THE KEY WILL NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION WHEN THE SHIFTER IS PUT IN PARK. THE KEY STUCK IN THE KEY LOCK CYLINDER AND WOULD NOT TURN. ALL LIGHTS STAY ONE IN THE VEHICLE
2008 Saturn Vue
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2008 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
329 reports with mileage · 77 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.
- Power Train. Review the 120 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 88 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 86 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
88 reportsTHE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN I PARK MY CAR. I HAVE THE BARREL TWO TIMES 2017 AND 2018. MY KEY CHAIN ONLY HAS MY CAR KEY AND THE REMOTE AND I'M THE ONLY DRIVER. I HAVE CHANGED THE BARREL TWO TIMES AND APPARENTLY I HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN. THIS REPAIR IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND I FEEL VERY UNSAFE AND I WASTE A LOT OF TIME…
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THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN I PARK MY CAR. I HAVE THE BARREL TWO TIMES 2017 AND 2018. MY KEY CHAIN ONLY HAS MY CAR KEY AND THE REMOTE AND I'M THE ONLY DRIVER. I HAVE CHANGED THE BARREL TWO TIMES AND APPARENTLY I HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN. THIS REPAIR IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND I FEEL VERY UNSAFE AND I WASTE A LOT OF TIME WAITING FOR THE SWITCH TO RELEASE MY KEY. I'M AFRAID I MAY DAMAGE THE GEAR.
WHEN MY VEHICLE IS STOPPED I CANNOT ROTATE THE IGNITION KEY TO THE OFF POSITION. THE PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED BY THE DEALER AS A FAULTY TRANSMISSION PARK SHIFTER. THE CAR DOESN'T KNOW WHAT POSITION THE SHIFT SELECTOR SWITCH IS "IN" AND DOESN'T SIGNAL THE IGNITION. THE WINDOWS WON'T COME DOWN WITH THE CAR STARTED, BECAUSE THE PO…
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WHEN MY VEHICLE IS STOPPED I CANNOT ROTATE THE IGNITION KEY TO THE OFF POSITION. THE PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED BY THE DEALER AS A FAULTY TRANSMISSION PARK SHIFTER. THE CAR DOESN'T KNOW WHAT POSITION THE SHIFT SELECTOR SWITCH IS "IN" AND DOESN'T SIGNAL THE IGNITION. THE WINDOWS WON'T COME DOWN WITH THE CAR STARTED, BECAUSE THE POSITION OF THE CAR IS NOT CORRECT OR NOT RECOGNIZED. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT, WHEN YOU CAN'T LOWER YOUR WINDOWS OR MUST LEAVE THE CAR RUNNING, FOR FEAR OF AUTO THEFT. THE OTHER SAFETY IMPLICATIONS ARE NOT KNOWN AS FAR AS DRIVING AND CAN'T LOWER WINDOWS OR OTHER MISHAP BASED ON THE UNKNOWN TRANSMISSION SELECTOR SWITCH POSITION. THERE IS A BULLETIN OUT #14633C, BUT IT DIDN'T COVER MY VIN #, BUT I BELIEVE THE RECALL OR SPECIAL ADJUSTMENT SHOULD BE EXPANDED.
A/C UNIT WILL STOP BLOWING HOT AIR, THIS WILL FOG UP WINDOWS IN MORNINGS AND ON RAINY DAYS CAUSEING YOU NOT TO SEE AND CRASH NO VISABLE OUT OF WINDSHIELD, CAN NOT SEE..VERY DANGEROUS
CAR GOES INTO REDUSED ENGINE POWER ON THE HIGHWAY. ENGINE SHUTS DOWN COMPLETELY. PULL OVER SHUT OFF CAR WAIT AND RESTART CAR. SOMETIMES IT HAPPENES AGAIN RIGHT AWAY SOMETIMES IT DOESNT HAPPEN FOR MONTHS LATER.
WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY IN PARKED LIKE MODE, WHEN GOING TO START THE ENGINE, THERE IS NOTHING. NO CLICKING, NO SOUND. OTHER TIMES IT WILL START BUT STRUGGLE AND OTHER TIMES WITHIN SECONDS OF THE FIRST 2 EXAMPLES ABOVE, IT WILL START RIGHT UP.
