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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
18,286 miles · Mar 28, 2010
Power Train

THIS IS A STURN VUE, 2008 - 6 CYCLINDER. FIRST 18,000 MILES WERE TROUBLE FREE. CAR SHUDDERS AND HESITATES - DOES IT AT ANY SPEED AND NOT CONSISTENT WITH RUNNING TIME- TACHOMETER FLUTTERS WHILE IT IS HAPPENING. AT 2ND VISIT TO DEALER TO FIX PROBLEM, TOLD IT IS A COMPUTER TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND NO PROGRAM HAS BEEN WRITTEN TO …

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THIS IS A STURN VUE, 2008 - 6 CYCLINDER. FIRST 18,000 MILES WERE TROUBLE FREE. CAR SHUDDERS AND HESITATES - DOES IT AT ANY SPEED AND NOT CONSISTENT WITH RUNNING TIME- TACHOMETER FLUTTERS WHILE IT IS HAPPENING. AT 2ND VISIT TO DEALER TO FIX PROBLEM, TOLD IT IS A COMPUTER TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND NO PROGRAM HAS BEEN WRITTEN TO CORRECT. TOLD THIS IS A NORMAL OPERATING PROBLEM. HAVE SPOKEN TO SATURN REPS AT GMC EVERY DAY SINCE MARCH 15. CAR IS GETTING WORSE- NOT BETTER, THEY HAVE OFFERED NO HOPE OF ANY RESOLUTION AND WILL NOT RECOMMEND EVEN TRYING TO SWAP OUT PARTS. KEEP ON TELLING ME THE CAR IS SAFE AND WILL STAND BY THEIR ORIGINAL WARRANTY OF 5 YEARS/100,000 MILES ON TRANSMISSION IF IT FAILS. CAR GETS LOUSY GAS MILEAGE SINCE THIS STARTED - WENT FROM 22.5 MPG TO 19.5 *CN

NHTSA ODI #10322546

1,000 miles · Mar 11, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSteering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY IN STEERING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS TO HAVE THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT REPLACED. ADDITIONALLY, THE FLOOR SHIFTER FAILED TO RELEASE INTO GEAR. AN UNINTENDED AC…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY IN STEERING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS TO HAVE THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT REPLACED. ADDITIONALLY, THE FLOOR SHIFTER FAILED TO RELEASE INTO GEAR. AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OCCURRED AT ANY GIVEN SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS TO BE REPAIRED WHICH CONSISTED OF REPLACING COMPONENTS SUCH AS; FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY, ACCELERATION PEDAL ENGINE MOUNT, AND THE FRONT SUSPENSION DRIVE TRAIN MOTOR MOUNT. THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS ALSO TIGHTENED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,000. UPDATED 04/15/10. *LJ THE STEERING COLUMN, STEERING SHAFT, GEAR ASSEMBLY, ENGINE MOUNT WERE ALL REPLACED. UPDATED 09/30/10

NHTSA ODI #10318978

19,900 miles · Feb 25, 2010
Latches/locks/linkagesStructure

ON 2/23/09- MY HUSBAND OPENED THE HATCHBACK OF MY 2008 SATURN VUE. HE NOTICED THE HATCHBACK A BIT HEAVY AND AFTER LIFTING IT, HE NATURALLY LET IT GO. I WAS ALREADY STARTING TO PUT GROCERIES WHEN THE DOOR FELL DOWN. LUCKILY, MY HUSBAND WAS QUICK AND CAUGHT THE DOOR BEFORE IT CRUSHED MY ARM. HE OPENED IT AGAIN AND THEN REALIZED TH…

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ON 2/23/09- MY HUSBAND OPENED THE HATCHBACK OF MY 2008 SATURN VUE. HE NOTICED THE HATCHBACK A BIT HEAVY AND AFTER LIFTING IT, HE NATURALLY LET IT GO. I WAS ALREADY STARTING TO PUT GROCERIES WHEN THE DOOR FELL DOWN. LUCKILY, MY HUSBAND WAS QUICK AND CAUGHT THE DOOR BEFORE IT CRUSHED MY ARM. HE OPENED IT AGAIN AND THEN REALIZED THE PNEUMATIC LIFTS WERE NOT WORKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10314206

58,000 miles · Feb 24, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE XR. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. THIS FAILURE HAS HAPPENED AT LOWER SPEEDS AS WELL AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER A REGULAR SERVICE CHECK WAS PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 58,000.

