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

What owners actually said

276 reports

145,000 miles · Sep 7, 2016

Steering

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INNER, OTTER RODS AND HUB BEARINGS WERE REPLACED IN JULY BY GM OF ENGLEWOOD, NJ. AFTER TWO DAYS I HEARD A METAL RUBBING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF MY VEHICLE. I TOOK IT BACK TO GM THEY CHECKED IT AND MY CAR WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A STEERING COLUMN AND QUOTED A $3100.00 FOR REPAIR COST WHICH I CANNOT AFFORD. FOR A SECOND OPINION; I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE STATED THE SAME ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE. AS WELL AS A PRINT OUT FOR 2002-2004 SATURN VUE MODELS RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE. I CALLED SATURN HEADQUARTERS, THEY CHECKED MY VIN FOR RECALLS AND CLAIM WAS DENIED BECAUSE MY VEHICLE DID NOT QUALIFY UNDER THIS RECALL BY THE VIN NUMBER. CAN YOU HELP?

NHTSA ODI #10904376

155,000 miles · Aug 23, 2016

Electrical SystemPower Train

I JUST BROUGHT A 2004 SATURN VUE, AND IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO GET TO 2ND AND 3RD GEAR, AND IF I AM DRIVING 30 MPH OR LOWER IT SHAKES. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER TWICE ALREADY AND IT IS STILL DOING THE SAME THING. IT ALSO MAKES A ROUGH GRINDING, AND GROWLING SOUND. IT DOES ALL OF THE ABOVE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AN…

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NHTSA ODI #10897909

210,400 miles · Aug 22, 2016

Electrical System

I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT AT WORK, WENT TO STEP OUT OF THE CAR BEFORE I REALIZED THAT MY KEYS WERE IN MY HAND BUT THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED THAT I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE THE CAR WAS IN PARK AND THE ENGINE RUNNING.

NHTSA ODI #10897505

21,200 miles · Jun 28, 2016

Electrical System

IGNITION SWITCH ASSY; DEALER CHARGED ME FOR FLASHING IGNITION SYSTEM, VEHICLE STILL WILLNOT START

NHTSA ODI #10877043

102,000 miles · Jun 22, 2016

Power TrainSteering

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I AM PAYING ON A 2004 SATURN VUE AND AFTER 101,000 MILES I WAS ON MY WAY TO DAYCARE WITH MY 3 YEAR OLD DAUGHT AND THE CAR TRANSMISSION SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL NOW IT CONTINUOUSLY SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING. 3 MONTHS AFTER BUYING VEHICLE THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED CREAKING AND MAKING LIKE A HONKING SOUND AND WE TOOK IT BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND WERE TURNED AWAY DUE TO IT BEING A PERSONAL PROBLEM. IT ALSO MAKES POPPING NOISES AND SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL WHILE ON FREEWAY AFTER 50 MPH AND WHEN MAKING SOME RIGHT TURNS.

NHTSA ODI #10876026

100,000 miles · May 9, 2016

Steering

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I AM ENTERING THIS INFORMATION FOR MY SISTER WHO HAS NO ACCESS TO A COMPUTER: WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECAME NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN, THE DOORS LOCKED, THE SPEEDOMETER AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STOPPED WORKING. LUCKILY SHE WAS DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED AND WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR STOPPED WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. SHE HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED AT A GM DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE "POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE". I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE ON-LINE AND WAS SURPRISED AT THE NUMBER OF RELATED INCIDENTS AND I'M RATHER SHOCKED THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE IS BASICALLY UN-USEABLE AT THIS TIME AS THE PROBLEM HAS RE-OCCURRED ON A MORE FREQUENT BASIS. SHE HAS CONTACTED THE NC AG'S OFFICE AND WAS REDIRECTED TO THE GM RECALL DIVISION, UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS NO ACTIVE CAMPAIGN TO REPAIR THIS SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT.

NHTSA ODI #10863857

154,000 miles · May 4, 2016

Structure

REAR HATCH WON'T OPEN BECAUSE ACTUATOR MECHANISM IS BROKEN. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL YEARS AGO (2013 OR 14?), & THERE IS NO WAY TO OPEN THE HATCH TO FIX IT. YOU HAVE TO CLIMB THRU THE CAR TO GET THE OUT JACK, ETC.

NHTSA ODI #10862944

Mileage unknown · May 2, 2016

Power TrainSuspension

TAKATA RECALL IT STARTING MAKING A WHISTLE NOISE AND IT FEEL THAT IT'S SLIPPING IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE

NHTSA ODI #10862445

131,000 miles · Apr 15, 2016

Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000. UPDATED 05…

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NHTSA ODI #10855647

144,000 miles · Mar 3, 2016

Suspension

WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN A STATE ROUTE (THANKFULLY AT LOW SPEED) THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL COLLAPSED ON OUR 2004 SATURN VUE. THIS WAS RECALLED AND REPAIRED IN 2004 UNDER RECALL CAMPAIGN #04067001. HAD THIS BEEN AT HIGHER SPEEDS, MY WIFE COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED OR KILLED.

NHTSA ODI #10839649

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.

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

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