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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

118 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 2015
Electrical System

SOMETIMES WHEN I TURN MY 2009 SATURN VUE OFF I CANNOT GET THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. I WILL HAVE TO PUT THE CAR BACK INTO DRIVE AND THEN BACK IN PARK BEFORE I CAN GET THE KEY OUT.

NHTSA ODI #10783220

80,000 miles · Sep 1, 2015
Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes

WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD ACCELERATION SLOWED, ALL INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS CAME ON, LOSS FULL POWER STEERING & BRAKE FUNCTIONS, NO TURN SIGNALS, BRAKE LIGHTS, FUEL GAUGE WENT TO EMPTY, MESSAGES ON DRIVER AIR BAG, STABILITRAK,TIRE AIR PRESSURE,ABS, EVERYTHING WAS FLASHING. ALL INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WERE ON, RADIO STOPPED, SUDDEN…

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WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD ACCELERATION SLOWED, ALL INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS CAME ON, LOSS FULL POWER STEERING & BRAKE FUNCTIONS, NO TURN SIGNALS, BRAKE LIGHTS, FUEL GAUGE WENT TO EMPTY, MESSAGES ON DRIVER AIR BAG, STABILITRAK,TIRE AIR PRESSURE,ABS, EVERYTHING WAS FLASHING. ALL INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WERE ON, RADIO STOPPED, SUDDEN INCREASED ACCELERATION THEN DECREASED AGAIN. I GOT PULLED OVER TO A PARKING LOT (WHICH WAS VERY HARD WITH BRAKE PEDAL GOING TO FLOOR & STEERING ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE), TURNED OFF CAR & REMOVED KEY. STILL HAD ALL (4) OPEN DOOR LIGHTS ON AND ALL THE DOORS WERE SHUT. THEY STAYED ON MORE THAN 5 MINUTES BEFORE FINALLY GOING OFF. I SAT THERE 30 MINUTES BEFORE TRYING TO START THE CAR AGAIN. WHEN I STARTED IT EVERYTHING WAS WORKING AGAIN AS IF IT HAD RESET ITSELF. YESTERDAY AUGUST 31, 2015 WAS THE THIRD TIME THIS SAME THING HAS HAPPENED TO ME WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH OR MORE. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS I DRIVE DAILY ON HEAVILY TRAVELED PARKWAYS. DEALERSHIPS CAN NOT FIND A PROBLEM WHEN I TAKE IT TO THEM. THEY JUST WANT TO RESET THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. IT JUST OCCURS AGAIN SO THAT IS NOT THE SOLUTION. NEED HELP GETTING THIS RESOLVED.

NHTSA ODI #10760694

106,000 miles · Aug 3, 2015
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS A RECURRING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE R/R HUB SPEED SENSOR AND STEERING ANGLE SE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS A RECURRING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE R/R HUB SPEED SENSOR AND STEERING ANGLE SENSOR WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE STEERING R/R HUB WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

NHTSA ODI #10745732

105,600 miles · Aug 3, 2015
Steering

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE POWER STEERING SEEMED TO FAIL AND IT TOOK A GREAT DEAL OF STRENGTH TO COMPLETE THE TURN. I HAVE ALSO HAD THIS PROBLEM WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURNS. IT HAPPENS AT LOW SPEEDS BEING THAT IT HAPPENS WHEN TURNING. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIME. I SEE THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON SOME VEHICLES BUT NOT MINE …

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WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE POWER STEERING SEEMED TO FAIL AND IT TOOK A GREAT DEAL OF STRENGTH TO COMPLETE THE TURN. I HAVE ALSO HAD THIS PROBLEM WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURNS. IT HAPPENS AT LOW SPEEDS BEING THAT IT HAPPENS WHEN TURNING. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIME. I SEE THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON SOME VEHICLES BUT NOT MINE FOR THE SAME TYPE OF ISSUE. I AM AFRAID THAT I WILL LOOSE CONTROL OF MY CAR. MY SERVICE CENTER, WHICH IS A SATURN AUTHORIZED DEALER MENTIONED A STEERING SENSOR, BUT I BELIEVE IT IS A POWER STEERING ISSUE. THEY TOLD ME THE REPAIR WOULD COST OVER $500.

