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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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115,000 miles · Apr 13, 2018
Electrical SystemExterior LightingStructure

NOW THIS IS LIKE THE 5TH TIME I THINK I HAVE WROTE A LETTER TO THIS COMPANY AND NO ONE HAS ANSWERED ME I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR BEING PARKED ON A HILL AND IT ROLLS BACKWARDS WHEN NO ONE'S INSIDE OF IT AND OTHER LITTLE THINGS THATS ON THE SATURN RECALL BUT MY CAR IS NOT ON THE LIST. BUT NOW I'M HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY BACK …

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NOW THIS IS LIKE THE 5TH TIME I THINK I HAVE WROTE A LETTER TO THIS COMPANY AND NO ONE HAS ANSWERED ME I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR BEING PARKED ON A HILL AND IT ROLLS BACKWARDS WHEN NO ONE'S INSIDE OF IT AND OTHER LITTLE THINGS THATS ON THE SATURN RECALL BUT MY CAR IS NOT ON THE LIST. BUT NOW I'M HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY BACK DOOR NOT SHUTTING WHEN I SHUT IT IT OPENS UNEXPECTENTLY. IN THE WORDS OF CAR TALK IT'S CALLED 1. TRANSMISSION CASE POROSITY AT PARK PAWL 2. OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE STICKS/BIND. ALSO THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ON THE TRANS STICK IS OUT, MY WARNING DASH BOARDS LIGHT COME IN FOR NO REASON 1ST IT WAS OIL LIGHT WHICH I RECEIVED AN OIL CHANGE A MONTH AGO AND NOW IT'S THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, CAR ALARM GOES OFF WHEN THE BACK DOOR ACTS UP. NOW I HOPE TO HERE FROM SOMEONE SOON. I MIGHT GO TO THE NEWS CAUSE I NEED HELP AND YOU PEOPLE NOT HELPING SO THAT MIGHT MAKE U MOVE FASTER. BUT IF I DIE OF MY CAR ROLLS AWAY AND KILLS ONE OF THESE KIDS OUTSIDE I WILL SUE YOU PEOPLE SO HARD. WAITING FOR AN AWSER BYE. FYI IVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN 2014.

NHTSA ODI #11085014

99,995 miles · Dec 1, 2017
Air BagsElectrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

MY AIRBAG LIGHT WON'T TURN OFF. MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS WON'T RESET. THE STAIRCASE LIGHT IS ON, THE OIL LIGHT, THE SUSPENSION LIGHT. I'VE HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR WHICH NOW HAS 99,972 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI #11051641

139,000 miles · Nov 11, 2017
Air BagsElectrical SystemUnknown Or Other

TAKATA RECALL THIS AFTERNOON, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I WAS NOT MOVING. PREVIOUSLY, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WENT OUT AND WAS COSTLY TO REPAIR, HAD TO BE TOWED FROM PITTSBURGH TO CLEVELAND.

NHTSA ODI #11045394

65,000 miles · Nov 4, 2017
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

OVER THE PAST YEAR AND HALF I'VE HAD NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL ISSUES. HEAD LIGHTS DIMMING AND FLASHING AT VERY HIGH INTERVALS ALMOST LIKE A DIM STROBE. RADIO NOT TURNING ON. INTERIOR LIGHTS NOT COMING ON. ODOMETER LIGHT DIMS. RANDOM DINGING NOISE. TURN SIGNAL NOT ALWAYS WORKING OR WORKING SPORADICALLY. FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT ALW…

