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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
130,000 miles · Mar 30, 2015
Electrical System

AFTER A YEAR OF COMPLAINTS BOTH HERE AND TO GM WITH VIDEOS PROVING MY SATURN VUE 2005 HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH ISSUE, SATURN FINALLY RECALLED IT. MYSELF AND OTHERS HAVE GOTTEN THE NOTICE HOWEVER IT CAME IN A WHITE ENVELOPE WITH BLACK WRITING THAT LOOKED SIMILAR TO JUNK MAIL. ALSO I SEE IT IS NOT NOTED ON YOUR PAGE. GM HAS CONFIRM…

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AFTER A YEAR OF COMPLAINTS BOTH HERE AND TO GM WITH VIDEOS PROVING MY SATURN VUE 2005 HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH ISSUE, SATURN FINALLY RECALLED IT. MYSELF AND OTHERS HAVE GOTTEN THE NOTICE HOWEVER IT CAME IN A WHITE ENVELOPE WITH BLACK WRITING THAT LOOKED SIMILAR TO JUNK MAIL. ALSO I SEE IT IS NOT NOTED ON YOUR PAGE. GM HAS CONFIRMED THE RECALL WHEN I CONTACTED THEM. WHY ARE THEY NOT FOLLOWING RECALL PROTOCOL? WHY IS IT NOT LISTED ON YOUR PAGE? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10702742

131,000 miles · Mar 11, 2015
Unknown Or Other

AT A STOP, THE CAR SHUTS OFF AUTOMATICALLY EVEN THOUGH THE IGNITION IS ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10693751

Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2015
Power Train

I JUST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE 2005 SATURN VUE WITH 61K MILEAGE 2 WEEKS AGO TO A DEALERSHIP AND I AM FRUSTRATED WITH THE KEY TO IGNITION WHEN YOU PULL IT OUT. IT GET STUCK ALL THE TIME AND IT MAKES ME CRAZY EVERYDAY.THOUGHT ITS JUST THE KEY PROBLEM. SO I WENT TO DEALERSHIP TO MAKE A BRAND NEW ONE AND PAID $108.00 FOR THE KEY, KEY CU…

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I JUST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE 2005 SATURN VUE WITH 61K MILEAGE 2 WEEKS AGO TO A DEALERSHIP AND I AM FRUSTRATED WITH THE KEY TO IGNITION WHEN YOU PULL IT OUT. IT GET STUCK ALL THE TIME AND IT MAKES ME CRAZY EVERYDAY.THOUGHT ITS JUST THE KEY PROBLEM. SO I WENT TO DEALERSHIP TO MAKE A BRAND NEW ONE AND PAID $108.00 FOR THE KEY, KEY CUT AND KEY CODE. BUT THE ISSUE IS STILL THE SAME. CALL A CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SAID THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS MODEL TYPE. WHAT DO I DO NOW? AND ONE THING MORE THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT SMOOTH IN THE 1ST GEAR AND 2ND GEAR. IS THIS NORMAL FOR THE 2005 SATURN VUE V6 TRANSMISSION? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10692533

76,348 miles · Mar 2, 2015
Electrical SystemPower Train

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30 AND 40 MPH THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES A VIBRATION IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ALLEGEDLY REPAIRED BY A GM DEALER AT NO CHARGE. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. AT LEAST 4 OTHER ATTEMPTS TO HAVE GM REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE REFUSED BY GM DEALERS EVEN AFTER THE REPAIR BULLETIN WAS EXTENDED INTO 2015…

