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2005 Saturn Vue

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Saturn Vue do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 276.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

137 reports with mileage · 33 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 72 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

15 crash reports3 fire reports9 injury reports

Power Train complaints

30 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 2014
Power Train

IN MAY OF 2013 MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A 2005 SATURN VUE AT A DEALER IN ANGOLA, INDIANA WHILE VISITING WITH FAMILY. FOUR MONTHS LATER WE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION TO THE POINT WHERE IT BLEW. BEFORE TAKING IT TO THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALER WE CALLED SEVERAL TRANSMISSION SHOPS AND THEY REFUSED TO DO TH…

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IN MAY OF 2013 MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A 2005 SATURN VUE AT A DEALER IN ANGOLA, INDIANA WHILE VISITING WITH FAMILY. FOUR MONTHS LATER WE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION TO THE POINT WHERE IT BLEW. BEFORE TAKING IT TO THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALER WE CALLED SEVERAL TRANSMISSION SHOPS AND THEY REFUSED TO DO THE WORK SINCE IT A CVT TRANSMISSION. SO THE LOCAL CHEVY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND IT HAD NOT BEEN 24 HOURS AND WE HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER THEY MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS WHICH DID NOT HELP SO THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE IT A SECOND TIME. I AM DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. SO I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO THE SECOND ONE AND DURING ONE OF THEIR TEST DRIVES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SO THE SATURN VUE REMAINED AT THE DEALER FOR A MONTH. AND OF COURSE THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION FOR A 3RD TIME. TRANSMISSION NUMBER 3 LASTED FOR OCTOBER OF 2013 TO FEBRUARY OF 2014. THAT BEING SAID, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED FOR THE 4TH TIME. THIS ONE ONLY LASTED TO JUNE. ON FRIDAY JUNE 13TH THE DEALER CALLED AND SAID THEY HAD TO ORDER THE 5TH REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION. I CALLED GM ON FRIDAY JUNE 13TH AND I WAS VERY UPSET WITH THEM. GM INFORMED ME AS SO DID THE DEALER THAT BECAUSE OF THE WARRANTY THE DEALER IS NOT ALLOWED TO OPEN A FAILED REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION. MY HUSBAND AND I ARE REALLY UPSET, WE FEEL THAT BECAUSE OF THIS WARRANTY AND THE DEALER NOT BEING ALLOWED TO FIND OUT WHY ALL OF THESE TRANSMISSIONS ARE FAILING GM IS COVERING SOMETHING UP. WE WANT ANSWERS!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10604636

Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 2013
Power Train

ON 7-11-12 AFTER BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE & PUTTING THE CAR IN DRIVE THE TRANSMISSION QUIT WORKING. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS. BOTH GIVING ME THE SAME ANSWER. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED & IT WOULD COST 3,000. LATER ON I FOUND OUT THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION FOR MY C…

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ON 7-11-12 AFTER BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE & PUTTING THE CAR IN DRIVE THE TRANSMISSION QUIT WORKING. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS. BOTH GIVING ME THE SAME ANSWER. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED & IT WOULD COST 3,000. LATER ON I FOUND OUT THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION FOR MY CAR. I CONTACTED THE SATURN CLAIMS DEPT., HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A GM DEALER & ONCE AGAIN WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. SATURN THEN OFFERED ME A 2,500 CREDIT TOWARDS A NEW GM CAR. TO MY KNOWLEDGE I SHOULD HAVE BEEN OFFERED A 5,000 CREDIT OR HALF THE COST OF A REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION. PLEASE HELP THEY SHOULD HAVE TO RIGHT THERE WRONG. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10507391

76,708 miles · Apr 6, 2012
Power Train

AFTER PURCHASING MY SATURN VUE, JANUARY 11, 2011, IT REQUIRED SERVICE AND A SUBSEQUENT TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT ON OR ABOUT APRIL 1, 2011. THE REPAIR WAS COVERED BY MY EXTNEDED WARRANTY, HOWEVER, THE MOST RECENT TRANSMISSION FAILURE, APRIL 2, 2012, WAS NOT COVERED BY A WARRANTY. THE DEALERSHIP IS SEEKING TO HAVE ME PAY 50% OF …