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OVER THE PAST YEAR AND HALF I'VE HAD NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL ISSUES. HEAD LIGHTS DIMMING AND FLASHING AT VERY HIGH INTERVALS ALMOST LIKE A DIM STROBE. RADIO NOT TURNING ON. INTERIOR LIGHTS NOT COMING ON. ODOMETER LIGHT DIMS. RANDOM DINGING NOISE. TURN SIGNAL NOT ALWAYS WORKING OR WORKING SPORADICALLY. FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT ALWAYS COMING ON AND WHEN THEY DO IT'S SPORADIC. REAR WINDSHIELD NOT COMING ON BUT WILL AFTER AN ENGINE RESTART. KEY STUCK IN THE IGNITION. HAZARD LIGHTS NOT WORKING WHEN ENGINE IS OFF. ALL THIS HAS HAPPENED SLOWLY OVER THE LAST YEAR AND HALF. I'VE REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE AND HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY CAN'T FIND AN ISSUE. EVERYONE WITH THESE PROBLEMS WILL TELL YOU THAT A MECHANIC CAN'T RUN A TEST FOR THE PROBLEM IF IT'S NOT HAPPENING AT THAT TIME. WE ALSO ALL KNOW TOO WELL THESE PROBLEMS COME AND GO VERY QUICKLY AND SOMETIMES TEMPORARILY FIX THEMSELVES WITH JUST AN ENGINE RESTART, DRIVING OVER A BUMP (WHICH ALSO BRINGS ON THE ISSUES) OR SHAKING THE WIRE HARNESS ON TOP OF THE BATTERY. SO TAKING IT TO A SHOP TO RUN A TEST IS ALMOST MEANINGLESS UNLESS TOWED AND EVEN THEN IT'S NOT 100% CHANCE YOU'RE GOING TO GET A CODE(S) TO READ. THE LAST FEW MONTHS THE PROBLEMS HAVE GOTTEN WORSE. THE BIG OCCURRENCE CAME WHEN I WAS JUST TWO MINUTES DOWN THE ROAD FROM WHERE I LIVE, I HAD THE VUE NOT START UP OR EVEN TURN OVER AND THE KEY WAS LOCKED IN THE IGNITION. I OPENED UP THE HOOD, TAPPED ONCE ON THE BLACK BOX ON TOP OF THE BATTERY AND THE VUE STARTED DINGING AND WAS ABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON. I THEN DROVE TO MY HOUSE AND THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF ON ME AND RESTARTED TWICE WITHIN THAT TWO MIN DRIVE. I LOST TOTAL POWER AND VERY LIMITED CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP AND COMPLAINED ABOUT HUNDREDS OF TIMES ON THE INTERNET AND HAS YET TO BE INVESTIGATED. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ELECTRICAL ISSUE. -11.4.17

NHTSA ODI #11043306

134,005 miles · Mar 13, 2017
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

ALL OF MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS INCLUDING MY BRAKE LIGHT IS ON MY EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT BEEPS WHILE I'M DRIVING BUT IT'S NOT ENGAGED MY SHIFTING IS VERY CHOPPY AND I'M HAVING A HARD TIME WITH THE TIRE PRESSURE AS WELL A FEW WEEKS AGO I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS LIGHTS ON MY DASHBOARD I WENT TO A AUTOMOBILE PLACE THEY ERASE ALL THE CODES…

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ALL OF MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS INCLUDING MY BRAKE LIGHT IS ON MY EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT BEEPS WHILE I'M DRIVING BUT IT'S NOT ENGAGED MY SHIFTING IS VERY CHOPPY AND I'M HAVING A HARD TIME WITH THE TIRE PRESSURE AS WELL A FEW WEEKS AGO I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS LIGHTS ON MY DASHBOARD I WENT TO A AUTOMOBILE PLACE THEY ERASE ALL THE CODES SO WE COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH IT AND EVERY SINGLE THING THAT COULD GO WRONG WITH IT THEY'RE SAYING IT'S WRONG WITH IT BUT IT STILL DRIVES IT HAS A HARD TIME SHIFTING AND THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC SO I'M NOT IN CHARGE OF THE SHIFT IT'S VERY CHOPPY WHEN IT SHIFTS INTO DIFFERENT GEARS THE AUTOMOBILE PLACE THAT IT'S EITHER THE COMPUTER OR THE TRANSMISSION THIS CAR HAS MILE NUMBER 134380 ON IT IT ALWAYS HAS THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF FLUIDS IN IT I ALWAYS GET OIL CHANGES ON TIME I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS CAR