ON FRIDAY OCTOBER 26, 2018, MY BATTERY DIED. I HAD IT REPLACED AFTER THE TOW COMPANY DIAGNOSED IT. IT WAS LATER DISCOVERED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS MALFUNCTIONG. MY CAR ON A BUSY INTERSECTION JUST DIED WITH ON COMING HEAVY TRAFFIC. I COULD NOT MOVE OR PUT IT IN NUETURAL TO MOVE IT. IT HAD TO BE JUMPED IN ORDER TO CLEAR THE D…
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ON FRIDAY OCTOBER 26, 2018, MY BATTERY DIED. I HAD IT REPLACED AFTER THE TOW COMPANY DIAGNOSED IT. IT WAS LATER DISCOVERED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS MALFUNCTIONG. MY CAR ON A BUSY INTERSECTION JUST DIED WITH ON COMING HEAVY TRAFFIC. I COULD NOT MOVE OR PUT IT IN NUETURAL TO MOVE IT. IT HAD TO BE JUMPED IN ORDER TO CLEAR THE DANGEROUS SITUATION. MY CONCERN THAT THE CAR JUST LOCKED UP, NO POWER OR ABILITY TO MOVE. I COULD NOT USE MY HAZARD LIGHTS. A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND THEN I WAS ACCELERATING THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN EVERYTHING WENT DARK. PLEASE ADVISE OF WHAT TYPE OF DOCUMENTATION YOU WILL NEED FOR THIS FILE? I AM JUST WRITING BECAUSE THIS WAS A SAFETY RELATED MALFUNCTIONING THAT WAS LIFE THREATENING.
MY DOOR LOCKS DO NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK INTERMITTENTLY. IT MAY BE THAT THE DRIVERS DOOR UNLOCKS BUT NONE OF THE OTHERS AND AT TIMES NONE BUT THE REAR HATCH UNLOCK AND I HAVE TO CRAWL THRU THE SUV TO GET DOORS OPENED. WHEN NONE OF THE DOOR LOCKS OPEN, THE KEY WILL NOT UNLOCK THE DOOR EITHER. ALSO, ABOUT 1/3 OF THE TIME WHEN YOU USE T…
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MY DOOR LOCKS DO NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK INTERMITTENTLY. IT MAY BE THAT THE DRIVERS DOOR UNLOCKS BUT NONE OF THE OTHERS AND AT TIMES NONE BUT THE REAR HATCH UNLOCK AND I HAVE TO CRAWL THRU THE SUV TO GET DOORS OPENED. WHEN NONE OF THE DOOR LOCKS OPEN, THE KEY WILL NOT UNLOCK THE DOOR EITHER. ALSO, ABOUT 1/3 OF THE TIME WHEN YOU USE THE CLICKER TO LOCK THE DOORS, THE HORN SOUNDS INDICATING IT LOCKED BUT WHEN I CHECK, SOME OR NONE LOCKED. WHEN I SHIFT INTO GEAR FROM PARK OR BACK TO PARK, THE LOCKS DO NOT ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE OR ONLY SOME DO. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC BECAUSE SOMEONE SAID IT MIGHT BE THE LOCK ACTUATORS BUT HE SAID THAT IT COULDN'T BE IF THEY OPEN THE DOORS LOCKED OR UNLOCKED THE DOORS SOME OF THE TIME. HE SAID HE HAD ALSO HAD CUSTOMERS THAT OWNED GM CARS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AND THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL OF GM MODELS TO CORRECT IT. I JUST WANT TO KNOW MY LOCKS ARE WORKING PROPERLY. I WON'T LEAVE ANYTHING IN THE CAR WHEN SHOPPING OR PARKED BECAUSE I CAN'T TRUST THAT THE DOORS LOCKED. IF I FELT UNSAFE FOR ANY REASON GOING TO MY CAR, I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD BE ABLE TO GET IN AND I DON'T KNOW WHEN I COME OUT, IF SOMEONE IS ALREADY IN MY CAR.
