DOOR HANDLE STICKS IN OPEN POSITION. THE DOOR HAS FLOWN OPEN WHILE DRIVING TWICE DUE TO THIS DEFECTIVE HANDLE. *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 reportsMY 2008 SATURN VUE XR HAS HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN MAY 2010, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL (SPEEDOMETER, RPM, ODOMETER, RADIO, ETC.) WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY REPLACED A COMPUTER COMPONENT IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. NOW IN JULY 2010 (2 MONTHS LATER) I …
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MY 2008 SATURN VUE XR HAS HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN MAY 2010, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL (SPEEDOMETER, RPM, ODOMETER, RADIO, ETC.) WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY REPLACED A COMPUTER COMPONENT IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. NOW IN JULY 2010 (2 MONTHS LATER) I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND LOOKED AT MY SPEEDOMETER WHICH SAID I WAS GOING 80 MPH. I WAS CLEARLY NOT GOING 80 MPH, SO RIGHT AWAY I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG. I STOPPED THE CAR AND EVEN WHEN THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED THE SPEEDOMTER READ 30 MPH. IT EVEN STAYED ON 30 MPH WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND AM BEING TOLD THAT THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE EXACT SAME PART THAT THEY JUST REPLACED TWO MONTHS AGO. CLEARLY THIS PART IS FAULTY AND IT IS A DEFINITE SAFETY CONCERN WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ARE UNABLE TO TELL HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING. I HAVE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE REGARDING A SIMILIAR ISSUE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN UNUSUAL SOUND ON THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRONT SWAY BAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN UNUSUAL SOUND ON THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRONT SWAY BAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,000.
I WAS MERGING ONTO HIGHWAY 696 IN DETROIT AREA. SEMI TO MY LEFT, THOUGHT I COULD ACCELERATE AND EASE IN FRONT. PUT FOOT ON GAS PEDAL STRONGLY AND IT DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR MAKING THE CAR QUICKLY ACCELERATE TO WELL OVER 80 MPH. TOOK FOOT OFF GAS WITH NO EFFECT. PUT FOOT ON BRAKES AND IT TEMPERED SPEED; NO LONGER ACCE…
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I WAS MERGING ONTO HIGHWAY 696 IN DETROIT AREA. SEMI TO MY LEFT, THOUGHT I COULD ACCELERATE AND EASE IN FRONT. PUT FOOT ON GAS PEDAL STRONGLY AND IT DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR MAKING THE CAR QUICKLY ACCELERATE TO WELL OVER 80 MPH. TOOK FOOT OFF GAS WITH NO EFFECT. PUT FOOT ON BRAKES AND IT TEMPERED SPEED; NO LONGER ACCELERATED, BUT DID NOT SLOW IT DOWN. ALL THE WHILE I COULD HEAR ENGINE STRAINING TO ACCELERATE BUT NOT BEING ALLOWED TO. TRIED EASING OFF BRAKE BUT CAR STARTED TO SPEED UP EVEN FURTHER. WAS PRACTICALLY STANDING ON BRAKE PEDAL NOW WITH LEFT FOOT AND DID NOT SLOW. HIT GAS PEDAL A COUPLE TIMES HARD WITH RIGHT FOOT AND PEDAL RELEASED AND CAR STARTED TO SLOW, BUT HAVE NO IDEA IF THAT WAS THE REASON IT LET UP OR JUST COINCIDENCE. INSPECTED GAS PEDAL AREA. NOTHING TO ENCUMBER PEDAL. NOTHING TO CATCH ON. NO REASON FOR IT TO STICK. ABOUT SCARED ME TO DEATH. IF THERE HAD BEEN A VEHICLE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME, I WOULD HAVE HIT IT. I WAS JUST SHOCKED. I THEN HAD TO PICK UP MY KIDS IN ANN ARBOR AND DRIVE ALL THE WAY BACK HOME TO ILLINOIS WORRYING IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. WILL CALL SATURN IN MORNING TO SEE WHAT SHOULD BE DONE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED AN UNUSUAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING SHAFT. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AND ADVISED A BOOTH MODIFICATION. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REP…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED AN UNUSUAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING SHAFT. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AND ADVISED A BOOTH MODIFICATION. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 52,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT NOTICED A SMELL FROM THE VENTS WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH. HE TURNED OFF THE AIR CONDITIONER AND THE SMELL BECAME STRONGER. WITHIN SECONDS, SMOKE BEGAN TO EMIT FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED UNDER THE HOOD; HE SAW THAT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ON…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT NOTICED A SMELL FROM THE VENTS WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH. HE TURNED OFF THE AIR CONDITIONER AND THE SMELL BECAME STRONGER. WITHIN SECONDS, SMOKE BEGAN TO EMIT FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED UNDER THE HOOD; HE SAW THAT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 16,000. UPDATED 01/12/11*LJ UPDATED 02/11/11
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. WHILE TRAVELING AT RELATIVELY LOW SPEEDS OF 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING THE BRAKES AND THEN SHUT THE ENGINE OFF COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER REPAIRED NOR TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CUR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. WHILE TRAVELING AT RELATIVELY LOW SPEEDS OF 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING THE BRAKES AND THEN SHUT THE ENGINE OFF COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER REPAIRED NOR TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 33,874. UPDATED 12/10/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. AS OF NOVEMBER 28,2010 THE PROBLEM HAD NOT RETURNED. UPDATED 12/17/10
AUTOMATIC 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING INTO OVERDRIVE. ALSO, THE CAR ROLLS WHEN IN "PARK" ON AN INCLINE. *TR
OUR INSUREDS 2008 SATURN VUE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND TOTALLY BURNED THE VEHICLE. NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 08V470000, MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER 08284. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. THE DRIVER STATES SINCE THE DAY HE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE HE HAS HAD A POWER STEERING PROBLEM. THE DRIVER STATES THIS HAPPENS WHILE SLOWING DOWN UNDER 5MPH TO MAKE A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS LOOKED AT BY THE DEALER AND THEY AGREED THAT THE STEERING RACK NEEDS REPLACING AND WOULD REPLACE IT FREE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. THE DRIVER STATES SINCE THE DAY HE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE HE HAS HAD A POWER STEERING PROBLEM. THE DRIVER STATES THIS HAPPENS WHILE SLOWING DOWN UNDER 5MPH TO MAKE A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS LOOKED AT BY THE DEALER AND THEY AGREED THAT THE STEERING RACK NEEDS REPLACING AND WOULD REPLACE IT FREE OF CHARGE. THE DRIVER STATES AFTER HAVING REPAIRS DONE AT 9,000 MILES HE DROVE THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS. DRIVER ALSO STATES HE HAD TO THEN DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR 4 MONTHS UNTIL THE DEALER GOT NEW PARTS IN. THE VEHICLE IS WITH THE DEALER AGAIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175 MILES AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 22,000. AR
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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