Saturn Vue Complaints (2004)
276 consumer complaints on file.
- #10132858August 15, 2005POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY
DT: IN APRIL 2005 THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THERE WERE SQUEAKING NOISES COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG, AND THEY TOLD HER THE BUSHINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED. ON 8-10-05 THERE WAS A PROBLEM IN THE TIRE AREA. THE CONSUMER THOUGHT THAT IT WAS WITH THE TIRES BECAUSE THEY HAD BEEN ROTATED RECENTLY. THE DEALER TOLD HER THAT THE ROCKER ARM/LEFT FRONT WHEEL WAS BROKEN. THE CONSUMER HAD IT REPLACED. ALSO, TOLD HER THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. THE DEALER TOLD HER THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF TRANSMISSION ON THE 4 CYLINDER SATURN . AFTER THE CONSUMER HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE SATURN HAD SENT HER A LETTER ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. IT WAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH TBI/VMI TRANSMISSION, AND THEY WOULD COVER THIS FOR UP TO 75,000 MILES. IT WAS NOT A RECALL. THE SHIFTER WAS VERY STIFF. THE TRANSMISSION WAS LOUD WHEN PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS AT LEAST 6 TIMES. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT EVERY TIME SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS THERE WERE MORE PROBLEMS. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10129483July 20, 2005LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR, SUSPENSION:FRONT, SUSPENSION:REAR, STEERING:COLUMN
IN THE PAST YEAR, I HAVE ALREADY HAD TO REPAIR THE REAR SUSPENSION TWICE, THE FRONT SUSPENSION, MY BACK SEAT LATCH, AND MY ROTORS. MY VUE IS THE WORST VEHICLE I HAVE EVER PURCHASED. WHEN DRIVING IN ANY BAD WEATHER I HAVE NO TRACTION AND SLIP ALL OVER THE ROAD.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10126233July 15, 2005POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DT: WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. IT HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING. IT SEEMED IT ONLY DOES IT WHEN THE MOTOR IS COLD, LIKE IN THE FIRST HALF A MILE DRIVEN. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. MANUFACTURER SAID THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL DEALER COULD GIVE THEM A COMPUTER CODE.*AK *JB UPDATED 024/24/06.*JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10127414July 4, 2005SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
2004 SATURN VUE UNDERWENT COMPREHENSIVE VEHICLE TEST INCLUDING BRAKS AT SATURN OF NEW BRUNSWICK ON 6/4/05. ON 6/24/05 WHILE AT FULL STOP IN TRAFFIC ( SLIGHT INLINE IN ROAD), VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL WHILE BREAK ENGAGED. IMMEDIATE RESPONSE WAS TO PRESS HARDER THEN PUMPED SEVEREAL TIMES WITHOUT RESULTS. MY VEHICLE STRUCK THE VEHICLE IN FRONT IN THE REAR AT WHICH TIME I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND TURNED OF THE IGNITION. THE DISTANCE OF THE ROLL WAS APPROX 8 FEET AT APPROX 3 MPH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE BRAKES WERE OPERATIONAL AFTERWARD BUT REPORTED THE FAILURE AND RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO SATURN OF NEW BRUNSWICK. THE FINDING ON THE SERVICE INVOICE STATES, "TECH VERIFIED LOW PEDAL, FOUND PEDAL TRAVEL TO BE TOO MUCH. TECH REMOVED REAR DRUMS TO CLEAN AND ADJUST REAR BRAKES, REINSTALLED AND FOUND TO BE OK AT THIS TIME. TECH ALSO CHECKED FRONT BRAKES AND CALIPERS, BRAKES OK".
