NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
622 reports27,000 miles · May 31, 2007
Electrical SystemSteering
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE CAN BE DRIVEN, BUT HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THE GAUGES DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE PURCHASE DATE AND CORRECT VIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE CAN BE DRIVEN, BUT HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THE GAUGES DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE PURCHASE DATE AND CORRECT VIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 27,000. UPDATED 02/01/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED A/C, HORN, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, INTERNAL LIGHTS, AND ODOMETER ALL WERE INOPERABLE. THE CONSUMER STATED AUSTIN SATURN TRIED TO TIGHTEN THE FUSE BLOCK BOLTS, BUT IT WAS ACTUALLY WORSE AFTERWARDS. THEY REPLACED THE BCM FOR HALF PRICE. UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR
NHTSA ODI #10192107
59,000 miles · May 29, 2007
Power Train
MY 2003 SATURN VUE VTI TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 59K MILES. IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION. THIS NEW TRANSMISSION LASTED 12 HUNDRED MILES. IT WAS AGAIN REPAIRED UNDER THE WARRANTY, THEN 1200 MILES LATER IT FAILED AGAIN. IT WAS "REBUILT" BY THE SATURN DEALERSHIP EACH TIME. IT IS NOW DRIVING EXACTLY T…
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MY 2003 SATURN VUE VTI TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 59K MILES. IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION. THIS NEW TRANSMISSION LASTED 12 HUNDRED MILES. IT WAS AGAIN REPAIRED UNDER THE WARRANTY, THEN 1200 MILES LATER IT FAILED AGAIN. IT WAS "REBUILT" BY THE SATURN DEALERSHIP EACH TIME. IT IS NOW DRIVING EXACTLY THE WAY IT DID AFTER THE 2ND REPAIR AND I BELIEVE IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL IT FAILS AGAIN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10191881
Mileage unknown · May 10, 2007
Latches/locks/linkagesPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic
2003 VUE CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD A RECALL AND AFTER HAVING IT FIX IT BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER THEN THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED**CC THE DRIVERS DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE, THE BRAKES SQUEALED WHENEVER THE CONSUMER BACKED-UP AND THE REAR WIPER WAS REPLACED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10191102
58,000 miles · May 10, 2007
Air BagsCrashInjury
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO SEVERAL TREES. THE VEHICLE ROLLED AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT INJURED HER NECK AND HER VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO SEVERAL TREES. THE VEHICLE ROLLED AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT INJURED HER NECK AND HER VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 58,000.
NHTSA ODI #10190391
Mileage unknown · May 2, 2007
Power Train
2003 SATURN VUE VTI WITH A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. CUSTOMER STATES THAT IT HAS BEEN MANY REPOSTS OF BAD TRANSMISSIONS**CC *TR
NHTSA ODI #10190076
71,000 miles · Apr 19, 2007
Suspension
I AM DISSATISFIED WITH THE CORRECTIVE ACTION TOWARDS SATURN VUE RECALL CAMPAIGN # 04067001. THE INSIDE PIVOT BOLT ON THE DRIVER SIDE REAR LATERAL LINK SHEARED OFF ON OUR SATURN VUE BEFORE HAVING THE RECALL WORK PERFORMED. THE BOLT I AM TALKING ABOUT IS THE M12-1.75X85MM 10.9 HARDNESS BOLT. MOMENTS BEFORE THE BOLT BROKE, MY WIFE …