NHTSA ODI #10745715

125,000 miles · Jul 31, 2015
Steering

WHEN MAKING TURNS AT LOWER SPEEDS I HAVE TO USE TWO HANDS TO GET THE VEHICLE TO TURN AND THIS HAPPENS UNEXPECTEDLY AND HAS BEEN OCCURRING REGULARLY

NHTSA ODI #10745192

109,000 miles · Jul 22, 2015
Service Brakes

ON FREEWAY @65 MPH, AFTER 10-12 MILES, SUDDEN DECELERATION, ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, CONTINUED DECELERATION, NO INDICATOR LIGHTS. ALL 4 BRAKES APPLIED WITHOUT PEDAL MOVEMENT. PULLED TO SIDE OF RODE. TURNED OFF CAR, INSPECTED TIRES AND UNDERSIDE OF CAR, NOTHING UNUSUAL. PARKING BRAKE CYCLED 2-3 TIMES. RESTARTED CAR AND DROVE…

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ON FREEWAY @65 MPH, AFTER 10-12 MILES, SUDDEN DECELERATION, ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, CONTINUED DECELERATION, NO INDICATOR LIGHTS. ALL 4 BRAKES APPLIED WITHOUT PEDAL MOVEMENT. PULLED TO SIDE OF RODE. TURNED OFF CAR, INSPECTED TIRES AND UNDERSIDE OF CAR, NOTHING UNUSUAL. PARKING BRAKE CYCLED 2-3 TIMES. RESTARTED CAR AND DROVE ANOTHER 10-15 MILES, SAME UNEXPLAINED BRAKING, IN MODERATE TO SEVERE TRAFFIC VERY FRIGHTENING, DANGEROUS (05/30/2015). TAKEN TO DEALER 2 TIMES, STILL NOT REPAIRED AFTER REPLACING BRAKE PRESSURE MODULATOR VALVE (BPMV -06/05/215) AND THE EBCM (07/22/2015 0900). AND NOW A 3RD TIME. (7/22/2015 1600).

NHTSA ODI #10735886

85,000 miles · May 25, 2015
Steering

POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE TURNING AND VEHICLE HEADED INTO ONCOMING VEHICLE. WAS ABLE TO BRAKE AND STOP THE VEHICLE BEFORE CRASH AND STEERING CAME BACK AFTER SLOWING DOWN. DRIVER INFO CENTER SHOWED A POWER STEERING MESSAGE BUT WAS UNABLE TO READ IT BEFORE IT WENT AWAY.

NHTSA ODI #10721320

60,000 miles · May 12, 2015
Electrical System

THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN MY 2009 SATURN VUE SHORTS OUT CAUSING ALL KINDS OF ISSUES, THE FIRST TIME WAS IN LATE 2013 WHEN NOTHING ON THE DASH CAME ON, MY RADIO DID NOT PLAY, NO GAGES WORKED. DROVE IT TO THE FIRST DEALERSHIP IN WATERFORD AND THEY GOT THE GAGES WORKING BUT HAD LITTLE NEWS TO SAY ABOUT IT, IT WAS A BAD EXPERIENCE T…

