Saturn Vue Complaints (2003)

622 consumer complaints on file.

#10278508July 28, 2009
POWER TRAIN
I BOUGHT A USED 2003 SATURN VUE TWO MONTHS AGO, AND SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. THE MAJOR PROBLEM WITH IT KNOW IS THE TRANSMISSION (AUTOMATIC VTI). WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY TWO DAYS AGO, THE CAR WAS ON CRUISE CONTROL AT 65 MPH, WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN, THE RPMS RED LINED AT 7000. AFTER THAT I DISENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE CAR ONTO THE SHOULDER, BUT IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. ALSO WHEN STOPPING THE CAR, THE ENGINE STARTS TO RUMBLE AND SHAKE, THEN WHEN ACCELERATING AGAIN THE ENGINE REVS UP BUT NO MOVEMENT. AFTER ABOUT FIVE TO TEN SECONDS THE CAR CATCHES GEAR AND IT FEELS LIKE I'VE BEEN IN A REAR END COLLISION WHEN IT DOES. THREE DAYS AGO THE CAR DID THIS IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WHILE I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN (IT STOPPED AND JUST REVVED THE ENGINE), I WAS ALMOST HIT BY AN ONCOMING CAR BUT THEY MANAGED TO SWERVE OUT OF THE WAY TO AVOID A COLLISION. THE VUE IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP AND I AM UNABLE TO AFFORD A NEW TRANSMISSION SO I AM STUCK WITH A DEAD VEHICLE WHICH I JUST PURCHASED TWO MONTHS AGO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278096July 23, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2003 SATURN VUE HAD THE TRANSMISSION DIE COMPLETELY AT 62,000 MILES AND 6 YEARS OLD. WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF A VACATION AND IT DIES 2 MINUTES BEFORE WE ENTERED THE INTERSTATE IN SEATTLE, WA. THERE WAS NO WARNING, OTHER THAN SATURN TELLING US 5 YEARS AGO THAT THE TRANSMISSION MAY LOSE POWER ON OCCASION BUT IT IS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10277934July 22, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES AND DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS FAIL; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE CONTINUES TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE MASTER CONTROL PANEL WAS FAILING. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE PART IS CURRENTLY ON BACKORDER WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY NOT BEING DRIVEN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,100. UPDATED 08/27/09 *BF UPDATED 08/31/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10277084July 17, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I PURCHASED MY NEW 2003 SATURN VUE FROM YORK PA SATURN (SUTLIFF GROUP) AND THEY HAVE PATCHED UP MY 2003 VUE BY REPLACING VALVES, SENSORS ETC. ON THE VTI TRANSMISSION/TRANSAXLES 5 OR 6 DIFFERENT TIMES, WHICH THEY WELL KNOW WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I STILL EXPERIENCE TRANSMISSION FAILURE DURING EXTENDED PERIODS OF DRIVING OR TIMES OF TRAFFIC STOP SITUATIONS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FROM THE 10,000 MILE POINT ON UNTIL THIS TIME. DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY INTO HIGHER GEAR , STILL MAKES GRINDING NOISES WHILE TURNING AND ACCELERATING AND OTHERWISE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY. TRANSMISSION WAS LOOKED AT BY DEALER 5 TIMES AVOIDING THE ISSUE OF TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS HAVE INVOKED ME TO START A MAJOR CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE SATURN CORP. ! ALL I ASK IS FOR SATURN TO REPLACE MY FAULTY DRIVE TRAIN (ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION) FREE OF ALL LABOR AND PARTS WITH THE NEW TYPE DRIVE TRAIN THAT IS IN THE NEW 2008-09 VUE OR REPLACE WITH A NEW VEHICLE!!! ITS THAT SIMPLE SATURN! AND UNTIL THIS HAPPENS THIS TRANSMITTAL WILL CONTINUE ON TO WEBSITES, PUBLIC POSTS, FLYERS, IN FRONT OF SATURN DEALERS ETC. ETC... PS. I HAVE POSTED THIS WARNING ON EVERY NEW CAR BUYERS SITE JUST TO WARN PROSPECTIVE BUYERS OF THE FAILED RESPONSIBILITY OF SATURN AND GM. ALSO I HAVE COPIED JUST ABOUT EVERY PERSON AND BUSINESS THAT HAS EXPOSURE TO INTERSECTIONS SHOPPING MALLS ETC. SO TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS, WORKING COLLEAGUES, ETC. GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT SATURN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10274598June 22, 2009
