INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT PROBLEMS NOISE
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.
Steering complaints
86 reportsPOWER STEERING WOULD CUT IN AND OUT WHILE DRIVING. CHECK LIGHTS WOULD COME ON. LET CAR SIT A BIT RESTART ENGINE THEN WOULD STEER CORRECTLY BUT NOT FOR TOO LONG THEN STEERING WOULD BECOME VERY HARD AND CHECK LIGHTS WOULD COME ON AGAIN. A FEW DAYS WOULD PASS WITHOUT INCIDENT THEN IT WOULD FAIL TO STEER PROPERLY,(WITHOUT POWER).…
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POWER STEERING WOULD CUT IN AND OUT WHILE DRIVING. CHECK LIGHTS WOULD COME ON. LET CAR SIT A BIT RESTART ENGINE THEN WOULD STEER CORRECTLY BUT NOT FOR TOO LONG THEN STEERING WOULD BECOME VERY HARD AND CHECK LIGHTS WOULD COME ON AGAIN. A FEW DAYS WOULD PASS WITHOUT INCIDENT THEN IT WOULD FAIL TO STEER PROPERLY,(WITHOUT POWER). TOOK IN AND MECHANIC FOUND A CODE FOR ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR FAILURE AND ALSO THE TORQUE SENSOR,( STEERING COLUM ANGLE SENSOR) WAS BAD. I READ AN ARTICAL SOMETIME IN 2013 THAT DESCRIBED MY PROBLEM AND IT WAS BEING FOLLOWED FOR A HISTORY BUT HAD NOT BECOME A RECALL YET. BEFORE WRINTING THIS COMPLAINT FORM I REVIEWED MY VIN # AND STILL NO RECALL :(
POWER STEERING FAILED - WENT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY - 2008 SATURN VUE. I ALSO OWN A 2009 SATURN OUTLOOK AND JUST RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE SAME THING IN SEPTEMBER OF 2014. NOT PLEASED WITH SATURN/GM
I HAD DRIVEN TO THE STORE AND PARKED THE CAR. AFTER SHOPPING, I STARTED THE CAR AND ATTEMPTED TO PULL OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN, AND I REALIZED THAT I SHOULDN'T TRY TO DRIVE IT. I RETURNED IT TO THE PARKING SPOT AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK. THE DEALER SAYS THAT THE POWER STEERING MODULE NE…
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I HAD DRIVEN TO THE STORE AND PARKED THE CAR. AFTER SHOPPING, I STARTED THE CAR AND ATTEMPTED TO PULL OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN, AND I REALIZED THAT I SHOULDN'T TRY TO DRIVE IT. I RETURNED IT TO THE PARKING SPOT AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK. THE DEALER SAYS THAT THE POWER STEERING MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I KNOW OTHER SATURN MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED, BUT NOT THIS ONE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLES POWER STEERING FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING RACK AND PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLES POWER STEERING FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING RACK AND PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. MAILED OUT 01/13/15*LJ UPDATED 02/18/15*LJ UPDATED 10/2/2015*JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING AND THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
AS I AM DRIVING AT LOW SPEED AND GETTING READY TO MAKE A TURN, ALL OF A SUDDEN IT IS A STRUGGLE TO STEER AND COMPLETE THE TURN. THIS HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES. THE MOST RECENT, 11/1714. THE LAST TIME I ALSO HEARD A NOISE LIKE SOME SORT OF MOTOR STRUGGLING. THREE OF THESE TIMES IT WAS A RAINY OR WET SLUSHY DAY. IN EACH OF THE IN…
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AS I AM DRIVING AT LOW SPEED AND GETTING READY TO MAKE A TURN, ALL OF A SUDDEN IT IS A STRUGGLE TO STEER AND COMPLETE THE TURN. THIS HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES. THE MOST RECENT, 11/1714. THE LAST TIME I ALSO HEARD A NOISE LIKE SOME SORT OF MOTOR STRUGGLING. THREE OF THESE TIMES IT WAS A RAINY OR WET SLUSHY DAY. IN EACH OF THE INCIDENTS, AFTER GETTING TO SAFETY AND TURNING OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTING IT, IT BEGAN TO RUN FINE AGAIN. THIS LAST TIME, I WAS JUST BARELY ABLE TO COMPLETE A SHARP ENOUGH RIGHT TURN TO STAY IN MY LANE. I HAD TO WAIT FOR