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WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30 AND 40 MPH THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES A VIBRATION IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ALLEGEDLY REPAIRED BY A GM DEALER AT NO CHARGE. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. AT LEAST 4 OTHER ATTEMPTS TO HAVE GM REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE REFUSED BY GM DEALERS EVEN AFTER THE REPAIR BULLETIN WAS EXTENDED INTO 2015. NOT SATISFIED I CONTACTED SOMEONE AT GM AND ASKED FOR A REFERRAL TO ANOTHER DEALER IN MY LOCAL AREA. I RECEIVED IT AND TOOK IT THE REFERRED DEALER AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION. AFTER INSPECTING THE CAR THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE VIBRATION ISSUE BUT SAID THAT BEFORE ANYTHING COULD BE DONE THE ENGINE BLOCK MOUNTS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROX. $1000. I THANKED THEM AND TOOK THE CAR TO MY TRUSTED REGULAR MECHANIC. I ASKED HIM TO CHECK THE ENGINE MOUNTS (WITHOUT TELLING HIM WHAT HAPPENED AT THE GM DEALER) AND GIVE ME A REPORT. UPON INSPECTING, HE STATED THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ENGINE MOUNTS. AT THIS POINT, FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY WITH GM, I BASICALLY GAVE UP. FURTHERMORE, THIS OCCURRED AT THE TIME OF THE GM IGNITION SWITCH RECALL DEBACLE.OUR SATURN VUE ALSO HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION.ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WE WERE NOT ABLE TO REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WITHOUT PLIERS AND A LOT OF TIME. IT TOOK OVER AN HOUR ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO REMOVE THE KEY. WE FOUND INFORMATION ONLINE WHERE GM ACKNOWLEDGED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE VUE IGNITION SWITCHES, BUT SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO HAVE THE SWITCH REPLACED RESULTED IN REFUSALS BY GM DEALERS. I THOUGHT THIS WAS ODD GIVEN THE HUGE RECALL OF IGNITION SWITCHES BY GM AT THE TIME. WE BASICALLY RECEIVED THE SAME TREATMENT CONCERNING THE REAR END POWERTRAIN VIBRATION AFTER THE INITIAL REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THE MAINTENANCE BULLETIN EXTENDED THE REPAIR PERIOD. THERE WAS AN ALTERNATE REPAIR IF THE FIRST REPAIR FAILED, BUT THE DEALER WOULDN'T HONOR IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10691694

146,000 miles · Feb 10, 2015
Vehicle Speed Control

THIS CAR HAS A WIRELESS GAS PEDAL. MY CAR WOULD GO TO IDLE WHILE TRAVELING FREEWAY SPEEDS! THE ONLY WAY TO RECTIFY THIS WAS TURN OFF THE CAR (ON THE FREEWAY) AND RESTART IT! I HAD IT REPLACE $400! NOW, TWICE, IT GOES TO IDLE BY ITSELF! THE GAS PEDAL DOES NOT WORK UNTIL I SHUT OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT! ALSO MY KEY STILLS FAL…

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THIS CAR HAS A WIRELESS GAS PEDAL. MY CAR WOULD GO TO IDLE WHILE TRAVELING FREEWAY SPEEDS! THE ONLY WAY TO RECTIFY THIS WAS TURN OFF THE CAR (ON THE FREEWAY) AND RESTART IT! I HAD IT REPLACE $400! NOW, TWICE, IT GOES TO IDLE BY ITSELF! THE GAS PEDAL DOES NOT WORK UNTIL I SHUT OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT! ALSO MY KEY STILLS FALLS OUT (SINCE 2006) AND WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10682580

60,000 miles · Jan 20, 2015
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO DISENGAGE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO DISENGAGE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #10676655

35,734 miles · Jan 14, 2015
Electrical System

FIRST OCCURRENCE - JULY 21, 2008 AT 35734 MILES: THE IGNITION KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED AFTER IT WAS TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION NOR COULD IT BE TURNED TO THE ACCESSORY OR START POSITION. SATURN OF TROY, MI REPLACED THE HOUSING, IGNITION CYLINDER AND KEYS. COST WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY. 2ND OCCURRENCE - JUNE 21, 2011 AT 57550 MIL…

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FIRST OCCURRENCE - JULY 21, 2008 AT 35734 MILES: THE IGNITION KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED AFTER IT WAS TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION NOR COULD IT BE TURNED TO THE ACCESSORY OR START POSITION. SATURN OF TROY, MI REPLACED THE HOUSING, IGNITION CYLINDER AND KEYS. COST WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY. 2ND OCCURRENCE - JUNE 21, 2011 AT 57550 MILES: REPEAT OF 1ST OCCURRENCE. SUBURBAN CADILLAC BUICK OF TROY, MI REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER AND KEYS. SINCE I HAD PURCHASED A EXTENDED WARRANTY, MY COST WAS $100.00. 3RD OCCURRENCE - SEPTEMBER 28, 2012 AT 63,597MILES: INTERMITTENTLY IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WITHOUT A LOT OF JIGGLING AND FORCE. TECHNICIAN AT SUBURBAN CADILLAC BUICK STATED THAT WE WERE NOT TURNING THE KEY FAR ENOUGH TO RELEASE IT FROM THE IGNITION. NO ACTION WAS TAKEN AT THAT TIME. 4TH OCCURRENCE - NOVEMBER 3, 2014 AT 75778 MILES: AFTER HEARING A REPORT CONCERNING A GM RECALL FOR VEHICLES WHICH ALLOWED REMOVING THE IGNITION KEY WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING, I ATTEMPTED AND WAS ABLE TO DO THIS ON MY VUE. I WENT TO SUBURBAN CADILLAC BUICK WHERE THE TECHNICIAN CONFORMED THAT THIS WAS A FACT. HE CHECKED THE VIN AGAINST THE RECALL DATA BASE AND INFORMED ME THAT VUE WAS NOT ON THE LIST BUT THAT I SHOULD HAVE THE REPAIR MADE. THE PARTS HAD TO BE ORDERED AND THE REPAIR WAS MADE ON DECEMBER 15, 2014. THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER AND (2) KEYS WERE REQUIRED. TOTAL COST: $330.36.

