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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
12,000 miles · Sep 10, 2015
Seat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT SEIZED AND FRACTURED BEFORE THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STRAP ON THE SEAT BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPRO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT SEIZED AND FRACTURED BEFORE THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STRAP ON THE SEAT BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE WAS 12,000.

NHTSA ODI #10762880

Mileage unknown · Aug 26, 2015
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AND THEN CAME BACK ON.THEN THE NEXT DAY IT WENT OUT AGAIN AND NEVER CAME BACK ON.TOOK THE HEADLIGHT OUT AND THE CONNECTORS ARE MELTED..THIS I THINK IS NOT GOOD AND ITS GOING TO COST ABOUT $150 TO FIX

NHTSA ODI #10759577

139,500 miles · Aug 21, 2015
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

IVE HAD THIS ISSUE FIXED BY 2 DIFFERENT MECHANICS. I DIDNT LIST THE FIRST INCIDENT BECAUSE I DONT REMEMBER THE MILEAGE. WHAT HAPPENS IS EVERYTIME I PUT GAS IN MY VEHICLE IT WONT CRANK. THIS HAPPENS NO MATTER HOW MUCH GAS I PUT IN IT. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED IN FEBRUARY I WAS COMING FROM OUT OF TOWN AND NEEDED GAS, BUT PRIOR T…

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IVE HAD THIS ISSUE FIXED BY 2 DIFFERENT MECHANICS. I DIDNT LIST THE FIRST INCIDENT BECAUSE I DONT REMEMBER THE MILEAGE. WHAT HAPPENS IS EVERYTIME I PUT GAS IN MY VEHICLE IT WONT CRANK. THIS HAPPENS NO MATTER HOW MUCH GAS I PUT IN IT. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED IN FEBRUARY I WAS COMING FROM OUT OF TOWN AND NEEDED GAS, BUT PRIOR TO THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK WHEN I TURNED ON THE AIR WHICH WASNT OFTEN IN FEBRUARY BECAUSE IT WAS MOSTLY COOL OUT. SO IVE HAD TO BUY BRAND NEW PARTS TWICE BECAUSE ITS WHAT THE COMPUTER READ AS AN ISSUE. THE OTHER ISSUE I HAVE EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, I COULD BE JUST GETTING IN VEHICLE AND IT CRANKS FINE, I WOULD PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT AND IT WONT BULGE. ID THEN PUT IT BACK IN PARK THAIN DRIVE ITLL MOVE FORWARD PERFECTLY. WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE AGAIN IT WOULD BACK OUT WITHOUT CONTROL WITHOUT EASE. ONCE I ALMOSE HIT A CAR PASSING MY DRIVEWAY. THIS HAPPENS ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH. IVE ALSO HAD THE ISSUE WITH THE DOOR OPENING HANDLES WHERE THEY STICK I JUST THOUGHT MY KIDS WERENT CLOSING THE DOOR ALL THE WAY. NOW THEYVE GOTTEN USED TO SLAMMING THE DOOR BECAUSE THEY DONT WANT TO HEAR MY MOUTH EVERYTIME I GET AN OPEN DOOR NOTIFICATION.

NHTSA ODI #10750390

106,000 miles · Aug 16, 2015
EngineStructureWheelsCrash

I HAD BEEN OUT TO LUNCH AND WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING PLACE IN MY WORKPLACE PARKING LOT. I EASED INTO THE PARKING SPACE AND NUDGED THE GAS TO GET COMPLETELY IN THE SPACE. WHEN I NUDGED THE GAS, MY CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WITH SUCH A FORCE THE CAR WENT OVER A CONCRETE BARRIER IN THE PARKING SPACE AND I THEN HIT A BRICK AND …

