Saturn Vue Complaints (2002)

167 consumer complaints on file.

#10223559April 7, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE LOW POWER LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AND WOULD NOT RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V519000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 125,000. UPDATED 6/9/08 *CN UPDATED 06/09/08
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10223353April 4, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE CAR SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO CAR TURNING OFF: NO INTERIOR WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON PRIOR TO CAR STOPPING AND NO NOISES WERE HEARD PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. I WAS UNABLE TO START THE CAR BACK UP AND MOVE OFF OF THE ROAD. THIS CAR HAS ALL OF IT'S ROUTINE MAINTENANCE UP TO DATE. DEALERSHIP SYSTEM DIAGNOSTICS SHOWS THAT IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE "CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR." *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218743February 21, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS BRAKE FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215980January 25, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE AND REDUCED POWER LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY LOST POWER. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED. SHE HAS PICTURES OF THE FAILED COMPONENT. THE CONTACT FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 117,000. UPDATED 02/15/08. *LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215436January 19, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 SATURN VUE 2.2L 4CYL LAST NIGHT AT APPROX. 55-60MPH, MY REDUCED POWER LIGHT CAME ON, ALONG WITH THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON. I HAD NO FOREWARNING NOISES OR INDICATION MY CAR WAS GOING INTO FAILURE. I IMMEDIATELY PUT MY CAR INTO NEUTRAL, SHUT THE IGNITION DOWN, AND PULLED OFF THE ROAD AS SAFELY AS I COULD, STILL AT APPROX. 50 MPH SPEED AS I HAD MY 3 CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITH ME. AFTER THE CAR WAS SHUT DOWN FOR 5 MINS AND SPEAKING TO MY GM DEALERSHIP, THEY ADVISED ME TO TRY TO TURN THE CAR OVER IN CASE IT WAS JUST A "GLITCH" IN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM, TO NO AVAIL. IT WOULDN'T TURN OVER. AFTER BEING TOWED TO MY GM DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD MY VEHICLE HAD A "ZERO TOLERANCE" ENGINE, AND THAT MY TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKE. I WAS TOLD MY ENGINE WAS MOST LIKELY BLOWN, AND THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE MY ENGINE REPLACED. THE MINIMAL COST OF THIS TIMING CHAIN ERROR IS $3,000 EVEN WITH A USED ENGINE GOING INTO MY CAR. I SEE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT SATURN'S 2.2L ENGINE IN THE APPROX. 2001-2002 RANGE, AND I BELIEVE MY VEHICLE IS PART OF THIS. I AM CONTACTING SATURN ON MONDAY THE 21ST TO SEE IF I CAN GET SOME SORT OF HELP IN REPLACING MY ENGINE, AS THIS IS APPARENTLY AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM WITH THEIR ENGINES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10214582January 12, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL
LEAKING RIGHT AXLE SEAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212646December 24, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
THE ONLY "EVENT" WHICH LED TO THE FAILURE WAS ACCELERATING TO THEN MERGE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED/BROKE DURING ACCELERATION WHILE MERGING WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. POWER WAS THEN LOST,THE VEHICLE DIED WHILE GOING DOWNHILL. THIS CAUSED LOSS OF FULL BRAKES AND STEERING WHILE THE VEHICLE ROLLED TO A STOP. THE CHAIN THEN DAMAGED MULTIPLE VALVES LEADING TO A POTENTIAL MINIMUM $2000 REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212608December 23, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
MY WIFE PULLED UP TO A HOUSE THAT MY DAUGHTER WAS VISITING AND HONKED THE HORN FOR HER TO COME OUT. THE HORN CONTINUED TO SOUND UNTIL THE FUSE WAS PULLED. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205072October 5, 2007
AIR BAGS