POWER TRAIN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE POWERTRAIN FUSE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO DAYS LATER. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THERE WERE NO AUTHORIZED DEALERS IN THE AREA FOR A SECOND OPINION. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 82,067.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273963June 16, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WAS FLASHING TODAY AND ABOUT AN HOUR LATER I STARTED TO LOOSE POWER AND WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS I HEARD A LOUD NOISE. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ONLY I DISCOVERED THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IGNITION: MODULE ON THE 2003 SATURN VUE AWD 6CYCL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273814June 15, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE STILL MANAGED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CALLED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED THAT IT BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY INOPERABLE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 102,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273031June 7, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAD DRIVEN MY 2003 SATURN VUE TO WORK THE PREVIOUS NIGHT WITH NO PROBLEMS. UPON DRIVING IT THE NEXT MORNING, IN BUSY TRAFFIC, IT WOULD NOT TRANSFER OUT OF FIRST GEAR EASILY. I PRACTICALLY HAD TO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR TO EVEN GET IT UP TO 30 MPH. I HAVE NOT HAD THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED BUT HAVE HAD QUOTES IF IT IS THE TRANSMISSION AND IT IS TOTALLY RIDICULOUS THAT WE AS CONSUMERS HAVE TO PAY MORE FOR SOMEONE'S BAD JUDGMENT ON TRANSMISSIONS. I HAVE READ MANY FORUMS WHERE THE COMPLAINTS ARE NUMEROUS ON THE SATURN TRANSMISSIONS AND NOW AS CONSUMERS WE ARE UP THE CREEK WITHOUT A PADDLE NOW THAT GM HAS FILED BANKRUPTCY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD OF BEEN ADDRESSED BEFORE BANKRUPTCY BEFORE NOT ONLY ARE THE CONSUMER'S WALLETS EMPTY BUT THE RISK INCREASES FOR OUR SAFETY AS WELL AS OTHERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10270166May 28, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE A 2003 SATURN VUE AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT ON MAY 5 WENT TO THE SHOP TO BE REPAIRED ON MAY 20 GOT VEHICLE BACK ON THE 23 AND ON MAY 25 THE TRANSMISSION WENT AGAIN TOOK IT BACK TO SATURN OF ALBANY N.Y. AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER PICKED IT UP ON MAY 27 GOT ABOUT 5 MILES AWAY FROM SATURN TRIED TO CROSS A 4 LANE INTERSECTION AND VEHICLE WOULD BARELY MOVE DUE TO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AGAIN IT IS A GOOD THING THERE WAS VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10270176May 28, 2009
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAG AND SERVICE LIGHT ON. BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER ONLY TO FIND OUT THE AIR BAG MODULE IS DEFECTIVE. DEALER SAID IT WOULD COST $750.00 TO REPAIR. TALKED TO LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP THEY SAID THEY THOUGHT THERE WAS A LAW THAT MANUFACTURERS HAVE TO CORRECT A SAFETY ISSUE FOR UP TO 10 YEARS AFTER CAR IS MANUFACTURED AT NO CHARGE TO CONSUMER. CALLED DEALER THEY SAID THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS OF COURSE. STUCK WITH PROBLEM AND CONCERNED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269977May 26, 2009
POWER TRAIN
FAILURE OF THE VTI TRANSMISSION ON THE 2002 - 2005 SATURN VUE. I WAS NOTIFIED BY A FELLOW VUE OWNER THAT THEY ARE HAVING SERIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH MY TRANSMISSION SINCE PURCHASE AND HAVE DOCUMENTATION THAT I AGAIN BROUGHT IT TO MY DEALERS ATTENTION AT 55,000 MILES. UPON RESEARCH I FIND THAT THE NOISE MY CAR IS NOW MAKING IS PROBABLY NOT THE WHEEL BEARINGS BUT THE TRANSMISSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269781May 23, 2009
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TRAVELING SOUTH BOUND AT APROX. 30-35 MPH ENTER BUSY URBAN INTERSECTION WHEN A CAR TRAVELING WEST BOUND RAN A RED LIGHT. I COLLIDED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF HIS VEHICLE STRAIGHT ON (T-BONED). CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE COMPLETE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. I SUFFERED BRUISING AND SORENESS FROM THE IMPACT. MY VEHICLE THE SATURN VUE WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268628May 13, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF A 2003 SATURN VUE. I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN JUNE OF 2008 BECAUSE I KNEW SATURN HAD A GOOD REPUTATION AND MADE VERY RELIABLE AND SAFE CARS. ON MAY 10, 2009 MY HUSBAND, MYSELF, AND OUR 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WERE LEAVING A GAS STATION PARKING LOT. MY HUSBAND PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND PULLED OUT INTO THE ROAD TO BEGIN OUR TRIP HOME. AS HE PULLED OUT INTO THE ROAD AND PRESSED THE GAS THE CAR'S RPMS REVVED UP BUT THE CAR DID NOT MOVE. WE CHECKED TO SEE IF ONE OF US HAD ACCIDENTALLY HIT IT INTO NEUTRAL, BUT IT WAS IN FACT IN DRIVE. WE HAD ENOUGH FORCE TO COAST BACK INTO ANOTHER ENTRANCE OF THE GAS STATION PARKING LOT AND GET OUT OF THE ROAD BEFORE BEING HIT. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL (NOT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE). WE HAD IT TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. THEY SENT IT TO A LOCAL SATURN DEALER. THE SATURN DEALER CONTACTED US AND SAID INDEED THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. SATURN GAVE US A QUOTE FOR REPAIRS WHICH WE CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY. WE WERE TOLD WE WOULD ALSO GET A DISCOUNT AS THIS VTI TRANSMISSION WAS NOW THE CAUSE OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. EVEN IF WE COULD AFFORD IT, THE FAULTY VTI TRANSMISSION CAN ONLY BE REPLACED WITH ANOTHER FAULTY VTI TRANSMISSION WHICH COULD GO OUT AT ANY TIME WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING. FORTUNATELY WHEN OUR TRANSMISSION DID GO OUT WE WERE SAFE. HOWEVER WE HAVE A 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND ARE EXPECTING OUR SECOND CHILD IN A FEW WEEKS AND IT IS ABSOLUTELY UNSAFE FOR US TO PUT OURSELVES, AND ESPECIALLY NOT OUR CHILDREN, IN SUCH A SITUATION. IT IS A TRAGEDY WAITING TO HAPPEN. WE HAVE CONTACTED LOCAL SATURN REPS, DISTRICT REPS, AND SATURN ASSISTANCE. ALL ARE UNWILLING TO HELP IN ANY WAY. THE LOCAL SATURN REPRESENTATIVE TOLD US HE WOULD NOT BUY THE CAR HIMSELF AND THAT THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT EVEN WANT TO PURCHASE IT FROM US IF WE FIXED IT. THEY KNOW IT IS UNSAFE AND STILL THEY WILL NOT HELP. WE ARE LEFT WITH A PARKED CAR IN OUR YARD THAT WE STILL OWE $5000 ON. WE DO NOT FEEL IT IS SAFE ENOUGH PUT OUR CHILDREN IN OR ANYONE ELSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268205May 8, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
SERPENTINE BELT WAS SHREDDED, WHEN THE BEARING ON THE IDLER SEIZED. V6-AWD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267984May 7, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, STRUCTURE
FIRST I HAD TO REPLACE THREE OF FOUR WHEEL BEARINGS ON THE VEHICLE IN JUNE OF 2006 FOUR MONTHS AFTER I GOT THE VEHICLE. THEN JUST TWO MONTHS AGO A SWAY BAR LINK BROKE AND BROKE A STRUT SO I HAD TO REPLACE THEM. NOW I AM STUCK WITH A 2003 SATURN VUE IN MY DRIVEWAY STILL PAYING FOR IT WITH A BAD TRANSMISSION. EVERYTHING WAS GOING GOOD AFTER THE STRUTS I THOUGHT I HAD IT ALL FIXED BUT THEN MY GIRLFRIEND WENT TO LEAVE THE DRIVEWAY AND THERE IS NO REVERSE IN THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268151May 7, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT BOUGHT THE VEHICLE WITH 55,000 MILES. AT 75,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN IN RIGHT GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SATURN DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION WITH A NEW ONE, WHICH INCLUDED A 18,000 MILE/ONE YEAR WARRANTY. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED UPHILL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT AFTER A FEW MINUTES, SHE RELEASED THE PEDAL AND ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE BACK INTO A DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE AUTO BODY SHOP. THE MECHANIC SEARCHED FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WILL INSTALL A NEW TRANSMISSION AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE WITH THE SAME WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE IS STILL AT THE AUTO BODY SHOP BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 124,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267822May 6, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
2003 SATURN VUE W/ VTI PURCHASED JULY 30, 2003. REPORTED PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION TO DEALER ON 12/14/05. DEALER REPLACED ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION AT THAT TIME. MILEAGE WAS 59,721 AT TIME TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. ON 5/1/09 WHEN EXITING THE FREEWAY, THE ENGINE STARTED TO SHUDDER AND JERK AS IF NOT GETTING POWER. I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK. WHEN I TRIED TO PUT THE CAR BACK INTO GEAR, IT WOULD NO LONGER ENGAGE THE DRIVE OR REAR GEARS. AFTER HAVING THE CAR TOWED AND CHECKED OUT, I HAVE BEEN ADVISED MUST GET A NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS CURRENT TRANSMISSION ONLY HAS 78,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267651May 4, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO SLIP INTO GEAR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE. A MECHANIC EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE DEALER SHOULD PERFORM THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,909 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,900.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267594May 3, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
THERE WAS NO WARNING JUST TOOK OFF FROM MY HOUSE IN 2003 SATURN VUE AND WHEN I WENT TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO LET GO. IT WON'T GO OUT OF FIRST GEAR AND GEARSHIFT JUST MOVES FREELY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266802April 27, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PRIOR TO OR DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, BUT THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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