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THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN MY 2009 SATURN VUE SHORTS OUT CAUSING ALL KINDS OF ISSUES, THE FIRST TIME WAS IN LATE 2013 WHEN NOTHING ON THE DASH CAME ON, MY RADIO DID NOT PLAY, NO GAGES WORKED. DROVE IT TO THE FIRST DEALERSHIP IN WATERFORD AND THEY GOT THE GAGES WORKING BUT HAD LITTLE NEWS TO SAY ABOUT IT, IT WAS A BAD EXPERIENCE TO SAY THE LEAST. THE 2ND TIME IT DIED IN MY DRIVE WAY ( IT HAD A BRAND NEW BATTERY IN IT AT THE TIME)I HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD AT FIRST THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THE HOOD LATCH LIGHT WAS ON AND WHEN THEY TRIED TO GIVE IT BACK THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF EVEN WHEN THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS CHECKED MANUALLY AND WAS CORRECT . THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD TO REBOOT THE COMPUTER BOARD AND IT WAS FIXED. THIS TIME I DROVE MY CAR FOR OVER A 2 MONTH PERIOD WHERE THE BLINKER WOULD CAUSE THE RADIO TO GO OUT, IF I TURNED ON THE BRIGHTS THE RADIO WOULD GO OUT, THEN ONE DAY I GOT OUT OF MY CAR AND REALIZED THE RADIO WAS STILL PLAYING. I HAD TO RESTART THE CAR TO SHUT IT DOWN . LIGHTS FLICKER ON THE DASH AND THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLICKER BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING. MY LAST STRAW WAS WHEN I CAME OUT OF THE STORE AND MY CAR WOULD NOT START, IT DID NOT DO ANYTHING, I SAT THERE FOR A MINUTE AND TRIED IT AGAIN AND IT STARTED UP, SO I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP. THEY HAD THE CAR FORM APRIL 23 THRU MAY 8 AND SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IN OCTOBER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY IS UP AND NO ONE HAS FOUND THE PROBLEM YET. I HAVE TO SAY I HAVE DROVE IT NOW FOR 4 DAYS AND NONE OF THE THINGS I DESCRIBED EARLIER HAS HAPPENED. SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME, NOT FAIR TO HAVE THESE KINDS OF ISSUES ON A CAR OF THIS CALIPER.

NHTSA ODI #10716880

87,410 miles · May 8, 2015
Unknown Or Other

WHEN THE AUTO WAS PLACED IN PARK, THE IGNITION KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED. THIS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN INTERMITTENTLY.

NHTSA ODI #10715363

120,000 miles · Apr 20, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineVehicle Speed Control

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, CRUISING AT 70 IN THE FAR LEFT HAND LANE, AND SUDDENLY MY VEHICLE SPEED DROPPED TO 40 MPH AND ERROR CODES STARTED FLASHING ON THE DASH (DECREASE ENGINE, ENGINE, STABILITY TRACK SYSTEM, TRACTION CONTROL, AND OTHERS I DON'T REMEMBER). WITH SEMI TRUCKS AND A HIGH VOLUME OF TRAFFIC BEHIND ME AND BLOWING…

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, CRUISING AT 70 IN THE FAR LEFT HAND LANE, AND SUDDENLY MY VEHICLE SPEED DROPPED TO 40 MPH AND ERROR CODES STARTED FLASHING ON THE DASH (DECREASE ENGINE, ENGINE, STABILITY TRACK SYSTEM, TRACTION CONTROL, AND OTHERS I DON'T REMEMBER). WITH SEMI TRUCKS AND A HIGH VOLUME OF TRAFFIC BEHIND ME AND BLOWING THEIR HORNS, I ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE LANES IN AN EFFORT TO PULL OVER ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER AS GEORGIA LAW STATES...BUT IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND CONTINUED TO DECREASE. IT WAS BY THE GRACE OF GOD THAT I DID NOT GET HIT BY THE VEHICLES AND SEMI TRUCKS SLAMMING ON THEIR BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING ME. I NEARLY MISSED THE OFF RAMP. OFF ON THE EXIT RAMP WAS NOT ABLE TO MAKE THE LIGHT SO PULLED OVER TO RIGHT SIDE. MY CAR MADE A HIGH PITCHED SOUND LIKE IT DOES WHEN I REALLY STEP ON THE GAS, IT WAS REVVING AND NOW PULLING FORWARD. IT CONTINUED TO MAKE THIS NOISE WHILE I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT, NOT MOVING, TRIED PUTTING IT IN NEUTRAL, PARK, NOTHING WOULD MAKE THE REVVING STOP. FINALLY, LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND THE CAR JERKED ME FORWARD BUT THEN WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AGAIN AS I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE IT TO THE GAS STATION OFF THE EXIT. I PULLED INTO THE LOT AND AGAIN WHEN I BRAKED TO PUT IN REVERSE TO PARK IT STARTED REVVING HIGH AND JERKED FORWARD AGAIN THEN BACKWARDS. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND LET SIT 10 MINUTES. TURNED IT ON, IT WOULD NOT GO AWAY THE ENGINE WAS IN REVVING SO HIGH I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BLOW. I TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED FROM 30+ MILES AWAY FROM HOME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10706593

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.