NHTSA ODI #10676120

44,000 miles · Jan 14, 2015
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE KEY RELEASED OUT OF THE IGNITION AND FAILED TO GO BACK INTO THE IGNITION TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIRS WERE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE KEY RELEASED OUT OF THE IGNITION AND FAILED TO GO BACK INTO THE IGNITION TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIRS WERE MADE BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

NHTSA ODI #10672586

Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2015
EngineService BrakesSteering

DRIVING TO MARYLAND FROM CHARLOTTE NC. I WAS ON THE HWY GOING APPROX. 65. CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, NO NOISE, NO WARNING. AS THE CAR SLOWED DOWN, I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE HWY TO A STOP. LOOKED DOWN AT THE GEAR SHIFT, IT WAS IN DRIVE. THE IGNITION WAS IN THE ON POSITION. I PUT ON THE BREAK AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND SHUT OFF …

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DRIVING TO MARYLAND FROM CHARLOTTE NC. I WAS ON THE HWY GOING APPROX. 65. CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, NO NOISE, NO WARNING. AS THE CAR SLOWED DOWN, I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE HWY TO A STOP. LOOKED DOWN AT THE GEAR SHIFT, IT WAS IN DRIVE. THE IGNITION WAS IN THE ON POSITION. I PUT ON THE BREAK AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND SHUT OFF THE IGNITION. WAITING A FEW SECONDS, I TURNED THE KEY. THE CAR STARTED UP AND THE CHIME WENT OFF. IT WAS THE CHIME THAT THE CAR MAKES WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOOR AND THE KEYS ARE STILL IN THE IGNITION.( A SERIES OF QUICK DINGS) I DIDN'T OPEN THE DOOR. ALL I DID WAS START THE CAR UP. I CONTINUED, NO PROBLEM. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN ON SATURDAY NOVEMBER 29TH, 2014 ON THE HIGHWAY GOING AROUND THE SAME SPEED. THE CAR JERKED SLIGHTLY AND SHUT OFF. THIS TIME IT WAS AT NIGHT. I COASTED TO THE EXIT THAT WAS COMING UP. HAD TROUBLE STEERING BECAUSE THE STEERING WENT OUT, HEAD LIGHTS DIMMED. CAR SLOWLY CAME TO A STOP AT THE TOP OF THE EXIT. SAME SITUATION. IGNITION ON, CAR IN DRIVE. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BREAK AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. TURNED THE IGNITION BACK ON. CAR STARTED UP AND THE CHIME THAT GOES OFF IF YOU OPEN UP THE DOOR WITH THE KEYS STILL IN THE IGNITION, WENT OFF AGAIN. THE SAME AS BEFORE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10672412

7,000 miles · Jan 9, 2015
Electrical System

WE HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE IGNITION SINCE WE'VE HAD IT. AT FIRST WE COULDN'T GET THE KEY OUT OF IGNITION, HAD TO JIGGLE STEERING COLUMN TO REMOVE KEY. HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH CLEANED. NOW KEY JUST FALLS OUT OF IGNITION WHILE RUNNING. IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET ANYONE'S ATTENTION ON THIS MATTER SINCE SATURN IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE…

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WE HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE IGNITION SINCE WE'VE HAD IT. AT FIRST WE COULDN'T GET THE KEY OUT OF IGNITION, HAD TO JIGGLE STEERING COLUMN TO REMOVE KEY. HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH CLEANED. NOW KEY JUST FALLS OUT OF IGNITION WHILE RUNNING. IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET ANYONE'S ATTENTION ON THIS MATTER SINCE SATURN IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. ROHRMANS IN LAFAYETTE, IN. USE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR PROBLEMS WITH IT, WHEN SATURN WENT OUT G.M. DIRECTED US TO DEFOUWS IN LAFAYETTE. WE HAD A 2003 SATURN BEFORE AND HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH IT, SO PLEASE HELP US WITH THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10671246

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.