Saturn Vue Complaints (2003)

622 consumer complaints on file.

#10183895March 1, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
CALLED DEALER WHEN THE CAR HAD 60,000 MILES TO INQUIRE ABOUT REPLACING TIMING BELT AND WAS TOLD THAT IT DID NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED UNTIL 80,000 MILES. CAR NOW HAS 69,000 MILES AND IS BEING REPAIRED DUE TO A FAILURE IN THE TIMING BELT AND AM KNOW BEING TOLD THERE MAY BE MORE DAMAGE IN THE VALVES DUE TO THE FAILURE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182153February 9, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPMENT
ON 11/19/2004 29,021 MILES. NOISE IN ENGINE AREA. SATURN REPLACED TRANSMISSION FLUID. WAS TOLD IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. 9/12/2005 61,695 MILES. CAR WOULDN'T GO WHEN PUT INTO GEAR. ALL GEARS WERE TRIED. CONTACTED SATURN WAS TOLD TO GET IT TOWED IN AND THEY WOULD INSPECT IT. BROUGHT TO ATTENTION THAT THE LETTER I RECEIVED ABOUT THE VTI TRANSMISSION HAVING PROBLEMS AND AGAIN WAS TOLD IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE CAR TOWED IN. ALSO HAD TO RENT MY OWN CAR. WAS REIMBURSED BUT ONLY FOR A SMALL PORTION ON THE RENTAL CAR COST AND NOTHING FOR THE TOW. FINALLY GOT MY CAR BACK ON 9/21/2005. 5/31/2006 89,412 MILES. AGAIN CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST AS I WILL NOT GO BACK TO SATURN. ANOTHER TRANSMISSION WAS PUT IN ANOTHER VTI AS NO OTHER TRANSMISSION CAN BE PUT IN THIS CAR. THIS ONE AT MY EXPENSE. 9/26/2006 105,000. CAR LOST POWER ON A CANYON ROAD HAD TO PULL OVER AND BE TOWED. WAS TOLD TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED AND WAS NOW RUNNING FINE. 2/8/2007 117,000 MILES. HERE WE GO AGAIN THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. WHEN WILL A RECALL BE ISSUED. HOW MANY PEOPLE NEED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS UNSAFE AND SHODDY TRANSMISSION. PLEASE HELP. I CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER TRANSMISSION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178971January 17, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN WAS ALWAYS HARD TO HONK. I HONKED THE HORN AND IT WOULDN'T STOP. I HAD TO REMOVE THE FUSE TO GET IT TO STOP. I TOOK IT TO SATURN AND THEY SAID IT WOULD COST $889 TO FIX. THE HORN AND AIRBAG ARE IN THE SAME MODULE. I'VE SEEN TOO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND I REFUSE TO HAVE TO PAY TO FIX A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178975January 17, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS 2003 SATURN VUE IS HAVING FUEL PROBLEMS. HE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING HIS VEHICLE HE CONTINUES TO SMELL GAS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAS TO DRIVE WITH HIS WINDOWS OPEN BECAUSE THE FUMES ARE SO STRONG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS STARTED HAPPENING IN OCTOBER OF 2006, WHEN HE HAD THE FUEL INJECTOR REPLACED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THE DAY AFTER THE INJECTOR WAS REPLACED AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR SEAL WAS NOT REPLACED PROPERLY. THEY REPLACED THE SEAL AT THAT TIME, BUT HE STILL SMELLS GAS WHILE DRIVING HIS VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS TAKEN HIS VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS BECAUSE OF THE FUMES AND THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH HIS VEHICLE. *JB UPDATED 02/27/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178078January 8, 2007
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, STRUCTURE
DAMAGE TO MY REAR DIFFERENTIAL CLUTCHES ON MY AWD 2003 SATURN VUE. THE VENT THAT LETS AIR IN AND OUT OF THE CLUTCH HOUSING WOULD ALLOW WATER TO ENTER AS WELL. WATER WOULD THEN MIX WITH THE GEAR OIL IN THAT CLUTCH HOUSING CASE AND CAUSE THE CLUTCH PACK TO "WHINE" OR "GROWL" ON A SHARP TURN. THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ON THE 2003 SATURN VUE AND SATURN RE-DESIGNED THE VUE IN 2004. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175245December 5, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VTI TRANSMISSION HAS A PROPENSITY TO REDUCE POWER WHEN WHEELS SLIP. IF PULLING OUT INTO AN INTERSECTION, WHEN ENGINE RPMS DROP THERE IS A CHANCE FOR BEING BROADSIDED BY VEHICLES. WE'VE HAD SEVERAL NEAR MISSES. DRIVER IS NEVER QUITE SURE IF THE POWER WILL BE AVAILABLE TO SAFELY ENTER TRAFFIC OR CROSS INTERSECTION. THIS REDUCTION IN POWER CAN RESULT FROM A LIGHT DUSTING OF SNOW TO SLIPPERY CROSSWALK PAINTED LINES, TO DIRT, GRAVEL OR OIL ON ROADWAY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174423November 27, 2006
AIR BAGS
