WHILE ACCELERATING TO ENTER FREEWAY ENGINE SPEED INCREASED TO HIGH REVS AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO HIGHER GEAR FOR HIGHER SPEED HAD TO PULL OUT OF FAST TRAFFIC AS CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. WHEN CAR WAS PARKED AND STARTED AGAIN, COULD NOT GET IT TO GO IN REVERSE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THEN. *TR
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.
What owners actually said
406 reportsGOT IN CAR AND NOTICED THAT MY RADIO HAD BEEN RESET, AND THAT MY CAR WOULDN'T START. I GOT A JUMP FROM MY INSURANCE COMPANY, AND SHORTLY AFTER TURNING ON THE AIR, THE ODOMETER PANEL FADED OFF. YOU CAN NO LONGER SEE THE ODOMETER READING OR THE OUTSIDE WEATHER TEMP. THE CAR ALSO DELAYS WHEN IT STARTS. SOMETIME IT WONT EVEN STAR…
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GOT IN CAR AND NOTICED THAT MY RADIO HAD BEEN RESET, AND THAT MY CAR WOULDN'T START. I GOT A JUMP FROM MY INSURANCE COMPANY, AND SHORTLY AFTER TURNING ON THE AIR, THE ODOMETER PANEL FADED OFF. YOU CAN NO LONGER SEE THE ODOMETER READING OR THE OUTSIDE WEATHER TEMP. THE CAR ALSO DELAYS WHEN IT STARTS. SOMETIME IT WONT EVEN START THE FIRST TIME AROUND, UNLESS YOU PUMP AT THE PEDAL A FEW TIMES. THIS CAR HAS HAD SEVERAL RECALLS IN THE PAST, AND I AM ALMOST CERTAIN NONE OF THE RECALLS WERE FIXED BY THE GM DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD IT TO ME IN 2011. *TR
THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED ON 4/4/2009 WITH 13,936 MILES ON IT. AS OF THE DATE OF THE INCIDENT, THERE ARE 71,694 MILES ON THE CAR OR 57,758 MILES DRIVEN (AVERAGE 11,550 PER YEAR). THIS CAR WAS WELL KEPT AND HAD THE APPROPRIATE MAINTENANCE DONE. THE FIRST THING THAT FAILED ON THE CAR WAS THE KEYLESS START. IT FAILED LESS THAN SEVEN…
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THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED ON 4/4/2009 WITH 13,936 MILES ON IT. AS OF THE DATE OF THE INCIDENT, THERE ARE 71,694 MILES ON THE CAR OR 57,758 MILES DRIVEN (AVERAGE 11,550 PER YEAR). THIS CAR WAS WELL KEPT AND HAD THE APPROPRIATE MAINTENANCE DONE. THE FIRST THING THAT FAILED ON THE CAR WAS THE KEYLESS START. IT FAILED LESS THAN SEVEN MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. LAST WINTER, WE NOTICED THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY FAILED AND NO LONGER WORKED. ON 6/24/2008; THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. WE GET THE TRANSMISSION FLUIDS CHECKED EVERY OIL CHANGE AND EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE WORKING FINE. TWO WEEKS AGO, THE CAR STARTED MAKING RUBBING NOISES UNTIL NOW THE TRANSMISSION ACTUALLY FAILED. CAR TRANSMISSIONS SHOULD LAST AT LEAST 100K MILES. WITH THE HISTORY OF SATURN VUES HAVING TRANSMISSION ISSUES, THIS ONE HAS NOW FAILED US. *TR
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THE DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR AND BAR THAT EXTENDS VISOR WAS SCALDING HOT! I TURNED THE VISOR TO THE WINDOW FOR SUN AND BURNED MY HAND ON THE METAL BAR WHICH DID NOT HAVE A PLASTIC COVERING ON IT THIS TIME AFTER A REPAIR FROM OCTOBER FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THE OVERHEAD AIRBAG WAS WARM TO TOUCH AND THE LIGHTS IN …
