IllustrationUPON TRYING TO ACCELERATE, THE "KICKED" AND JERKED, THEN SLOWED SLIGHTLY. WHEN TRAVELING UPHILL, AND PARKING, TRANSMISSION SEEMED NOT TO HAVE ENOUGH POWER. ROLLS BACKWARDS WHILE IDLE BEFORE TAKING OFF. *TR
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
480–25K
4325–50K
7150–75K
6575–100K
68100–150K
34150K+
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
Engine complaints
38 reportsI WAS DRIVING DOWN FM 1960 I SAW WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THROUGH THE VENTS. I TURNED OFF THE AIR CONDITION; THEN GREY SMOKE START BEING VISIBLE FROM THE UNDER THE HOOD. I CAME TO A YELLOW LIGHT AND TRIED TO BRAKE BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. WHEN I WAS ABLE TO GET THE TRUCK TO STOP, A CLOUD OF BLACK SMOKE CAME…
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I WAS DRIVING DOWN FM 1960 I SAW WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THROUGH THE VENTS. I TURNED OFF THE AIR CONDITION; THEN GREY SMOKE START BEING VISIBLE FROM THE UNDER THE HOOD. I CAME TO A YELLOW LIGHT AND TRIED TO BRAKE BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. WHEN I WAS ABLE TO GET THE TRUCK TO STOP, A CLOUD OF BLACK SMOKE CAME FROM THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT AND FLOOR BOARD AREAS. I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND ABOUT 30 SECONDS LATER THE FLAMES ENGULFED THE TRUCK. *TR
VEHICLE ALL OF THE SUDDEN STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. EVERYTHING RAN FINE AS FAR AS ELECTRICAL, JUST WOULDN'T DRIVE. POWER STEERING HAS BEEN GOING OUT MANY TIMES. *TR
WHILE ON OUR FAMILY TRIP OUR VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STALL. WE HAD NO POWER, NO ACCELERATION NO POWER STEERING. *JS
TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. FRONT ENGINE COVER LEAK DISCOVERED. DAMAGE TO WATER OUTLET SEAL, WATER PUMP GASKET, CRANK SEAL, VALVE COVER GASKETS AND SEALS. *TR
TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHEN THE FRONT ENGINE COVER WAS DISCOVERED TO BE LEAKING. *TR
I UNDERSTAND SATURNS HAVE HAD ISSUES IN THE PAST WITH TIMING CHAINS FOR WHICH THEY DID A RECALL. I HAVE A 2008 SATURN VUE THAT I HAVE HAD ONGOING ISSUES WITH SINCE I BOUGHT IT. I WAS JUST TOLD NOISE THE VEHICLE IS MAKING IS THE TIMING CHAIN HOWEVER I CANT FIND ANYWHERE THAT THEY HAVE A RECALL FOR THE 2008 SATURNS. I AM REPORT…
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I UNDERSTAND SATURNS HAVE HAD ISSUES IN THE PAST WITH TIMING CHAINS FOR WHICH THEY DID A RECALL. I HAVE A 2008 SATURN VUE THAT I HAVE HAD ONGOING ISSUES WITH SINCE I BOUGHT IT. I WAS JUST TOLD NOISE THE VEHICLE IS MAKING IS THE TIMING CHAIN HOWEVER I CANT FIND ANYWHERE THAT THEY HAVE A RECALL FOR THE 2008 SATURNS. I AM REPORTING THIS TO AVOID FUTURE INCIDENTS IN CASE THE TIMING CHAIN RESULTS IN A INCIDENT. I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE SOMETHING THAT IS SUPPOSE TO LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR THE CONTACT NOTICED HESITATION WHILE ACCELERATING. THE VE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR THE CONTACT NOTICED HESITATION WHILE ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER A SECOND TIME WHERE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE EXACT REPAIRS. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER PERFORMED AN OIL CHANGE BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. *TR
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.