Saturn Vue Complaints

2,395 consumer complaints on file.

#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
#10172585November 3, 2006
WHEELS:HUB, SUSPENSION:REAR
2004 SATURN VUE WAS PURCHASE 1/24/04. WE NOTICED A VERY LOUD NOISE SO WE TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID WE NEEDED TO HAVE A REAR WHEEL BEARING REPLACED. WE HAVE NEVER HAD THIS REPAIRED ON AN AUTO BEFORE. THE CAR HAS 45169 MILES WHICH SEEMS A SMALL AMOUNT TO NEED A BEARING REPLACED. THE REPAIR COST US $400. IN ADDITION, OUR DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS NO LONGER WORK. THEY DIDN'T WORK ONCE WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. SATURN TOLD US IT WAS A BULB. THEY AREN'T WORKING AGAIN (NOW OUT OF WARRANTY) AND NOW WE ARE TOLD IT ISN'T THE BULB, BUT THEY WILL NOT REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. WE ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE ROTORS RESURFACED IN 11/05. WE ARE NOT HAPPY WITH OUR FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH A SATURN VEHICLE. THE SATURN EMPLOYEES ARE GREAT, BUT THE VEHICLE ISN'T. I WISH I'D NEVER BOUGHT THE CAR. WE WERE ALL SET TO BUY A SATURN RELAY IN THE SPRING, BUT NOW ARE THINKING BUICK, OR MAYBE OUR FIRST FOREIGN CAR. THANKS! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172419November 1, 2006
SEATS
I BOUGHT A SATURN VUE HYBRID IN SEPTEMBER, WITH IN TWO HOURS THE DRIVER SEAT BACK LUMBAR MECHANISM FEEL APART WHEN A CAR PARKED TO CLOSE FORCED ME TO WORM MY WAY IN THE DOOR. IT WAS FIXED SEVERAL TIMES AND SATURN OF LIBERTYVILLE, USING SLIP TIES TO FINALLY HOLD IT TOGETHER. WITH THE HELP OF SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE I WENT TO ANOTHER DEALER, PARTS ARE ON ORDER. MY BACK BEING BROKEN THREE TIMES REAR ENDED STOPPED AT LIGHTS, MY BACK DID NOT FEEL GOOD RIDING IN THE BROKEN SEAT FOR A MONTH. SATURN TELLS ME ALL WARRANTIES ETC. ARE VOID IF I HAVE A SAFE SEAT, RECAR OTHODEIC, I WILL NOT RIDE IN AN UNSAFE SEAT WHEN IT IS SO EASY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. IF ANY PERSON GETS REAR ENDED AT MORE THAN ABOUT TEN MILE PER HOUR THEY WILL HAVE BACK INJURIES. HAVING ATTENDED COLLEGE FOR ME.BS. AND EE. BS. I WILL NOT BE PLAYED FOR A FOOL BY ANY CAR COMPANY. THOMAS F. LYNCH. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10172100October 29, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FAILURE OF VTI TRANSMISSION. NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS - TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN SERVICED AT REGULAR INTERVALS - 50,000 AND 98,000 MILES. CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 102,000 MILES ON IT ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING LOSS OF POWER AND CODE DIAGNOSIS INDICATED P1882 - RECOMMEND REPLACE CASE COVER ASSEMBLY AND FILTER - ESTIMATED REPAIR COST $4,300 WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT IT WOULD NOT OCCUR AGAIN. HAD TO TRADE CAR - BOUGHT A HONDA. *NM
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
#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
#10171128October 17, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TOTAL FAILURE OF A VARIABLE SPEED TRANSMISSION WHILE ON AN INTERSTATE. A 2004 SATURN VUE WITH 32,652 MILES ON IT. UPON INSPECTION BY THE DEALER, THE CAUSE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO A FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION 'BELT' THAT DESTROYED THE OTHER INTERNAL COMPONENTS OF THE TRANSMISSION. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED IN A VEHICLE SO YOUNG. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER UNDER WARRANTY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171010October 16, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AS ENTERING THE INTERSECTION OF HWY 173 AND BI PASS 534. OTHER VEHICLE TURNED LEFT IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD THE GREEN LIGHT. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY 2005 SATURN VUE. WE WERE GOING BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MILES PER HOUR IN A 55 MPH ZONE. THE FRONT CENTER TO THE LEFT FRONT CORNER COLLIDED WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE INSURANCE COMPANY SAID SOMETIMES THEY JUST DON'T. AT THE SEEN OF THE ACCIDENT THE EMT TOLD ME I SHOULD GET OUT OF THE CAR IF I WAS ABLE TO. BECAUSE THE AIR BAGS MIGHT STILL DEPLOY, AS THEY HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO DO SO BEFORE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY REFUSES TO PAY FOR NEW AIR BAGS. STATING THAT THERE IS NO DANGER OF THEM UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOYING. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THEY MIGHT UNEXPECTEDLY. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10169984October 5, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDLE GO OFF OR DON'T LIGHT UP INTERMITTENTLY. (THE GAUGE REMAIN LIT). THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER OVER 5 TIMES WITHOUT SUCCESSFULLY FIXING THE PROBLEM. IT'S OBVIOUSLY A LOOSE CONNECTION IN A WIRE. WITHOUT THE NEEDLES WE ARE UNABLE TO READ SPEED, RPM, TEMP OR GAS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169846October 3, 2006
CHILD SEAT, CHILD SEAT:HARNESS/CROTCH BUCKLE, CHILD SEAT:TETHER: STRAP/WEBBING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT BUCKLE BETWEEN THE LEGS DID NOT ALWAYS FASTEN INTO PLACE. ALSO, THE TETHER STRAP LOOSENED DURING A MINOR COLLISION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THIS WAS A BRITAX MARATHON, MANUFACTURED APRIL 28, 2006.
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
#10169418September 27, 2006
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
NO WARNING WAS GIVEN AT ALL! THE SLAVE CYLINDER IN MY 2005 SATURN VUE WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. STUCK IN TRAFFIC WITH MY THREE OLD SON! *JB
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
#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
#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
#10168405September 15, 2006
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
STRANGE NOISE FROM THE REAR END OF THE CAR. IT IS CONSTANT. THE DEALER DOES NOT KNOW WHAT IT IS. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 200 MILES ON IT.
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
#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
#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

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