

51,050 miles · Mar 17, 2009

Steering

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A NOISE WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE CONTACT FOUND A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE FOR THE 2002 MODELS, BUT NOT THE 2003 VUE. SHE FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SATURN SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE STEERING COULD FAIL AT ANY MOMENT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,358 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,050. UPDATED 4/14/09 *CN UPDATED 04/17/09. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10262183

Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 2009

Power Train

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2003 SATURN VUE HAD A PARTIALLY MELTED TRANSMISSION DRIVE SHAFT BOOT. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HIS WIFE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. A FEW MINUTES LATER, THERE AS A LOUD EXPLOSION FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER RAN OUT AND DISCOVERED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES OF TRYING TO GET THE VEHICLE TO START, IT FINALLY STARTED BUT IT WOULD SHUT OFF. ON THE EIGHTH TRY, THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE RUNNING BY PUMPING THE ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MAINTAIN A STEADY RPM. THE VEHICLE HAD NO POWER BRAKES AND THE RPM CONTINUED TO MOVE FROM 2000 TO 3000 AND WHEN THE CONSUMER STOPPED THE VEHICLE, IT DID NOT IDLE. THE BRAKES FINALLY BECAME ACTIVE AND THE RPM WAS STEADY. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM THAT CAUSED THE DAMAGED HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE CONSUMER HAD ANOTHER MISHAP WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER'S WIFE SMELLED SOMETHING ELECTRICAL AND THEN THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THERE WAS DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE NEXT DAY, WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, IT DIDN'T START AND AGAIN IT BACKFIRED WITH A LOUD POP. THE CONSUMER PUT HIS HAND UNDER THE RIGHT BOTTOM SIDE NEAR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THERE WAS BLACK GREASE ON THE UNDERSIDE. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH HAVING A RUBBER BOOT WITH GREASE NEXT TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND UNPROTECTED WITHOUT A SHIELD. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10262271

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