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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

What owners actually said

170 reports
39,500 miles · Sep 11, 2007
Power Train

I TRAVELING ON RURAL HIGHWAY AND WHEN I PRESSED THE CLUTCH TO BEGIN SLOWING DOWN AT STOP LIGHT IT WAS NOT WORKING. AUTO ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENT WHICH I WAS LUCKY TO AVOID. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED IN AND THE SLAVE CYLINDER HAD GONE OUT. I HAD LESS THAT 40,000 MILES ON THE AUTO AND JUST TURNED OVER 39,000 RECENTLY ON THIS 2005 SATU…

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I TRAVELING ON RURAL HIGHWAY AND WHEN I PRESSED THE CLUTCH TO BEGIN SLOWING DOWN AT STOP LIGHT IT WAS NOT WORKING. AUTO ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENT WHICH I WAS LUCKY TO AVOID. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED IN AND THE SLAVE CYLINDER HAD GONE OUT. I HAD LESS THAT 40,000 MILES ON THE AUTO AND JUST TURNED OVER 39,000 RECENTLY ON THIS 2005 SATURN VUE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10202494

33,900 miles · Jul 5, 2007
Visibility

I OWN 2 SATURN SUV AND BOTH HAVE RECENTLY EXPERIENCED CRACKING FROM ROAD DEBRIS. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS NOT A STRESS CRACK. IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT QUALITY OF THE GLASS WAS THE PROBLEM. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS TWICE WITH MY CARS BEING DRIVEN BY DIFFERENT DRIVERS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10195419

15,000 miles · Jan 8, 2007
Exterior Lighting

I HAVE AN 05 SATURN VUE. I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS SWITCHING TO THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WHEN I AM DRIVING AT NIGHT. MY DASH GOES COMPLETELY BLACK WITH THE ONLY LIGHTS COMING FROM THE DASH BEING THE GREEN HEADLIGHT THAT INDICATES THE DAYTIME LIGHTS ARE ON AND THE LIGHT FROM THE ODOMETER. WHEN THIS HAPPENS I A…

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I HAVE AN 05 SATURN VUE. I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS SWITCHING TO THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WHEN I AM DRIVING AT NIGHT. MY DASH GOES COMPLETELY BLACK WITH THE ONLY LIGHTS COMING FROM THE DASH BEING THE GREEN HEADLIGHT THAT INDICATES THE DAYTIME LIGHTS ARE ON AND THE LIGHT FROM THE ODOMETER. WHEN THIS HAPPENS I ALSO LOSE MY TAILLIGHTS MAKING IT DANGEROUS. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MONTHS AND I HAVE HAD NO RESOLUTION TO THIS FROM THE DEALER. THEY CLAIM THEY HAVE TO SEE IT HAPPEN IN ORDER FOR THEM TO FIX IT. THERE IS NO PATTERN TO WHEN THIS WILL OCCUR AS IT COMES AND GOES INTERMITTENTLY. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10178100

26,000 miles · Dec 19, 2006
Electrical SystemEquipmentPower Train

ON JULY 23, 2005, I HAD THE OIL SEAL REPLACED. THE VUE HAD BEEN LEAKING OIL IN MY GARAGE AND OTHER PLACES WHEN I PARKED. I HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH ON TWO OCCASIONS AND WAS ALMOST UNABLE TO GET THE KEY TO TURN. SOMETIMES TOOK UP TO 20 MINUTES OR SO. ON JULY 22, 2006 I HAD THE AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER AND SEAL REPL…

