2003 Saturn VUE engine problems

ENGINE

This is more information related to Complaint 11761129: After online researching of other '03 2.2L Saturn Vue-owners stalling experiences, it appears that this vehicle has a long history of others like me: an unsafe, unpredictable stalling problem which carries no warnings or logging of error codes to trace the TRUE ORIGIN of problem. (How much did others spend on repairs that appeared to fix the problem by elapsing time enough for the problem to return to normal without the "repair"?) I stress that when all is working fine, the driver feels secure because there's no sign of a problem or trace left of the problem. The vehicle did run for years-at-a-time in a stable, reliable fashion. Once the stalling episodes pass, it felt OK to continue driving for years because everything is fine again. Looking back at the times when the stalling occurred, I was always lucky enough to recover and continue driving normally and trustfully for years before the next occurrence. Now I wonder what could have happened if the stall occurred while in more split-second decision, critical situations. I feel really stuck right now because I'm older with an undrivable vehicle. Please advise

NHTSA complaint #11761762 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

Car stalled while driving in traffic XXX. Engine died. Warning lights ON. Restarted. Stalled 3 more times in traffic but luckily had space to pull off & engine restarted. Made it into my garage. Restarted, Check Engine Light was ON, but went OFF after time. Car would NOT move in gear. Retried several times. Presently (XXX) will crank but WON'T start. Battery good. Looking for anything else obvious. (Had similar problem after buying in 2006 on at least 4 different dates, but restarted after EITHER: left overnight or after battery disconnect/reset: No Check Engine Light after relearning cycles. Successfully passed all emission tests since ownership.) I have about 34,000 miles on odometer. Have had NO other memorable problems except stalling problems. After first stalling years ago, a Saturn dealer on [XXX] replaced VTi transmission fluid & "reprogrammed" the ECM. I have no receipts or records now & that dealer is long gone. Please advise. Thank you INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11761129 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000.

NHTSA complaint #11156837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

SATURN VUE 2003 HAS STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. HAS STALLED DOING 80 MPH ON HWY HAS STALLED DOING 25-30 IN TOWN. SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON, POWER IS LOST TO ENGINE AND WHEN SECURITY LIGHT GOES OFF, THEN THE ENGINE WILL START AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10883801 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA complaint #10871083 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AREA. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT OIL LEAKED FROM THE ENGINE VALVE COVER ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO CONFIRMED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 02/05/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VAVLE COVER GASGET WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 02/16/16

NHTSA complaint #10794432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AREA. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT OIL LEAKED FROM THE ENGINE VALVE COVER ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO CONFIRMED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 02/05/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VAVLE COVER GASGET WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 02/16/16

NHTSA complaint #10794432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER FIVE ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE FLASHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA complaint #10759592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE ELECTRICAL POWER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER BEING PARKED FOR A LONG TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,000.

NHTSA complaint #10736218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE COULD DISENGAGE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.

NHTSA complaint #10730422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

NHTSA complaint #10702129 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MY TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT AND WOULD NOT GO. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND TOW MY CAR FROM THE FREEWAY TO MY HOUSE.

NHTSA complaint #10671330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PURGE VALVE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. UPDATED 01/23/15*LJ UPDATED 6/8/2015

NHTSA complaint #10663091 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE BRAKE CALIBER FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,919.

NHTSA complaint #10662344 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THIS VEHICLE WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD THE ENGINE JUST CUTS OFF, DOESN'T MATTER THE SPEED YOU ARE TRAVELING. IT WILL START BACK UP AUTOMATICALLY BUT YOU LOOSE SPEED .. IT EVEN CUTS OFF WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM STOPLIGHTS AND INTO TRAFFIC, THEN YOU HAVE TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART THE ENGINE. NO MECHANIC CAN FIGURE IT OUT.

NHTSA complaint #10621935 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TRYING TO START CAR IT WOULDN'T START WAIT A FEW MINUTES THEN IT WOULD THIS HAPPENED 3-4 TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #10614780 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD FAIL TO TURN WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED. LOCK BODY HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.

NHTSA complaint #10614817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I JUST PURCHASED MY 2003 SATURN VUE A MONTH AGO AND A DAY AFTER I GOT IT THE VEHICLE STARTED SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING!! SOMETIMES IT CRANKS RIGHT BACK UP AND THEN OTHER TIMES I HAVE TO JUST LET IT SLOWLY ROLL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SO THAT I CAN CRANK IT BACK UP! I HAVE MY TWO CHILDREN THAT RIDE IN MY CAR WITH ME AND IF THIS DOESN'T GET FIXED IT WILL PROBABLY END UP KILLING ALL THREE OF US! OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE SO SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE!!

