IllustrationIGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT SHUT OFF TURNED,KEY AND IT SEEMED TO BIND,UP HAD TO FORCE KEY TO TURN TO OFF POSITIONMAKING THE KEY BREAK OFF I'M THE IGNITION SWITCH ITSELF. BEFORE THIS,HAPPENED KEY HAD BEEN RANDOMLY TURNING TO DIFFERENT POSITIONS WHEN IN MOTION
2004 Saturn Vue
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2004 Saturn Vue do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 276.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Vue years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
440–25K
3225–50K
3250–75K
4675–100K
52100–150K
31150K+
237 reports with mileage · 39 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 93 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 78 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
23 crash reports5 fire reports15 injury reports
Unknown Or Other complaints
17 reportsBEFORE WE PAID OUR 2ND PAYMENT OUR ABS SYSTEM FAILED. THE FRONT BREAKS WERE CRUNCHING. IT THEN THREW OUT OUR WHEEL BARRINGS, BALLJOINTS AND ROTORS. THEREFORE IT WOULDN'T PASS INSPECTION WHEN IT WAS DUE FOR IT. THE DEALERSHIP DID THE ORIGINAL INSPECTION THERE AND THEY NEVER CHANGED THE BREAKS. WHICH IS AN ILLEGAL PRACTICE. WITH A…
Read full complaint
BEFORE WE PAID OUR 2ND PAYMENT OUR ABS SYSTEM FAILED. THE FRONT BREAKS WERE CRUNCHING. IT THEN THREW OUT OUR WHEEL BARRINGS, BALLJOINTS AND ROTORS. THEREFORE IT WOULDN'T PASS INSPECTION WHEN IT WAS DUE FOR IT. THE DEALERSHIP DID THE ORIGINAL INSPECTION THERE AND THEY NEVER CHANGED THE BREAKS. WHICH IS AN ILLEGAL PRACTICE. WITH ALL THESE PROBLEMS WE RARELY DROVE THE CAR. TILL ONE DAY, LESS THAN HAVING IT UNDER 1 YEAR, IT WOULD NO LONGER START.WE LOST OUT OVER$5,000 ON PAYMENTS AND OUR LARGE DOWN PAYMENT TOO. THEY HAVE BEEN CALLING US EVER SINCE WANTING US TO PAY FOR A CAR THAT WON'T START AND WON'T PASS INSPECTION.
TAMARA RECALL , THE KEY CAME OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE THE CAR WAS ON. WE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE CONFIRMED IT BUT WOULD NOT FIX IT OR SEND US ANYWHERE TO GET IT FIXED. OUR ABS WENT THE 3RD WEEK WE HAD THE CAR, THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO EVEN LOOK AT IT. THE OTHER RECALL MADE OUR TIRES ONLY HOLD AIR FOR A FEW DAYS AT…
Read full complaint
TAMARA RECALL , THE KEY CAME OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE THE CAR WAS ON. WE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE CONFIRMED IT BUT WOULD NOT FIX IT OR SEND US ANYWHERE TO GET IT FIXED. OUR ABS WENT THE 3RD WEEK WE HAD THE CAR, THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO EVEN LOOK AT IT. THE OTHER RECALL MADE OUR TIRES ONLY HOLD AIR FOR A FEW DAYS AT A TIME.