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THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THE DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR AND BAR THAT EXTENDS VISOR WAS SCALDING HOT! I TURNED THE VISOR TO THE WINDOW FOR SUN AND BURNED MY HAND ON THE METAL BAR WHICH DID NOT HAVE A PLASTIC COVERING ON IT THIS TIME AFTER A REPAIR FROM OCTOBER FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THE OVERHEAD AIRBAG WAS WARM TO TOUCH AND THE LIGHTS IN THE CAR WERE SHORTING ON AND OFF CONTINUOUSLY, EVEN AFTER THE CAR WAS OFF AND KEYS WERE OUT OF IGNITION.LAST TIME IN OCOBER 2013 HAD REPAIR AND BOUGHT ANEW BATTERY BECAUSE IT RUN DOWN AFTER LIGHTS STAYED ON ALL NIGHT AT THE DEALERS UNTIL THEY WORKED ON IT.THIS WAS A VERY SCARY SITUATION EACH TIME THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE THE CAR SMELLED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO CATCH ON FIRE! I BURNED MY LEFT HAND FINGERS AND WENT TO URGENT CARE UPON RETURNING HOME, LUCKILY I WAS NOT TOO FAR AWAY. I HAVE PAID FOR THE REPAIRS FROM PAT MORAN'S CHEVROLET AND WOULD LIKE TO WARN YOU OF THE POSSIBLE FIRE ISSUE HERE. THE STRESS FROM THIS EXPERIENCE WAS AWFUL. THIS DEFINITELY SHOULD BE ON A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE, AS I HAVE HEARD OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRING. .THE SIMPLE FACT IS THAT THE REPAIR SHOULD OF BEEN DONE IN OCTOBER AND THIS NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN, BUT I KNOW THEY DID NOT REPLACE THE PLASTIC COVERING ALSO ON THE METAL BAR WHICH EXTENDS THE VISOR AND THIS IS WHERE I TOUCHED IT TO TURN AND EXTEND. I WAS TOLD IT WAS DEEMED SAFE FROM A REPAIR IN OCTOBER, IT WAS NOT. I MAY BE POSSIBLE THAT THE HIGH RESISTANCE SHORT IN THE DRIVERS SIDE VISOR RESULTED IN THE BCM SENSING AN OVERCURRENT ISSUE. THE BCM MIGHT OF BEEN REMOVING POWER TO THAT CIRCUIT AS A MATTER OF PRESERVATION. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE NOW AFTER I HAVE HAD ANOTHER YET DRIVERS VISOR PUT IN AND ALSO A PASSENGER SIDE VISOR WHICH IS WHAT THE DEALERS BLAMED IT ON THIS TIME. LAST TIME THE BLAME WAS ON A PASSENGER PRES MODULE PROGRAM-- . *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
INITIAL PROBLEMS (MAY 2011) WERE POWER DOWN WHILE DRIVING, LOSING POWER WHILE DRIVING, ABS AND TRACTION DASH LIGHTS WENT ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING, ONSTAR ATTEMPTED TO CONNECT BY ITSELF EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF, DRAINING THE VUE BATTERY. IN DEC 2012, WHILE PARKED WITH RADIO ON, AN EXTREMELY LOUD NOISE WAS EMITTED THROU…
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INITIAL PROBLEMS (MAY 2011) WERE POWER DOWN WHILE DRIVING, LOSING POWER WHILE DRIVING, ABS AND TRACTION DASH LIGHTS WENT ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING, ONSTAR ATTEMPTED TO CONNECT BY ITSELF EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF, DRAINING THE VUE BATTERY. IN DEC 2012, WHILE PARKED WITH RADIO ON, AN EXTREMELY LOUD NOISE WAS EMITTED THROUGH THE RADIO SPEAKERS. SHORTLY, THE IGNITION AND THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN (DOOR LOCKS, DASH LIGHTS,...). THE VUE WAS PICKED UP BY GM DEALER. EXTENSIVE TESTING OVER A WEEK OR MORE FINALLY INDICATED THAT THE BATTERY FOR ONSTAR (UNDER RIGHT PASSENGER SEAT) FAILED. THE VEHICLE COMMUNICATION INTERFACE MODULE BATTERY (VCIM) WAS REPLACED. THE VUE HAS NOT HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE, ALTHOUGH SOME SENSORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT PROBLEM TO DIAGNOSE, AND IS POTENTIALLY A LETHAL DEFECT WITH THE VCIM. ALL TRADITIONAL TESTS FAILED TO PICK UP THE PROBLEM. ASTUTE TECHS AT GM FINALLY DID. *TR