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I AM DISSATISFIED WITH THE CORRECTIVE ACTION TOWARDS SATURN VUE RECALL CAMPAIGN # 04067001. THE INSIDE PIVOT BOLT ON THE DRIVER SIDE REAR LATERAL LINK SHEARED OFF ON OUR SATURN VUE BEFORE HAVING THE RECALL WORK PERFORMED. THE BOLT I AM TALKING ABOUT IS THE M12-1.75X85MM 10.9 HARDNESS BOLT. MOMENTS BEFORE THE BOLT BROKE, MY WIFE AND ONLY CHILD WERE ON THE HIGHWAY. LUCKILY SHE WAS OFF THE HIGHWAY AND ONLY TRAVELING AROUND 20 MPH ROUNDING A CORNER WHEN THE BOLT SHEARED OFF. THAT VERY BOLT THAT SHEARED OFF WAS REPLACED WITH THE EXACT SAME DIAMETER AND HARDNESS BOLT AS PART OF THE CORRECTIVE ACTION. TO ME, SATURN IS STILL COMPROMISING THE SAFETY OF MY WIFE AND ONLY CHILD. I CRAWLED UNDER A 2007 SATURN VUE ON THE SHOWROOM FLOOR AT SATURN OF BINGHAMTON. JUST AS I SUSPECTED...........THAT VERY SAME PIVOT BOLT UNDER THE 2007 WAS MUCH LARGER IN DIAMETER (16MM IN DIAMETER ROUGHLY). SO THIS WAS OBVIOUSLY APPARENT IN THE ENGINEERS DESIGN, BECAUSE THEY MADE A CHANGE TO THE NEWER VEHICLES. IT WAS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW, SO WHY WASN'T OURS FIXED CORRECTLY? WHAT'S FROM KEEPING THIS SAME BOLT FROM SHEARING OFF AGAIN IN SAY 2 OR 3 YEARS. THE M12 BOLT OBVIOUSLY DOESN'T HAVE THE SHEAR STRENGTH FOR THAT APPLICATION. THAT IS WHY THEY ARE NOW PUTTING A MUCH LARGER DIAMETER BOLT IN ITS PLACE ON THE NEWER MODELS. ALL THESE 2002-2004 SATURN VUE OWNERS IN THE COUNTRY HAVE WARM AND FUZZY FEELINGS ABOUT FEELING SAFE IN THEIR VEHICLE AGAIN NOW THAT THEY HAD THE RECALL CAMPAIGN PERFORMED. WHEN IN FACT THE MAJORITY DON??T EVEN HAVE A CLUE WHAT THE RECALL ENTAILED. SATURN IS BANKING ON THESE VEHICLES TO BE IN THE SCRAP YARD BEFORE ANYTHING MAJOR HAPPENS AGAIN. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE, AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED!!! I ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE WITH SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE ALREADY. THEY ARE BASICALLY SAYING TOUGH LUCK, THE RECALL CORRECTIVE ACTION IS WHAT IT IS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10188387
50,101 miles · Mar 29, 2007
Air BagsElectrical SystemPower Train
FAILED VTI TRANSMISSION..STARTED ON 12/03/03 WITH 9199 MILES. REDUCED POWER LIGHT, CAR WOULD NOT GO WHEN PLACED IN GEAR, FIX-CODE P0107, MAP SENSOR LOW CIRCUIT VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM ON 6/28/04 WITH N14807 MILES. WRENCH LIT, SATURN ALLEGEDLY NOT FOUND ON 12-02-04 WITH 20178 MILES NOT PROPERLY SHIFTING,WRENCH L…
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FAILED VTI TRANSMISSION..STARTED ON 12/03/03 WITH 9199 MILES. REDUCED POWER LIGHT, CAR WOULD NOT GO WHEN PLACED IN GEAR, FIX-CODE P0107, MAP SENSOR LOW CIRCUIT VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM ON 6/28/04 WITH N14807 MILES. WRENCH LIT, SATURN ALLEGEDLY NOT FOUND ON 12-02-04 WITH 20178 MILES NOT PROPERLY SHIFTING,WRENCH LIGHT,FIXED. DTC B2707 INTO SHIFT LOCK TRANSMISSION ON 6/30/05 WITH 27797 MILES SES LIGHT, NOT FOUND. ON 7/17/06 WITH 48664 MI.LES WONT SHIFT GEARS. FIX TOTAL REBUILD AS PER SATURN EXTENDED WARRANTY. ON 11/21/06 4WITH 8664 MILES NOT SHIFTING , STOPPED, THEN WENT INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC. WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE, FIX ED AGAIN. ON 3/10/07 WITH 50107 MILES STOPPED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THEN WENT. INTERMITENTLY SHOOK IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHEN AT OPERATING TEMPERATURES. AS PER SATURN NOT FOUND. ALSO, AIR BAG/HORN ISSUES, ON 1/31/06 WITH 38441 MILES AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON. .SATURN ALLEDGED NOT FOUND ON 4/10/06, AND ON 41040 MILES AGAIN AIR BAG LI, AS PER SATURN DTCB1800472,,DTCB1001, REPLACED MODUAL ASSEMBLY.WAS CHARGED $578.40 .AFTER THAT HORN WAS GOING ON OWN , ASSUMED WAS PART OF ALARM SYSTEM . HORN BURNED OUT, AND SATURN WANTA ABOUT $1500 TO REPAIR WHEN THERE IWAS A AN ADMITTED DESIGN FLAW. ALARM SYSTEM WAS VERIFIED BY OUTSIDE SOURCE OPERATIONAL, NOT EVEN SURE IF AIR BAG WILL DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10186458
39,180 miles · Mar 17, 2007
Air BagsElectrical System
IT STARTED WITH HAVING STRANGE CLICKING IN THE TURN SIGNALS. THEN THE TEMP LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND THE NEEDLE WOULD BURY ITSELF INTO THE RED PORTION OF THE DIAL. WE NOTICED NO SMELL OR PROBLEMS WITH DRIVING THE CAR AND THE RADIATOR AND COOLANT RESEVIOR CHECKED OUT TO BE FINE. NEXT CAME THE OIL LIGHT ON AFTER WE HAD ALREADY HAD T…