NHTSA ODI #10313860

Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 2010
Electrical SystemSuspension

LTR FWD EMAIL FM (AL) RE 2008 SATURN VUE. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL DEFECTS AND RECEIVED NOTICE THAT GM EXTENDED WARRANTY WILL NO LONGER COVER THIS VEHICLE, REPLY TO MOBILE, AL OFC. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, THE FRONT END MADE POPPING NO…

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LTR FWD EMAIL FM (AL) RE 2008 SATURN VUE. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL DEFECTS AND RECEIVED NOTICE THAT GM EXTENDED WARRANTY WILL NO LONGER COVER THIS VEHICLE, REPLY TO MOBILE, AL OFC. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, THE FRONT END MADE POPPING NOISES AND A STRANGE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE DASH. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10313253

40,000 miles · Jan 30, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

"CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON. FAULT CODE P0446. GAS TANK HISSES LOUDLY WHEN I UNDO THE GAS CAP. LOUD POPPING SOUND (LIKE PRESSURE RELEASING FROM A PLASTIC BOTTLE WHEN AIR IS SUCKED OUT AND THEN AIR IS ALLOWED TO RE-ENTER),FROM UNDER THE CAR. I AM CONCERNED THAT MY GAS TANK COULD RUPTURE, LEAK OR EXPLODE AND CATCH FIRE. …

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"CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON. FAULT CODE P0446. GAS TANK HISSES LOUDLY WHEN I UNDO THE GAS CAP. LOUD POPPING SOUND (LIKE PRESSURE RELEASING FROM A PLASTIC BOTTLE WHEN AIR IS SUCKED OUT AND THEN AIR IS ALLOWED TO RE-ENTER),FROM UNDER THE CAR. I AM CONCERNED THAT MY GAS TANK COULD RUPTURE, LEAK OR EXPLODE AND CATCH FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10303292

35,000 miles · Dec 29, 2009
Visibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. THE ELECTRIC MOTOR ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. AS A CONSEQUENCE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THE MOTOR WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. UPDATED 01/26/10 *BF UPDATED 01/26/10.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10297339

14,589 miles · Sep 1, 2009
Power Train

I PURCHASED MY SATURN IN OCTOBER, 08. I ENJOYED DRIVING MY VUE THE FIRST COUPLE OF MONTHS. THE PAST FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS, I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS. MY SATURN STALLS WHEN I ACCELERATE. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE GAS, BUT I FOUND OUT THAT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. I TOOK IT BACK TO SATURN IN JUNE 09, THAT STATED "THEY DID NOT SE…

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I PURCHASED MY SATURN IN OCTOBER, 08. I ENJOYED DRIVING MY VUE THE FIRST COUPLE OF MONTHS. THE PAST FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS, I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS. MY SATURN STALLS WHEN I ACCELERATE. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE GAS, BUT I FOUND OUT THAT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. I TOOK IT BACK TO SATURN IN JUNE 09, THAT STATED "THEY DID NOT SEE A PROBLEM". THE TAKE OFF IS SO SLOW AND MY VUE IS STILL STALLING. I NEED THE PROBLEM SOLVED. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP IN THIS MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10282509

12,000 miles · Jul 22, 2009
Latches/locks/linkages

DOOR HANDLES STICK IN THE OPEN POSITION NOT ALLOWING DOORS TO LATCH WHEN CLOSED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10277940

52,000 miles · Jun 30, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE A 2008 SATURN VUE. AT 52000 MILES MY WARNING LIGHT FOR MY TEMPERATURE OVERHEATING CAME ON. MY COOLANT TANK WAS EMPTY. MY COOLANT LEVEL SENSOR DID NOT COME ON. MY TEMPERATURE LIGHT CAME ON ONLY WHEN MY TANK WAS EMPTY. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT MY HEATER CORE HAD WENT OUT. BECAUSE OF THIS COOLANT LEAKED UNDER MY DA…

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I HAVE A 2008 SATURN VUE. AT 52000 MILES MY WARNING LIGHT FOR MY TEMPERATURE OVERHEATING CAME ON. MY COOLANT TANK WAS EMPTY. MY COOLANT LEVEL SENSOR DID NOT COME ON. MY TEMPERATURE LIGHT CAME ON ONLY WHEN MY TANK WAS EMPTY. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT MY HEATER CORE HAD WENT OUT. BECAUSE OF THIS COOLANT LEAKED UNDER MY DASH INTO MY CAR. I WAS TOLD IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING I HAD NOT DONE. IT JUST HAPPENS. WHEN I WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP A 2007 OUTLOOK CAME IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. SATURN REPLACED THE HEATER CORE AT A DISCOUNT COST TO ME. I ALSO WAS HAVING A RATTLING SOUND UNDER MY HOOD. NO ONE COULD TELL ME WHAT IT WAS. THE SOUND STARTED FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT MY VUE IN 10/08. IT HAD 22 MILES ON THE VUE AT THE TIME. I WOULD CALL AND AS IF ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD NO. EACH TIME I WOULD GO TO TAKE IT IN TO BE CHECK, THE VUE WOULD NOT MAKE THE SOUND. I WAS ALSO TOLD, BECAUSE IT WAS A NEW ENGINE IT WILL MAKE SOUNDS UNTIL THE ENGINE HAD SOME MILES PUT ON IT. WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR THE HEATER CORE PROBLEM, THAT IS WHEN I WAS TOLD IT HAS THE HEAT SHIELD. IT WAS FIXED AT A COST TO ME. MY QUESTION ALSO IS WHY WOULD IT NOT BE COVERED AND WHY WASN'T THE HEATER CORE COVER UNDER THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL SYSTEM WARRANTY. IF THE COOLANT SENSOR WOULD HAD CAME ON BEFORE THE TANK WAS EMPTY, IT COULD HAVE SAVED MY HEATER CORE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10275313

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.