Saturn Vue Complaints (2002)

167 consumer complaints on file.

#10177030December 26, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
INCIDENT = SECOND INSTANCE IN 54,438 MILES OF: TIMING CHAIN 'SLIPPED' DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION. THIS IS ON MY 2002 SATURN VUE, 4 CYL. ENGINE - FRONT WHEEL DRIVE. SATURN BLAMES ME FOR NOT KEEPING UP WITH THE EVERY 3000 MILE OIL CHANGE REQUIREMENT. (AND IS SATISFIED TO LOOK NO FURTHER FOR OTHER CAUSES.) I HAVE SEEN A REPORT, ON THIS SITE, OF AN INVESTIGATION INTO FREQUENT TIMING CHAIN FAILURES IN L-SERIES MODELS (HAVING THE SAME ENGINE). 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 "ALL TIMING CHAIN SERVICE KITS NOW AVAILABLE WILL INCLUDE AN OILER NOZZEL, A NEW DESIGN THAT WILL INCREASE OIL FLOW TO THE TIMING CHAIN UNDER LOW RPM OPERATING CONDITIONS". THE FIRST INSTANCE WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTEE AT 24,663 MILES. THE CURRENT INSTANCE OCCURRED AT 54,438 MI. , AND IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTEE. DAMAGE RESULTING = ENGINE DAMAGE FOR THE SECOND INSTANCE IS "BEYOND REPAIR", AND I AM TOLD THE ENGINE MUST BE REPLACED. EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARANTEE, SATURN OFFERS TO PAY 50% OF THE COST OF A REBUILT ENGINE REPLACEMENT. BUT, I CANNOT AFFORD EVEN 50% AT THIS TIME. I HAVE OPENNED A CASE WITH SATURN TO GET MORE SUPPORT. THE CASE IS CURRENTLY AWAITING ACTION BY THE DISTRICT MANAGER WHO IS ON VACATION UNTIL THE FIRTST OF THE YEAR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174164November 24, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY THE ALARM SOUNDED WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, THE LIGHT SWITCH AND INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME HOT WHEN THE LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171780October 25, 2006
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OPENING MECHANISM FAILED. OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FOR BACK SEAT WHERE CHILDREN SIT IN CAR. DEALER NOTED THAT MANUF HAD SINCE REDESIGNED THE MECHANISM HOWEVER MANUF WOULD NOT REIMBURSE FOR REPAIR COST OF $275 WHEN CONTACTED REPEATEDLY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169554September 28, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2002 SATURN VUE (65,000 MILES) MAKING NOISE. WOULD NOT START, TOWED TO MECHANIC. TIMING CHAIN FAILURE CAUSING ENGINE DAMAGE. ESTIMATED COST IS $3000; LOSS OF VEHICLE FOR AT LEAST A WEEK WHILE BEING REPAIRED. CURRENTLY AT THE MECHANICS AWAITING REPAIR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168644September 19, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR
(1) WAS TURNING RIGHT FROM DRIVEWAY ONTO STREET FROM WORK (2) WAS A LOUD METAL SNAPPING SOUND, THEN A GRINDING TYPE SOUND WHILE DRIVING HOME. THUMPS WHEN MAKING TURNS WHEN CHECKED AT HOME, DISCOVERED THAT FRONT STABILIZER BAR'S RIGHT LINK HAD SNAPPED LOOSE AT JUNCTION OF ROD AND BALL JOINT ON THE SUSPENSION STRUT. GRINDING WAS DUE TO LOOSE END OF THE LINK RUBBING INSIDE THE WHEEL. (3) LINK HAD TO BE REPLACED, WAS DIFFERENT DESIGN FROM ORIGINAL. ORIGINAL WAS 3 PIECES SCREWED TOGETHER, REPLACEMENT WAS CASST SINGLE PIECE. ORIGINAL IS AVAILABLE. FAILURE COULD HAVE LED TO THE BROKEN PIECE DISABLING BRAKES IF IT RUPTURED THE BRAKE HOUSE, OR DISABLING ABS HAD IT BROKEN WIRE LEADS WHICH ARE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY. PARTS REDESIGN POINTS TO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE THAT OLD DESIGN IS DEFECTIVE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168290September 14, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, OUR 2002 VUE MADE A GRINDING NOISE AND THEN BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. AS WE WERE PULLING OFF TO THE SIDE, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THEN WOULD NOT RE-START. THE SATURN DEALERSHIP TOWED THE VUE TO THEIR LOT AND INFORMED US , THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD SKIPPED AND BLEW THE MOTOR. THE TIMING CHAIN WAS SUPPOSED TO BE NO MAINTENANCE AND DIDN'T EVEN NEED TO BE CHECKED UNTIL 100,000 MILES. MY VUE HAD 65,000 MILES. AFTER 3 WEEKS WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY WOULD REBUILD THE ENGINE AT A COST OF $3500- $3800 AND SATURN WOULD PAY HALF OF THAT COST. SEVERAL WEEKS PRIOR, THE VEHICLE WAS STALLING WHILE DRIVING AND WOULD NOT RESTART UNTIL IT COOLED OFF. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED A SENSOR FOR THE CAM SHAFT. THE SWITCH FOR THE BACK WIPER HAS BEEN REPLACED AND WE WERE TOLD BY SATURN TECH'S THAT THE MOTOR FOR THE BACK WIPER ALSO NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, AGAIN AT OUR COST. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167297September 4, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 SATURN VUE TO WORK, THE REDUCED POWER AND SERVICE ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY, AND I HAD NO POWER. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE A STATE TROOPER SAT BEHIND ME WITH HIS LIGHTS ON SO THAT I WOULD NOT BE REAR-ENDED. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR STATION WHERE IT COULD NOT BE FIXED, SO IT WAS TOWED TO THE SATURN DEALER. IT WAS REPORTED TO ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND SINCE THE ENGINE WAS A "ZERO TOLERANCE" ENGINE, THE ENTIRE ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $2000. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT DO NOT HAVE COPIES OF THE RECEIPTS FOR OIL CHANGES SO THEY WILL NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY (FOR WHICH I PAID $1700). HERITAGE (THE COMPANY WHICH I BOUGHT THE WARRANTY FROM WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR AT SATURN) SAYS THAT IF I PAY $435 TO HAVE THE ENGINE TORN DOWN, THEY WILL SEND AN AUDITOR TO DETERMINE IF THEY WILL PAY FOR THE REPAIRS OR NOT. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE ENGINE THAT THEY WILL PUT IN HAS 28,000 MILES ON IT AND THE TIMING CHAIN MAY BREAK ON THIS ENGINE AS WELL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163857July 29, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DRIVERS DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN.. THIS HAPPENED 3 OR 4 TIMES OVER THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS BUT USUALLY AFTER ATTEMPTING SEVERAL TIMES THE DOOR WOULD FINALLY OPEN, HOWEVER THIS TIME IT WOULD NOT OPEN.. I RETURNED TO MY HOME AND REFUSED TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL THE DEALER COULD LOOK AT IT AND SOLVE THE PROBLEM. IT TOOK 4 DAYS BEFORE I COULD GET AN APPOINTMENT. AFTER DRIVING 75 MILES TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THAT THE DOOR PANEL HAD 2 BROKEN CLIPS THAT HELD THE SIDE PANEL ON AND THAT IT WOULD COST $450 TO REPLACE THE DOOR PANEL.. I FIND THIS TO BE AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT OR FIRE AND THE NEED TO EVACUATE THE AUTOMOBILE.. MY ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED AS OF YET BUT AFTER OWNING A TOTAL OF 3 SATURN CARS AND ALL THREE HAVING DEFECTIVE ISSUES THAT SATURN WILL PROBABLY DO NOTHING. I FIND IT ODD THAT SATURN OFFERED 2 YEARS AGO TO BUY BACK OUR SATURN VUE BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO USE IT FOR RESEARCH... WE DECLINED ALTHOUGH WE NOW REGRET NOT FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH IT. SATURN DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND NEVER CLAIM LIABILITY FOR THEIR FAULTY PRODUCT. I WOULD NEVER BUY ANOTHER SATURN PRODUCT NOR WOULD I EVER RECOMMEND SATURN TO A FRIEND. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162604July 17, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAS TIMING CHAIN FAILURE WHICH CAUSES VEHICLE TO STALL. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE DEALER CANNOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE ILLUMINATION. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO HAS PROBLEMS AS WELL AS THE BRAKES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162037July 10, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A FAILED TRANSMISSION, ON A 2002 SATURN VUE WITH 56K MILES ON IT. I BROUGHT IT IN THREE MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING THEY CLAIMED THEY CHANGED THE FLUID, DID A TUNE UP ETC., BUT THE RIDE REALLY DIDN'T CHANGE. WELL THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY WENT OUT, AND THEY'RE ORDERING PARTS TO "FIX" THE TRANSMISSION INSTEAD OF REPLACING IT. IN FACT THEY DON'T MAKE THE TRANSMISSION ANYMORE (WHICH IS UNDERSTANDABLE, WHO WOULD CONTINUE TO MAKE SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T WORK) BUT NOW IF MINE GOES OUT I HAVE TO EITHER HAVE PARTS REPLACED, OR GET ONE OUT OF A WRECKED ONE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157804May 18, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT
SATURN VUE HAS ISSUES WITH SWAY BAR, HAD TO REPLACE O RINGS AND DO ALIGNMENT--DEALERSHIP/SERVICE DEPT CLAIMED IT WAS BECAUSE OF MICHIGAN ROADS, FUNNY THING IS THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN VA MOST OF THE PAST 9 MONTHS. MR. FARMER AT SATURN OF FLINT WAS VERY RUDE TO ME ON THE PHONE. MANUFACTURER DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT ONCE THE O RINGS GO THEN GOES THE ALIGNMENT, TIRES AND THEN BRAKES. I HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD 'TROUBLE' WITH THE O RINGS. WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE RECALLED? *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154547April 4, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
SOMEONE WAS PREPARING TO CUT ME OFF, SO I SOUNDED THE HORN AS A WARNING. THE HORN WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. I PULLED THE FUSE TO QUIET THE HORN. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SAME DAY AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE HORN/DRIVER AIR BAG RELAY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT OVER $700 JUST FOR THE PART! COMMON PROBLEM/POOR DESIGN FEATURE - SEE WWW.SATURNFANS.COM/FORUMS/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP/T-52432.HTML. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153160March 20, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT
TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK ALL THE TIME, FEAR OF REAR END COLLISION. THE TURN SIGNALS HAVE TO BE RESET BY TURNING ON HAZARD WARNING FLASHERS MOMENTARILY THEN TRY TURN SIGNALS! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148792January 26, 2006
STEERING:COLUMN
WHENEVER THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED IT MAKES A NOISE AND SEEMS TO VIBRATE THE VEHICLE. IT HAS NOT YET FAILED, BUT IS VERY WORRISOME.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140621October 24, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE HORN WENT OFF ON ITS OWN. THE CONSUMER HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO ANY MECHANIC FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK (11/23/05) *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137370September 22, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
9/15/04 VEHICLE LOST POWER WHEN ACCELERATING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. I ALMOST HAD A COLLISION FROM AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. VUE HESITATED AGAIN AND LOST POWER WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO GET UP TO POSTED SPEED. I HAD THE ACCELERATOR FLOORED, RPMS SHOT UP TO 6000 AND I WAS ONLY ABLE TO GO 20 - 25 MILES PER HOUR DOWN THE ROAD. ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE HOME AT THE END OF THE DAY, BUT VUE WOULDN'T EXCEED 20 - 25 MILES PER HOUR. WITH 21,937 MILE, I DROVE TO SATURN OF ROCHESTER (MN) AND DROPPED OFF ADVISED DEALER THAT TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND ENGINE RACED. 9/16/04 SATURN OF ROCHESTER (MN) TECHNICIAN DROVE CAR AND FELT TRANSMISSION SLIP. TECHNICIAN DRAINED FLUID AND FOUND METAL IN FLUID AND BELT SLIPPING. DEALERSHIP CALLED TO ADVISE THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED! RETURNED TO OWNER ON 9/23/04. 