NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
170 reportsMileage unknown · Mar 26, 2014
Engine
WHILE IN OUR DRIVEWAY GETTING READY TO LEAVE IN OUR SATURN VUE, MY HUSBAND PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE AND STARTED TO BACK UP. AT THIS TIME THE LANYARD ON THE KEY CHAIN GOT HOOKED AND TUGGED THE KEY A BIT. THE ENTIRE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF.UPDATED 06/09/14 *BF AFTER HEARING OF THE RECENT GM RECALLS AND REMEMBERING THIS HAPPEN…
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WHILE IN OUR DRIVEWAY GETTING READY TO LEAVE IN OUR SATURN VUE, MY HUSBAND PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE AND STARTED TO BACK UP. AT THIS TIME THE LANYARD ON THE KEY CHAIN GOT HOOKED AND TUGGED THE KEY A BIT. THE ENTIRE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF.UPDATED 06/09/14 *BF AFTER HEARING OF THE RECENT GM RECALLS AND REMEMBERING THIS HAPPENING WITH MY VUE, WE TRIED TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM WHILE IN MY DRIVEWAY, BUT NOT IN PARK OR NEUTRAL. BY TUGGING ON THE LANYARD, THE ENGINE TURNS OFF WHEN THE CAR IS IN DRIVE PRETTY MUCH EVERY TIME. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE KEY COME COMPLETELY OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE DRIVING, BUT AS LONG AS IT COMES STRAIGHT OUT AND DOES NOT PULL AT AN ANGLE TO TURN THE STARTER, THE CAR STAYS ON AND CONTINUES TO DRIVE WITH NO KEY IN THE IGNITION. GM NEEDS TO LOOK AT THIS MODEL AS WELL AS THE OTHERS. IF WE CAN EVEN REPLICATE THE ISSUE ON DEMAND, THERE DEFINITELY IS A PROBLEM. I CAN PRODUCE VIDEO OF THIS HAPPENING WITH MY CAR ON REQUEST. UPDATED 06/12/2014 *JS *TR
NHTSA ODI #10574997
75,000 miles · Mar 16, 2014
Electrical System
STARTING APPROX 3 YEARS AND 30K MILES AGO THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT TIGHTLY HOLD THE KEY IN THE CYLINDER. APPROX 2 YEARS AGO THE IGNITION KEY WITH CONNECTED KEY RING FELL OUT OF THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER AND ONTO THE VEHICLE FLOOR BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RUN AND ACT NORMALLY. WHEN WE ARRIVED AT OUR DESTINATION I TURNED…
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STARTING APPROX 3 YEARS AND 30K MILES AGO THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT TIGHTLY HOLD THE KEY IN THE CYLINDER. APPROX 2 YEARS AGO THE IGNITION KEY WITH CONNECTED KEY RING FELL OUT OF THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER AND ONTO THE VEHICLE FLOOR BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RUN AND ACT NORMALLY. WHEN WE ARRIVED AT OUR DESTINATION I TURNED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO OFF WITHOUT USING THE KEY AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND THE COLUMN LOCKED. WE NOW DRIVE THE CAR WITH ONLY THE IGNITION KEY AND SMALL KEY RING ATTACHED TO MINIMIZE ANY WEIGHT ON THE KEY. ..UPDATED 06/09/14 *BF UPDATED 06/12/2014 *JS
NHTSA ODI #10572694
60,000 miles · Mar 6, 2014
Electrical System
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS SINCE DEC 2013, THE KEY WOULD EJECT FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH BEFORE IT IS COMPLETELY TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION. ONCE THIS HAPPENS, THE KEY WOULD NEED TO BE FORCED BACK INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH TO ACTIVATE THE SWITCH BY FORCING TO TURN ON THE IGNITION AND THEN CAREFULLY TURNING IT BACK TO THE OFF POSITION TO…
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ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS SINCE DEC 2013, THE KEY WOULD EJECT FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH BEFORE IT IS COMPLETELY TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION. ONCE THIS HAPPENS, THE KEY WOULD NEED TO BE FORCED BACK INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH TO ACTIVATE THE SWITCH BY FORCING TO TURN ON THE IGNITION AND THEN CAREFULLY TURNING IT BACK TO THE OFF POSITION TO SUCCESSFULLY EJECT THE KEY. MOST RECENTLY ON MARCH 1ST, 2014, WHILE DRIVING, MY HAND ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE KEY AND THE KEY FELL OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE THE CAR WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 45MPH. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10567525
