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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

Power Train complaints

120 reports
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113,868 miles · Nov 2, 2017
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

MY CAR IS HAVING A PROBLEM THATS ON THE RECALL LIST BUT MY VIN# DONT MATCH. 1.TRANSMISSION CASE POROSTY PARK POWER MY DRIVEWAY IS ON A HILL AND WHEN IT SNOWS ILL COME OUTSIDE AND FIND MY CAR AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL AND THEN ITS HARD TO GET IT BACK UP THE HILL EVEN GUNNING IT UP DOES NOT WORK SO ILL LEAVE IT DOWN THERE. 2. WHEN…

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MY CAR IS HAVING A PROBLEM THATS ON THE RECALL LIST BUT MY VIN# DONT MATCH. 1.TRANSMISSION CASE POROSTY PARK POWER MY DRIVEWAY IS ON A HILL AND WHEN IT SNOWS ILL COME OUTSIDE AND FIND MY CAR AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL AND THEN ITS HARD TO GET IT BACK UP THE HILL EVEN GUNNING IT UP DOES NOT WORK SO ILL LEAVE IT DOWN THERE. 2. WHEN THE GROUND IS WET FROM RAIN OR SNOW I GET STUCK AT THE STOP LIGHT I HAVE TO GUN IT TO MOVE THE WHEELS SPIN OUT THEN I CAN GO.3. THE STICK THAT CONTROL THE DRIVE/PARKING GETS STUCK ILL HAVE TO TURN MY CAR OFF AND BACK ON OR PUMP THE BRAKES COUPLE TIMES REAL HARD TO UNLOCK THE STICK. IVE HAD MY CAR SINCE 2015 OF APRIL SO IT HAPPENS IN AT THE WINTERS AND RAINY DAYS SINCE THEN TO NOW. THANK YOU

NHTSA ODI #11042489

2,500 miles · Aug 27, 2017
EnginePower Train

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY TRANSITION. I KNOW THERE WAS A RECALL AND WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. WHEN I CALLED ABOUT THE RECALL THE WOMAN ON THE OTHER END SAID I WASN'T ABLE TO BE INCLUDED THAT'S WHY I WASN'T NOTIFIED. THE RECALL STATED ANY OWNER. AS EVEN THOUGH I WAS SOLD THE CAR AS NEW, THERE HAD BEEN A PREVIOUS OWNER. I BOUGHT THE CAR …

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I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY TRANSITION. I KNOW THERE WAS A RECALL AND WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. WHEN I CALLED ABOUT THE RECALL THE WOMAN ON THE OTHER END SAID I WASN'T ABLE TO BE INCLUDED THAT'S WHY I WASN'T NOTIFIED. THE RECALL STATED ANY OWNER. AS EVEN THOUGH I WAS SOLD THE CAR AS NEW, THERE HAD BEEN A PREVIOUS OWNER. I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 420 MILES. MY CAR WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR SOMETIMES, WHEN IN PARK IT ROLLS ABOUT 8 TO 10 INCHES. WHEN MY CAR WON'T SHIFT MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I USE THE TIPTRONIC SHIFT AND WHERE THERE SHOULD BE A 1 FOR FIRST GEAR THERE IS NOTHING. ON THE HIGH WAY WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS MY CAR WON'T SHIFT TO A HIGHER GEAR TO PICK UP SPEED

NHTSA ODI #11019968

89,000 miles · Feb 20, 2017
Power TrainSteeringSuspension

TRAVELING AT 80 MPH ON INTERSTATE, STEPPED ON GAS TO CHANGE LANES, AND ENGINE REVVED, BUT NO POWER TO MOVE. HAD TO RUN OFF OF THE HIGHWAY ONTO THE GRASS BERM. BEFORE THAT HAPPENED, THE STEERING WHEEL HAD BEEN ACTING STRANGELY - MUCH VIBRATION AND PLAY. MY SISTER AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED HAD THE CAR OVERTURNED OR SOMETHING A…

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TRAVELING AT 80 MPH ON INTERSTATE, STEPPED ON GAS TO CHANGE LANES, AND ENGINE REVVED, BUT NO POWER TO MOVE. HAD TO RUN OFF OF THE HIGHWAY ONTO THE GRASS BERM. BEFORE THAT HAPPENED, THE STEERING WHEEL HAD BEEN ACTING STRANGELY - MUCH VIBRATION AND PLAY. MY SISTER AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED HAD THE CAR OVERTURNED OR SOMETHING AT THAT SPEED. NOW I AM TOLD THE CAR NEEDS NEW TRANSMISSION, STRUTS, AND POWER STEERING ISSUE STILL BEING LOOKED AT. CAN I GET ANY HELP FROM GM DEALER WITH THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE. I READ THAT THESE EXACT ISSUES AFFECTED MY MODEL AND YEAR, WITH RECALLS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND ADVISE.

NHTSA ODI #10955607

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

49,000 miles · Jan 21, 2017
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING CAR DROPPED DOWN TO LOW GEAR AND THE RPMS REVED UP CAR WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF LOW GEAR CAR ONLY HAS 49,000 MILES ON IT CAN WE BE REIMBURSED FROM GM

NHTSA ODI #10946837

Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 2017
Power Train

CAR DROPPED DOWN TO LOW GEAR WHILE DRIVING AND RPMS REVED UP

NHTSA ODI #10946835

143,586 miles · Jan 17, 2017
EnginePower TrainUnknown Or Other

REFERENCE # 10945589, FORGOT TO MENTION VEHICLE IS NOT AND HAS NOT SHOW WARNING LIGHT ABOUT THIS.... EXP..NO CHECK ENGINE...

NHTSA ODI #10945826

143,586 miles · Jan 16, 2017
EnginePower Train

ONCE I START DRIVING MY AUTOMATIC 2008 SATURN VUE AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES IT WILL NOT ACCELERATE MUCH. ITS LIKE THE SHIFTS GET STUCK AROUND 3RD OR SO AND IT SMELLS LIKE BURN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10945589

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

125,844 miles · Nov 25, 2016
Power Train

WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND IT FAILED TO SHIFT FROM 1ST GEAR (CAR KEPT MOVING BUT THE RPMS WENT WAY UP). CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND CODES P0700, P0752 AND P0989 WERE PULLED FROM THE CAR. MECHANIC LOOKED AT THE CAR AND IT HAD TO BE SENT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION WHICH INCLUDED A FAI…

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WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND IT FAILED TO SHIFT FROM 1ST GEAR (CAR KEPT MOVING BUT THE RPMS WENT WAY UP). CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND CODES P0700, P0752 AND P0989 WERE PULLED FROM THE CAR. MECHANIC LOOKED AT THE CAR AND IT HAD TO BE SENT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION WHICH INCLUDED A FAILED WAVE PLATE. THE NEW WAVE PLATE IS MUCH MORE ROBUST THAN THE ORIGINAL ONE. CAR WAS AT 125,844 MILES WHEN WORK COMPLETED. CONTACTED GM ABOUT THE SPECIAL COVERAGE THIS THIS TRANSMISSION. THE GM SPECIAL COVERAGE IS FOR 10 YEARS OR 120,000 MILES. UNFORTUNATELY OUR SATURN WOULD NOT BE COVERED REIMBURSED BY GM EVEN THOUGH THE WAVE PLATE FAILURE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY GM. GM SAID THAT ANYTHING ABOVE 120,000 MILES IS CONSIDERED NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR EVEN THOUGH IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10927817

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.