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2009 Saturn Vue

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2009 Saturn Vue do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 276.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

99 reports with mileage · 19 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.

  • Steering. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports3 fire reports7 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

35 reports
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160,000 miles · Dec 27, 2020
Air BagsElectrical SystemPower TrainCrash

WHILE I AM DRIVING I HAVE HAD INTERMITTENT INCIDENTS THAT CANNOT BE REPLICATED. "STABILITRAK" WARNING LIGHT HAS NOT TURNED OFF. I HAVE LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING TWICE BUT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AFTER A FEW SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER TO THE DASH. WHEN I AM TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL GETS VERY HARD TO TURN …

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WHILE I AM DRIVING I HAVE HAD INTERMITTENT INCIDENTS THAT CANNOT BE REPLICATED. "STABILITRAK" WARNING LIGHT HAS NOT TURNED OFF. I HAVE LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING TWICE BUT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AFTER A FEW SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER TO THE DASH. WHEN I AM TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL GETS VERY HARD TO TURN AND WILL TURN OFF THE RADIO. THIS WILL CAUSE THE CAR TO LOOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING. THEN WHEN I TURN THE CAR OFF I WILL BE UNABLE TO GET THE KEY OUT OR TURN THE VEHICLE ON. I WILL HAVE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE AND THE ALTERNATOR TWICE AND THIS HELPED FOR 2 MONTHS THEN THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. I ALSO REPLACED THE WHEEL SENSORS TO NO AVAIL. I HAVE TAKEN TO 3 MECHANICS BUT THEY CANNOT REPLICATE THE ISSUE. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK, I WILL TRY TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON AND THEN JUST TAP ON THE BRAIN COMPARTMENT ABOVE THE BATTERY AND SOMETIMES THIS WORKS. I HAVE BEEN LEFT STRANDED MORE THAN I CARE TO ADMIT. WHILE DRIVING IF THE ISSUES ARE REALLY BAD AND IF I HAVE TO DRIVE LONG DISTANCE I WILL TRY TO USE CRUISE CONTROLL BUT IT WILL NOT ENGAGE.

NHTSA ODI #11385133

144,041 miles · Sep 6, 2020
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

TRACTION CONTROL STAYS ON AND TRANSMISSION ENGAGES THEN RELEASE SLIPPING ..ALSO HYBRID SYSTEM NIT WORKING AT ALL NEVER TURN OFF AND ANY STOP LIKE A HYBRID .

NHTSA ODI #11353451

144,000 miles · Aug 25, 2018
Electrical System

CAR HAS LOST POWER ON DASH LIGHTS, RADIO WHEN OUR DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY OR AROUND TOWN ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNIN THE STEERING WHEEL, LOOSES POWER, AND SHE WAS FORCED TO GET INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. KEY GETS STUCK IN INGNITION UPON STARTING CAR INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT START WITHOUT JUMPING THE CAR OFF OR WITHOUT WIGGL…

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CAR HAS LOST POWER ON DASH LIGHTS, RADIO WHEN OUR DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY OR AROUND TOWN ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNIN THE STEERING WHEEL, LOOSES POWER, AND SHE WAS FORCED TO GET INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. KEY GETS STUCK IN INGNITION UPON STARTING CAR INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT START WITHOUT JUMPING THE CAR OFF OR WITHOUT WIGGLING THE WIRES ON TOP OF THE BATTERY CONNECTING TO THE BRAIN. WE HAVE HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED. STABILITRACT LIGHT WAS ON AND WE HAD THE DEALER CHECK IT OUT THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE COMPUTER MODULE. RADIO WILL CUT OFF, DASH LIGHTS GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY.

NHTSA ODI #11122299

56,000 miles · May 4, 2018
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE PASSENGER SIDE HEAD LIGHT KEEPS MELTING, CAUSING ME TO LOOSE THE USE OF THAT HEADLIGHT. I HAVE ALREADY REPAIRED THE SITUATION TWICE, NOW I AM SEE THAT OTHER SATURN OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I CALLED GM AND THERE IS NO RECALL? HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE. I HAVE STRUGGLED WITH THIS ISSUE FOR 2 YEARS. …

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THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE PASSENGER SIDE HEAD LIGHT KEEPS MELTING, CAUSING ME TO LOOSE THE USE OF THAT HEADLIGHT. I HAVE ALREADY REPAIRED THE SITUATION TWICE, NOW I AM SEE THAT OTHER SATURN OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I CALLED GM AND THERE IS NO RECALL? HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE. I HAVE STRUGGLED WITH THIS ISSUE FOR 2 YEARS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN, I CAN'T SEE WITH ONE HEADLIGHT. PLEASE HELP

NHTSA ODI #11091968

51,000 miles · Dec 5, 2017
Electrical System

UNABLE TO TURN VEHICLE OFF WHILE IN PARK. KEY GETS STUCK AT ACC.

