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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
47,000 miles · Jul 20, 2011
Steering

MY 2008 VUE HAS HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THE STEERING. IT STARTED WITH THE POWER STEERING GOING OUT FOR 10-30 SECONDS. NOW THERE IS A LOUD SCREECHING SOUND THAT IS OCCURRING WHEN THE WHEEL IS BEING TURNED. GM HAS REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN AND OTHER MULTIPLE ITEMS, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SH…

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MY 2008 VUE HAS HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THE STEERING. IT STARTED WITH THE POWER STEERING GOING OUT FOR 10-30 SECONDS. NOW THERE IS A LOUD SCREECHING SOUND THAT IS OCCURRING WHEN THE WHEEL IS BEING TURNED. GM HAS REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN AND OTHER MULTIPLE ITEMS, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES OVER THE LAST 7 MONTHS. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10413713

26,000 miles · Jul 11, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE LX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN REFUELING THE VEHICLE, HE WOULD HAVE TO TURN THE NOZZLE UPSIDE DOWN IN ORDER TO REFUEL THE VEHICLE OTHERWISE, FUEL WOULD NOT ENTER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE LX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN REFUELING THE VEHICLE, HE WOULD HAVE TO TURN THE NOZZLE UPSIDE DOWN IN ORDER TO REFUEL THE VEHICLE OTHERWISE, FUEL WOULD NOT ENTER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A FAILURE WITHIN THE VENTING SYSTEM. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 26,000. UPDATED 8/29/11 *CN THE REPAIR SHOP INSTALLED A NEW VENT CHECK VALVE WITH NO SUCCESS. UPDATED 09/21/11

NHTSA ODI #10411814

44,200 miles · Jul 8, 2011
Steering

WHIRRING/WHOOSING AND SLIGHT GROANING/VIBRATION COMING FROM STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNING FROM A STOPPED POSITION AND AT LOW SPEED. POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LOW AND FILLED AT THAT TIME. SYMPTOMS CONTINUED. VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED BY GM SERVICE. THE STEERING SHAFT BOOT WAS GREASED AND THE TECHNICIANS REPLACED THE STEERIN…

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WHIRRING/WHOOSING AND SLIGHT GROANING/VIBRATION COMING FROM STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNING FROM A STOPPED POSITION AND AT LOW SPEED. POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LOW AND FILLED AT THAT TIME. SYMPTOMS CONTINUED. VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED BY GM SERVICE. THE STEERING SHAFT BOOT WAS GREASED AND THE TECHNICIANS REPLACED THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY RACK AND PINION. ADDITIONALLY, THE STEERING PUMP WAS FLUSHED AND FILLED AND A FRONT END ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED. ALTHOUGH WE WERE OUT OF WARRANTY, THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE WAS HALF AND THE PARTS WERE NOTED AS "GOOD WILL PARTS ONLY/WARRANTY". WE APPRECIATED THIS GESTURE FROM GM; WE ABSORBED THE LABOR COSTS. SINCE THE REPAIR WE HAVE BEGUN TO NOTICE A SLIGHT GROANING/VIBRATION AGAIN WHEN TURNING AT START-UP. THIS SEEMS TO DISAPPEAR WHILE DRIVING. NOTE: HAVING DONE SOME RESEARCH, OUR ISSUE SEEM TO BE A PROBLEM WITH SOME 2008 VUE VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI #10412536

60,500 miles · Jul 1, 2011
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD BEGIN TO SHAKE AND STALL. IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM SHAKING, THE CONTACT WOULD SHUT IT OFF AND RESTART IT. A SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHENEVER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAK…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD BEGIN TO SHAKE AND STALL. IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM SHAKING, THE CONTACT WOULD SHUT IT OFF AND RESTART IT. A SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHENEVER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE COMPUTER WAS UPDATED AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE COMPUTER WAS AGAIN UPDATED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,500.

NHTSA ODI #10410197

53,000 miles · Jun 3, 2011
Steering

2008 SATURN VUE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILED AS IT WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE EXPRESSWAY PUTTING MY ENTIRE FAMILY AT RISK. CAR IS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD. I WAS ABLE TO FORCE ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10404398

40,000 miles · Apr 22, 2011
Visibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WAS BEING UTILIZED, THE WIPER ARMS WOULD BECOME TANGLED AND WOULD NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE INTO A DE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WAS BEING UTILIZED, THE WIPER ARMS WOULD BECOME TANGLED AND WOULD NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE INTO A DEALER AND THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.

NHTSA ODI #10397139

50,000 miles · Mar 31, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2008 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE EBAP SOLENOID WAS CORRODED AND THE HARNESS BODY WIRING SHORTED OUT DUE TO CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FA…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2008 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE EBAP SOLENOID WAS CORRODED AND THE HARNESS BODY WIRING SHORTED OUT DUE TO CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #10393866

80,000 miles · Mar 25, 2011
Air BagsCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED BUT NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE OF THE AIR BAGS WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED BUT NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE OF THE AIR BAGS WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED AS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10392873

Mileage unknown · Mar 11, 2011
Electrical SystemVisibility

WHEN I'D USE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, I LOSE ALL POWER TO THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT AND THE BLINKER WOULD NOT WORK,ALL WHILE THE FLUID IS RUNNING OUT THE BACK WINDSHIELD WIPER CONNECTION. I HAD THE VUE IN FOR THE SAME ISSUE 4 TIMES AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS A WARRANTY ISSUE AT THE BEGINNING AND WHEN THEY FINALLY FIXED THE GROUNDING B…

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WHEN I'D USE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, I LOSE ALL POWER TO THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT AND THE BLINKER WOULD NOT WORK,ALL WHILE THE FLUID IS RUNNING OUT THE BACK WINDSHIELD WIPER CONNECTION. I HAD THE VUE IN FOR THE SAME ISSUE 4 TIMES AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS A WARRANTY ISSUE AT THE BEGINNING AND WHEN THEY FINALLY FIXED THE GROUNDING BOX AND REPLACED THE SO CALLED LIFETIME HEADLAMP, I WAS CHARGED 364.00. NOT WARRANTY COVERED. THIS STARTED AT AROUND 36,000. GM SCREWED US SATURN OWNERS BIG TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10389900

45,000 miles · Feb 25, 2011
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED FOR APPROXIMATELY FOUR MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE FAILURE OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000.

NHTSA ODI #10384456

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.