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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

Unknown Or Other complaints

44 reports
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73,000 miles · Sep 10, 2014
Unknown Or Other

EVERY TIME A I TAKE A LEFT HAND TURN WITH THIS CAR, THE TRACTION CONTROL, BRAKE LIGHT, AND ANOTHER LIGHT SYMBOL COME ON AND THE CAR STARTS DINGING. BECAUSE THIS IS A BREAKING ISSUE AND ISOLATED TO CERTAIN TURNS, THIS APPEARS TO BE AN UNSAFE SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10632109

100,000 miles · Jun 18, 2014
Power TrainUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

DRIVING AT SPEED AND THE TRANSMISSION JERKS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN IN TRAFFIC. VERY SCARY FEELING TO NOT KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING YOUR VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY FAIL AND LOOSING CONTROL OF YOUR SPEED DURING TRAVEL. TO HAVE SUCH A VITAL PART ABLE TO FAIL IN SUCH A CRITICAL FUNCTIONING OF THE VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY D…

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DRIVING AT SPEED AND THE TRANSMISSION JERKS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN IN TRAFFIC. VERY SCARY FEELING TO NOT KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING YOUR VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY FAIL AND LOOSING CONTROL OF YOUR SPEED DURING TRAVEL. TO HAVE SUCH A VITAL PART ABLE TO FAIL IN SUCH A CRITICAL FUNCTIONING OF THE VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS TO DRIVERS ON THE ROADS AS WELL AS THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE DON'T ALLOW THIS TO BECOME A FATALITY BEFORE ACTION IS TAKEN. THE WAVE PLATE ON THESE GM VEHICLES IS BREAKING INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. CAUSING COMPLETE IN MOTION FAILURE OF VEHICLE AT SPEED. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10599122

43,000 miles · Aug 24, 2011
Unknown Or Other

A/C FAILS/WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. AT TIMES, THE VENTS BLOW A WHITE, VERY COLD "FOG" INTO THE VEHICLE. ONCE THIS OCCURS THE A/C WILL "FREEZE UP" AND NOT WORK PROPERLY. MY MECHANIC IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE/CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE JAN 2011. DURING THE EXTREME HEAT EXPERIENCED IN MO DURING THE SUMMER OF 2011; TH…

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A/C FAILS/WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. AT TIMES, THE VENTS BLOW A WHITE, VERY COLD "FOG" INTO THE VEHICLE. ONCE THIS OCCURS THE A/C WILL "FREEZE UP" AND NOT WORK PROPERLY. MY MECHANIC IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE/CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE JAN 2011. DURING THE EXTREME HEAT EXPERIENCED IN MO DURING THE SUMMER OF 2011; THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND UNSAFE FOR CHILDREN AS THE HEAT INDEX ROSE TO OVER 100 DEGREES AND SUSTAINED FOR WEEKS AT A TIME. I HAVE A 6 YR & 8 YR OLD (WHO HAS HEAT TRIGGERED ASTHMA). FOR THIS HEALTH REASON I MAINTAIN A NEWER VEHICLE THAT SHOULD PROVIDE ADEQUATE A/C. FOR A VEHICLE OF THIS AGE, MILEAGE, AND COST OF THIS VEHICLE, I EXPECT THE MANUFACTURER TO ENSURE THAT THIS IMPORTANT FEATURE IS CAPABLE OF RUNNING CORRECTLY FOR THE FIRST 100,000 MILES; OR RECALL & FIX THIS A/C ISSUE THAT I HAVE FOUND IS PLAGUING MANY SATURN VUE OWNERS. AS A SINGLE MOTHER, I DO NOT HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY OR INCOME TO BE WITHOUT MY VEHICLE WHILE IT IS SERVICED BY A DEALERSHIP AT DEALERSHIP COSTS. YET, IT IS NOW UNSAFE FOR ME AND MY CHILDREN TO TRAVEL ON EXTREMELY HOT DAYS IN THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10422109

Mileage unknown · Dec 21, 2010
Unknown Or Other

MY SATURN 2008 HAS 47 000 MILES AND IT ALREADY NEEDS HEATER CORE REPLACEMENT. I TOOK IT IN BECAUSE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. IT COST $333 TO REPLACE CAM HAFT ACUTERS. SIX MONTHS AGO I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR ONE OF THE SAFETY RECALLS BECAUSE GM WAS RECALLING 44,451 2008 SATURN VUE VEHICLES WITH BODY COLOR OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES. THE…

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MY SATURN 2008 HAS 47 000 MILES AND IT ALREADY NEEDS HEATER CORE REPLACEMENT. I TOOK IT IN BECAUSE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. IT COST $333 TO REPLACE CAM HAFT ACUTERS. SIX MONTHS AGO I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR ONE OF THE SAFETY RECALLS BECAUSE GM WAS RECALLING 44,451 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. CONSEQUENCES DRIVING WITH AN UNLATCHED DOOR COULD RESULT IN AN UNBELTED OCCUPANT FALLING OUT OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING INCREASED RISK OF INJURY. A MONTH AGO I TOOK IT FOR A DIFFERENT RECALL. GM WAS RECALLING 42,408 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. CONSEQUENCES THE FLUID COULD CONTACT HOT EXHAUST COMPONENTS RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. NOW I HAVE COOLANT FLUID DRIPPING ON MY ENGINE AND I CAN NOT BREATHE WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE. THIS IS VERY EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT AND I DON'T KNOW HOW I AM GOING TO PAY FOR IT. DEALERSHIP IS ASKING FOR $1100 FOR JUST A PART PLUS HOURS OF WORK. THEY USUALLY CHARGE $80 AN HOUR. MY 2008 SATURN IS SPENDING MORE TIME IN SHOP IN REPAIRS THAN ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA ODI #10372784

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.