NHTSA ODI #10960412

5 miles · Mar 13, 2017
Electrical SystemExterior LightingVisibility/wiper

IT'S MY TURN SIGNALS MY LOCKS AND MY FLASHERS HEADLIGHTS

NHTSA ODI #10960266

Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2017
Electrical SystemUnknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

I HAVE HAD ELECTRICAL AND CLIMATE CONTROL PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR. MOST OF THE A/C COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. NOW I DON'T HAVE ANY A/C AT ALL. I'VE ALSO HAD HEATING PROBLEMS THAT REQUIRED TWO DIFFERENT REPAIRS WHICH WERE VERY EXPENSIVE. MY CAR IS GARAGE KEPT, WELL MAINTAINED AND IT ONLY HAS 30,000.

NHTSA ODI #10957286

56,178 miles · Feb 17, 2017
Electrical SystemPower TrainService Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND LOST POWER. THE CHECK ENGINE, TRACTION CONTROL, AND ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO REPLACED AND REPROGRAMMED THE ECM. T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND LOST POWER. THE CHECK ENGINE, TRACTION CONTROL, AND ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO REPLACED AND REPROGRAMMED THE ECM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER ONE AND HALF YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID CONTROL CIRCUIT AND REPROGRAMMED THE TRANSMISSION MODULE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,178.

NHTSA ODI #10955240

105,000 miles · Jan 4, 2017
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

THERE WAS A RECALL BULLETIN ISSUED FOR MY MODEL YEAR VEHICLE: HTTP://WWW-ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/ACMS/CS/JAXRS/DOWNLOAD/DOC/UCM472842/RCRIT-14V614-0055.PDF HOWEVER, WHEN I CONTACTED MY CLOSEST GM DEALER THEY SAID THAT MY VIN WAS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS RECALL. THIS IS CONCERNING AS THE RECALL IS DESCRIBING THE EXACT PROBLEM W/ THE…

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THERE WAS A RECALL BULLETIN ISSUED FOR MY MODEL YEAR VEHICLE: HTTP://WWW-ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/ACMS/CS/JAXRS/DOWNLOAD/DOC/UCM472842/RCRIT-14V614-0055.PDF HOWEVER, WHEN I CONTACTED MY CLOSEST GM DEALER THEY SAID THAT MY VIN WAS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS RECALL. THIS IS CONCERNING AS THE RECALL IS DESCRIBING THE EXACT PROBLEM W/ THE CAR AND HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED BY A SERVICE PROFESSIONAL. ONE OF THE CONNECTORS ON MY ECM SOMEHOW HAS BECOME CONTAMINATED AND IS CAUSING THE CAR TO UNEXPECTEDLY DIE WHILE IN USE. ALSO AS A RESULT, THE TCS/ESP/AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ALL COME ON AND REMAIN ON UNTIL THE COMPUTER CAN BE RESET. IT HAS DONE SO TWICE WHILE MY WIFE HAS BEEN DRIVING IT ON THE HIGHWAY, CREATING VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. IT STRANDS HER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD UNTIL WE CAN GET THE CAR STARTED AGAIN AND OFF THE HIGHWAY. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR IS IDLING, AND WHILE TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS OFF THE HIGHWAY. I UNDERSTAND THAT ONLY CERTAIN VINS ARE INVOLVED IN CERTAIN RECALLS, BUT SINCE THE PROBLEM IN THE RECALL BULLETIN LINKED ABOVE IS HAPPENING TO OUR VEHICLE AND OUR VEHICLE'S VIN IS NOT LISTED, I AM CONCERNED THERE COULD BE OTHERS THAT ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS AND COULD BECOME SERIOUSLY INJURED WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10939647

103,000 miles · Oct 24, 2016
Electrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, THE DOORS WOULD SUDDENLY LOCK AND UNLOCK AND THE LIGHTING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FLASHED. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE MANY OTHER ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS THAT WOULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING. IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, THE DOORS WOULD SUDDENLY LOCK AND UNLOCK AND THE LIGHTING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FLASHED. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE MANY OTHER ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS THAT WOULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING. IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO FUNCTION CORRECTLY, THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

NHTSA ODI #10918506

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.