THE VEHICLE EXITING THE STREET TO LEAVE, SO I KNEW I WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE THE TURN AND PULL OVER SAFELY! I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN TO THE GM PLACE FOR SERVICE LAST MONTH (OCTOBER 2014) BECAUSE I AM CONCERNED I WILL HAVE COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING SOMEWHERE. THEY SAID THEY TRIED BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, SO THEY SAY THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIX IT. BECAUSE IT IS A SPORADIC PROBLEM, I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY WILL EVER BE ABLE TO DUPLICATE IT UNLESS THEY DROVE IT AROUND FOR A COUPLE WEEKS! THIS IS SO DANGEROUS. I AM GOING TO BRING IT BACK AND TRY AGAIN, BUT WANTED TO SEE IF THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THIS. THERE ISN'T A RECALL, HOWEVER IN SEARCHING, I FOUND THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCES WITH THE SAME VEHICLE! THERE MUST BE SOMEONE IN THIS INDUSTRY WHO CAN FIGURE THIS OUT AND FIND A SOLUTION TO IT BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED OR KILLED. *TR
MY 2008 SATURN VUE STEERING FAILED AND ALMOST GOT INTO ACCIDENT WITH ONLY 40,000+ MILES BACK IN OCT 2013, GOT IT FIXED THAT COST ME CLOSE TO $1000 AND NOW JUNE 2014 TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH ONLY 50,000 MILES AND WAS QUOTED $4,500 WORTH OF REPAIR WHICH IS TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION, CHECKED ONLINE REGARDING PROBLEM AND LOOKS LIKE IT…
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MY 2008 SATURN VUE STEERING FAILED AND ALMOST GOT INTO ACCIDENT WITH ONLY 40,000+ MILES BACK IN OCT 2013, GOT IT FIXED THAT COST ME CLOSE TO $1000 AND NOW JUNE 2014 TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH ONLY 50,000 MILES AND WAS QUOTED $4,500 WORTH OF REPAIR WHICH IS TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION, CHECKED ONLINE REGARDING PROBLEM AND LOOKS LIKE ITS A COMMON ISSUES ON THIS MODEL AND OTHER MODELS AS WELL OF GM WHICH HAVE THE SAME TRANSMISSION, JUST WONDERING HOW COME NO ONE ISSUES A RECALL ON THIS. THANKS... *TR
IN 2013 I HAD STEERING WHEEL PROBLEMS WITH THE 2008 SATURN VUE XR AND THE DEALER REPLACED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR THE RACK AND PINION AND FRONT WHEELS STRUT BEARINGS AND I PAID AROUND $900. THIS YEAR, I START HAVING PROBLEMS AGAIN WITH THE STEERING WHEEL ( NOT BEING ABLE TO STEER AT LOW SPEED AND LOW STEERING FLUID LEVE…
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IN 2013 I HAD STEERING WHEEL PROBLEMS WITH THE 2008 SATURN VUE XR AND THE DEALER REPLACED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR THE RACK AND PINION AND FRONT WHEELS STRUT BEARINGS AND I PAID AROUND $900. THIS YEAR, I START HAVING PROBLEMS AGAIN WITH THE STEERING WHEEL ( NOT BEING ABLE TO STEER AT LOW SPEED AND LOW STEERING FLUID LEVEL ) AND THE DEALER COST WAS $530 REPLACING THE STEERING PUMP. GM HAD A RECALL ON THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE ON THE STEERING FLUID LINE NUT BUT MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. I CALLED GM ASKING FOR COST ASSISTANCE SINCE IT IS THE SAME SYSTEM ( STEERING ) AND CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY AND THE ONLY THING THEY OFFERED THIS YEAR WAS TO CALL THE DEALER TO SEE IF THEY CAN ASSIST. THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY ( $1,430 ) TO BE SPENT BY A VEHICLE OWNER ON THE SAME VEHICLE SYSTEM ( STEERING ) THAT IS RELATED TO SAFETY AND MY CONCERN IS THAT THE PROBLEMS WILL NOT STOP HERE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL SINCE I FOUND A LOT OF SATURN OWNERS COMPLAINING ABOUT STEERING WHEEL ( COMPONENTS ) ISSUES. *JS
DRIVING DOWN ROAD, WENT TO TURN RIGHT ONTO OTHER ROAD WHEN POWER STEERING WENT OUT.LOOKS TO BE BLOWN LINE. *TR
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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