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2006 Saturn Vue

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2006 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

238 reports with mileage · 62 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 103 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 93 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

18 crash reports6 fire reports7 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

103 reports
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120,000 miles · Oct 28, 2014
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN MY CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. I HAD TO COAST ACROSS THE INTERSECTION AND HAVE STRANGERS PUSH MY CAR INTO THE GAS STATION. I CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK COMPANY TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE CLOSEST DEALER AND THEN I REALIZED I COULD DRIVE IN REVERSE BUT NOT FORWARD. THE DEALER…

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I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN MY CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. I HAD TO COAST ACROSS THE INTERSECTION AND HAVE STRANGERS PUSH MY CAR INTO THE GAS STATION. I CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK COMPANY TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE CLOSEST DEALER AND THEN I REALIZED I COULD DRIVE IN REVERSE BUT NOT FORWARD. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME MY OIL PIPE BROKE, WHICH I WAS TOLD FEEDS OIL TO MY ENGINE. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW A VEHICLE ONLY 6 YEARS OLD WITH VIRTUALLY NO UNDERBODY RUST COULD HAVE A PIPE BREAK WITHOUT ANYTHING HITTING IT. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT WITH TEMPERATURES FLUCTUATING THE METAL EXPANDS AND CONTRACTS. BUT WOULDN'T OTHER PARTS HAVE ISSUES AS WELL? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10650563

62,000 miles · Oct 26, 2014
Electrical SystemService BrakesStructureCrash

HITTING 2 DEER GOING 60 MILES AN HOUR AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG NEVER OPENED. THE RED LIGHT FOR PASSENGER AIRBAG HAS BEEN ON SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. WE ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL BEING THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS ALWAYS FLICKER AND THE LEFT SIDE LIGHTS AND BLINKER DO THE SAME. WE ALSO HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION…

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HITTING 2 DEER GOING 60 MILES AN HOUR AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG NEVER OPENED. THE RED LIGHT FOR PASSENGER AIRBAG HAS BEEN ON SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. WE ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL BEING THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS ALWAYS FLICKER AND THE LEFT SIDE LIGHTS AND BLINKER DO THE SAME. WE ALSO HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION BEING THE KEY WILL NOT TURN OVER, WE HAVE TO BE VERY PATIENT AND AFTER QUITE SOMETIME IT WILL FINALLY WORK AFTER YOU REMOVE THE KEY SEVERAL TIMES AND TRY TRY AGAIN. WE HAVE HAD TO HAVE BRAKES DONE NUMEROUS TIMES AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR. I SURE DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10650119

133,000 miles · Oct 24, 2014
Electrical SystemFire

CAR WAS PARKED IN PARKING LOT AFTER HALF AN HOUR. DASH IGNITED IN FLAMES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10649613

100,000 miles · Oct 14, 2014
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH AND HARD TO TURN INTO THE ON POSITION TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE ORIGINAL KEY AS A TEMPORARY REMEDY AND WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, A M…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH AND HARD TO TURN INTO THE ON POSITION TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE ORIGINAL KEY AS A TEMPORARY REMEDY AND WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, A METAL PIECE AND SPRING FRACTURED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD A CLICKING SOUND UPON STARTING AND TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED BY A REPAIR SHOP AND LATER THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOOSE WIRE AND THE IGNITION CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR AND FIND WHERE THE SPRING CAME FROM, THE IGNITION CYLINDER WOULD NEED TO BE REMOVED. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS NOT TIGHTLY CONNECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10644519

81,000 miles · Oct 8, 2014
Air BagsElectrical System

I HAVE A 2006 SATURN VUE WITH IGNITION AND AIRBAG SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE (SDM) ISSUES. I HAVE CHECKED ONLINE AT THE GM RECALL WEBSITE, CALLED MY DEALER TWICE AND FILED A CLAIM AT THE GM RECALL HOTLINE. I AM FRUSTRATED WITH THE LACK OF OR SLOW RESPONSE TO THIS PROBLEM AND I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY OUR MODEL YEAR WAS LEFT O…

