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

59,000 miles · Mar 3, 2008

Power Train

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AND GREATER, THE TRANSMISSION MAKES STRANGE NOISES, HESITATES, JERKS, VIBRATES, HOPS, SLIPS, AND SLAMS INTO GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO GEAR UPON TAKE OFF. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION FOUR TIMES ON THE FOLLOWING DATES: 12/05/2007, 12/08/2007, 01/09/2008, AND 02/11/2008. THE TIRES WERE ALSO BALANCED DURING THE FOURTH REPAIR, BUT THIS DID NOT CORRECT ANYTHING. ONE OF THE TRANSMISSIONS HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVEN 50 MILES. THE NEXT TIME THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, THE DEALER HAD THE VEHICLE FOR TWENTY ONE DAYS. THE DEALER OFFERED HIM A $1,000 CERTIFICATE TO TRADE THE VEHICLE. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED A FIFTH TIME. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

NHTSA ODI #10219906

58,000 miles · Feb 25, 2008

Power Train

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FLAGGED. [ FLAG MESSAGE - MARK AS UNREAD ] SUBJECT: RE: SATURN DEFECT DATE: MON, 25 FEB 2008 16:38:45 -0500 FROM: "PUB INQ WEB MAILBOX" <PUBINQ@NTSB.GOV> ADD MOBILE ALERT THE CORRECT AGENCY TO CONTACT WOULD BE THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, WWW.NHTSA.DOT.GOV. SUSAN STEVENSON INFORMATION SPECIALIST NTSB RECORDS MANAGEMENT DIVISION 490 L'ENFANT PLAZA EAST, SW WASHINGTON, DC 20594 800-877-6799 -----ORIGINAL MESSAGE----- FROM: PUBLICMAIL@NTSB.GOV [MAILTO:PUBLICMAIL@NTSB.GOV] SENT: MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2008 3:20 PM TO: PUB INQ WEB MAILBOX SUBJECT: PUBLIC CORRESPONDENCE THE FOLLOWING REQUEST WAS RECEIVED FROM THE NTSB WEB SITENONE USA HIGHWAY MESSAGE: I AM TYING TO FIND OUT IF THE NTSB HAS INVESTIGATED THE VTI TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THAT SATURN IS IGNORING. THIS IS WELL DOCUMENTED THAT SATURN KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT RECALL THEM OR COME UP WITH A PERMANENT FIX. I AM ON MY THIRD TRANNY AND THESE ARE A REAL SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE OF THE FREQUENCY AND QUICKNESS WITH NO WARNING THAT THEY ARE BREAKING. MINE HAS LEFT ME AND/OR MY WIFE STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD OR THE INTERSECTION TWICE NOW. IS IT NOT GOING TO BE INVESTIGATED UNTIL AFTER SOMEONE GETS KILLED OR SERIOUSLY HURT? HAS THE NTSB ALREADY DONE AN INVESTIGATION AND FOUND NOTHING? PLEASE LET ME KNOW THANK YOU *** THIS REQUEST FOR AN INFORMATION PRODUCT REQUIRES A RESPONSE *** *TR

NHTSA ODI #10219108

102,000 miles · Feb 23, 2008

Power Train

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WHILE DRIVING THE CAR DOWN THE ROAD AND STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN WHEN PULLING OFF THE CAR STARTED TO JERK AND WOULD NOT GO WHEN IT DID GO AFTER ABOUT A SECOND AND I WAS ALREADY OUT IN THE ROAD THE CAR WAS STALLING AND ME AND MY THREE CHILDREN WAS ALMOST HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. TOOK THE CAR INTO A SHOP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHICH A TRANSMISSION CANNOT BE FOUND TO FIT THIS CAR BUT ONE WHICH ALMOST 8000. AND NOW I AM READING ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS AND NOW AM SCARED TO TAKE A CHANCE TO FIX IT NOW THAT IT MAY NOT TAKE SINCE ALL OF THE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE RECALL THIS TYPE TRANSMISSION BEFORE SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS TO SOMEONE AND THEIR CHILDREN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10218959

79,500 miles · Feb 20, 2008

Power Train

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I OWN A 2003 SATURN VUE AWD CAR THAT HAS 79,500 MILES. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR SINCE PURCHASING IT BRAND NEW IN 2003. THE BIGGEST ISSUE INVOLVED THE POWER TRAIN. A SECONDARY BELT IN THE ENGINE BROKE WHILE THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN THE SECONDARY BELT BROKE IS TANGLED WITH THE TIMING BELT CAUSING THE TIMING BELT TO SKIP A TOOTH. 12 VALVES WERE BENT. I CONTACTED A SATURN DEALERSHIP REGARDING THE ISSUE WITH THE POWER TRAIN AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST 7000.00 TO REPAIR. I HAVE HAD THE ENGINE REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. NO WARNING LIGHTS EVER APPEARED TO DENOTE ANY ISSUE WITH THE POWER TRAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10218697

89,000 miles · Jan 30, 2008

Air BagsCrashInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLID ON ICE, TRAVELED DOWN A HILL, AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FRONT END AND SIDES OF THE VEHICLE WERE DAMAGED. THE VEH…

