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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

What owners actually said

406 reports
111,000 miles · Mar 13, 2018
Steering

MY CAR WAS NOT STEERING CORRECTLY. IT WAS VEERING BACK AND FORTH TO THE YELLOW LINE AND TO THE RIGHT. I TOOK IT IN TO THE MECHANIC AND HE REPLACED THE STEERING RACK. (DRIVING ON STREETS)

NHTSA ODI #11078918

Mileage unknown · Mar 7, 2018
Unknown Or Other

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DISCHARGES BATTERY. ONCE OVERHEATED THE WIRING CAUSING THE INSULATION TO MELT. ANOTHER TIME CAUSED THE BATTERY ACID TO OVERFLOW/LEAK. ONCE DROVE TO A LOCATION AND WHEN ATTEMPTED TO RESTART BATTERY COMPLETELY DEAD.

NHTSA ODI #11076674

105,000 miles · Jan 17, 2018
EnginePower Train

VEHICLE WON'T SHIFT GEARS ONE I GET TO THIRD. WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF WAVE PLATE SPECIAL WARRANTY AND NOW I'M 4000 MILES PAST ACCEPTED MILES. GM SUGGESTS THAT I WAIT UNTIL FULL RECALL IS FORCED ON THEM. PLEASE HELP

NHTSA ODI #11063316

155,000 miles · Jan 17, 2018
SuspensionUnknown Or OtherWheels

2008 SATURN VUE THIS IS THE 3RD TIME IM WRITING A COMPLAINT I HAVENT HEARD ANYTHING BACK NO CALL NO LETTER FROM ANYONE AT THE RECALL. BUT MY TRUCK IN THE WINTER IT HAS TROUBLE GOING UP A LOW HILL WHILE DRIVING IT AND WHEN ITS SITTING ON A HILL PARKED ILL LOOK OUTSIDE AND FIND IT SITTING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL. WHEN ITS PARKED…

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2008 SATURN VUE THIS IS THE 3RD TIME IM WRITING A COMPLAINT I HAVENT HEARD ANYTHING BACK NO CALL NO LETTER FROM ANYONE AT THE RECALL. BUT MY TRUCK IN THE WINTER IT HAS TROUBLE GOING UP A LOW HILL WHILE DRIVING IT AND WHEN ITS SITTING ON A HILL PARKED ILL LOOK OUTSIDE AND FIND IT SITTING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL. WHEN ITS PARKED AND I TRY TO SHIFT THE GEAR TO DRIVE TO GO THE STICK LOCKS UP AND IT WOULDNT MOVE. AND WHEN DRIVING ON A STREET WITH NOT MUCH SNOW I CAN FEEL THE BACK OF THE CAR SLIDE. IF I DONT HEAR ANYTHING BACK I WILL BE GOING TO THE NEWS FOR HELP.

NHTSA ODI #11063187

190,000 miles · Jan 12, 2018
Service Brakes

BRAKES LOCKUP WHEN DRIVING. ABS BRAKING SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET. BRAKES LOCKED UP AGAIN AFTER TAKING TO DEALER. PLEASE HELP!! CAR WAS IN MOTION AT NORMAL SPEEDS 55 MPH WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED ON 3 OCCASIONS.

NHTSA ODI #11062329

48,000 miles · Jan 11, 2018
Structure

HOOD STRUTS FAILED AT 48,000 MI AND HOOD SLAMMED SHUT WHILE CHANGING OIL.. NEW STRUTS WERE INSTALLED .

NHTSA ODI #11062249

151,456 miles · Dec 30, 2017
Fuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or OtherWheels

WHEN IT SNOWS MY DRIVEWAY IS ON A HILL AND MY CAR IS IN PARK IT ROLLS BACKWARDS DOWN THE HILL AND ILL LOOK OUTSIDE TO FIND IT MOVED FROM WERE I LEFT IT. NOW FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS IF I PARK AT THE STORE, SCHOOL,JOB AND GET READY TO GO TRY TO SHIFT THE CAR ON DRIVE WHEN I STEP ON THE BRAKE TO SHIFT IT I HEAR AND FEEL CLICK SOUND…

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WHEN IT SNOWS MY DRIVEWAY IS ON A HILL AND MY CAR IS IN PARK IT ROLLS BACKWARDS DOWN THE HILL AND ILL LOOK OUTSIDE TO FIND IT MOVED FROM WERE I LEFT IT. NOW FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS IF I PARK AT THE STORE, SCHOOL,JOB AND GET READY TO GO TRY TO SHIFT THE CAR ON DRIVE WHEN I STEP ON THE BRAKE TO SHIFT IT I HEAR AND FEEL CLICK SOUND AND CANT MOVE THE GEAR.

NHTSA ODI #11057635

164,000 miles · Dec 21, 2017
Steering

TAKATA RECALL. WHILE I WAS MAKING A TURN ON MY 2008 SATURN VUE THE STEERING WHEEL GOT STIFF AND I COULDNT TURN IT NO MORE... I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AND IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN BUT NOW THE STEERING WHEEL FEELS MORE STIFF AND SOMETIMES SHAKES AS I MAKE TURNS.

NHTSA ODI #11056000

99,995 miles · Dec 1, 2017
Air BagsElectrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

MY AIRBAG LIGHT WON'T TURN OFF. MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS WON'T RESET. THE STAIRCASE LIGHT IS ON, THE OIL LIGHT, THE SUSPENSION LIGHT. I'VE HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR WHICH NOW HAS 99,972 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI #11051641

5 miles · Nov 29, 2017
Steering

"TAKATA RECALL" WHILE DRIVING I HEAR SOME KNOCK NOISE AND WHEN MAKING A LEFT CURVE TURN MY STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK BEFORE I CAN COMPLETE THE LEFT CURVE TURN FORCING ME TO STEER RIGHT THEN LEFT TO BRAKE HOLD WHILE MAKING A LEFT CURVE TURN. THE SATURN VUE I GOT IT (10-11-2017) WITH 66450 MILES ON IT NOW IT HAS 68845 MILES (11-28…

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"TAKATA RECALL" WHILE DRIVING I HEAR SOME KNOCK NOISE AND WHEN MAKING A LEFT CURVE TURN MY STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK BEFORE I CAN COMPLETE THE LEFT CURVE TURN FORCING ME TO STEER RIGHT THEN LEFT TO BRAKE HOLD WHILE MAKING A LEFT CURVE TURN. THE SATURN VUE I GOT IT (10-11-2017) WITH 66450 MILES ON IT NOW IT HAS 68845 MILES (11-28-2017) NOW I CAN TRUST THIS CAR AND I SEE OTHER HAVE STEERING ISSUE

NHTSA ODI #11051366

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.