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AFTER PURCHASING MY SATURN VUE, JANUARY 11, 2011, IT REQUIRED SERVICE AND A SUBSEQUENT TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT ON OR ABOUT APRIL 1, 2011. THE REPAIR WAS COVERED BY MY EXTNEDED WARRANTY, HOWEVER, THE MOST RECENT TRANSMISSION FAILURE, APRIL 2, 2012, WAS NOT COVERED BY A WARRANTY. THE DEALERSHIP IS SEEKING TO HAVE ME PAY 50% OF THE COST TO REPLACE, FOR A SECOND TIME, A FAULTY TRANSMISSION, WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT ITS PERFORMANCE WILL EXCEED THAT OF MY PREVIOUS TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. BETWEEN THE COST OF BOTH TRANSMISSIONS, THE REPAIR TO MY VEHICLE EXCEEDS THE VALUE OF IT AS A WHOLE. I AM TERRIFIED THAT I WILL ENCOUNTER THIS PROBLEM AGAIN, AND CANNOT AFFORD THE COST TO REPAIR A PROBLEM THAT WAS FORESEEABLE THEN, AS WELL AS NOW. I DO NOT KNOW WHERE TO TURN, BUT I FEEL AS THOUGH THIS IS AN IRRESPONSIBLE WAY TO CONDUCT BUSINESS, AND THE IMPROPER FUNCTIONING OF THIS COMPONENT COULD BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIGHWAY SAFETY AND A FATAL ACCIDENT IN THE EVENT THE TRANSMISSION FAILS AT HIGH SPEEDS. PLEASE HELP MAKE THIS RIGHT FOR ME, AND ALL OTHER CONSUMERS NOT YET AWARE OF THE BATTLE THAT THEY WILL, MOST LIKELY, FACE IF THEY ARE IN POSSESSION OF A SATURN VUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10454324

60,000 miles · Sep 15, 2011
Power Train

I AM RECENTLY HAVING PROBLEMS GETTING MY 2005 SATURN VUE INTO 1ST GEAR. CALLED A TRANSMISSION COMPANY WHO LOOKED IT UP AND SAID THERE WERE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VERY ISSUE, YET THERE IS NO RECALL FOR IT. I ONLY HAVE 60,000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM IS THAT SATURN PUT IN A RUBBER TYPE SHIFTING LINKAGE. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10425575

50,000 miles · Jul 21, 2011
Power Train

I WAS DRIVING IN 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC WHEN THE TRANSMISSION JUST STOPPED WORKING.THE CAR ROLLED AND I WAS VERY LUCKY TO GET TO THE CURB. THE HIGHWAY PATROL CAME UP BEHIND ME. AND DUE TO THE TRAFFIC, CHOOSE TO STAY PARKED BEHIND ME WITH FLARES, UNTIL THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY THAT THE POLICE ARRIVED TO PREVENT …

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I WAS DRIVING IN 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC WHEN THE TRANSMISSION JUST STOPPED WORKING.THE CAR ROLLED AND I WAS VERY LUCKY TO GET TO THE CURB. THE HIGHWAY PATROL CAME UP BEHIND ME. AND DUE TO THE TRAFFIC, CHOOSE TO STAY PARKED BEHIND ME WITH FLARES, UNTIL THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY THAT THE POLICE ARRIVED TO PREVENT A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10414548

46,000 miles · Apr 22, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE CABLE THAT HELD THE GEAR SHIFTER FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE SHIFT STICK CABLE UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE CABLE THAT HELD THE GEAR SHIFTER FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE SHIFT STICK CABLE UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000. UPDATED 06/01/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD TO PAY A $100 DEDUCTIBLE. UPDATED 08/05/11

NHTSA ODI #10397134

80,000 miles · Jan 20, 2011
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HAVING HIS VEHICLE SERVICED AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHO ADVISED HIM THAT THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT HE FLUSH HIS TRANSMISSION AT 60,000 MILES. WHEN HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE INTO A CERTIFIED DEALER, THEY ADVISED HIM TO NOT FLUSH THE TRANSMISSION SINCE HE WAS COVERED …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HAVING HIS VEHICLE SERVICED AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHO ADVISED HIM THAT THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT HE FLUSH HIS TRANSMISSION AT 60,000 MILES. WHEN HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE INTO A CERTIFIED DEALER, THEY ADVISED HIM TO NOT FLUSH THE TRANSMISSION SINCE HE WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT SOMETIMES THE FLUSH CAUSED MORE PROBLEMS. 20,000 MILES LATER THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH NO WARNING AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE TRANSMISSION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10377984