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I HAVE A 2006 SATURN VUE WITH IGNITION AND AIRBAG SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE (SDM) ISSUES. I HAVE CHECKED ONLINE AT THE GM RECALL WEBSITE, CALLED MY DEALER TWICE AND FILED A CLAIM AT THE GM RECALL HOTLINE. I AM FRUSTRATED WITH THE LACK OF OR SLOW RESPONSE TO THIS PROBLEM AND I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY OUR MODEL YEAR WAS LEFT OUT OF THE RECALL CYCLE. MY SITUATION: MY IGNITION BECAME INCREASING TIGHT/STIFF/LOCKED TO WHERE I COULD NOT TURN MY KEY OR PULL IT OUT. I WOULD HAVE TO SHAKE THE CAR OR KEY TO GET IT TO TURN ON. MY KEY CAN SLIDE RIGHT OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING, (BUT SOMETIMES I CAN'T PULL IT OUT). I HAVE ALSO RETURNED TO MY CAR AND FOUND IT RUNNING TWICE NOW AND NOTICED IT WAS NOT TOTALLY IN THE OFF POSITION ANYMORE). AT THE SAME TIME MY AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT BECAME INTERMITTENT AND FINALLY STAYED ON. OUR MECHANIC NOTIFIED US THAT THE AIRBAG SENSING AND DIAGNOTIC MODULE (SDM) IS NO LONGER WORKING. A DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE. THE DEALERS SAY THAT PARTS ARE NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR MY MODEL AND MY MECHANIC CAN NOT FIND THEM EITHER. THE COST IS RIDICULOUSLY HIGH! I HAVE NOW BEEN ON A MISSION TO PUT IN COMPLAINTS WITH THE APPROPRIATE DIVISIONS IN AN EFFORT TO SEE THIS SITUATION RESOLVED. (NOTE THIS WEBSITE LIST SEVERAL COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO MINE AND OTHERS. THERE IS SOMETHING LINKING THE IGNITION AND THE AIRBAGS: (HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2006/SATURN/VUE/AIR_BAGS/PROBLEM.ASPX)) THE 2006 MODEL MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BEFORE THERE ARE SERIOUS INCIDENCES. COME ON GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION. HELP US LIFE LONG LOYAL BUYERS OUT. LOYAL (BUT DISAPPOINTED) GM CUSTOMER WHITE KNUCKLING IT EVERYDAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10643298

72,000 miles · Sep 30, 2014
Electrical System

IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT TURN - DEALER PULLED IGNITION TUMBLER, VACUUMED THE SOCKET WHERE A PILE OF METAL SHAVINGS WERE SEEN INSIDE THE SOCKET, INSERTED OLD TUMBLER, CUT A NEW KEY AND CHARGED 75 DOLLARS. 12 MONTHS LATER, SAME PROBLEM. I HAD A NEW KEY CUT, AND THE IGNITION SWITCH TURNS LIKE IT SHOULD. DOES MY CAR HAVE A POTE…

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IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT TURN - DEALER PULLED IGNITION TUMBLER, VACUUMED THE SOCKET WHERE A PILE OF METAL SHAVINGS WERE SEEN INSIDE THE SOCKET, INSERTED OLD TUMBLER, CUT A NEW KEY AND CHARGED 75 DOLLARS. 12 MONTHS LATER, SAME PROBLEM. I HAD A NEW KEY CUT, AND THE IGNITION SWITCH TURNS LIKE IT SHOULD. DOES MY CAR HAVE A POTENTIAL IGNITION SWITCH RISK???? AS GM DESCRIBES FOR A LOT OF OTHER CARS MY DAUGHTERS 2004 SATURN VUE V6, HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, AND THREE KEYS LATER SHE SOLD IT AND BOUGHT A NEW CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10640065

90,000 miles · Sep 15, 2014
Electrical System

THIS HAS TO WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. FOR AT LEAST THE LAST TWO YEARS AND MAYBE LONGER I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY IGNITION SWITCH. THE KEY WILL GET STUCK AND NOT MOVE IN THE IGNITION. THEREFORE I CANNOT START THE CAR. NOT GOOD IF YOU NEED TO GO SOMEWHERE OR ARE TRYING TO LEAVE SOMEWHERE. ALSO, I HAVE THE REVERSE PROBLE…