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NHTSA ODI #10216502

93,480 miles · Jan 28, 2008

Power Train

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THE VEHICLE WAS RIDING SMOOTHLY ON THE INTERSTATE. THE VEHICLE AFTER 25 MILES OF HIGHWAY TRAVEL SUDDENLY DECREASED IN SPEED. AT THE SAME TIME THE TRANSMISSION RESPONDED WITH A LOAD CONTINUAL ROAR. I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE AND I WAS ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND MAKE IT TO THE MEDIAN WITHOUT INJURY. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED THE REMAINING 30 MILES AT A TOTAL COST OF $120.00. I WAS TOLD BY THE REPAIR TECHNICIAN THAT IT WOULD TAKE $5,583.00 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION THAT WAS UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE SATURN DEALERSHIP QUOTED THE REPAIR AT $6,000.00. I CURRENTLY OWE $7,800.00 ON THE PRICE OF THE VEHICLE PURCHASED 2 YEARS AGO. THE CAR IS UNDER THE 5 YEAR WARRANTY MARK BUT HAS 93,500 WHICH FALLS SHORT OF THE EXTENDED TRANSMISSION WARRANTY. I AM UNABLE TO AFFORD TO REPAIR IT AND WILL NOT SINCE I'VE HEARD STORIES OF OTHERS NEEDING TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION 2 YEARS LATER. I CAN'T SELL THE CAR FOR 2 REASONS. THE 1ST I DON'T WANT TO PASS THE PROBLEM ON TO SOMEONE ELSE. THE 2ND I STILL HAVE A NOTE ON THE LOAN AND THE HIGHEST OFFER THE SATURN DEALER WILL GIVE US IS $1,500 WITH OR WITHOUT A NEW TRANSMISSION. I AM NOT IN A FINANCIAL POSITION TO HAVE 2 CAR NOTES WITH 1 CAR. I DO NOT NO WHAT ELSE TO DO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10216289

108,000 miles · Jan 26, 2008

Power Train

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2003 SATURN VUE "VTI TRANS". PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, SOUNDS, SLIPPING, DISENGAGING. WENT INTO SATURN DEALER SEVERAL TIMES,EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THAT THE SOUNDS WERE NORMAL, COMMON TO ALL VTI'S, AND THE SLIPPING WAS TRACTION CONTROL. THEY DID NOT NOTE ANY OF MY COMPLAINTS INTO THEIR COMPUTER. WHEN I TALKED TO THEM NO ONE MENTIONED OR NOTIFIED ME OF ANY KNOWN PROBLEMS,NOR DID THEY NOTIFY ME THAT THE TRANS. WARRANTY FOR THE VUE HAD BEEN INCREASED TO 5YR/75,000MI. I WOULD HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE!RECENTLY I FOUND OUT ABOUT SEVERAL SERVICE BULLETINS IN 2004, I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF ANY. SINCE I COULD NOT AFFORD THE COSTS FOR REPAIR, I "LIMPED" ALONG WITH MY VUE,FOR AS LONG AS I COULD,SOMETIMES IN RATHER DANGEROUS SITUATIONS, UNTIL THE TRANS. FAILED. AFTER GETTING THE WORK DONE HE TOLD ME THAT HE WAS SURE IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN SOON. THE PROBLEM STARTED UP AGAIN THAT VERY NIGHT!CHECK WEB SITES LIKE-HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG AND HTTP://WWW.SATURNFANS.COM AND READ DESCRIPTIONS ABT. SATURN VUE "VTI" TRANS. DESCRIBING THE EXACT PROBLEMS I HAD. THIS IS NOT JUST MY PROBLEM, THIS IS AN EPIDEMIC AND SATURN HAS KNOWN ABOUT IT FOR A LONG TIME AND THEY ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING. FRESNO SATURN DEALER NEVER "REGISTERED" US OR OUR PURCHASE WITH SATURN CORPORATE. SOME OF THEM HAVE NEARLY GOTTEN KILLED, INCLUDING ME AS POWER WAS LOST AS I WAS EXITING PARKING LOTS INTO TRAFFIC. THE MECHANICS, NOW THAT MY CAR IS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY, TOLD ME ABOUT KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH VTI TRANS. THEY TOLD ME BEFORE THEY EVEN LOOKED AT THE CAR,THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANS. IT IS DEFECTIVE FROM MANUFACTURER. WHEN I WENT IN,I SAW 4-5 SATURN VUES(VTI'S) ALL IN LINED UP IN A ROW FOR SERVICE. I WAS TOLD ALL OF THOSE WERE IN FOR TRANS. PROBLEMS(SOME PEOPLE HAVE PUT UP TO 4 TRANS. IN THEIR 2002-2004 VTI VUES. APPARENTLY IT IS BEING REPLACED WITH THE SAME TYPE TRANS. I'VE READ THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE NEARLY BEEN KILLED,WHY HAS THERE BEEN NO SAFETY RECALLS!!! DOES SOMEBODY HAVE TO DIE BEFORE SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING ABOUT THIS! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10216056

112,000 miles · Jan 24, 2008

Engine And Engine Cooling

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE INTERMITTENTLY AND STALLED ON THE FREEWAY SEVERAL TIMES. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE SERVICE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN BACK AND FORTH FROM THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY FIVE TIMES. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,357 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

NHTSA ODI #10215857

43,000 miles · Jan 23, 2008

Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHEN THE KEY WAS PLACED IN THE IGNITION, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN UNTIL SEVERAL MINUTES LATER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,300.

NHTSA ODI #10215802

85,000 miles · Jan 15, 2008

Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR FROM HIGH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND HE STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 85,000. UPDATED 02-06-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER IS NOT AT FAULT BUT T…

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NHTSA ODI #10214924

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