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
106,115 miles · Apr 9, 2012
Air BagsCrashInjury
FRONT END OF 2007 SATURN VUE AWD HIT REAR END OF 2005 DODGE 1500 ON HIS TOW HITCH. IMPACT SPEED ESTIMATED AT 20MPH. WHOLE FRONT END WAS CRUSHED INWARD IN A V-SHAPE BECAUSE OF THE TOW HITCH. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT ACTIVATE, ALLOWING THE DRIVER TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL ON THEIR FOREHEAD. TAKEN TO ER BY AMBULANCE…
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FRONT END OF 2007 SATURN VUE AWD HIT REAR END OF 2005 DODGE 1500 ON HIS TOW HITCH. IMPACT SPEED ESTIMATED AT 20MPH. WHOLE FRONT END WAS CRUSHED INWARD IN A V-SHAPE BECAUSE OF THE TOW HITCH. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT ACTIVATE, ALLOWING THE DRIVER TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL ON THEIR FOREHEAD. TAKEN TO ER BY AMBULANCE FOR CHECK UP. CAR TOWED AWAY. WHY DIDN'T THE AIRBAG GO OFF? POLICE OFFICER SAID THAT SOME AIRBAGS DO GO OFF, AND SOME DON'T GO OFF. SEEMS LIKE THE AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE BEEN ACTIVATED UNLESS THERE WAS A DEFECT OR SOME OTHER EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES (WHICH I DON'T SEE). DAMAGE AMOUNT ESTIMATED BY INSURER AT $6666.44. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10454594
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
116,000 miles · Dec 15, 2011
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN HE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT ABRUPTLY STOPPED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. NEI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN HE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT ABRUPTLY STOPPED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,000.
NHTSA ODI #10440075
93,000 miles · Sep 16, 2011
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION WOULD LOCK AND HE COULD NOT TURN TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION HOUSING AND IGNITION SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED HIM THAT DUE TO THE AGE AND THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE, THEY W…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION WOULD LOCK AND HE COULD NOT TURN TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION HOUSING AND IGNITION SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED HIM THAT DUE TO THE AGE AND THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE, THEY WOULD NOT REIMBURSE HIM FOR THE REPAIRS AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.
NHTSA ODI #10425731
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
110,000 miles · Sep 3, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
I OWN A 2005 SATURN VUE AND IN JUNE 2011 I EXPERIENCED A/C FAILURE THAT TOOK MY MECHANIC SEVERAL WEEKS TO DIAGNOSIS THE PROBLEM. WE ORDER THE PARTFROM MILTON RUBEN CHEVY DEALER AND THE PART WAS REPLACED ON MY VUE AT THE END OF JUNE 2011. AS OF YESTERDAY I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND SMOKE STARTED TO RISE OUT FROM UNDER MY VUE.…
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I OWN A 2005 SATURN VUE AND IN JUNE 2011 I EXPERIENCED A/C FAILURE THAT TOOK MY MECHANIC SEVERAL WEEKS TO DIAGNOSIS THE PROBLEM. WE ORDER THE PARTFROM MILTON RUBEN CHEVY DEALER AND THE PART WAS REPLACED ON MY VUE AT THE END OF JUNE 2011. AS OF YESTERDAY I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND SMOKE STARTED TO RISE OUT FROM UNDER MY VUE. I PULLED OVER AND NOTED AS LONG AS THE MA/C WAS OFF THAT THE SMOKE STOPPED. MY HUSBAND TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC WERE THE SAME PART AT THE SAME PLACE SPLIT AGAIN NOW MY A/C DOES NOT WORK AND IT IS STILL 100 PLUS DEGREES AND THE PART IS NOT EVEN NINETY DAYS OLD. I BELIEVE WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS THAT I HAVE READ ON THE A/C SATURN PROBLEMS THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PART . *TR
NHTSA ODI #10423142