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THIS HAS TO WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. FOR AT LEAST THE LAST TWO YEARS AND MAYBE LONGER I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY IGNITION SWITCH. THE KEY WILL GET STUCK AND NOT MOVE IN THE IGNITION. THEREFORE I CANNOT START THE CAR. NOT GOOD IF YOU NEED TO GO SOMEWHERE OR ARE TRYING TO LEAVE SOMEWHERE. ALSO, I HAVE THE REVERSE PROBLEM, I WILL TRY TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND THE KEY WILL NOT "SWITCH" ALL THE WAY TO THE RELEASE POINT, THEREFORE CAUSING ME TO OFTEN HAVE TO TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION A FULL STOP BEFORE IT IS TRULY OFF. THIS OF COURSE IS TROUBLESOME THE NEXT TIME I START THE CAR BECAUSE I HAVE TO TRY AND WORK THE KEY FIRST BACK TO THE INITIAL IGNITION POSITION AND THEN START THE CAR AS YOU WOULD NORMALLY. ALSO, I CAN PULL THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION GOING ANYWHERE FROM 0 - 65 MPH DOWN THE STREET / HIGHWAY WITH THE CAR OBVIOUSLY IN DRIVE. I CAN HAVE THE CAR IN PARK AND RUNNING AND PULL THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION AND THE CAR WILL CONTINUE TO RUN / OPERATE AS IF THE KEY WAS STILL IN THE IGNITION (OBVIOUSLY NOT SAFE). SATURN / GM, YOU STATE THAT YOU CARE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF YOUR CUSTOMERS, WHOM BY THE WAY, ENTRUST THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN TO GM CARS. PLEASE DO THE CORRECT THING AND IMMEDIATELY INCLUDE SATURN VUE 2006 OWNERS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL WHO CLEARLY HAVE AN IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10633190

79,000 miles · Sep 7, 2014
Electrical System

NOTICED RADIO SCREEN WAS NOT FULLY ILLUMINATED & MY SEAT BELT WARNING 'CHIME' STOPPED WORKING WHEN BELT WAS UNFASTENED. HAD THIS PROBLEM W/ ANOTHER VEHICLE (1999 ACURA INTEGRA) & IT RESULTED IN REPLACING THE IGNITION CYLINDER. AS A RESULT, I STARTED JIGGLING THE SATURN KEY TO SEE IF THERE WAS IMPROPER/ INADEQUATE CIRCUIT CLOSURE…

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NOTICED RADIO SCREEN WAS NOT FULLY ILLUMINATED & MY SEAT BELT WARNING 'CHIME' STOPPED WORKING WHEN BELT WAS UNFASTENED. HAD THIS PROBLEM W/ ANOTHER VEHICLE (1999 ACURA INTEGRA) & IT RESULTED IN REPLACING THE IGNITION CYLINDER. AS A RESULT, I STARTED JIGGLING THE SATURN KEY TO SEE IF THERE WAS IMPROPER/ INADEQUATE CIRCUIT CLOSURE. WHEN I JIGGLED THE KEY, IT WAS LOOSE AND CAME OUT, BUT THE CAR REMAINED RUNNING! SINCE THEN I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL SIMILAR INCIDENTS AND THE RADIO DISPLAY STILL DOES NOT DISPLAY FULLY ACROSS THE SCREEN AND THE SEAT BELT CHIME STILL DOESN'T WORK. (APPROXIMATELY MAY 2013) I STARTED HAVING DIFFICULTIES GETTING KEY TO TURN IN IGNITION ENABLING THE VEHICLE TO START. I WENT TO GM DEALER TO GET A NEW KEY IN CASE THAT MIGHT RECTIFY THE PROBLEM - IT DID NOT. RECENTLY (AUGUST 2014) ASKED A NON-GM MECHANIC ABOUT KEY TURNING DIFFICULTIES. HE INDICATED 'TUMBLERS' GETS 'STICKY' & PREVENTS KEY FROM TURNING & THAT IT WOULD GET WORSE UNTIL I REPLACED IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER. I CHECKED ON-LINE FOR RECALLS, AS SO MANY GM VEHICLES WERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR IGNITIONS AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT. THE 2006 SATURN VUE WASN'T ON THE LIST. I WENT TO LOCAL GM DEALER (BUICK/ GMC DEALER IN NAPERVILLE, IL) IN SEPTEMBER 2014 & THEY CONFIRMED THE 2006 VUE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. I WENT AHEAD AND PROVIDED MY VIN #, PROOF OF OWNERSHIP (TITLE AND DRIVERS LICENSE) AND THEY QUOTED A PRICE OF $90 FOR THE IGNITION CYLINDER, $60. TO OBTAIN AND USE THE GM CODE TO PROGRAM THE NEW IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER, & THIS DID NOT INCLUDE A NEW KEY! THEY DID THEY WORK & EVEN INCLUDED A KEY @ NO ADDITIONAL COST. NOW I AM ATTEMPTING REPLACEMENT OF IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER, BUT IT REQUIRES KEY TO BE TURNED TO THE ACCESSORY POSITION TO REMOVE THE CYLINDER. I CAN'T GET KEY TO TURN, SO CAN'T REPLACE CYLINDER AND THE CAR IS NOT OPERABLE. I BELIEVE 2006 SATURN VUE SHOULD BE RECALLED TOO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10631397

