DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE CAR BEGAN HAVING ISSUES SHIFTING GEARS. PULLED OVER AND CHECKED MY FLUIDS. PROCEEDED TO CONTINUE DRIVING AND THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE. HAD TO CALL FOR A TOW. THE CAR IS NOW PARKED.
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
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.
Power Train complaints
120 reportsMY TRANSMISSION WAVE PLATE SHATTERED IN MY 2008 SATURN VUE. I WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN THE WAVE PLATE SHATTERED. I HAD THE VEHICLE FIXED AT A THIRD PARTY AUTO SHOP AS I WAS NOT AWARE THAT GM HAD EXTENDED THE TRANSMISSION WARRANTY TO 3/20/2018 OR 120,055 MILES WHICH EVER OCCURRED FIRST. MY WAVE PLATE BROKE ON 5/24/2016 AT 79167 MILE…
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MY TRANSMISSION WAVE PLATE SHATTERED IN MY 2008 SATURN VUE. I WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN THE WAVE PLATE SHATTERED. I HAD THE VEHICLE FIXED AT A THIRD PARTY AUTO SHOP AS I WAS NOT AWARE THAT GM HAD EXTENDED THE TRANSMISSION WARRANTY TO 3/20/2018 OR 120,055 MILES WHICH EVER OCCURRED FIRST. MY WAVE PLATE BROKE ON 5/24/2016 AT 79167 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I HAVE DENIED REIMBURSEMENT SATING I DID NOT SUBMIT BY RECEIPTS BY THE EXPATRIATION DATE. WHEN I INQUIRED ON WHAT THAT DATE WAS I WAS INFORMED THEY HAD NO IDEA. I WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT THIS UNTIL I AM RIGHTFULLY REIMBURSED FOR THESE REPAIRS PER THE EXTENDED TRANSMISSION WARRANTY THAT GM PUT OUT FOR THE KNOWN WAVE PLATE ISSUE. I HAVE ATTACHED MY ORIGINAL EMAIL CHAIN WITH SATURN/GM CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT INDICATES THE EXTEND TRANSMISSION WARRANTY DATE AND MILEAGE AND THE MY VEHICLES VIN QUALIFIED, MY RECONSIDERATION LETTER AFTER FIRST DENIAL AND RECEIPT OF THE REPAIR WORK THAT WAS COMPLETED. ALL I AM LOOKING FOR IS TO RIGHTFULLY REIMBURSED BY GM FOR THE EXTENDED TRANSMISSION WARRANTY THEY PUT IN PLACE FOR A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THERE VEHICLES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE RPMS SUDDENLY INCREASED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE RPMS SUDDENLY INCREASED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000. UPDATED 11/29/16*LJ *TR
TRANSMISSION FAULT AND/OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WITH CODE P0716, P0776, P0717, P0777, P2714, P2715, AND/OR P02723 ON SATURN VUE VEHICLES WITH A 6SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MAY DEVELOP ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING FAULTS RELATED TO A BROKEN 35R CLUTCH WAVE PLATE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION: ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE LI…
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TRANSMISSION FAULT AND/OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WITH CODE P0716, P0776, P0717, P0777, P2714, P2715, AND/OR P02723 ON SATURN VUE VEHICLES WITH A 6SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MAY DEVELOP ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING FAULTS RELATED TO A BROKEN 35R CLUTCH WAVE PLATE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION: ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WITH CODE P0716, P0776, P0717, P0777, P2714, P2715, AND/OR P02723, LOSS OF REVERSE GEAR, SLIPPING OR HARSH 3RD OR 5TH GEAR SHIFT. REMOVAL AND DIS-ASSEMBLY OF THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE REQUIRED TO REPLACE THE BROKEN 35R WAVE PLATE. IT IS ALSO EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT ALL DEBRIS FROM THE FAILED PART BE CLEANED FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHILE IT IS DISASSEMBLED IN ORDER TO TRY AND PREVENT FUTURE PROBLEMS THIS AFFECTED 4 MODEL YEARS: 2003, 2006, 2008 AND 2009 WHY WASN'T A RECALL DONE ON THIS? NOW I'M OUT OF POCKET FOR THE EXPENSE OF REPLACING MY TRANSMISSION.