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ON JULY 23, 2005, I HAD THE OIL SEAL REPLACED. THE VUE HAD BEEN LEAKING OIL IN MY GARAGE AND OTHER PLACES WHEN I PARKED. I HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH ON TWO OCCASIONS AND WAS ALMOST UNABLE TO GET THE KEY TO TURN. SOMETIMES TOOK UP TO 20 MINUTES OR SO. ON JULY 22, 2006 I HAD THE AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER AND SEAL REPLACED. IT WAS OVER 100 DEGREES. I HAD TO GET A RENTAL FOR THIS REPAIR. THIS TOOK SEVERAL DAYS BECAUSE THE MECHANIC TOOK MY CAR APART, THOUGHT IT WAS REPAIRED, BUT WAS NOT, I WAS TOLD. SECOND DAY OF CAR RENTAL, I WAS TOLD THEY ORDERED THE PART, BUT THEY "SENT THE WRONG PART". FINALLY, ON THE THIRD DAY, I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR HAD TO BE TAKEN APART AGAIN TO BE REPAIRED. I RENTED A CAR FOR THREE DAYS. ON AUGUST 6, 2006, I WENT TO LEAVE TO PICK UP MY SON, THE VUE WAS IN MY GARAGE AND THERE WAS NO CLUTCH. I HAD TO CALL SATURN ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO SATURN OF HENDERSON. ON AUGUST 7, 2006, I HAD THE CLUTCH CYLINDER, CONCENTRIC SLAVE REPLACED. ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2006, I WAS TAKING MY SON TO THE AIRPORT TO BE WITH HIS FATHER FOR THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY IN MICHIGAN. I WAS ATTEMPTING TO BACK OUT OF THE GARAGE, BUT COULD NOT PUT THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE. WE PUSHED THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE. I DROVE VERY CAREFULLY (A BIT CONCERNED THINKING IT MAY BREAKDOWN) BECAUSE I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBLE DANGERS INVOLVED, BUT HAD TO GET MY SON TO THE AIRPORT ON TIME. I PULLED OFF OF THE 215 WHEN AT THAT OFF RAMP, ALL OF MY GEARS WERE SUDDENLY GONE. THE CABLES SNAPPED INSIDE AND I COULD NOT GO ANYWHERE, CAUSING ME TO ONCE AGAIN, CALL SATURN ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, HAVE THE 2005 VEHICLE TOWED AWAY AGAIN, MY SON MISSED HIS FLIGHT TO MICHIGAN AND I HAD TO MISS PART OF A WORK DAY AND AGAIN RENT ANOTHER CAR. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10176587

24,657 miles · Oct 16, 2006
Air BagsCrashInjury

AS ENTERING THE INTERSECTION OF HWY 173 AND BI PASS 534. OTHER VEHICLE TURNED LEFT IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD THE GREEN LIGHT. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY 2005 SATURN VUE. WE WERE GOING BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MILES PER HOUR IN A 55 MPH ZONE. THE FRONT CENTER TO THE LEFT FRONT CORNER COLLIDED WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DI…

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AS ENTERING THE INTERSECTION OF HWY 173 AND BI PASS 534. OTHER VEHICLE TURNED LEFT IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD THE GREEN LIGHT. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY 2005 SATURN VUE. WE WERE GOING BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MILES PER HOUR IN A 55 MPH ZONE. THE FRONT CENTER TO THE LEFT FRONT CORNER COLLIDED WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE INSURANCE COMPANY SAID SOMETIMES THEY JUST DON'T. AT THE SEEN OF THE ACCIDENT THE EMT TOLD ME I SHOULD GET OUT OF THE CAR IF I WAS ABLE TO. BECAUSE THE AIR BAGS MIGHT STILL DEPLOY, AS THEY HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO DO SO BEFORE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY REFUSES TO PAY FOR NEW AIR BAGS. STATING THAT THERE IS NO DANGER OF THEM UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOYING. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THEY MIGHT UNEXPECTEDLY. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10171010

27,000 miles · Oct 3, 2006
Child Seat

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT BUCKLE BETWEEN THE LEGS DID NOT ALWAYS FASTEN INTO PLACE. ALSO, THE TETHER STRAP LOOSENED DURING A MINOR COLLISION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THIS WAS A BRITAX MARATHON, MANUFACTURED APRIL 28, 2006.