SATURN VUE HORN FAILURE DUE TO POOR ENGINEERING DESIGN. DEALER ADVISED THAT AIRBAG, HORN, AND HORN RELAY HAS TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE HORN RELAY IS THE SAME RELAY PART NUMBER AS THE REAR WINDOW WIPER - TRADING OUT THE RELAYS DID NOT CAUSE THE REAR WINDOW WASHER TO STOP WORKING, THEREFORE THE PROBLEM IS NOT IN THE HORN RELAY. THE DEALER DISCONNECTED SOME OF THE SYSTEMS, INCLUDING THE FLASHER, TO DISCONNECT THE HORN WHEN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASIER TO UNPLUG THE HORN AT THE HORN RATHER THAN UNDER THE DASH. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FAILURE BUT WANTS ~$800 TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG, HORN, AND RELAY. THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM BASED ON THE OTHER COMPLAINTS LISTED. I PURCHASED A SATURN STRICTLY BECAUSE OF SERVICE DEPENDABILITY --- AND APPARENTLY THAT IS NOT SUFFICIENT REASON TO REMAIN WITH SATURN NOW THAT GM HAS TAKEN OVER. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173770November 17, 2006
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION SHIFT FAILURES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173773November 17, 2006
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION SHIFT FAILURES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173063November 9, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, THE VEHICLE OPERATED AT A REDUCED SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS NOT LARGE ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE SIZE OF THE ENGINE AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171377October 19, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN STARTS BLOWING WHEN CAR IS PARKED AND OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. DEALER SAYS DEFECT IN THE HORN MODULE BEHIND STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG. DEALER SAYS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT FIX AS A RECALL. THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME OVER $750 TO FIX. I DECLINED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169152September 24, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
THE HORN ON MY 2003 2WD SATURN VUE HAS MALFUNCTIONED AND IS NON-OPERATIONAL. ONE DAY, WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF, THE HORN ACTIVATED BY ITSELF AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. THE HORN WOUND UP DYING COMPLETELY AND NOW THE HORN, RELAY, FUSES, AND WIRING ALL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE HORN ACTIVATOR IS LOCATED INSIDE THE AIRBAG UNIT INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL UNIT. THE HORN ACTIVATOR IS COVERED BY A COPPER PROTECTIVE PLATE WHICH DEFORMS OVER TIME DUE TO THE DRIVER HAVING TO PRESS EXETREMELY HARD ON THE HORN BUTTONS TO ACTIVATE THE HORN. WHEN THE COPPER PLATE BECOMES DEFORMED, THE HORN ACTIVATES AND IS UNABLE TO BE DEACTIVATED UNLESS THE MAIN FUSE FOR THE HORN IS PULLED. IN MY CAR, THE FUSE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE LOCATED AND PULLED IN TIME, LEADING TO THE UNIT FAILURE. NOW I HAVE NO HORN AND THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE $750 TO REPLACE THE UNIT. FROM WHAT I'VE READ ON SATURN FORUMS ON THE WEB, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR DUE TO A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE HORN UNIT. DESPITE THE FACT THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE (SOME MORE THAN ONCE), GM HAS REFUSED TO ISSUE A RECALL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168529September 18, 2006
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE, SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING, SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR, TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
SQUEAK NOISE INTERMITTENT WHEN FIRST OBTAINED VEHICLE. ADJUSTMENTS MADE PERIODICALLY UNDER WARRANTY ( TO DASHBOARD ETC.) NOISE SEEMED TO GO AWAY BUT ALWAYS CAME BACK. NOISE BECAME LOUDER, AND MORE LIKE A CREAKING NOISE, WHEN AT LOW SPEEDS OR OVER BUMPS WHEN BRAKE IS NOT BEING PRESSED. TOOK VUE IN WHILE UNDER 49,700 MILES, VISUAL INSPECTION FOUND FRONT STABILIZER LINKS TO BE NOISY. I DECLINED THEM REPAIRING IT AS THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE FRO FREE OR DISCOUNT, EVEN WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE, AND NOISE HAS BEEN PRESENT. I STOPPED TAKING IT TO THE DEALER AFTER WARRANTY WAS UP AS THEY HAVE A REPUTATION IN TOWN TO NOT WORK WITH THE CUSTOMER. LATERAL LINKS WERE ALREADY REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, I FEEL THE STABILIZER LINKS SHOULD BE REPLACED FREE ALSO, WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE. I WILL TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC AND HAVE IT DOWN, FOR MY OWN SAFETY, BUT I FEEL I DESERVE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THAT AS WELL AS THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES I JUST HAD PUT ON AND FRONT WHEEL BEARING! I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES ON CAR DUE TO WEAR, AND CAR HAD LESS THAN 4500 MILES ON IT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168187September 13, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, TIRES, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE, STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS, SUSPENSION:REAR