CAR HAS 40000 MILES ON IT . LOST REVERSE GEAR AND HAS TROUBLE SHIFTING GEARS. IS IN SHOP. TOLD WE NEED TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. PROBLEMS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING.
THE TRANSMISSION HAS EPISODES WHERE IT WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF SECOND GEAR. I HAVE TO PULL OVER, TURN OFF THE CAR AND RE- START IT. MOST OF THE TIME IT WILL SHIFT INTO GEAR AFTER DOING THIS, BUT THIS PAST WEEK IT HAS NOT TAKEN CARE OF THE PROBLEM. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN OCT. 2015. AND IT STARTED DOING THIS 3 DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT IT. I…
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THE TRANSMISSION HAS EPISODES WHERE IT WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF SECOND GEAR. I HAVE TO PULL OVER, TURN OFF THE CAR AND RE- START IT. MOST OF THE TIME IT WILL SHIFT INTO GEAR AFTER DOING THIS, BUT THIS PAST WEEK IT HAS NOT TAKEN CARE OF THE PROBLEM. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN OCT. 2015. AND IT STARTED DOING THIS 3 DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT IT. I AM AWARE THAT GM HAS SEVERAL MODEL VEHICLES, INCLUDING SOME SATURNS, WHICH HAVE ON- STAR THAT HAVE FAULTY WAVE PLATES AND HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM. AFTER READING SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS FROM SOME OF THE OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES, IT SOUNDS EXACTLY LIKE WHAT MY CAR IS DOING.I DON'T KNOW WHO TO CONTACT ABOUT THIS. BUT FYI...SATURN HAS ALREADY HAD A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST THEM FOR THE 2004-2005 MODEL TRANSMISSION PROBLEM- OR SO I'M TOLD.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED AAA ROAD SERVICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A METAL PART WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE R…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED AAA ROAD SERVICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A METAL PART WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO SUBMIT A LETTER, DETAILING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN LOCK CYLINDER. CAR WOULD NOT START. ONSTAR COMMUNICATION WAS DISABLED. LOCK CYLINDER HAD TO BE DRILLED OUT AND REPLACED. HOUSING IN STEERING COLUMN WAS DAMAGED. SATURN VUES WERE RECALLED FOR IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER REPLACEMENT, BUT 2008 MODELS WERE LEFT OUT OF THE RECALL. THEY SHOULD B…
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STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN LOCK CYLINDER. CAR WOULD NOT START. ONSTAR COMMUNICATION WAS DISABLED. LOCK CYLINDER HAD TO BE DRILLED OUT AND REPLACED. HOUSING IN STEERING COLUMN WAS DAMAGED. SATURN VUES WERE RECALLED FOR IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER REPLACEMENT, BUT 2008 MODELS WERE LEFT OUT OF THE RECALL. THEY SHOULD BE ON THE RECALL LIST FOR IGNITION CYLINDER STEERING WHEEL LOCK PROBLEMS ALONG WITH THE OTHER SATURN VUE MODELS. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND PREVENTED ME FROM LEAVING A NEARLY EMPTY PARKING LOT AT DUSK. I HAD NO WAY TO CALL FOR HELP FROM THE CAR. I DEPEND ON ONSTAR FOR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE WHERE CELL SIGNALS ARE WEAK
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE EMERGING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE NEXT DAY THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION MODULE WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED REPLAC…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE EMERGING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE NEXT DAY THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION MODULE WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION BECAME INOPERABLE AS AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION BECAME INOPERABLE AS AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V200000 (POWER TRAIN). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
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.
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