NHTSA ODI #10169846

38,889 miles · Sep 27, 2006
Power Train

NO WARNING WAS GIVEN AT ALL! THE SLAVE CYLINDER IN MY 2005 SATURN VUE WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. STUCK IN TRAFFIC WITH MY THREE OLD SON! *JB

NHTSA ODI #10169418

24,200 miles · Aug 29, 2006
Air BagsCrash

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH WITH PRIOR BRAKING, THE VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER HEAD ON. THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS DAMAGED AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS INC…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH WITH PRIOR BRAKING, THE VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER HEAD ON. THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS DAMAGED AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS INCONCLUSIVE ON WHETHER OR NOT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ODI #10166866

50 miles · Jul 13, 2006
Suspension

2005 SATURN VUE FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO TIP OVER WHEN TAKING SHARP TURNS. THIS IS PARTICULARLY NOTICEABLE WHEN DRIVING AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED BUT WITHIN THE POSTED SPEED LIMITS SUCH AS LEAVING THE INTERSTATE FREEWAYS ON TO ADJOINING ON RAMPS/OFF RAMPS WHICH TEND TO HAVE VARIOUS CURVES IN THE ROAD. THE CAR FEELS SCARY WHEN TH…

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2005 SATURN VUE FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO TIP OVER WHEN TAKING SHARP TURNS. THIS IS PARTICULARLY NOTICEABLE WHEN DRIVING AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED BUT WITHIN THE POSTED SPEED LIMITS SUCH AS LEAVING THE INTERSTATE FREEWAYS ON TO ADJOINING ON RAMPS/OFF RAMPS WHICH TEND TO HAVE VARIOUS CURVES IN THE ROAD. THE CAR FEELS SCARY WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND REQUIRES A COMPLETE REDUCTION OF SPEED BY THE DRIVER WITH ALL OTHER NEARBY CARS AND SUV'S PASSING BY WITH NO VISIBLE SIMILAR HANDLING PROBLEM. I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF THIS PROBLEM HAS CONTRIBUTED OR PLAYED A ROLE IN ACCIDENTS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10162283

34,300 miles · Jun 23, 2006
Air BagsCrashInjury

DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON HIGHWAY 116. VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND SLIGHTLY PULLED OFF TO THE RIGHT OF THE HIGHWAY. AT THE TIME BEFORE THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STARTED TO SLOW DOWN I HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70 MPH WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. I SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 60-65 MPH AND PULLED …

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DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON HIGHWAY 116. VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND SLIGHTLY PULLED OFF TO THE RIGHT OF THE HIGHWAY. AT THE TIME BEFORE THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STARTED TO SLOW DOWN I HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70 MPH WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. I SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 60-65 MPH AND PULLED OFF THE ROAD SLIGHTLY. THERE WAS A SEMI TRUCK TRAVELING SOUTH BOUND ON THE HIGHWAY I THOUGHT EITHER THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE ROAD AHEAD OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME OR THE TRUCK WAS IN OUR LANE. THE ROADS WERE DRY AND THE SUN WAS COMING UP. AS I BEGAN TO COME BACK ON THE ROAD MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS FEELING WOBBLY AND I EITHER HIT THE CURB ON THE BRIDGE OR A PIECE OF METAL CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I RAN HEAD ON TO THE SOUTHBOUND SIDE OF THE BRIDGE THEN STARTED SPINNING AND HITTING THE BRIDGE SEVERAL TIMES. I FINALLY ENDED UP BACK ON THE NORTHBOUND SIDE OF THE BRIDGE ABOUT 3/4 OF THE WAY DOWN THE BRIDGE. WITH MY FRONT END HITTING THAT SIDE OF THE BRIDGE. WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT MY AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED IN THE VEHICLE AND I SUSTAINED NECK, SHOULDER AND RIGHT KNEE INJURIES. AT THIS TIME THE VEHICLE IS AT A LOCAL BODY SHOP WITH THE INSURANCE, AND COMPANY THAT MAKES THE VEHICLE INVESTIGATES THE DAMAGE. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH SATURN LETTING THEM KNOW THAT I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A PRODUCT DEFECT. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10160573

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.