IllustrationTHE KEY WILL NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION WHEN THE SHIFTER IS PUT IN PARK. THE KEY STUCK IN THE KEY LOCK CYLINDER AND WOULD NOT TURN. ALL LIGHTS STAY ONE IN THE VEHICLE
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
480–25K
4325–50K
7150–75K
6575–100K
68100–150K
34150K+
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 reportsTHE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN I PARK MY CAR. I HAVE THE BARREL TWO TIMES 2017 AND 2018. MY KEY CHAIN ONLY HAS MY CAR KEY AND THE REMOTE AND I'M THE ONLY DRIVER. I HAVE CHANGED THE BARREL TWO TIMES AND APPARENTLY I HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN. THIS REPAIR IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND I FEEL VERY UNSAFE AND I WASTE A LOT OF TIME…
Read full complaint
THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN I PARK MY CAR. I HAVE THE BARREL TWO TIMES 2017 AND 2018. MY KEY CHAIN ONLY HAS MY CAR KEY AND THE REMOTE AND I'M THE ONLY DRIVER. I HAVE CHANGED THE BARREL TWO TIMES AND APPARENTLY I HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN. THIS REPAIR IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND I FEEL VERY UNSAFE AND I WASTE A LOT OF TIME WAITING FOR THE SWITCH TO RELEASE MY KEY. I'M AFRAID I MAY DAMAGE THE GEAR.
HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN TWICE DUE TO ANTI LOCK BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL ISSUES. BOTH SYSTEM LIGHTS ARE ON THE DASH. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT BUT THE ONLY FIX IS A STEERING COLUMN WHICH ARE HARD TO FIND. HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 2 YEARS
WHEN MY VEHICLE IS STOPPED I CANNOT ROTATE THE IGNITION KEY TO THE OFF POSITION. THE PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED BY THE DEALER AS A FAULTY TRANSMISSION PARK SHIFTER. THE CAR DOESN'T KNOW WHAT POSITION THE SHIFT SELECTOR SWITCH IS "IN" AND DOESN'T SIGNAL THE IGNITION. THE WINDOWS WON'T COME DOWN WITH THE CAR STARTED, BECAUSE THE PO…
Read full complaint
WHEN MY VEHICLE IS STOPPED I CANNOT ROTATE THE IGNITION KEY TO THE OFF POSITION. THE PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED BY THE DEALER AS A FAULTY TRANSMISSION PARK SHIFTER. THE CAR DOESN'T KNOW WHAT POSITION THE SHIFT SELECTOR SWITCH IS "IN" AND DOESN'T SIGNAL THE IGNITION. THE WINDOWS WON'T COME DOWN WITH THE CAR STARTED, BECAUSE THE POSITION OF THE CAR IS NOT CORRECT OR NOT RECOGNIZED. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT, WHEN YOU CAN'T LOWER YOUR WINDOWS OR MUST LEAVE THE CAR RUNNING, FOR FEAR OF AUTO THEFT. THE OTHER SAFETY IMPLICATIONS ARE NOT KNOWN AS FAR AS DRIVING AND CAN'T LOWER WINDOWS OR OTHER MISHAP BASED ON THE UNKNOWN TRANSMISSION SELECTOR SWITCH POSITION. THERE IS A BULLETIN OUT #14633C, BUT IT DIDN'T COVER MY VIN #, BUT I BELIEVE THE RECALL OR SPECIAL ADJUSTMENT SHOULD BE EXPANDED.
SINCE WE HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE THE TRANSMISSION KEEPS MESSING UP. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AFTER IT IS PUT IN GEAR. ONCE PUT IN GEAR AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS PRESSED THERE IS LAG BETWEEN THE SOUND OF THE ENGINE RPM INCREASING AND THE GEARS ENGAGING AND THE CAR TAKING OFF. THE VEHICLE ALSO ROLLS BACKWARDS A WORRYING AMOUNT WHEN…
Read full complaint
SINCE WE HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE THE TRANSMISSION KEEPS MESSING UP. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AFTER IT IS PUT IN GEAR. ONCE PUT IN GEAR AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS PRESSED THERE IS LAG BETWEEN THE SOUND OF THE ENGINE RPM INCREASING AND THE GEARS ENGAGING AND THE CAR TAKING OFF. THE VEHICLE ALSO ROLLS BACKWARDS A WORRYING AMOUNT WHEN IT IS PLACED IN PARK. ALSO WHEN YOU GO TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE DOESN'T WAN TO GO OUT OF THE LOW GEAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED NOT ONCE OR TWICE THIS IS CONSISTENT. WE HAVE KEPT IT MAINTAINED SINCE WE BOUGHT IT. THE MOST RECENT WAS JUST 2 DAYS AGO.
THE KEY WILL NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION WHEN THE SHIFTER IS PUT IN PARK. IT SOUNDS IDENTICAL TO AN ISSUE WHICH AFFECTED MULTIPLE OTHER GM PRODUCTS AS IDENTIFIED IN ISSUE 10057968.
A/C UNIT WILL STOP BLOWING HOT AIR, THIS WILL FOG UP WINDOWS IN MORNINGS AND ON RAINY DAYS CAUSEING YOU NOT TO SEE AND CRASH NO VISABLE OUT OF WINDSHIELD, CAN NOT SEE..VERY DANGEROUS
CAR GOES INTO REDUSED ENGINE POWER ON THE HIGHWAY. ENGINE SHUTS DOWN COMPLETELY. PULL OVER SHUT OFF CAR WAIT AND RESTART CAR. SOMETIMES IT HAPPENES AGAIN RIGHT AWAY SOMETIMES IT DOESNT HAPPEN FOR MONTHS LATER.
WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY IN PARKED LIKE MODE, WHEN GOING TO START THE ENGINE, THERE IS NOTHING. NO CLICKING, NO SOUND. OTHER TIMES IT WILL START BUT STRUGGLE AND OTHER TIMES WITHIN SECONDS OF THE FIRST 2 EXAMPLES ABOVE, IT WILL START RIGHT UP.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN THE PARK POSITION, THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN THE REVERSE POSITION, …
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN THE PARK POSITION, THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN THE REVERSE POSITION, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO MOVE PARTIALLY AND STOPPED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE ANY FURTHER IN THE REVERSE POSITION. IN ADDITION, THE RPMS INCREASED RAPIDLY ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND 30 MPH. A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000.
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.