NHTSA ODI #11052428

80,000 miles · May 1, 2017
Electrical System

THE FIRST PROBLEM OCCURRED ABOUT A YEAR AGO, WHEN A MESSAGE STATING "STABILITRACK OFF" APPEARED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. I CONTINUED DRIVING WITH THE MESSAGE AND PARKED AS NORMAL.THE NEXT TIME I STARTED THE CAR THE MESSAGE WAS GONE. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER I WENT TO START THE CAR AND IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. DOOR LOCKS, RADI…

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THE FIRST PROBLEM OCCURRED ABOUT A YEAR AGO, WHEN A MESSAGE STATING "STABILITRACK OFF" APPEARED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. I CONTINUED DRIVING WITH THE MESSAGE AND PARKED AS NORMAL.THE NEXT TIME I STARTED THE CAR THE MESSAGE WAS GONE. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER I WENT TO START THE CAR AND IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. DOOR LOCKS, RADIO, EVERYTHING WAS DEAD. WE REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED, BUT ABOUT TWO MONTHS LATER I WENT OUT IN THE MORNING TO A DEAD CAR AGAIN. JUMPING THE CAR WAS AN INSTANT FIX, AND THE VEHICLE RAN FINE AGAIN FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT ONCE A MONTH FOR THE NEXT 6 MONTHS, WITH THE "STABILITRAK OFF" MESSAGE OCCASIONALLY POPPING UP WHILE DRIVING. EACH TIME IT WOULD NOT START A JUMP WAS REQUIRED, AND THEN THE CAR WOULD DRIVE FINE. THERE WAS NEVER ANY INDICATION THAT THE BATTERY WAS LOW, AND IT NEVER QUIT WHILE ACTIVELY BEING DRIVEN. OVER THE PAST MONTH THE PROBLEMS HAVE OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY, AND NOW HAPPEN ABOUT 3-4 TIMES PER WEEK. I HAVE TO KEEP A PORTABLE BATTERY CHARGER IN MY GLOVEBOX TO JUMP IT MYSELF. WE HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE AND STILL HAVE THESE ISSUES. WE TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM, THOUGH HE ASSURED US THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, ETC. WERE FINE. AT THIS POINT WE ARE LOOKING TO SELL THE VEHICLE, BECAUSE MY KIDS AND I CANNOT KEEP BEING STRANDED WHEN IT WON'T START. I NO LONGER FEEL IT IS A SAFE VEHICLE FOR THEM TO BE RIDING IN. UNFORTUNATELY WE WILL TAKE A HUGE HIT WHEN WE SELL, AS THE CAR IS OBVIOUSLY NOT WORTH WHAT WE PAID FOR IT SINCE THESE PROBLEMS WERE UNKNOWN THEN. IT HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT NOW, AND THESE PROBLEMS STARTED AT 75,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #10981648

80,551 miles · May 1, 2017
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN VUE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION SEIZED WHILE THE KEY WAS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE WHERE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION LOCK FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN VUE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION SEIZED WHILE THE KEY WAS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE WHERE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION LOCK FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE KEY WAS UNABLE TO BE REMOVED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS AND REFEREED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE CONTACT INQUIRED ABOUT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V490000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), HER VEHICLE'S YEAR WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,551.

NHTSA ODI #10981571

60,000 miles · Jan 27, 2017
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

THE HOSE FOR THE MOON ROOF DRAINS ARE LEAKING CAUSING MOLD AND ELECTRICAL ISSUES IN THE VUE. WE HAD THE HOSES REPLACED TWICE BUT THE PROBLEM KEEPS HAPPENING. ELECTRICAL ISSUES HAVE CAUSED ISSUES WITH STARTING, INSTRUMENT PANEL, ETC.

NHTSA ODI #10947912

170,000 miles · Dec 16, 2016
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEYS WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE IN THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ODI #10935897

42,000 miles · Jul 19, 2016
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY HESITATED TO DISENGAGE FROM THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY HESITATED TO DISENGAGE FROM THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

NHTSA ODI #10885893

Official recalls

2

08V616000 · Steering:linkages:knuckle:spindle:arm

Nov 24, 2008

GM IS RECALLING 2,149 MY 2009 SATURN VUE VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH AN INCORRECT RIGHT AND/OR LEFT FRONT STEERING KNUCKLE. AS A RESULT OF THE INCORRECT KNUCKLE AND RESULTING INADEQUATE CLEARANCE, THE TIE ROD BALL STUD COULD PULL OUT OF, OR FRACTURE, THE TIE ROD HOUSING. THIS COULD CAUSE THE TIE ROD TO SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: ALTHOUGH STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE MAINTAINED AFTER A TIE ROD SEPARATION BY THE UNAFFECTED WHEEL ON SMOOTH ROADS OR DURING LIGHT BRAKING, WITH MORE SIGNIFICANT SUSPENSION OR BRAKING INPUTS, THE AFFECTED WHEEL COULD TURN OUT AND SKID. IF A VEHICLE BUILT WITH TWO INCORRECT STEERING KNUCKLES HAD BOTH TIE RODS SEPARATE AT THE SAME TIME, STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE LOST, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING KNUCKLES AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE STEERING KNUCKLE(S) AND TIE ROD(S). THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 8, 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> .

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> .

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.