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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 →

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.

16 crash reports11 fire reports10 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

88 reports
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Mileage unknown · May 2, 2019
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

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

NHTSA ODI #11205411

90,000 miles · Apr 5, 2019
Electrical System

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…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11194102

Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 2019
Electrical System

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.

NHTSA ODI #11181488

158,000 miles · Jan 12, 2019
Electrical SystemUnknown Or OtherCrash

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

NHTSA ODI #11166623

130,000 miles · Dec 2, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

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.

NHTSA ODI #11155431

113,600 miles · Nov 14, 2018
Electrical SystemEngine

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.

NHTSA ODI #11151510

194,000 miles · Oct 31, 2018
Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other

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.

NHTSA ODI #11144514

Mileage unknown · Aug 23, 2018
Electrical System

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.

NHTSA ODI #11121870

85,000 miles · Jul 24, 2018
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Unknown Or Other

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.

NHTSA ODI #11113375

35,000 miles · Jun 26, 2018
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior Lighting

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

NHTSA ODI #11104133

Official recalls

3

09V233000 · 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

1

PE09016 · 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.