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, PULLED INTO GET GAS, CAME BACK OUT AND TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GET OUT OF SECOND GEAR. LUCKY FOR US, WE WERE NOT FAR FROM HOME. TOOK CAR INTO A RELIABLE TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST, HE INDICATED THE 3-5 REVERSE DRUM WAVE PLATE WAS OUR PROBLEM. HE HAS SEEN MANY OF THESE COME IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. NO RECAL…
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DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, PULLED INTO GET GAS, CAME BACK OUT AND TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GET OUT OF SECOND GEAR. LUCKY FOR US, WE WERE NOT FAR FROM HOME. TOOK CAR INTO A RELIABLE TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST, HE INDICATED THE 3-5 REVERSE DRUM WAVE PLATE WAS OUR PROBLEM. HE HAS SEEN MANY OF THESE COME IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. NO RECALLS, SO THE BILL ENDED UP BEING $3500.00. HE INDICATED THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR VEHICLE, DID NOT KNOW WHY GM HAS NOT SENT OUT A RECALL. WAS AN EXCELLENT CAR UP UNTIL NOW. KNOWING THIS IS A PROBLEM IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. ONLY 52,000 MILES DRIVEN. *TR
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
FIRST INCIDENT- AS I TRIED TO PARK MY CAR ON A STREET GOING UP HILL, THE CAR EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ON DRIVE KEPT MOVING BACKWARDS I HAD TO RIGHT AWAY STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AND HIT THE GAS SO IT WOULD GO FORWARD MAKING THE CAR JUMP AND ALMOST CRASH INTO THE CAR PARKED IN FRONT OF ME. SECOND INCIDENT - I PARKED IN A PARKING LOT GOIN…
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FIRST INCIDENT- AS I TRIED TO PARK MY CAR ON A STREET GOING UP HILL, THE CAR EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ON DRIVE KEPT MOVING BACKWARDS I HAD TO RIGHT AWAY STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AND HIT THE GAS SO IT WOULD GO FORWARD MAKING THE CAR JUMP AND ALMOST CRASH INTO THE CAR PARKED IN FRONT OF ME. SECOND INCIDENT - I PARKED IN A PARKING LOT GOING UP HILL AS I TRIED PULLING OUT OF THE SPOT, MY CAR WAS IN REVERSE, AS I HIT THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR WENT FORWARD, I HAD TO AGAIN HIT THE BRAKES REALLY BAD AND PLACE THE CAR IN PARK THEN IN REVERSE AGAIN.... AND HIT THE GAS VERY VERY SLOWLY TO MAKE SURE THIS TIME MY CAR WAS GOING BACKWARDS AT THE REVERSE. THIRD INCIDENT- TO GET HOME I HAVE TO GO THRU A STEEP HILL WHICH HAS A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT BOTH ENDS, WHEN EVER I GET STOP GOING UP HE HILL ON THE LIGHT THE CAR GOES BACKWARD WHEN IT'S ON DRIVE AND WHEN U GET STUCK GOING DOWN THE CAR STOPS WHEN I GOT THE GAS PEDAL ALL THE WAY IN AND THE CAR KEEPS ROLLING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE IGNITION HOWEVER, THE KEY FAILED TO TURN IN ANY DIRECTION. AN INDEPENDENT LOCKSMITH WAS IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE IGNITION KEY TUMBLER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000.
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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