← New search

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
Clear category filter
70,800 miles · Oct 2, 2014
EnginePower Train

THE C5 PLATE IN THE TRANSMISSION SNAPPED CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. NO REVERSE EITHER. CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 30, RPM'S WERE HIGH. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. COST TO FIX $1794. RESEARCHED PROBLEM, BUNCH OF COMPLAINTS CAME UP, SAME PROBLEM, SAME MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR. TRANSMISSION EXCHANGE IN LACKAWANNA NY VERIFIED…

Read full complaint

THE C5 PLATE IN THE TRANSMISSION SNAPPED CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. NO REVERSE EITHER. CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 30, RPM'S WERE HIGH. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. COST TO FIX $1794. RESEARCHED PROBLEM, BUNCH OF COMPLAINTS CAME UP, SAME PROBLEM, SAME MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR. TRANSMISSION EXCHANGE IN LACKAWANNA NY VERIFIED THAT HE HAS DONE SIMILAR VEHICLES WITH SAME TRANSMISSION, SAME PROBLEM. I'M A SINGLE MOTHER NEEDING TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO WORK. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN LABELED A RECALL BEING IT'S A MANUFACTURER MALFUNCTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10640919

70,000 miles · Sep 25, 2014
Power Train

REPAIR SHOP SAYS THAT THE WAVE PLATE HAS CRACKED AND IS NOW CAUSING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THIS APPEARS TO BE SOME TYPE OF SMALL DEFECTIVE PART THAT WHEN IT FAILS RESULTS IN A NEW TRANSMISSION NEEDED. THIS KNOWN ISSUE IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND ALSO MY TRANSMISSION SHOP SAYS THEY HAVE HAD MULTIPLE TRANSMISSION REPAIRS DUE TO…

Read full complaint

REPAIR SHOP SAYS THAT THE WAVE PLATE HAS CRACKED AND IS NOW CAUSING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THIS APPEARS TO BE SOME TYPE OF SMALL DEFECTIVE PART THAT WHEN IT FAILS RESULTS IN A NEW TRANSMISSION NEEDED. THIS KNOWN ISSUE IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND ALSO MY TRANSMISSION SHOP SAYS THEY HAVE HAD MULTIPLE TRANSMISSION REPAIRS DUE TO THIS ISSUE. IS THERE ANYWAY THAT WE HAVE RECOURSE WITH GM? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10639076

74,000 miles · Sep 7, 2014
Power Train

HTTP://REPAIRPAL.COM/TRANSMISSION-FAULT-ANDOR-CHECK-ENGINE-LIGHT-WITH-CODE-P0716-P0776-P0717-P0777-P2714-P2715-AN-567 HOW IS THE TRANSMISSION NOT BEING RECALLED! SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET SERIOUSLY HURT. DOES IT TAKE A DEATH BEFORE ANYTHING IS DONE? GOOD GRIEF!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10631310

38,909 miles · Sep 5, 2014
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING, WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD. AFTER VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, IT WOULD SHIFT INTO DIFFERENT GEARS BUT WOULD NOT MOVE. DEALER REPAIR SERVICE CENTER STATES: "38909 TRANSMISSION 3-5-R WAVED PLATE BROKEN AND DAMAGED" PARTS REPLACED: SEAL KIT, GASKETS, NUT, VALVES, COVER, SP…

Read full complaint

VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING, WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD. AFTER VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, IT WOULD SHIFT INTO DIFFERENT GEARS BUT WOULD NOT MOVE. DEALER REPAIR SERVICE CENTER STATES: "38909 TRANSMISSION 3-5-R WAVED PLATE BROKEN AND DAMAGED" PARTS REPLACED: SEAL KIT, GASKETS, NUT, VALVES, COVER, SPRING, PISTON, HOUSING, PISTON, PLATE KIT, PLATE TIMES 2 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10631168

57,520 miles · Sep 1, 2014
Power Train

TRANSMISSION COMPLETE FAILURE @ 57520 MILES. TECHNICIAN AT CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP STATED SEVERAL GM VEHICLES USE THIS TRANSMISSION AND HAS SEEN MULTIPLE TRANSMISSION FAILURES, CAUSED BY THE SAME PART. THE 3-5 REVERSE CLUTCH PLATE IS THE COMMON COMPONENT CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE NHTSA SHOULD REQUIRE GM TO RECALL ALL VEHICLES WITH T…

Read full complaint

TRANSMISSION COMPLETE FAILURE @ 57520 MILES. TECHNICIAN AT CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP STATED SEVERAL GM VEHICLES USE THIS TRANSMISSION AND HAS SEEN MULTIPLE TRANSMISSION FAILURES, CAUSED BY THE SAME PART. THE 3-5 REVERSE CLUTCH PLATE IS THE COMMON COMPONENT CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE NHTSA SHOULD REQUIRE GM TO RECALL ALL VEHICLES WITH THIS TRANSMISSION AND REQUIRE THEM TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, FREE OF CHARGE TO THE CONSUMER. PULLED OUT FROM A GAS STATION, TRANSMISSION SHIFTED TO 2ND GEAR. A LOUD BANG!, VUE (NOW AKA: CHEVROLET CAPTIVA) STUCK INTO SAME GEAR, LUCKY FOR US, PEOPLE SLOWED DOWN, VUE WOULD NOT GO OVER 20 MPH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10629827

