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

Power Train complaints

120 reports

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52,764 miles · Feb 20, 2014

Power Train

STARTING UP SLIGHT INCLINE WHEN CAR LOST SPEED, THEN STARTED MOVING AGAIN BUT WOULD NOT GO OVER 30 MPH AT 4000RPMS. PULLED INTO SERVICE CENTER WHERE THEY SAID TRANY GONE . NOW ONLY HAVE FIRST GEAR. NEEDS NEW ONE BUT COST IS 5,500. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10565195

62,000 miles · Dec 19, 2013

Power Train

MY TRANSMISSION FAILED AS I WAS ACCELERATING OFF A STOP LINE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 30 MILES AN HOUR AND WAS AT 3000 RPM. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PARK AND BACK INTO A PARKING SPOT THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. THERE APPEARS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS MODEL. IS MY CAR UNDER THIS RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10556659

50,000 miles · Nov 26, 2013

Power Train

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ON NOVEMBER 19, 2013 AS I WAS IN MY WAY TO WORK THE CAR STARTED TO MAKE A WEIRD NOISE AND AS I KEPT DRIVING I FELT A JERK ON THE CAR AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, HAD TO TURN BACK HOME. I WAS NOT GOING TO DRIVE THE CAR AND GET STRANDED SOMEWHERE ON THE ROAD. I CALL CARL BLACK CHEVROLET AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO HAVE IT SERVICE. ON FRIDAY I PICKED UP THE CAR AND WAS TOLD THE FIXED THE PROBLEM WHICH WAS THE CONTROL SOLENOID VALVE AND TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT. THEY FOUND FLUID PRESSURE SWITCHES DAMAGED, REPLACED TCM AND SOL ASSEMBLY. ON FRIDAY NOVEMBER 23, 2013 I PICKED UP MY CAR AND WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED, BUT ON NOVEMBER 25, 2013 AS I WAS DRIVING TO THE STORE THE PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN, GOING ABOUT 35 MILES THE CAR JERKED BACK SO BAD THAT I ALMOST HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I THANK GOD THERE WAS NOBODY BEHIND ME BECAUSE THIS COULD HAVE CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR HOME BUT NOT BEFORE THE CAR DID THE SAME THING AGAIN AND THERE WAS NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED AGAIN TO CARL BLACK CHEVROLET AND IS AT THEIR SERVICE CENTER TODAY, I WANT A NEW TRANSMISSION ON MY CAR NOT JUST REPLACE SOME PARTS AND SENDING ME ON MY WAY WITH A CAR THAT I CAN HAVE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH AND POSSIBLE GET HURT OR HURT OTHERS. ALL THIS PROBLEMS HAVE CAUSED ME TO MISSED WORK AND SPEND MONEY I DON'T HAVE, I DO NOT WANT TO CONTINUE HAVING PROBLEMS THAT CAN BE AVOIDED. THIS IS A VERY STRESSFUL SITUATION FOR ME, PLEASE TELL ME WHAT I HAVE TO DO TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIX. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10553808

47,500 miles · Nov 4, 2013

Power Train

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SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTING OUR HOME ON OCTOBER 27, 2013, OUR 2008 SATURN VUE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXHIBIT HARD SHIFTING, OVER-REVVING BEFORE FINALLY "CLUNKING" INTO GEARS. THESE SYMPTOMS WENT AWAY AFTER A FEW MINUTES WORTH OF DRIVING. THE SYMPTOMS RECURRED THE FOLLOWING DAY SO WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. DIAGNOSIS IS A BROKEN 3-5-R WAVE PLATE. AFTER CONDUCTING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, IT APPEARS THIS FAILURE IS NOT UNCOMMON WITH THE SATURN VUE AND RELATED GM STABLE MATES (CHEVROLET EQUINOX / GMC ACADIA / PONTIAC TORRENT...). A TOTAL FAILURE OF THE 3-5-R WAVE PLATE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO STRAND DRIVERS AT INOPPORTUNE TIMES; FORTUNATELY WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP UNDER ITS OWN POWER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10550853

87,000 miles · Sep 22, 2013

Power Train

2008 SATURN VUE WITH 87,000 MILES. OUT OF NOWHERE I STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION. 80% OF THE MILES ARE HIGHWAY MILES ALSO. TRANSMISSION NOW SLIPS WHEN GOING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. EARLIER TODAY WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE SO WHEN I PUSHED ON THE GAS THE ENGINE SIMPLY REVVED L…

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NHTSA ODI #10544887

111,000 miles · Aug 24, 2013

Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND LOSS OF FORWARD MOTION WHILE ENTERING ONTO ROADWAY WITH ON COMING TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10537076

90,000 miles · Aug 12, 2013

Power Train

PURCHASED MY SATURN OCT 2011 TRANSMISSION WENT OUT 3 MONTHS LATER JANUARY 2012. SATURN REPLACED IT BECAUSE IT WAS STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. AUGUST 7TH 2013 IM GETTING ONTO THE EXPRESSWAY AND MY ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR LOSES POWER AND WOULD HARDLY ACCELERATE. MY TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE WENT OUT AND MY WARRANTY…

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NHTSA ODI #10534916

73,000 miles · Aug 8, 2013

Power Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AS THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V200000 (POWER TRAIN) THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10534249

88,000 miles · Aug 5, 2013

Power Train

TRANSMISSION 35R CLUTCH WAVE PLATE FAILURE REQUIRES COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REBUILD. VEHICLE WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED AT APPROPRIATE SERVICE INTERVALS. TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP WHEN SHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR AND HESITATED TO UP SHIFT FROM 5TH TO 6TH GEAR. TROUBLE CODES P0700 AND P0777 WERE LOGGED WHEN TRANSMISSION FIRST SLI…

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NHTSA ODI #10533722

87,000 miles · Aug 2, 2013

Power Train

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THE VEHICLE HAS 87,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED AT DEALERSHIP. WHILE DRIVING THRU A PARKING LOT I FELT IT SHIFT HARD. IT DROVE FINE FOR A FEW MILES, THEN WHILE IN RESIDENTIAL AREA I HEARD A SQUEALING NOISE. I STOPPED AND TURNED OFF VEHICLE. TURNED IT BACK ON AND IT WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE. WAITED ABOUT 30 MINUTES TURNED IT ON AGAIN AND IT WOULD GO IN REVERSE BUT NOT DRIVE. WAITED AGAIN FOR 30 MINUTES AND STARTED IT AGAIN AND IT WOULD NOT GO IN ANY GEAR. THERE SHOULD NOT BE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AT 87,000 ON A ONE OWNER, WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP KEPT MY VEHICLE FOR 26 DAYS BEFORE RETURNING IT. GM CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS NOT HELPFUL AND VERY HARD TO DEAL WITH. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. THE REASON FOR THE 26 DAY DELAY IS BECAUSE THEY HAD SO MANY IN FOR REPAIRS. WHILE THE 87,000 MILES WAS INSIDE THE MILEAGE WARRANTY, THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BY TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10533333

Official recalls

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

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.