PARKED BY CAR WHEN RETURNED TO MY CAR IT WOULD NT CRANK SO WE CHECKED THE BATTERY AND THERE WASNT ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT AND FOUND OUT IT WAS THE KEY IGNISION SWITCH
I WAS ABLE TO PULL OUT THE KEY FROM MY 2004 SATURN VUE WITHOUT THE IGNITION BEING IN THE OFF POSITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. I CHECKED THE GM WEBSITE WITH THE VIN NUMBER AND IT CAME BACK THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT BEING RECALLED, ALTHOUGH IT HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS THE OTHER SATURN VUE VEHICLES THAT A…
Read full complaint
I WAS ABLE TO PULL OUT THE KEY FROM MY 2004 SATURN VUE WITHOUT THE IGNITION BEING IN THE OFF POSITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. I CHECKED THE GM WEBSITE WITH THE VIN NUMBER AND IT CAME BACK THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT BEING RECALLED, ALTHOUGH IT HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS THE OTHER SATURN VUE VEHICLES THAT ARE UNDER RECALL. THANKS. *TR
I OWN A 2004 SATURN VUE. THE VTI TRANSMISSION THAT WAS ORIGINALLY PUT IN IT FAILED AT A LITTLE OVER 57,000 MILES AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY IN AUGUST 2008 WITH ANOTHER VTI TRANSMISSION. THIS MONTH, MARCH 2010, THE 2ND VTI TRANSMISSION ALSO FAILED (80,650 MILES/ABOUT 23,000 MILES AFTER THE REPAIR) AND IS NOW NO LONGER UNDER …
Read full complaint
I OWN A 2004 SATURN VUE. THE VTI TRANSMISSION THAT WAS ORIGINALLY PUT IN IT FAILED AT A LITTLE OVER 57,000 MILES AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY IN AUGUST 2008 WITH ANOTHER VTI TRANSMISSION. THIS MONTH, MARCH 2010, THE 2ND VTI TRANSMISSION ALSO FAILED (80,650 MILES/ABOUT 23,000 MILES AFTER THE REPAIR) AND IS NOW NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. GM WILL ONLY COVER 50%, ALTHOUGH A PREVIOUS CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REQUIRES THEY PAY MORE. IT WILL NOW COST ME $1638 PLUS TAXES TO REPAIR IT AND PUT IN THE THIRD TRANSMISSION THAT WILL ONLY HOLD A 12,000 MILE WARRANTY. THE ORIGINAL VTI TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH ANOTHER FAULTY ENGINE. IF IT HAD BEEN REPLACED WITH WHAT THEY CLAIM TO BE A BETTER TRANSMISSION THAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY REPLACING THEM WITH, THEN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER MY ORIGINAL WARRANTY AND THE CURRENT COST NEVER WOULD HAVE BEEN PLACED ON ME. GM KNOWS THE VTI TRANSMISSION IS BAD AND ISN'T USING IT ANYMORE, YET IS FAILING TO CORRECT THE ISSUE APPROPRIATELY FOR CURRENT OWNERS SUCH AS MYSELF. WITH THE AMOUNT OF PROBLEMS THAT THIS TRANSMISSION HAS PROVEN TO HAVE FOR ITS OWNERS, GM SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL THIS TRANSMISSION AS IT IS A DEFECT WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND SINCE IT WILL GO OUT WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING (PASSING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, TURNING, ETC) IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO INDIVIDUALS WHEN DRIVING IT.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A LOUD NOISE. ON THREE OCCASIONS, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT MAKE ENOUGH NOISE FOR THEM TO MAKE AN UNSPECIFIED REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE DESPITE THE NOISE. THE DEALER REFUSED TO DIAGNOSE THE COMP…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A LOUD NOISE. ON THREE OCCASIONS, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT MAKE ENOUGH NOISE FOR THEM TO MAKE AN UNSPECIFIED REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE DESPITE THE NOISE. THE DEALER REFUSED TO DIAGNOSE THE COMPUTER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE NOISE SOUNDED AS IF A COMPONENT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY FAILURES DURING THE TEST DRIVE, BUT THEY HEARD THE NOISE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 07/28/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. THE FRONT ROTORS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 07/31/09.*JB
Official recalls
214V490000 · 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.
03V519000 · Equipment:other:labels
Dec 19, 2003
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.5L V6 (L66) ENGINES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS." THE FRONT AND REAR WHEEL RIM SIZE SPECIFICATIONS ON THE TIRE/CERTIFICATION LABEL ARE NOT CORRECT. THE PRINTED WHEEL RIM DESIGNATION SPECIFIED A 16-INCH WHEEL WHEN A 17-INCH WHEEL DESIGNATION WAS REQUIRED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE WHEEL RIM SIZE IS INCORRECTLY PRINTED ON A TIRE/CERTIFICATION LABEL, A SERVICE TECHNICIAN WHO SOLELY USES THE TIRE/CERTIFICATION LABEL FOR SERVICE INFORMATION MAY ATTEMPT TO REPLACE A DAMAGED WHEEL WITH AN INCORRECT WHEEL.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A CORRECTED LABEL AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 15, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-553-6000.
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
1PE04052 · 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.