12,000 miles · Aug 28, 2014
Electrical System

ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE, STILL HAVE IT. THE IGNITION WASN'T RIGHT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. I COULD REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WHEN THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING. THERE WERE ISSUES WITH THE ALARM - IT WOULDN'T GO OFF DESPITE THE KEYS BEING IN THE IGNITION. I TOOK THE CAR IN SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THE IGNITION ISSUE C…

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ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE, STILL HAVE IT. THE IGNITION WASN'T RIGHT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. I COULD REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WHEN THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING. THERE WERE ISSUES WITH THE ALARM - IT WOULDN'T GO OFF DESPITE THE KEYS BEING IN THE IGNITION. I TOOK THE CAR IN SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THE IGNITION ISSUE CORRECTED. THE ISSUE WE HAVE NOW IS THE IGNITION WON'T RESPOND TO THE KEY WHEN IT IS INSERTED. ADDITIONALLY, IT IS NOT RELEASING THE KEY WHEN WE TRY TO REMOVE IT. RIDICULOUS- AN OTHERWISE GREAT CAR AND WE HAVE HAD 3 OTHER SATURNS AND THE IGNITION WAS ALWAYS THE ONLY ISSUE- ION, VUE AND SC3. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10629015

105,000 miles · Aug 11, 2014
Air BagsElectrical SystemPower Train

SEVERAL ISSUES WITH 2006 SATURN VUE TO REPORT: - AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON VIRTUALLY EVERY TIME THE CAR IS STARTED. THERE IS NO ONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT - IGNITION - KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION SWITCH WHILE MOTOR IS RUNNING - IGNITION - KEY IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN UNLESS IT IS CAJOLED REPEATEDLY. TYPICAL START…

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SEVERAL ISSUES WITH 2006 SATURN VUE TO REPORT: - AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON VIRTUALLY EVERY TIME THE CAR IS STARTED. THERE IS NO ONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT - IGNITION - KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION SWITCH WHILE MOTOR IS RUNNING - IGNITION - KEY IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN UNLESS IT IS CAJOLED REPEATEDLY. TYPICAL START UP TIME IS IN EXCESS OF 5 MINUTES TO FIND THE "SWEET SPOT". "SWEET SPOT" TENDS TO MOVE ON A DAILY BASIS. NO PARTICULAR TECHNIQUE WORKS EVERY TIME - IGNITION - KEY WILL BECOME STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. RESULTS IN A TWO TO FIVE MINUTE CAREFUL TUG OF WAR WITH THE CAR IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE KEY. IGNITION SWITCH HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND WAS REPLACED (AT OWNERS EXPENSE OF $214 DOLLARS) AND THINGS WERE FINE FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS. NOW THE SYMPTOMS (SEE ABOVE) HAVE RETURNED. - POWER LOCKS - UNABLE TO LOCK DOORS (ANY) WITH DRIVERS SIDE LOCK CONTROLS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10621539

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.