AFTER INITIAL START, THE CAR KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE MOTOR CONTINUES TO RUN. TO SWITCH OFF THE MOTOR, THE KEY MUST BE REINSERTED AS USUAL. THERE IS NO RESISTANCE IN REMOVING THE KEY WHILE THE MOTOR IS RUNNING. *TR
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.
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
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.
Steering complaints
20 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ATTEMPTING TO AVOID CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE BRAKES AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE CRASHING INTO A METAL GROUND WIRE WHICH FLIPPED THE VE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ATTEMPTING TO AVOID CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE BRAKES AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE CRASHING INTO A METAL GROUND WIRE WHICH FLIPPED THE VEHICLE OVER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BODY REPAIR SHOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT MADE AWARE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V470000 (STEERING) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V616000 (STEERING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
I WAS LEAVING WORK, I ENTERED MY CAR, PUT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE KEY. THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. THE IGNITION WAS LOCKED AND THERE WAS NO UNLOCKING IT. I CALLED SEVERAL TOW COMPANIES AS THIS HAD HAPPENED A YEAR EARLIER AND A TOW COMPANY CAME OUT, SPRAYED THE IGNITION WITH WD-40 AND IT TURNED RIGHT AWAY.…
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I WAS LEAVING WORK, I ENTERED MY CAR, PUT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE KEY. THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. THE IGNITION WAS LOCKED AND THERE WAS NO UNLOCKING IT. I CALLED SEVERAL TOW COMPANIES AS THIS HAD HAPPENED A YEAR EARLIER AND A TOW COMPANY CAME OUT, SPRAYED THE IGNITION WITH WD-40 AND IT TURNED RIGHT AWAY. I TRIED THE WD-40 BEFORE CALLING THE TOW COMPANY AND IT DID NOTHING. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED, HE HAD MADE A STATEMENT THAT HE HAD SEEN THIS A LOT WITH THESE SUV'S. HE GOT THE KEY INTO THE AUXILIARY POSITION AND HIT IT THE KEY WITH THE HARD END OF A BUTT OF A KNIFE. THIS MADE THE IGNITION SLIP TO THE "ON" POSITION. I COULD THEN TURN THE KEY AND START THE TRUCK. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO HAVE THIS IGNITION REPLACED. I FEEL THAT THIS IGNITION SHOULD BE REPLACED AS JUST BECAUSE IT HAS NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT YET, THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT WITH THIS IGNITION. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOCKED UNTIL THE KEY COULD BE TURNED TO THE "ON" POSITION. I HAVE TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AT THIS TIME SO, THAT I CAN START THE TRUCK AND GET TO WORK. I AM TOLD IT WILL BE CLOSE TO $300 TO REPAIR THIS DEFECT!. *TR
KEYS GET STUCK IN IGNITION NOT ALWAYS INTERMITTENT AND FOR NO REASON 5 TIMES SINCE I HAVE HAD THE CAR. *TR
I CAN REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WHILE THE CAR IS STILL RUNNING. ALSO, THERE ARE TIMES THE IGNITION WILL PHYSICALLY NOT TURN SO THAT I CAN CRANK THE VEHICLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE TO DRIVE FORWARD. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHO ADVISED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE TO DRIVE FORWARD. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHO ADVISED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING CONTROL FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.
THE KEY WILL NO LONGER TURN IN THE IGNITION. IT'S AS IF I AM USING THE WRONG KEY ENTIRELY. IT HAS STRANDED ME NUMEROUS TIMES. *TR
SATURN VUE WITH SPORADIC ELECTRONIC FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FAILURE CONSISTS OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND GAUGES GOING TO ZERO. ALSO WHEN THE LIGHTS MALFUNCTION THE POWER STEERING IS DECREASED OR STOPS COMPLETELY. *KB
LAST JAN. 2004 MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A 2004 SATURN VUE AWD V6. FROM DAY ONE IT WAS IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS, DRIVE TRAIN, FRONT END ETC.( WE HAVE A COPY OF ALL RECORDS) THE LAST REPAIR WAS A STEERING COLUMN REPLACEMENT AROUND JUNE 04. IN JULY 04 SATURN TOOK THIS VEHICLE BACK AND REPLACED IT WITH A 04 VUE. THIS PAST OCTOBER 05 I…
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LAST JAN. 2004 MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A 2004 SATURN VUE AWD V6. FROM DAY ONE IT WAS IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS, DRIVE TRAIN, FRONT END ETC.( WE HAVE A COPY OF ALL RECORDS) THE LAST REPAIR WAS A STEERING COLUMN REPLACEMENT AROUND JUNE 04. IN JULY 04 SATURN TOOK THIS VEHICLE BACK AND REPLACED IT WITH A 04 VUE. THIS PAST OCTOBER 05 IT DEVELOPED A RATTLE IN THE FRONT END AND SATURN REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN. AFTER REPAIR THE RATTLE IS STILL THERE AND I HAD A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP CHECK THE VEHICLE AND ONCE IT WAS ON THE LIFT THEY WERE ABLE TO MOVE THE STEERING COLUMN WITH THEIR HAND. SATURN HAS SAID THIS VEHICLE AND THE LAST ONE ARE SAFE TO DRIVE BUT MY CONCERN IS TWO VUE'S AND BOTH HAVING THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED AND TOLD THERE IS NO PROBLEM. I CAN'T BE THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS REPAIR OR PROBLEM AND I FEEL SATURN IS GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND. *NM
LAST JAN. 2004 WE PURCHASED A 04 SATURN VUE, THE VEHICLE ENDED UP BEING IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS SUCH AS SUSPENSION, DRIVE TRAIN, WHEEL BEARINGS ETC. THE LAST REPAIR WAS THE STEERING COLUMN AND SATURN AGREED TO REPLACE THE M/V. IN JULY 04 WERE RECEIVED OUR NEW 04 VUE. ON SATURDAY WE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE AND TO…
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LAST JAN. 2004 WE PURCHASED A 04 SATURN VUE, THE VEHICLE ENDED UP BEING IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS SUCH AS SUSPENSION, DRIVE TRAIN, WHEEL BEARINGS ETC. THE LAST REPAIR WAS THE STEERING COLUMN AND SATURN AGREED TO REPLACE THE M/V. IN JULY 04 WERE RECEIVED OUR NEW 04 VUE. ON SATURDAY WE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE AND TO CHECK A RATTLE IN THE FRONT END. WE ARE NEW SCHEDULED TO HAVE THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACE IN THIS M/V. SATURN STATED THAT THE M/V IS SAFE TO DRIVE BUT MY CONCERN IS TWO (2) 04 VUE'S WITH STEERING COLUMN REPLACEMENTS AND SATURN NOT TELLING ME IF THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THESE M/V'S. WHAT ARE THE ODDS THAT THIS COULD ONLY HAPPEN TO US NOT ONCE BUT TWICE.*JB
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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