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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
90,000 miles · Jun 28, 2014
Power Train

MY VEHICLE IS SHIFTING EXTREMELY HARD. DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS A WAVE PLATE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION AND WOULD REQUIRE AN OVERHAUL OF THE TRANSMISSION. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN MANY OTHERS HAVE REPORTED THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE THAT MY VEHICLE HAS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10606619

91,500 miles · Jun 28, 2014
Steering

MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN LEAKING AN ABUNDANCE OF POWER STEERING FLUID. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, MY VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT RECALL OF THE POWER STEERING NUT. THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS THAT HAVE OCCURRED WITH THE "EFFECTED" VEHICLES ARE HAPPENING WITH MY VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10606618

Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2014
Steering

THERE WAS NO SPECIFIC INCIDENT. I IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM IN APRIL AFTER I PURCHASED AN ADDITIONAL CAR. THEN I NOTICED MORE CLEARLY HOW THE SATURN STEERING PROBLEM HAD BECOME MORE SERIOUS AND NOTICEABLE. THE PROBLEM IS THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMS TO BIND WHEN THE DRIVER TURNS THE STEERING WHEEL. THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A DISTIN…

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THERE WAS NO SPECIFIC INCIDENT. I IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM IN APRIL AFTER I PURCHASED AN ADDITIONAL CAR. THEN I NOTICED MORE CLEARLY HOW THE SATURN STEERING PROBLEM HAD BECOME MORE SERIOUS AND NOTICEABLE. THE PROBLEM IS THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMS TO BIND WHEN THE DRIVER TURNS THE STEERING WHEEL. THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A DISTINCT SOUND LIKE IT IS BINDING. IT ALSO TAKES MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL THAN IN MY OTHER GM CAR. THE STEERING DOES NOT QUITE RE-CENTER THE VEHICLE AFTER MAKING A TURN; THE CAR WILL REMAIN IN A SLIGHT DIRECTION LEFT OR RIGHT AFTER TURNING A CORNER; THE DRIVER MUST MAKE AN EFFORT TO RETURN THE STEERING TO POINT THE CAR DUE CENTER. THIS DEFECT IS WORSE IN THE COLD WEATHER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10604942

87,000 miles · Jun 20, 2014
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING NO PARTICULAR SPEED, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY OVER A FOUR MONTH PERIOD. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE MANUFAC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING NO PARTICULAR SPEED, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY OVER A FOUR MONTH PERIOD. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

NHTSA ODI #10604754

85,000 miles · Jun 20, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK AND FAILED TO START. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE ENTI…

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

NHTSA ODI #10604732

60,000 miles · May 28, 2014
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT LEAK UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING NUT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT LEAK UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING NUT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V470000 (STEERING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10594492

85,000 miles · May 23, 2014
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOST OF POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO STATED THE STEERING COLUMN AND ELECTRICAL ASSIST NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE VE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOST OF POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO STATED THE STEERING COLUMN AND ELECTRICAL ASSIST NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ODI #10593620

59,000 miles · May 22, 2014
Electrical SystemPower Train

CAR WOULD NOT START, WHEN YOU PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION WILL NOT START. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS YOU CAN FINALLY GET IT TO CONNECT. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN THE GARAGE SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED THREE TIMES IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME AND NEVER HAPPENS WHEN THE GARAGE…

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CAR WOULD NOT START, WHEN YOU PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION WILL NOT START. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS YOU CAN FINALLY GET IT TO CONNECT. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN THE GARAGE SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED THREE TIMES IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME AND NEVER HAPPENS WHEN THE GARAGE HAS THE VEHICLE. THE LAST TIME WAS ON SATURDAY 5/18/2014 THE ONLY WAY I COULD GET THE VEHICLE TO START WAS TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND TURN THE STEERING COLUMN, THEN WHEN IT WOULD GO BACK TO THE STRAIGHT POSITION THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP AGAIN. AFTER ABOUT FIVE TIMES TRYING IT THIS WAY I LEFT THE WHEELS TURNED ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT AND PUT THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR AND MADE A U TURN AND KEEP GOING TO HOME. I AM AFRAID TO TRY THIS CAR FOR FEAR IT WILL CUT OUT AND SOMEONE WILL RUN INTO ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10593402

10,000 miles · May 16, 2014
Electrical SystemVisibility/wiper

THE DEFROST BUTTON FLASHES AND DEACTIVATES DURING FREEZING TEMPERATURES PREVENTING THE WINDOWS FROM DEFOGGING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10588877

30,000 miles · Apr 7, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE SHE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND IF FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE SHE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND IF FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ODI #10577917

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.