CV JOINTS WERE REPLACED AT 22000 NOW AGAINAT 37000 I NEED TO REPLACE THEM. FRONT ROTORS WERE REPLACED AT 22000 AND AGAIN AT 33000 TIMING BELT AT 20000 NEEDED REPLACEMENT I REPLACED THE MAIN COMPUTER CONTROLLER IN AUG 2006. THIS CAR IS A PIECE OF CRAP AND I WILL NEVER BUY A SATURN AGAIN I BOUGHT THIS BRAND NEW OFF THE LOT IN JAN 2003 AND HAVE HAD MAJOR THINGS GO WRONG. I ALSO NEED TO NOW REPLACE THE TIRES ( DULLERS) AT 37000 BECAUSE I AM HYDROPLANNG ALL OVER THE PLACE.I HAD A LOUD SOUND FROM MY PASSENGER WINDOW THAT TOOK 2 YEARS TO DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR AND THE REAR END WAS RECALLED AND THE COOLING FAN REPLACED AT 24000. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168184September 13, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
TIMING BELT NEEDED REPLACEMENT ON 1/28/05. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167005August 29, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
I HAVE A 2003 SATURN VUE @51,000 MILES BOTH FRONT AND BACK WHEEL BEARINGS NEED REPLACING. I HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT AT MY EXPENSE ($550.77) THE BACK ONE ALSO NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS NOT ONLY TO MYSELF, ANY PASSENGERS IN MY VEHICLE OR OTHER MOTORISTS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166400August 24, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I WENT OUT TO START MY CAR. IT MADE A SOUND LIKE IT WAS A DIESEL TRUCK ENGINE. I HAD IT TOWED TO SATURN IN NORWOOD MA ON RT 1. IT WAS MY TIMING CHAIN. IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I AM JUST REPORTING THIS NOW BECAUSE I SAW YOU WERE INVESTIGATING THE BELTS ON OTHER SATURN'S. I READ THAT IT HADN'T EFFECTED THE VUE BUT I WANTED YOU TO KNOW IT DOES. I AM LOOKING UP PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR BECAUSE I HAVE HAD SO MANY. THE INCIDENT DATE IS ESTIMATED. I PICK MY VUE UP(AGAIN) TODAY FROM THE DEALER I WILL GET A PRINT OUT OF THE EXACT DATE THIS OCCURRED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165605August 16, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN, POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
WHEN STOPPING THE VEHICLE AND SITTING STILL FOR A FEW SECONDS, THERE IS A LOUD THUMPING SOUND (OCCURRING THREE OR FOUR TIMES) FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE (SOUNDS SIMILAR TO A LOOSE FUEL TANK BAFFLE). THE DEALER STATED THEY WEREN'T AWARE OF ANY FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM, THOUGH THEY TRIED A COUPLE OF IDEAS. WHILE I'VE FOUND THIS ON SEVERAL WEBSITES ONLINE, NOBODY SEEMS TO KNOW THE CAUSE. EVERYONE SEEMS TO LIVE WITH THE PROBLEM. IT'S DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE AS IT SEEMS INTERMITTANT, BUT HAPPENS ON AVERAGE ONCE PER DAY. BEING THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE EMINATING FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM, I THINK THAT SATURN SHOULD TAKE THIS ISSUE MORE SERIOUSLY, AND MORE THAN LIKELY THIS IS SOMETHING THEY CAN CORRECT BY REPLACING THE FUEL TANK, I FEEL THAT THEY JUST DON'T WANT THAT EXPENSE. ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE HORN SWITCH, AS IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO OPERATE IN A PANIC SITUATION, WHICH IS WHAT IT IS DESIGNED TO BE USED IN. LASTLY, I BELEIVE THAT NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE THE AWD SYSTEM ON THESE VEHICLES. I'VE DONE MY OWN TESTS AND I HAVE TO SAY I AM SURPRISED ABOUT HOW EASILY IT IS TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IN LIGHT SNOW. WHEN THE REAR COMES ON, IF THE ENGINE IS REVVING HIGH, IT CAN SPIN THE VEHICLE AROUND LIKE A TOP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165813August 9, 2006
SUSPENSION, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY, POWER TRAIN
2003 SATURN VUE FAILED TO START. *KB THE VEHICLE MADE SQUEAKING NOISES WHEN THE CONSUMER MADE A RIGHT TURN, IN ADDITION TO VARIOUS OTHER RUMBLINGS. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE ROTORS, BEARINGS AND TRANSMISSION. A SPECIAL WHEEL BEARING HAD TO BE ORDERED AS WELL AS A SPECIAL SIDE COVER AND HARDWARE FOR THE TRANSMISSION. THE COOLANT SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE. THE REAR WIPERS WOULD STICK. THE GAS GAUGE WOULD ONLY READ 3/4 FULL. THE AIR CONDITION STOPPED WORKING AND THE HOT AND COLD KNOB DID NOT GO ALL THE TO COOL. THE STARTER WAS REPLACED WHICH WAS THE REASON THE VEHICLE WASN'T STARTING. THE TRANSFER CASE SEAL WAS REPLACED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164278August 3, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SATURN HAS ONGOING PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSIONS THAT THEY ARE REFUSING TO RECOGNIZE. MY WIFE'S VUE SUDDENLY LOST POWER TODAY IN TRAFFIC WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND ALMOST GOT IN TO A WRECK. I AM TIRED OF THEM FAILING TO TAKE NOTICE OF THIS; THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ARE ALL OVER THE INTERNET. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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