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10127216June 30, 2005AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 SATURN VUE RED LINE WHEN I WAS STRUCK IN THE DRIVERS/DRIVERS DOOR POST AT APPROX. 40-45 MPH AND THE HEAD CURTAIN SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALED,I WAS/AM INJURED.TALKING TO A SATURN MOTOR CORP. REP. ABOUT THIS IT WAS CONVEYED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL AS MY VEHICLE WAS MOVING ,NOT STOPPED.THIS DOES NOT SEEM NORMAL TO ME,AS I THOUGHT THEY WOULD DEPLOY.NOT SURE WHAT TO THINK ABOUT THE EXPLANATION,WANTED NHTSA TO KNOW.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10126529June 24, 2005VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT: WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED AND HESITATED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER LOOKED AT IT, THEY HAVE SPEEDED UP THE COMPUTER, BUT COULD NOT PINPOINT THE PROBLEM. IT HAPPENED EVERY WEEK OR TWO. *AK THE GAS PEDAL WOULD STICK TWICE A WEEK. *SC
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10121806May 21, 2005POWER TRAIN
DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLES CRUISE TURNED ON MOST OF THE TRIP, WITH A SPEEDOMETER READING OF 67-72MPH. AROUND TOMAH, WISCONSIN, THE DRIVER PLANNED TO EXIT/ATTEMPTED TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLES CRUISE. DRIVER DEPRESSED THE CRUISE BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE CRUISE, THE NO RESPONSE. THE DRIVER WENT TO DEPRESS/ENGAGE THE CLUTCH, AND FOUND THAT THE CLUTCH WAS STUCK AND DID NOT RESPOND/WAITED A FEW SECONDS, TRIED THE CLUTCH AGAIN, THIS TIME GETTING A RESPONSE. DRIVERS TRIP CONTINUED (WITH THE CRUISE ON) AND TRAFFIC WAS CONGESTED. THE DRIVER HAD SLOWED THE VEHICLE DOWN USING THE CRUISE & REMEMBERS A SPEEDOMETER READING OF 60MPH. TRIED TO TURN OFF THE CRUISE BUTTON. THE CRUISE FAILED TO RESPOND OR SHUT OFF AS SHE USED HER LEFT FOOT TO ENGAGE/PUSH IN THE CLUTCH WITH ABSOLUTELY NO RESPONSE. DRIVER IMMEDIATELY PUT HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE. NO RESPONSE. BOTH THE CLUTCH AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WERE LOCKED/STUCK AND DID NOT RESPOND TO THE APPLICATION OF PRESSURE APPLIED BY THE DRIVERS FEET. DRIVER TRIED TO USE BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES -NO RESPONSE. NEITHER THE CLUTCH OR BRAKES RESPONDED. DRIVER SWERVED TO THE LEFT AND THE VEHICLE SPUN ACROSS THE HIGHWAY AS THE DRIVER APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES AND GRASPED THE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE TRAVELED OFF THE ROAD AND INTO THE GROUND ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE WENT THROUGH A DITCH & RECALLS FRONT END HITTING AN EMBANKMENT AND THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN A SERIES OF FLIPS AND ROLLS. AFTER HITTING THE EMBANKMENT WITH THE FRONT END OF HER CAR, THE PASSENGER OR RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE VEHICLE SLAMMED INTO SOMETHING (UTILITY POLE) AND BEGAN AN UPSIDE DOWN FLIP THAT CONTINUED WITH AT LEAST THREE ROLLS. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE SERIES OF ROLLS, THE DRIVER LANDED UPSIDE DOWN BEFORE THE CAR FLIPPED AGAIN AND LANDED RIGHT SIGHT UP, WITH THE FRONT END FACING THE HIGHWAY. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10116691April 10, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
NEW 2004 SATURN VUE(2WD) WITH 3.5 LITER V6, PURCHASED IN JULY 2004 1ST SYMPTOM: POOR FUEL EFFICIENCY 16MPG CITY INSTEAD OF 20MPG; WORSE DURING RAIN 22-24MPG HWY INSTEAD OF 28MPG; 19MPG OVERALL AVERAGE -DEALER RESPONSE NORMAL FOR FIRST 5K MILES, I'M NOW OVER 8K 2ND SYMPTOM: ENGINE BACKFIRES AFTER COLD START; WORSE DURING RAIN -DEALER RESPONSE NO TROUBLE FOUND, CHANGED OIL 3RD SYMPTOM: SLOW TO START WHEN PARKED ON SLIGHT UPWARD INCLINE -HAVEN'T NOTIFIED DEALER YET 4TH SYMPTOM: LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON BUT COOLANT LEVEL WAS OK -WILL BE TAKING IT IN TO DEALER I'M CONCERNED ABOUT TAKING IT IN FOR SERVICE AFTER READING SIMILAR REPORTS ON THIS VEHICLE AND NUMEROUS TALES OF POOR RESOLUTION. PLEASE NOTIFY OR POST ABOUT ANY NEW BULLETINS OR RESOLUTIONS THAT MAY BE HELPFUL.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10113257March 30, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE STALLED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, WHICH WAS DANGEROUS WHILE ON THE ROAD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR A CHECK UP, BUT THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK VEHICLE ACCELERATED TOO FAST WHEN PRESSING GAS PEDAL TO START AUTO AFTER STALLING. *BF *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10113108February 28, 2005WHEELS
CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING, IT SWERVED. THIS WAS DUE TO THE RUBBER ON THE REAR WHEELS WEARING OUT. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10108833January 25, 2005VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED. . THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10108639January 21, 2005VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE WINDOW VIBRATES AND MAKES A NOISE. OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10106294January 13, 2005POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
I HAVE TAKEN MY 2004 SATURN VUE-MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN FOR SERVICE REGARDING A THUMPING THAT I HEARD AND FELT COME FROM THE SHIFTER LOCATION. I GOT THE "EVERYTHING IS WITHIN NORMAL PARAMETERS" LINE. THEN TONIGHT WHEN I WENT TO DOWN-SHIFT FROM 5TH GEAR TO 4TH GEAR, THE SHIFTER MADE A CRUNCH SOUND AND THEN IT BOUNCED INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION. HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSION IS STILL IN 5TH GEAR AND IS SITTING IN FRONT OF THE SATURN SERVICE CENTER AWAITING TO BE LOOKED AT TOMORROW MORNING. THIS IS NOT MY FIRST SATURN BUT IT WILL BE MY LAST AFTER HAVING AS MANY PROBLEMS AS I HAVE HAD WITH IT IN 1.25 YEARS TIME.*JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10105894January 6, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
04 SATURN VUE,(ONLY)11,000 MILES. PROBLEMS STARTING AND NOT CRANKING PROPERLY.PROBLEM PROGRESSIVLY GOT WORSE.DEALER IS NOW REPLACING THE ENTIRE WIREING HARNESS IN THE DASH.CUST.SERV.WRITER SAID "YOU HAVE SOME BAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS , SOME PINS WHERE NOT CONNECTING PROPERLY TO START YOUR VEHICLE." THIS MAKES ME VERY UNCOMFURTABLE WITH MY NEW SATURN VUE.MY DEALER NAME IS [XXX] OF JACKSON MS.THEY HAVE HAD MY TRUCK SINCE JAN 4TH AND IT WILL HOPEFULLY BE READY BY THE 10. THEY HAD TO CALL IN A SPECIAL TECHNITION. THANKS , [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10105344December 27, 2004SUSPENSION:REAR
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH AND SWITCHING LANES REAR WHEEL TURNED INWARD, CAUSING THE REAR SUSPENSION TO FAIL. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10104424December 23, 2004POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT, EQUIPMENT
I RECENTLY HAD MY 2004 SATURN AWD VUE SERVICED AT SATURN OF LIVINGSTON, NJ, AND HAD TWO RECALLS PERFORMED. ONE WAS FOR THE VOLUNTARY RECALL OF A REAR SUSPENSION LINK WHICH WAS CHANGED DUE TO A NHTSA TEST FAILURE. THE OTHER WAS THE RECALL OF THE REAR DRIVE MODULE (RDM), WHICH WAS CAUSING A MOANING NOISE IN ALL AWD VERSIONS OF THIS VEHICLE. AFTER THE RDM WAS CHANGED I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED A CHANGE IN THE VEHICLES AWD FUNCTION CHARACTERISTICS. WHEN ON A SLIGHT INCLINE IN WET CONDITIONS A FULL THROTTLE ACCELERATION FROM A STOP RESULTED IN SEVERE FRONT WHEEL SPIN WITHOUT ENGAGEMENT OF THE AWD SYSTEM. IN FACT I COULD HEAR A DISCERNABLE CLICKING NOISE EMMINATING FROM THE RDM WHICH SOUNDED AS THOUGH THE AWD FAUNCTIONALITY WAS IN EFFECT BEING NEUTRALIZED. I HAVE PERFORMED THIS MANEUVER SEVERAL TIMES WITH MY VEHICLE IN THE PAST YEAR (WITH THE ORIGINAL RDM), AND THE AWD SYSTEM HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN ELIMINATING FRONT WHEEL SPIN AND PROVIDING AMPLE TRACTION GOING UP THE INCLINE. I BELIEVE THE NEW VERSION OF THE RDM BEING ROLLED OUT TO THE MASSES HAS ONLY SERVED TO CONVERT ALL THE AWD VERSIONS OF THIS VEHICLE TO FWD, AND I BELIEVE SATURN MUST BE PERSUADED TO RE-ENGINEER THEIR RDM TO RESTORE THE AWD FUNCTIONALITY.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10104429December 23, 2004POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
2004 SATURN VUE AWD. SATURN REPLACED THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL (RDM) WITH A REDESIGNED PART IN NOVEMBER. THE NEW PART IS DESIGNED TO ENGAGE LATER THAN THE ORIGINAL PART. THIS PART CHANGE CAUSES A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE VEHICLE'S HANDLING- INCREASED TORQUE STEER, EXCESSIVE FRONT WHEEL SPIN AND UNPREDICTABLE REAR DIFFERENTIAL ENGAGEMENT. THE FWD MODEL OF THE VUE HAS TRACTION CONTROL THAT LIMITS THE AMOUNT OF TORQUE STEER AND WHEEL SPIN. THE AWD MODEL DOES NOT HAVE THIS FUNCTION AND THE CRIPPLING OF THE AWD FEATURE MAKES THE VEHICLE UNSAFE.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10104433December 23, 2004POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10103619December 13, 2004STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
THE GLASS ON THE REAR LIFTGATE SHATTERED FOR NO REASON WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10102576December 10, 2004VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
REAR WINDOW SHATTERED WHEN CLOSING PASSENGER DOOR DRIVERS SIDE NO APPARENT DAMAGE TO THE REAR WINDOW AT ALL. 2004 SATURN VUE PURCHASED IN APRIL 2004. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0