IllustrationPOWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY STOPS WORKING MAKING VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER VEHICLE
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
Steering complaints
86 reportsAFTER DRIVING MY CAR THE IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO THE "OFF" POSITION ONCE THE CAR IS STOPPED AND THE SHIFTER IN PARK. THE KEY WAS STUCK THE AFTER DRIVING ? HAD POWER BUT I COULDNT REMOVE MY KEY , ITS STUCK , COULDN'T MOVE MY STEERING WHEEL ITS LOCKED. I TRIED MOVING BACK INTO THE PARK POSITION SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE IGN…
Read full complaint
AFTER DRIVING MY CAR THE IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO THE "OFF" POSITION ONCE THE CAR IS STOPPED AND THE SHIFTER IN PARK. THE KEY WAS STUCK THE AFTER DRIVING ? HAD POWER BUT I COULDNT REMOVE MY KEY , ITS STUCK , COULDN'T MOVE MY STEERING WHEEL ITS LOCKED. I TRIED MOVING BACK INTO THE PARK POSITION SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE IGNITION KEY WOULD RELEASE ALLOWING THE KEY OUT SO CAN LEAVE. KEY IN "OFF" POSITION. I COULDNT REMOVE THE KEY, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, THIS HAPPENED TWICE NOW ? BOTH TIMES AFTER DRIVING IN ON SLIGHTLY BUMPY ROAD FWY. ?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE TRACTION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL REQUIRED A LOT MORE FORCE TO MANEUVER. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE R…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE TRACTION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL REQUIRED A LOT MORE FORCE TO MANEUVER. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.
THE BOLT IN THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE. THUS WHEN YOU TURNED THE WHEEL, THE TIRES DID NOT TURN.
AFTER STARTING MY VEHICLE, THE STEERING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I TRIED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT AND CANNOT TURN IT IN EITHER DIRECTION. IT'S LOCKED UP!!!! I'M JUST THANKFUL I WAS NOT DRIVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED
MY WIFE TOLD ME SHE WAS HAVING SOME DIFFICULTY STEERING SO I DROVE THE CAR MYSELF THIS MORNING. AS I STARTED OUT, YES, I FOUND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL FELT QUITE KLUNKY. WHEN I GOT UP ON THE FREEWAY ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STEERING WHEEL JUST LOCKED STRAIGHT AHEAD. I BUMPED THE BRAKES AND HIT THE STEERING WHEEL TO GET THE CAR TO …
Read full complaint
MY WIFE TOLD ME SHE WAS HAVING SOME DIFFICULTY STEERING SO I DROVE THE CAR MYSELF THIS MORNING. AS I STARTED OUT, YES, I FOUND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL FELT QUITE KLUNKY. WHEN I GOT UP ON THE FREEWAY ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STEERING WHEEL JUST LOCKED STRAIGHT AHEAD. I BUMPED THE BRAKES AND HIT THE STEERING WHEEL TO GET THE CAR TO VEER RIGHT TO GET ONTO THE EXIT. BY THE GRACE OF GOD I MADE IT. THEN IT ALL OF A SUDDEN GOT A BIT LOOSER AND I WAS ABLE TO GET BACK HOME. IT'S AT THE MECHANIC NOW.
ARE THEIR ANY RECALLS ON ANY PARTS?
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…
Read full complaint
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
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. THIS MADE STEERING VERY DIFFICULT. AND DRIVING DANGEROUS. POWER STEERING LIGHT ON DASH CAME ON, WILL HAVE TO TAKE TO DEALER.
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK (DOWNTOWN) MY STEERING SUDDENLY WENT OUT ON MY 2008 SATURN VUE XE. I PULLED OVER, PARKED AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. WHEN I RESTARTED IT AND STARTED DRIVING EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THEN ABOUT 100 FT DOWN THE ROAD IT WENT OUT AGAIN AND I LOST ALL POWER TO MY STEERING WHEEL. I PULLED OVER AGAIN AND TURNED OFF THE CA…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK (DOWNTOWN) MY STEERING SUDDENLY WENT OUT ON MY 2008 SATURN VUE XE. I PULLED OVER, PARKED AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. WHEN I RESTARTED IT AND STARTED DRIVING EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THEN ABOUT 100 FT DOWN THE ROAD IT WENT OUT AGAIN AND I LOST ALL POWER TO MY STEERING WHEEL. I PULLED OVER AGAIN AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. THIS TIME I LOST ALL POWER TO THE CAR AND THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION. I SAT FOR 5 OR 10 MINUTES THEN TRIED AGAIN. THIS TIME THE CAR STARTED UP AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT WAS OFF. I TRIED DRIVING AGAIN BUT HAD BARELY PULLED AWAY FROM THE CURB WHEN THE STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN. I WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY TO BE IN THE CITY AND HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET TO A SIDE STREET AS CONTROLLING AND TURNING THE WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT.
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.