9/27/04, WITH 22,060 MILES, BROUGHT VUE BACK TO SATURN OF ROCHESTER (MN) BECAUSE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WAS ON. SATURN VIE WAS ONLY ABLE TO GO 20 - 25 MILES PER HOUR DOWN THE ROAD '' ONCE AGAIN, HAD TO TAKE BACK ROADS TO SAFELY GET TO DEALERSHIP. TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THEY HAD TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION THAT THEY HAD REPLACED! WHEN I ASKED IF THEY HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE SATURN VIE THE SALES PERSON SAID HE HADN'T HEARD OF ANYTHING. THE GENERAL MANAGER MADE THE SAME STATEMENT. USING THE INTERNET I DISCOVERED NUMEROUS LISTINGS ON THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION WEB SITE. I PRINTED OUT THE INFORMATION AND PROVIDED IT TO THE GENERAL MANAGER - - HE PLEAD IGNORANCE. WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED I ASKED THE SHOP MANAGER IF THEY HAD EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS AND HE TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD REPLACED SEVERAL TRANSMISSION AND THAT IT WAS WIDELY KNOW THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136381September 13, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN TWICE IN LESS THAN 15 MONTHS. THE 2001 SATURN VUE'S HORN BECOMES JAM DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRBAG. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANICS AT THE SATURN DEALERSHIP THE AIRBAG PRESSES DOWN ON THE HORN AND JAMS IT CAUSING IT TO GO OFF NON STOP, THE ONLY WAY TO TURN IT OFF IS TO DISCONNECT THE FUSE. THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED TO ME ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP IT FRIED THE HORN CONNECTION IN THE STEERING WHEEL, MY CONCERN ABOUT THIS SINCE ITS HAPPEN TO ME SO OFTEN IS COULD IT ACCIDENTALLY SET OFF THE AIRBAG? ALSO CAN THIS BE A FIRE HAZARD DUE TO THE CABLES BEING BURNT WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL? I WOULD BE WILLING TO LET YOU GUYS INSPECT MY AUTOMOBILE. IN ORDER TO REPAIR THIS THE WHOLE AIRBAG SYSTEM, AND HORN NEEDS TO BE REPAIR.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135970September 9, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
IN THE MORNING MY WIFE ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR AND IT DID NOT START. WHEN I GOT HOME FROM WORK I STARTED THE CAR, BUT THE IDLE WAS VERY ROUGH. I DROVE THE CAR AROUND THE BLOCK (STANDARD TRANSMISSION) AND IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT GETTING THE CAR TO ACCELERATE IN FIRST GEAR. AS I DROVE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT WAS FLASHING. THE IDLE WAS ROUGH, THE ENGINE WAS UNDERPOWERED, AND WHEN I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE ENGINE WOULD STALL. THE PARTS REPLACED WERE #12587426: COIL ASM, #12580215: MODULE AS, #12569190: SPARK PLUG. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. THE REPAIRS WERE DONE AT SATURN OF NATIONAL CITY IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY. THIS VEHICLE IS A 2002 SATURN VUE. IT HAS THE 2.2L (L4) ENGINE. THE PARTS AND THE ENGINE ARE THE SAME ONES FOUND IN THE SATURN L-SERIES SEDAN, WHICH HAD A RECALL FOR THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE. I BELIEVE THAT RECALL IS 03-C-06. I CALLED SATURN'S NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE AND THEY SAID THAT THE RECALL DOES NOT AFFECT MY VEHICLE, EVEN THOUGH IT HAS THE SAME ENGINE AND SAME PART NUMBERS THAT WERE SUBJECT TO RECALL FOR THE L-SERIES SEDAN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135797September 8, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING THE RPM GAUGE JUMPED FROM TWO TO SEVEN OR EIGHT. THEN DROPPED BACK TO TWO. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT STATED IT HAPPENED SO FAST THAT THERE WAS NO TIME TO REACT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST SIX TIMES. THE CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE SERVICE DEALER HAS DONE, BUT THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY DID EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE FOR ANOTHER YEAR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132765August 14, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY SATURN HAS TROUBLE STARTING. WHEN IT DOES START AND RUN THE HEADLIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF CONSTANTLY, MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WON'T SHUT OFF, AND THE ODOMETER WENT FROM READING 36,000 MILES TO READING 76,000 MILES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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