MY 16 YEAR OLD SON WAS DRIVING. MY 13 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS HIS PASSENGER. HE WAS DRIVING A 2002 SATURN VUE. HE HIT A TREE, DEAD-ON, GOING 40 MPH. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE, AMBULANCE FOLKS, BODY SHOP REP: THEY ALL SAID THE SAME THING AND LOOK AT ME WITH AMAZEMENT THAT THIS HAPPENED (OR DIDN'T HAPPEN). I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH THE IMPRESSION IT WAS EQUIPPED WITH WORKING AIRBAGS. IF A VEHICLE HITS SOMEONE, DEAD-ON, GOING 40MPH, I EXPECT AIRBAGS TO WORK, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD TO ME USING THIS AS A FEATURE. LAST NIGHT, A WEEK AFTER OUR ACCIDENT, WE PASSED YET ANOTHER VUE ACCIDENT SO I STOPPED OUT OF CURIOSITY. THIS LADY WAS TRAVELING 40-45 MPH AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER CAR. GUESS WHAT, HER AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EITHER. I SUPPOSE I'LL HAVE TO START MY OWN LITTLE "SATURN" INVESTIGATION SERVICE AS I INTEND TO FIND OUT JUST HOW OFTEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS LADY HAD A 2007 VUE, SO I DO NOT ACCEPT MY CAR BEING OLDER OR ANYTHING ELSE AS AN EXCUSE OF SOMETHING THAT LOOKS TO ME LIKE WAS DEFECTIVE TO START WITH. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10204097September 25, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED (APP 47K MILES ON IT) IN MARCH 2006. DURING SUMMER OF 2006 THERE STARTED TO BE A PROBLEM WHEREIN THE CAR, WHEN TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD, WOULD SUDDENLY SWITCH, WITHOUT WARNING, INTO A "REDUCED POWER MODE". A SMALL LIGHT WOULD COME ON INDICATING THIS, BUT THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WAS THAT ABOUT 5 SECONDS AFTER THIS LIGHT COMES ON, THE VEHICLE DOWN SHIFTED INTO 2ND GEAR AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO BREAK DOWN TO 30 MPH. THE ONLY WAY TO RESTORE POWER WAS TO PULL OVER AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF FOR 30-60 SECONDS. ***I WAS TOLD BY THE REPAIR CENTER THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS WITHIN SATURN FOR THIS DEFECT, SO THEY KNOW IT EXISTS. *** HOWEVER, BECAUSE THE COST OF THE REPAIR (TO CONSUMERS) IS OVER $1300, THEY HAVE NOT MADE A RECALL OF WHAT IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY DEFECT. THE DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED SEVERAL SHORTCUTS IN THE PAST YEAR TO FIX THE PROBLEM, EACH TIME WITH ONLY TEMPORARY SUCCESS. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO BOTH THE SATURN REPAIR CENTER AND SATURN CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE, NEITHER WILL OFFER ANY CONCESSIONS OTHER THAN COVERING A $100 DIAGNOSTIC FEE AFTER I HAD ALREADY PAID SUCH FEE TWICE. A DEFECT WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO FORCEFULLY SLOW DOWN TO 30 MPH IS RISKING THE LIFE OF MY FAMILY, SINCE WE OFTEN TRAVEL ON HIGHWAYS TO GET TO WHERE WE ARE GOING. CURRENTLY, WE DO NOT USE THE VEHICLE FOR HIGHWAY TRAVEL AND ARE FORCED TO USE OUR OTHER CAR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10200953August 27, 2007
AIR BAGS
IN 8/06 WE PURCHASED A 2002 SATURN VUE FROM A SATURN DEALER FOR OUR 16-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. TODAY, SHE WAS INVOLVED IN A 55 MPH ROLLOVER AND FLIPPED HER CAR END-OVER-END 5 TIMES. MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE WAS NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. WE WERE SHOWN A CARFAX AND TIME OF PURCHASE. HOWEVER, TODAY'S ACCIDENT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT (A) AIRBAGS WERE FAULTY (B) AIRBAGS HAD DEPLOYED IN A PRIOR ACCIDENT AND WERE NOT RE-BUILT (C) AIRBAGS HAD BEEN DISCONNECTED OR TAMPERED WITH SOMETIME PRIOR. PLEASE ADVISE AS TO WHAT ACTION, IF ANY, SHOULD BE TAKEN. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10198171August 1, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2002 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, HE HEARD A NOISE IN THE ENGINE. THE CHECK ENGINE AND REDUCE POWER LIGHT WERE ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE DRIFTED INTO THE SLOW LANE ALLOWING HIM TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT FAULTY WIRING CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC REPAIRED THE WIRING; HOWEVER, THE TIMING CHAIN FELL OFF. VEHICLE MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN UP TO DATE SINCE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE TIMING CHAIN SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED DUE TO THE MILEAGE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 88,165.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10192916June 11, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE TIMING CHAIN ON MY 2002 SATURN VUE, THAT HAS ONLY 55,000 MILES ON IT, BROKE, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BE DESTROYED. (ENGINE DESTROYED WAS VERIFIED BY THE DEALERSHIP I TOOK IT TO, THEY SAID IT WAS SOMETHING THEY HAD NEVER SEEN HAPPEN, YET I SEE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THEIR L SERIES HERE. MY CAR HAS THE SAME ENGINE AS IT WAS THE FIRST YEAR THE VUE WAS MADE AND THE ENGINE WAS THE SAME AS THE L SERIES THAT YEAR). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10190858May 16, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2002 SATURN VUE 4 CYLINDER ENGINE. CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AT 74,000 MILES. TIMING CHAIN BROKE WITHOUT WARNING, SHUTTING DOWN VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. CAUSED DAMAGE TO EIGHT OF THE SIXTEEN VALVES. HAVE TO REPLACE CHAIN, HAVE CYLINDER HEADS MACHINED AND OTHER WORK DONE (STILL IN PROGRESS). PARTS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE FROM SATURN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10188726April 24, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE VEHICLE HESITATED THEN SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING ILLUMINATED AFTER THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY AFTER IT SHUT OFF. THE MECHANIC STATED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. HE REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT. HOWEVER, THAT DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD THE SAME FAILURE ON FOUR OCCASIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000 MILES , AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000 MILES AS OF 04-24-07. *AK UPDATED 09/05/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185161March 15, 2007
STEERING:COLUMN
2002 SATURN VUE (42000 MILES): NOTICED RUMBLING SOUND AND VIBRATION COMING FROM AREA OF RUBBER BOOT WHERE STEERING COLUMN ENTERS FLOOR BOARD. APPLIED LUBRICANT AND THIS TEMPORARILY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM BUT IT SOON RETURNED. DEALER CLAIMS STEERING COLUMN IS BAD AND NEED REPLACEMENT - $1000+ FOR PARTS AND LABOR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184222March 5, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN CONSTANTLY ON IN THE VERY EARLY HOURS OF THE MORNING. WAS TOLD BY SATURN DEALER THAT THIS WOULD COST OVER $700 BECAUSE THE ENTIRE AIR BAG WOULD NEED REPLACING! I NEEDED TO REMOVE THE FUSE FOR THE HORN CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE FOR MYSELF AND FAMILY. THIS IS A VERY LARGE PROBLEM SATURN HAS WITH ALL OF THEIR VEHICLES AND THEY REFUSE TO RECOGNIZE IT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183344February 23, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
DRIVING AT @ 35 MILES PER HOUR IN OUR 2002 SATURN VUE WHEN IT STOPPED. JUST STOPPED. WAITED 2 HOURS IN FRIGID CONDITIONS FOR A TOW. FOUND OUT THE FOLLOWING DAY THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD SNAPPED. THIS IN TURN DAMAGED TWO OF THE ENGINE VALVES CAUSING 1400 DOLLARS IN DAMAGE. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 65,000 MILES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181429February 2, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
ALL GAUGES ON THE DASH FAILED AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE SPEEDOMETER READ 0 MILES/HR, GAS GAGE READ 0, ETC. DEALER CLAIMS THAT THE BCM WAS NOT GROUNDED AND THE ELECTRICITY ARCHED AND SHORTED THE BCM. THE CAR ONLY HAS ABOUT 50,000 MILES AND DEALER QUOTED ME $409 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177124December 27, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THIS IS THE SECOND INSTANCE IN 54,438 MILES OF: TIMING CHAIN 'SLIPPED' DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION. IN BOTH INSTANCES, THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING (AT LOW SPEED), THEN RESTARTED WITH REDUCED POWER/PERFORMANCE ALONG WITH THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THIS TIME, THE ENGINE WAS BADLY DAMAGED AND MUST BE REPLACED. SATURN BLAMES ME FOR NOT KEEPING UP WITH THE EVERY 3000 MILE OIL CHANGE REQUIREMENT. (AND IS SATISFIED TO LOOK NO FURTHER FOR ANY OTHER CAUSES.) I HAVE SEEN THE INVESTIGATIVE REPORT (PE06-006), ON THIS SITE, OF AN INVESTIGATION INTO FREQUENT TIMING CHAIN FAILURES IN L-SERIES MODELS (HAVING THE SAME ENGINE AS THIS VEHICLE). THE REPORT REFERENCES LACK OF OIL FLOW TO THE TIMING CHAIN WHEN OPERATING AT LOW RPM. (THIS IS THE TYPE OF DRIVING I DO.) THE REPORT ALSO REFERENCES GM TSB 03-06-01-017 STATING "ALL TIMING CHAIN SERVICE KITS NOW AVAILABLE WILL INCLUDE AN OILER NOZZLE, A NEW DESIGN THAT WILL INCREASE OIL FLOW TO THE TIMING CHAIN UNDER LOW RPM OPERATING CONDITIONS". THE DEALER DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE EXISTENCE OF THE IMPROVED DESIGN FOR THE VUE ENGINE. THE FIRST FAILURE INSTANCE WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AT 24,663 MILES. THE CURRENT INSTANCE OCCURRED AT 54,438 MI. , AND IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. SATURN IS OFFERING TO TAKE 50% COST OF AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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