44,000 miles · Jan 2, 2011
Power Train

I OWN A 2005 SATURN VUE ALL WHEEL DRIVE THAT WHEN THE ROADS ARE ICY OR SNOW PACKED IS VERY HARD TO CONTROL. WHEN YOU TRY TO TURN A CORNER YOU DO NOT KNOW IF IT IS GOING TO TURN OR NOT. THE REAR WHEELS KICK IN WHEN THE FRONT WHEELS SLIP AND I HAVE HAD IT SLIDE SIDEWAYS CLOSE TO HITTING A CURB. ALL FOUR TIRES ARE TURNING AND THER…

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I OWN A 2005 SATURN VUE ALL WHEEL DRIVE THAT WHEN THE ROADS ARE ICY OR SNOW PACKED IS VERY HARD TO CONTROL. WHEN YOU TRY TO TURN A CORNER YOU DO NOT KNOW IF IT IS GOING TO TURN OR NOT. THE REAR WHEELS KICK IN WHEN THE FRONT WHEELS SLIP AND I HAVE HAD IT SLIDE SIDEWAYS CLOSE TO HITTING A CURB. ALL FOUR TIRES ARE TURNING AND THERE IS NO CONTROL. THE BRAKING IS ALSO AS BAD SOME OF THE SAME PROBLEMS. I KNOW THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NO LONGER BEING BUILT BUT I STILL FELL THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO, I HAVE HEARD THAT THERE HAS BEEN SOME ACCIDENTS ON SLICK ROADS AND I THINK THAT THIS MAY BY A BIGGER PROBLEM THAN JUST MINE. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM, NOT SOMETHING THAT HAS JUST STARTED HAPPENING. MOST OF THE TIME THE VUE HAS BEEN DRIVEN ON DRY ROADS OR SNOW NOT THAT MUCH ON ICE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10373781

64,990 miles · Aug 24, 2010
Power Train

MY TRANSMISSION IN MY 2005 SATURN VUE HAS FAILED. I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND THE CAR JUST STOPPED AS I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL THE ENGINE JUST REVVED AND THE CAR TOOK A FEW SECS TO ENGAGE. I HAVE 65,001 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND I HAVE NOT HAD ANY LUCK IN FINDING THE TRANSMISSION TO FIT THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10351413

35,533 miles · Aug 16, 2010
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicStructure

AT 24,000 MILES THIS 2005 SATURN VUE NEEDED THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM REPLACED. THEN WHEN BACKING UP AND THEN PUTTING THE CAR IN DRIVE IT WOULD NOT SPEED UP. I HAD TO STOP, PUT IT IN PARK, PUT IT IN DRIVE AGAIN BEFORE IT WOULD MOVE. THIS WAS AT 28,300 MILES, TURNS OUT THE TRANSMISSION WENT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. NOW AT 35,533 THE…

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AT 24,000 MILES THIS 2005 SATURN VUE NEEDED THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM REPLACED. THEN WHEN BACKING UP AND THEN PUTTING THE CAR IN DRIVE IT WOULD NOT SPEED UP. I HAD TO STOP, PUT IT IN PARK, PUT IT IN DRIVE AGAIN BEFORE IT WOULD MOVE. THIS WAS AT 28,300 MILES, TURNS OUT THE TRANSMISSION WENT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. NOW AT 35,533 THE DRIVE SHAFT IS RUSTED AND CENTER SUPPORT IS BLOWN OUT. I ASKED SATURN WHAT THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF THIS VEHICLE IS AND RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS RELATED TO THESE FAILURES BECAUSE I REALIZED SOMETHING WAS WRONG AND TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE IMMEDIATELY. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD MORE SERIOUS AND COSTLY REPAIRS AT 35,533 MILES THAN VEHICLES WITH OVER 100,000 MILES. DRIVING IT IS VERY STRESSFUL AS I NEVER KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10349547

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.