AFTER SITTING FOR AWHILE, I TRIED TO USE THE KEY FOB TO UNLOCK THE CAR. IT DID NOTHING. I USED THE KEY THEN TO UNLOCK THE DOORS AND THE DOME LIGHTS DID NOT WORK. HOWEVER, THE CAR STARTED UP WITH THE SECOND TURN OF THE KEY. AFTER DRIVING HOME, THE KEY FOB WORKED AGAIN ALONG WITH THE DOME LIGHTS. WHILE DRIVING AT SEVERAL OTHE…
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AFTER SITTING FOR AWHILE, I TRIED TO USE THE KEY FOB TO UNLOCK THE CAR. IT DID NOTHING. I USED THE KEY THEN TO UNLOCK THE DOORS AND THE DOME LIGHTS DID NOT WORK. HOWEVER, THE CAR STARTED UP WITH THE SECOND TURN OF THE KEY. AFTER DRIVING HOME, THE KEY FOB WORKED AGAIN ALONG WITH THE DOME LIGHTS. WHILE DRIVING AT SEVERAL OTHER TIMES, THE RADIO WILL SHUT OFF AND THE CLOCK WILL RESET TO MIDNIGHT AND THE CALENDAR WILL RESET. THIS WILL HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING AS WELL AS WHEN THE ENGINE IS FIRST STARTED. THIS WILL HAPPEN AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW.
THIS IS A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM AND, STABILITY, ANTISKID LIGHTS STAY ON CONSTANTLY. THE CAR WILL DIE AND RESTART W HIKE DRIVING. THE AC BLOWS FROM BOTTOM HEATER VENTS. BATTERY WILL ACTS AS IF DEAD UNTIL I BANG TERMINAL WITH A HAMMER
Official recalls
309V233000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Jun 25, 2009
GM IS RECALLING 44,451 MY 2008 SATURN VUE VEHICLES WITH BODY COLOR OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES. THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES MAY STICK OR BIND. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE DOOR MAY NOT LATCH WHEN CLOSED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DRIVING WITH AN UNLATCHED DOOR COULD RESULT IN AN UNBELTED OCCUPANT FALLING OUT OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING INCREASED RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES WITH CHROME DOOR HANDLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE AUGUST 18, 2009. OWNER MAY CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
08V470000 · Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, And Connections
Sep 17, 2008
GM IS RECALLING 42,408 MY 2008-2009 SATURN VUE VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE NUT SECURING THE POWER STEERING LINE TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAY LOOSEN. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THERE MAY BE A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE FLUID COULD CONTACT HOT EXHAUST COMPONENTS RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE NUT SECURING THE POWER STEERING LINE TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP. IF THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF A FLUID LEAK, DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE NUT. IF A FLUID LEAK IS PRESENT, DEALER WILL TIGHTEN THE NUT AND CHECK THE FLUID LEVEL. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .
08V200000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
May 5, 2008
GM IS RECALLING 26 MY 2008 SATURN VUE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 6T70 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE TRANSMISSION CASE SIDE BORE THAT HOLDS THE PARK PAWL PIVOT PIN MAY HAVE A CASTING POROSITY. THIS CONDITION, COUPLED WITH NORMAL OPERATING STRESSES, COULD LEAD TO FAILURE, ELIMINATING THE ABILITY TO SECURE THE TRANSMISSION IN 'PARK' POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED ON A NON-LEVEL SURFACE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSE INJURY TO PEOPLE IN ITS PATH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 5, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .
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
1PE09016 · Outside Door Handles Stick Unlatched
Opened Mar 10, 2009 · Closed Jul 2, 2009
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
BY LETTER DATED JUNE 23, 2009, GENERAL MOTORS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 09V233) TO REPLACE THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 SATURN VUE VEHICLES. THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 SATURN VUE VEHICLES CAN STICK IN THE UNLATCHED POSITION.THE DOOR MAY OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE AGENCY OPENED ITS INVESTIGATION BASED ON TWO COMPLAINTS OF DOOR LATCH FAILURE THAT CAUSED THE DOOR TO OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION.THE AGENCY ALSO RECEIVED EARLY WARNING (EWR) REPORTS ON THIS ISSUE.CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 SATURN VUE VEHICLES HAVE PAINTED BODY-COLOR OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES THAT MAY STICK OR BIND.IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE DOOR MAY NOT LATCH WHEN CLOSED.DRIVING WITH AN UNLATCHED DOOR COULD RESULT IN AN OCCUPANT FALLING PARTLY OR FULLY OUT OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING INCREASED RISK OF INJURY.BASED ON THE ABOVE SAFETY RECALL, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
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