18 of the
220 complaints about the 2002 Saturn VUE are about the
steering — 8% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
95,000 miles.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE IGNITION KEY RELEASED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED IF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
NHTSA complaint #10653979 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 126,000 milesHixson, TN
STEERING
THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS TO BE INSERTED IN THE DOOR IN ONE POSITION TO UNLOCK, THEN TURNED OVER TO TURN ON THE IGNITION, THEN IT IS VERY HARD TO TURN THE IGNITION TO THE RUN POSITION, THE ACC. POSITION WILL NOT WORK. SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT ACTIVATE THE POWER STEERING, HAS TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED TO GET IT TO WORK, IF GM HAS KNOWN OF THIS PROBLEM SINCE 2001, WHY DID THEY NOT RECALL MY SPECIFIC CAR WHICH IS 2002 SATURN VUE. I WAS TOLD BY GM THAT THIS VIN. WAS NOT RECALLED. THE SUGGESTED THAT I TAKE IT TO GM DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC CHECK, WHICH I HAVE TO PAY FOR, BUT I KNOW THE IGNITION IS DEFECTIVE. IF THIS IS HOW THEY INTEND TO FIX THE PROBLEM, WHY ISSUE A RECALL. I CAN HAVE IT REPAIRED BUT IT IS GOING TO COST ME IN EXCESS OF 200.00 I HAVE HAD 4 DIFFERENT KEYS CUT FOR IT, WITH NONE OF THEM WILL WORK. YOU CANNOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN THIS PROBLEM POPS UP. MAYBE THIS WILL KEEP SOMEONE ELSE FROM GETTING INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT. I HAVE GIVEN UP ON GM FIXING THE PROBLEM. I WILL TAKE IT TO MY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP.
NHTSA complaint #10593360 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 167,500 milesDiamond BAR, CAFire
STEERING
AFTER THE MORNING DRIVE OF 4 MILES, SMOKE START COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL IN THE AREA OF THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR.
NHTSA complaint #10592629 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 150,000 milesDiamond BAR, CAFire
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH SMOKE WAS EMITTED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
NHTSA complaint #10592738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 124,862 milesConnersville, IN
STEERING
KEY IN VEHICLE LOCKS UP AT TIMES WHEN TRYING TO TURN IT ON. KEY ALSO COMES OUT OF IGNITION WHILE CAR IS STILL RUNNING. NOW WHEN START THE CAR SMOKE IS COMING OUT OF IGNITION AND STEERING WHEEL AREA.
NHTSA complaint #10587875 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 104,365 milesBeliot, WIFire
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25-35 MPH WHEN SMOKE WAS EMITTED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 104,365 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,400.
NHTSA complaint #10578215 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesSandy, UT
STEERING
2002 SATURN VUE REPEATEDLY LOOSES POWER STEERING. IT APPEARS TO HAPPEN SOON AFTER STARTING AND TURNING. SOMETIMES IT MAY BE RESET BY TURNING OFF AND ON THE VUE AND/OR LETTING IT IDLE FOR A FEW MINUTES. THIS ISSUE WAS REPEATEDLY REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP SINCE 2006 WITHOUT RESOLUTION. LOOSING POWER STEERING PERIODICALLY HAS CAUSED SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES AND MAY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT OR DEATH. PLEASE RESPOND TO ME WITH ANY SUGGESTIONS OR ADVISE. MY EMAIL ADDRESS IS [XXX]. ELECTRIC POWER STEERING HAS BEEN RECALLED ON MANY GM CARS. GM IS CURRENTLY HAS A LAW SUIT AGAINST THE MAKER OF THESE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING UNITS. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE RESOLUTION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10386459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 95,000 milesSpringfield, OR
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE GAUGES ON THE DASHBOARD FAILED AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING BELL SOUNDED IN THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING WHEEL THEN BECAME EXTREMELY STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST FAILED AND THE BODY CONTROL MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 98,000. UPDATED 08/03/10. *LJ UDDATED 08/04/10
NHTSA complaint #10339342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 43,000 milesLayton, UT
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.
NHTSA complaint #10185161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 43,000 milesColo Spgs, CO
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.
NHTSA complaint #10148792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 47,100 milesDelray Beach, FL
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
DT: STEERING SYSTEM IS FAILING. STEERING LOCKS UP ON LEFT HAND TURNS, THEN STARTS STRAIGHTENING BACK OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN AND WHILE GOING ON/OFF EXIT RAMPS. AT LOW SPEEDS THE WHEEL COMPLETELY STOPS TURNING AND LOCKS UP.
NHTSA complaint #10122314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 255,000 milesPickett, WI
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM FAILED, AND VEHICLE WANDERED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10110967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Shelton, CTCrash
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE TURNING RIGHT VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE LEFT. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION.
NHTSA complaint #10087543 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 68,000 milesRancho Santa Margarita, CA
STEERING:COLUMN
DIRT SUPPOSEDLY GOT IN MY STEERING WHEEL CASE AND HAS DAMAGED A COIL, NOW MY HORN BARELY WORKS AND MY AIR BAG IS AT RISK. SATURN WILL NOT REPAIR WITHOUT A COST OF $378.00 AND THE CAR IS 2YRS OLD ONLY THIS MONTH. I DRIVE THE CAR BACK AND FORTH TO WORK WITH THE AIR ON..AND DUST IN THE CASE PUTS MY LIFE IN DANGER WITHOUT THE POSSIBIITY OF AN AIRBAG.
NHTSA complaint #10086387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Onsted, MI
STEERING
VEHICLE CAME EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRONIC STEERING MECHANISM. THE STEERING MECHANISM FAILED WHICH RESULTED IN POOR STEERING AND LOSS CONTROL.
NHTSA complaint #10038073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 10 milesNEW Milford, CT
STEERING
RUBBING SOUND IN STEERING COLUMN. DEALER SAYS SATURN KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM AND IS LOOKING FOR A FIX. HAVE BROUGHT IT IN 3 TIMES AND NOTHING HAS WORKED.
NHTSA complaint #10023669 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 1,000 milesChicopee, MA
STEERING:COLUMN
I HAVE ALSO FOUND A METAL CLANKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER''S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN SHIFTING THE CAR OUT OF PARK, OR REVERSE. IT STILL CONTINUES TO HAVE PROBLEMS BETWEEN THE SPEEDS OF 12 TO 30 MPH, AGAIN THE PROBLEM PRESENTS ITSELF MOSTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COASTING AND LOSING MOMENTUM. THE VEHICLE WOULD BE SLOWING DOWN WITHOUT ANY AID OF BRAKING OF ANY KIND AND AS THE VEHICLE WOULD ATTEMPT TO DOWN SHIFT, IT WOULD SOMETIMES MAKE A CLANKING NOISE, OR BUCK, OR IN THE MOST EXTREME CASES COMPLETELY STALL OUT. ALSO THE WIPER SPRAYERS HAVE BROKEN TWICE, AND THE DEALER EXPECTS THEM TO BREAK AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10000748 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cocoa Beach, FL
STEERING:LINKAGES
DURING DRIVING A THUMP IS COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN WHEN ROAD BUMP OCCURS AND IS SOMETIMES STARTLING. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE, SERVICE REP. REPLACED A SPRING PART AS PER SERVICE BULLETIN, HOWEVER, THIS ACTION DID NOT REPAIR STEERING COLUMN PROBLEM. THE THUMPING IS FELT IN STEERING WHEEL AND FEELS LIKE SOMETHING IS LOOSE IN STEERING COLUMN. SERVICE REP. INFORMED ME IT IS NOT A SAFETY PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #763427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.