3,165 miles · Aug 24, 2014
Power Train

MANUFACTURER RECALL TO REPROGRAM THE BCM, THEN THEY REPLACED THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE AT THE SAME VISIT. HOW AND WHERE DO I ATTACH AN EXCEL SPREADSHEET WITH THE 30 REPAIRS, SOME MAJOR SINCE OWNERSHIP OF THIS VEHICLE? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10627850

90,470 miles · Aug 20, 2014
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,4…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,470.

NHTSA ODI #10626734

93,099 miles · Jul 28, 2014
Electrical SystemPower Train

I'M EXPERIENCING AN ENGINE LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME. REGARDLESS OF, THE WEATHER AND AFTER HAVING MY VEHICLE CHECK FOR MAINTENANCE WORK. HAD A VEHICLE DIAGNOSTIC DONE AND THE RESULTS WAS A CODE 10. WHICH MEANS CAM ACTUATOR SOLENOID, 2008 SATURN VUES ARE KNOWN FOR THIS PROBLEM. REPLACE THAT PART THE ENGINE HAVE TO BE TAKEN APART. THI…

Read full complaint

I'M EXPERIENCING AN ENGINE LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME. REGARDLESS OF, THE WEATHER AND AFTER HAVING MY VEHICLE CHECK FOR MAINTENANCE WORK. HAD A VEHICLE DIAGNOSTIC DONE AND THE RESULTS WAS A CODE 10. WHICH MEANS CAM ACTUATOR SOLENOID, 2008 SATURN VUES ARE KNOWN FOR THIS PROBLEM. REPLACE THAT PART THE ENGINE HAVE TO BE TAKEN APART. THIS ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON CONSTANTLY. IT BEEN ON SINCE MARCH 2014, IF THIS PROBLEM IS NOT HANDLE MY VEHICLE WILL START HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING AND SHUTTING DOWN WITHOUT MY CONTROL WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A POWER DRIVE AND IGNITION/STARTER PROBLEM. CAN YOU PLEASE RESEARCH THIS ISSUE AND ASSIST ME WITH THIS MATTER. ALL THE DEALER DID SINCE I COULDN'T BUY A NEW VEHICLE WAS SENT ME ON A TEST DRIVE AND WHILE I WAS GONE THEY WENT UNDER THE HOOD AND MADE THE LIGHT GO OFF. THAT WORK FOR ONLY A HOUR. PLEASE RESPONSE. THANKS. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10617017

96,000 miles · Jul 11, 2014
Power Train

WHILE ACCELERATING TO ENTER FREEWAY ENGINE SPEED INCREASED TO HIGH REVS AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO HIGHER GEAR FOR HIGHER SPEED HAD TO PULL OUT OF FAST TRAFFIC AS CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. WHEN CAR WAS PARKED AND STARTED AGAIN, COULD NOT GET IT TO GO IN REVERSE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THEN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10609959

71,693 miles · Jun 27, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED ON 4/4/2009 WITH 13,936 MILES ON IT. AS OF THE DATE OF THE INCIDENT, THERE ARE 71,694 MILES ON THE CAR OR 57,758 MILES DRIVEN (AVERAGE 11,550 PER YEAR). THIS CAR WAS WELL KEPT AND HAD THE APPROPRIATE MAINTENANCE DONE. THE FIRST THING THAT FAILED ON THE CAR WAS THE KEYLESS START. IT FAILED LESS THAN SEVEN…

Read full complaint

THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED ON 4/4/2009 WITH 13,936 MILES ON IT. AS OF THE DATE OF THE INCIDENT, THERE ARE 71,694 MILES ON THE CAR OR 57,758 MILES DRIVEN (AVERAGE 11,550 PER YEAR). THIS CAR WAS WELL KEPT AND HAD THE APPROPRIATE MAINTENANCE DONE. THE FIRST THING THAT FAILED ON THE CAR WAS THE KEYLESS START. IT FAILED LESS THAN SEVEN MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. LAST WINTER, WE NOTICED THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY FAILED AND NO LONGER WORKED. ON 6/24/2008; THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. WE GET THE TRANSMISSION FLUIDS CHECKED EVERY OIL CHANGE AND EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE WORKING FINE. TWO WEEKS AGO, THE CAR STARTED MAKING RUBBING NOISES UNTIL NOW THE TRANSMISSION ACTUALLY FAILED. CAR TRANSMISSIONS SHOULD LAST AT LEAST 100K MILES. WITH THE HISTORY OF SATURN VUES HAVING TRANSMISSION ISSUES, THIS ONE HAS NOW FAILED US. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10606598

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.