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I HAD BEEN OUT TO LUNCH AND WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING PLACE IN MY WORKPLACE PARKING LOT. I EASED INTO THE PARKING SPACE AND NUDGED THE GAS TO GET COMPLETELY IN THE SPACE. WHEN I NUDGED THE GAS, MY CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WITH SUCH A FORCE THE CAR WENT OVER A CONCRETE BARRIER IN THE PARKING SPACE AND I THEN HIT A BRICK AND CONCRETE WALL THAT WAS KNOCKED DOWN. AN IRON RAILING WAS ON TOP OF THE CONCRETE AND THAT GOT SMASHED AS WELL. MY CAR WAS MOVING AT SUCH A FAST AND FURIOUS SPEED I HAD NO CONTROL OVER IT. AS A RESULT, MY CAR WAS TOTALED DUE TO THE REPAIRS THAT WERE NECESSARY. THIS EXACT THING HAPPENED EXACTLY THREE YEARS AGO IN THIS CAR AND IT WAS THE SAME SITUATION. I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING PLACE AT A SHOPPING MALL AND AS I EASED ON THE GAS TO PULL INTO THE SPACE, AGAIN, MY CAR ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AND I HIT A TRUCK THAT WAS IN THE SPACE IN FRONT OF WHERE I WAS PULLING IN AND MY CAR STOPPED WHEN IT HIT THE CAR NEXT TO THE TRUCK. MY CAR WAS REPAIRABLE. THANKFULLY, BOTH OF THESE TIMES I WAS IN THE CAR ALONE. I HAVE CALLED GM/SATURN AND MADE A COMPLAINT WITH THEM. ...UPDATED 09/28/15*BF

NHTSA ODI #10748967

Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 2015
Electrical System

SINCE THE SATURN WAS PURCHASED IN OCTOBER OF 2013 IT HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE A/C AND DEFROSTERS AND SOMETIMES HEATING, IT WORKS FOR ABOUT 10 TO 15 MINUTES AND QUITS AND SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. MAYBE NOT HAVING A/C DOES NOT CAUSE SAFETY ISSUES BUT NOT HAVING DEFROSTERS WORK WHEN IT IS POURING OUT AND YOU CAN"T SEE OU…

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SINCE THE SATURN WAS PURCHASED IN OCTOBER OF 2013 IT HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE A/C AND DEFROSTERS AND SOMETIMES HEATING, IT WORKS FOR ABOUT 10 TO 15 MINUTES AND QUITS AND SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. MAYBE NOT HAVING A/C DOES NOT CAUSE SAFETY ISSUES BUT NOT HAVING DEFROSTERS WORK WHEN IT IS POURING OUT AND YOU CAN"T SEE OUT THE WINDOW OR WHEN IT IS SNOWING AND YOU CAN'T DEFROST IT OFF YOUR WINDSHIELD TO SEE TO DRIVE THEN THESE THINGS INTERFERE WITH YOUR SAFETY. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUES WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR AND SHOULD BE A RECALL TO HAVE IT CORRECTED. 2 YEARS OF THIS EVERY SUMMER AND WINTER IS QUITE ENOUUGH.

NHTSA ODI #10735737

100,000 miles · Jul 21, 2015
Steering

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

NHTSA ODI #10735446

92,000 miles · Jul 20, 2015
Unknown Or Other

THE IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO THE "OFF" POSITION ONCE THE CAR IS STOPPED AND THE SHIFTER IN PARK. THE KEY WOULD ONLY MOVE TO THE ACCESSORY POWER POSITION AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE ENGINE TO TURN OFF. TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF, THE SHIFTER NEEDED TO BE MOVED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION AND BACK INTO THE PARK POSITION SEVERAL TIMES B…

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THE IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO THE "OFF" POSITION ONCE THE CAR IS STOPPED AND THE SHIFTER IN PARK. THE KEY WOULD ONLY MOVE TO THE ACCESSORY POWER POSITION AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE ENGINE TO TURN OFF. TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF, THE SHIFTER NEEDED TO BE MOVED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION AND BACK INTO THE PARK POSITION SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE IGNITION WOULD UNLOCK TO ALLOW THE KEY TO MOVE TO THE "OFF" POSITION.

NHTSA ODI #10735234

92,000 miles · Jul 6, 2015
Unknown Or Other

IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED UP, COULD NOT START CAR.

NHTSA ODI #10732177

106,000 miles · Jun 26, 2015
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. WHILE PARKED ON A HILL, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V470000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. WHILE PARKED ON A HILL, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V470000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

NHTSA ODI #10730594

103,000 miles · Jun 26, 2015
Service Brakes

THE BREAKS LOCK UP AND THE CAR WON'T ACCELERATE, THE CAR EVENTUALLY STOPS MOVING. THE BREAK PETAL GETS EXTREMELY HOT.

NHTSA ODI #10730561

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.