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IT STARTED WITH HAVING STRANGE CLICKING IN THE TURN SIGNALS. THEN THE TEMP LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND THE NEEDLE WOULD BURY ITSELF INTO THE RED PORTION OF THE DIAL. WE NOTICED NO SMELL OR PROBLEMS WITH DRIVING THE CAR AND THE RADIATOR AND COOLANT RESEVIOR CHECKED OUT TO BE FINE. NEXT CAME THE OIL LIGHT ON AFTER WE HAD ALREADY HAD THE OIL CHANGED. THEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD STAY ON LONGER AFTER STARTING THE CAR. THEN AS SUDDENLY AS THINGS STARTED, EVERYTHING WENT BACK TO NORMAL EXCEPT THE TURN SIGNALS. A FEW WEEKS LATER IT BEGAN. THIS TIME WITH THE HORN GETTING STUCK, THEN THE SERVICE LIGHT COMING ON AND STAYING ON ALONG WITH THE OIL LIGHT. THEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT STARTED STAYING ON LONGER AND LONGER. BY THIS TIME IT IS WINTER AND I'M HEARING STRANGE SOUNDS FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. ONE DAY WE NOTICE THE HORN IS NO LONGER WORKING AND THE FRONT END SOUND LIKE IT'S GOING TO FALL OFF. WE'RE AFRAID TO USE THE HEATER DEFROSTER TOO MUCH FOR FEAR THE CAR MAY OVER HEAT. I TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR OIL CHANGE AND DIAGNOTIC. IT WAS NOT BOUGHT AT A SATURN DEALER. I AM TOLD THAT THE HOUSING FOR THE OIL FILTER IS BROKEN AND NEEDS REPLACING. I PAY FOR HALF OF THAT. I NEED NEW LINKS IN THE FRONT. THE HORN WORKS. THE TEMP GAUGE IS GOING INTO THE RED. AFTER I EXPLAINED WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH THE GAUGES. IT WAS SUGGESTED I TAKE IT TO A SATURN DEALER. I WENT TO MY LOCAL SATURN DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE FRONT LINKS. THEY DIAGNOSED THE OTHER PROBLEMS AS: AIRBAG STEER WHEEL CONTACTS COLLAPSED - $800.00, SHORTED BCM- $449.00, HORN SHORTED- $101.00, FUSE BLOWN-$23.60, NOT INCLUDING LABOR. SPOKE WITH SATURN CORP, THEY HAVE AGREED TO PAY $500.00 TOWARD REPAIR OF AIRBAG AS LONG AS WE GO TO THE SATURN DEALER. PRESENTLY WE'RE SEEKING MONETARY ASSISTANCE FROM THE SELLING DEALERSHIP WHICH HAS MOVED OVER 50 MILES AWAY. THIS CASE IS STILL PENDING.
NHTSA ODI #10185375
Mileage unknown · Mar 3, 2007
Power Train
2003 VTI TRANSMISSION IN SATURN VUE. THE TRANSMISSION REQUIRES CONSTANT TRIPS TO DEALERSHIP FOR MONITORING UPDATES OR REPAIRS. GETS FIXED, ONLY TO HAVE SAME PROBLEMS RETURN AGAIN VERY SOON. SEE WWW.SATURNFANS.COM BLOG TO SEE HIGH REPORTS OF PROBLEMS. TRIED TO TRADE IN VEHICLE ON NEWER VUE WITHOUT VTI TRANSMISSION. DEALER OFFER…
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2003 VTI TRANSMISSION IN SATURN VUE. THE TRANSMISSION REQUIRES CONSTANT TRIPS TO DEALERSHIP FOR MONITORING UPDATES OR REPAIRS. GETS FIXED, ONLY TO HAVE SAME PROBLEMS RETURN AGAIN VERY SOON. SEE WWW.SATURNFANS.COM BLOG TO SEE HIGH REPORTS OF PROBLEMS. TRIED TO TRADE IN VEHICLE ON NEWER VUE WITHOUT VTI TRANSMISSION. DEALER OFFERED TRADE-IN VALUE SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER THAN KELLY BLUE BOOK. DEALER STATED "WE WON'T PUT A VTI VUE ON LOT FOR RESALE." SATURN DISCONTINUED PROBLEMATIC TRANSMISSION IN 04. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10184096
40,644 miles · Mar 2, 2007
Suspension
TL*- THE CONTACT HAS A 2003 SATURN VUE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A PLANE TAKING OFF WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH OR ABOVE. WHILE TURNING AT SLOW SPEED THERE WAS A CREAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD A FAILURE WITH THE HUB ASSEMBLY AT 40,644 MILES AND REPLACED T…
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TL*- THE CONTACT HAS A 2003 SATURN VUE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A PLANE TAKING OFF WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH OR ABOVE. WHILE TURNING AT SLOW SPEED THERE WAS A CREAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD A FAILURE WITH THE HUB ASSEMBLY AT 40,644 MILES AND REPLACED THE HUB ASSEMBLY. AT 46,972 THE CONTACT HAD THE SAME FAILURE AND REPLACED THE HUB ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOW HAVING THE SAME SYMPTOMS THEY HAD IN THE PRIOR FAILURES BEFORE THEY REPLACED THE HUB ASSEMBLY. THE CONTACT CAN PROVIDE ANY INVOICE REPAIR IF NEEDED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65000.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10183993
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.