NHTSA complaint #10610926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG GASOLINE FUEL ODOR COMING FROM INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING AND THAT THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED TO READ THE ACCURATE FUEL LEVELS. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY COULD BE REMOVED WHILE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA complaint #10606476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

MY CAR KEPT CUTTING OFF AND WOULDN'T START. SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER I PURCHASED IT FROM AND THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION SENSOR IN IT.. NOW IT SOMETIMES DON'T WANT TO CRANK, THEY CLAIM THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT AND THY CANT FIGURE IT OUT.

NHTSA complaint #10605133 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

MY 2003 SATURN VUE CONTINUES TO RUN WHEN THE KEY FALLS OUT OF THE IGNITION. IF INVOLVED IN A CRASH WILL AIR BAGS DEPLOY ? THIS MODEL IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST FOR GM PRODUCTS WITH THIS PROBLEM. HELP!!!!

NHTSA complaint #10596463 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND OPERATED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE WARNING INDICATOR WAS NOT ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,600.

NHTSA complaint #10585319 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

MY KEY SOMETIMES WON'T GO INTO IGNITON AND ONCE IT DOES, IT SOMETIMES FALLS OUT WHILE I AM DRIVING OR THE CAR LOSES POWER WHILE I'M DRIVING. IS THIS PROBLEM A PART OF THE GM RECALLS FOR 2003 SATURNS ??

NHTSA complaint #10573268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10568768 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA complaint #10568565 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE LOST COMPLETE ELECTRICAL POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

NHTSA complaint #10566530 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

MY 2003 SATURN VUE STALLS AND DIES EVERYDAY THAT I DRIVE IT. HAS ALMOST CAUSED MYSELF AND YOUNG CHILDREN TO GET INTO MANY WRECKS FROM THIS PROBLEM OCCURRING OFTEN AT STOP LIGHTS AND MIDDLE OF INTERSECTIONS AND HILLS. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS MANY TIMES HAS FAIRLY NEW TRANS. AND NEW TIMING BELT ALSO PUT ON BEFORE I PURCHASED THE SATURN. TO ME THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS AND HAS FEW OTHER PROBLEMS ALSO, LIKE IDLING HIGH WHEN IN PARK. WHEN THE STALLING OCCURS IT STALLS AN THE SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON AND FLASHES 3 TIMES BEFORE IT EITHER DIES OR CONTINUES BACK TO NORMAL BEFORE IT STALLS AGAIN. I CANNOT DRIVE IT TO MY NEXT TOWN OVER WITHOUT IT DOING THIS NUMEROUS TIMES. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS VEHICLE TO ANYONE AND THAT'S ONE REASON WHY IM AFRAID TO SELL IT BECAUSE I WOULD HATE TO PUT SOMEONE ELSE IN THIS DANGEROUS CAR AND THEM NOT KNOW HOW TO CONTROL IT IF THIS HAPPENS.

NHTSA complaint #10564626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WILL RANDOMLY LOSE POWER, THE SECURITY LIGHT BLINKS 3 TIMES THEN THE CAR WILL EITHER REGAIN POWER OR SHUT OFF.

NHTSA complaint #10560050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN 12/2009 AND ONE DAY IN APRIL 2010,I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, MY CAR DIDN'T WANT TO GO ANYWHERE. I HAVE TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION THAT COST ME $4200 AND I EVEN WORKED FOR THE COMPANY WHERE I HAD BOUGHT THE CAR AND WHERE I HAD TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AT. THEN IN 11/2012, GOOD THING THE TRANSMISSION WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE I HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED AGAIN. WELL I WAS ONCE AGAIN DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND MY CAR DID THE EXACT SAME THING AS IT DID THE LAST 2 TIMES. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A GARAGE AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE'S METAL CHIPS IN MY TRANSMISSION. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE FIRST TRANSMISSION WAS PUT IN AND MY WARRANTY EXPIRED 4/2013. I CONTACTED GM AND EVERYONE I COULD WITH NO HELP. I'VE READ SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME EXACT THING GOING ON WITH THEIR VUES AND HEARD THAT GM SETTLE A RECALL ON VUES TRANSMISSIONS. WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND WHEN ARE WE GETTING REIMBURSED FOR OUR TROUBLES.

NHTSA complaint #10556806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.