2005 Saturn VUE engine problems

ENGINE

THE SECURITY SYSTEM RESETS IT'S SELF VERY OFTEN. I THROTTLES THE SPEED RANDOMLY AND WHEN YOU FINALLY GET STATIONARY IT LOCKS UP THE FUEL SO THERE IS NO WAY TO START THE CAR UNTILL YOU DO THE RELEARN PROCESS WHICH TAKES 30 MIN OR LONGER AND YOUR LUCKY IF THAT WORKS. YES THIS HAS ALL HAPPENED TO ME. I'VE OWNED THE CAR FOR 3 DAYS NOW AND LAST TIME IT WAS DRIVING WAS THE DAY I BROUGHT IT HOME AFTER BUYING IT.

NHTSA complaint #10806820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

CAR STALLED AND WOULDN'T RESTART. TOWED TO GARAGE WHERE THEY DETERMINED THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #10711931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

DRIVING TO MARYLAND FROM CHARLOTTE NC. I WAS ON THE HWY GOING APPROX. 65. CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, NO NOISE, NO WARNING. AS THE CAR SLOWED DOWN, I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE HWY TO A STOP. LOOKED DOWN AT THE GEAR SHIFT, IT WAS IN DRIVE. THE IGNITION WAS IN THE ON POSITION. I PUT ON THE BREAK AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND SHUT OFF THE IGNITION. WAITING A FEW SECONDS, I TURNED THE KEY. THE CAR STARTED UP AND THE CHIME WENT OFF. IT WAS THE CHIME THAT THE CAR MAKES WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOOR AND THE KEYS ARE STILL IN THE IGNITION.( A SERIES OF QUICK DINGS) I DIDN'T OPEN THE DOOR. ALL I DID WAS START THE CAR UP. I CONTINUED, NO PROBLEM. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN ON SATURDAY NOVEMBER 29TH, 2014 ON THE HIGHWAY GOING AROUND THE SAME SPEED. THE CAR JERKED SLIGHTLY AND SHUT OFF. THIS TIME IT WAS AT NIGHT. I COASTED TO THE EXIT THAT WAS COMING UP. HAD TROUBLE STEERING BECAUSE THE STEERING WENT OUT, HEAD LIGHTS DIMMED. CAR SLOWLY CAME TO A STOP AT THE TOP OF THE EXIT. SAME SITUATION. IGNITION ON, CAR IN DRIVE. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BREAK AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. TURNED THE IGNITION BACK ON. CAR STARTED UP AND THE CHIME THAT GOES OFF IF YOU OPEN UP THE DOOR WITH THE KEYS STILL IN THE IGNITION, WENT OFF AGAIN. THE SAME AS BEFORE.

NHTSA complaint #10672412 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND SHOOK INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING PRESSED. THE FAILURES OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE MAY BE DUE TO THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

NHTSA complaint #10639742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY ON FRONT OF ENGINE PARTIALLY SEPARATED FROM IT'S HUB, CAUSING A DRIVE BELT MIS-ALLIGNMENT OF THE PULLEYS FOR CRANKSHAFT, ALTERNATOR, AND AIR CONDITIONER. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVE BELT RUNNING OF THESE PULLEYS TO SHRED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER WHILE DRIVING. WHILE LOOKING FOR A REPLACEMENT PART TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, I FOUND OUT THAT GM HAS DISCONTINUED THIS PART, GM PART 12606927. ALSO, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF THESE CRANKSHAFT DAMPNER PULLEYS ARE NOW FAILING, DEPLETING THE REMAINING GM PARTS STOCK TO ZERO IN THE USA, SUGGESTING A DEFECTIVE PART DESIGN. THIS DAMPNER-CRANKSHAFT PULLEY FITS SATURN VUE 2004 THRU 2007 WITH L66 3.5L 6 CYLINDER ENGINES, AS WELL AS OTHER GM CAR LINES. THE RESULTING LOSS OF ALTERNATOR POWER WILL QUICKLY RESULT IN DROP IN SYSTEM VOLTAGE DUE TO DISCHARGE OF BATTERY, CAUSING THE CAR ENGINE TO UNEXPECTEDLY SHUT DOWN. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND THESE VEHICLES NEED TO BE RECALLED BY GM TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION.

NHTSA complaint #10636982 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

AFTER INITIAL START, THE CAR KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE MOTOR CONTINUES TO RUN. TO SWITCH OFF THE MOTOR, THE KEY MUST BE REINSERTED AS USUAL. THERE IS NO RESISTANCE IN REMOVING THE KEY WHILE THE MOTOR IS RUNNING.

NHTSA complaint #10631560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

I WAS LEAVING WORK, I ENTERED MY CAR, PUT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE KEY. THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. THE IGNITION WAS LOCKED AND THERE WAS NO UNLOCKING IT. I CALLED SEVERAL TOW COMPANIES AS THIS HAD HAPPENED A YEAR EARLIER AND A TOW COMPANY CAME OUT, SPRAYED THE IGNITION WITH WD-40 AND IT TURNED RIGHT AWAY. I TRIED THE WD-40 BEFORE CALLING THE TOW COMPANY AND IT DID NOTHING. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED, HE HAD MADE A STATEMENT THAT HE HAD SEEN THIS A LOT WITH THESE SUV'S. HE GOT THE KEY INTO THE AUXILIARY POSITION AND HIT IT THE KEY WITH THE HARD END OF A BUTT OF A KNIFE. THIS MADE THE IGNITION SLIP TO THE "ON" POSITION. I COULD THEN TURN THE KEY AND START THE TRUCK. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO HAVE THIS IGNITION REPLACED. I FEEL THAT THIS IGNITION SHOULD BE REPLACED AS JUST BECAUSE IT HAS NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT YET, THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT WITH THIS IGNITION. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOCKED UNTIL THE KEY COULD BE TURNED TO THE "ON" POSITION. I HAVE TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AT THIS TIME SO, THAT I CAN START THE TRUCK AND GET TO WORK. I AM TOLD IT WILL BE CLOSE TO $300 TO REPAIR THIS DEFECT!.

NHTSA complaint #10627861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING AN ABRUPT LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO THE PARK POSITION AND TURNED OFF FOR FOUR SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO DIAGNOSTIC TEST COMPLETED BY THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000. UPDATED 08/19/14

NHTSA complaint #10604774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING CAR BEGAN SMOKING FROM UNDER HOOD (AT TOP OF HOOD ON PASSENGER SIDE. CAR ALSO BEGAN SHAKING NOT THE STEERING COLUMN BUT THE CAR ITSELF. IT HAD BEEN SHAKING INTERMITTENTLY EARLIER BUT STOPPED AND THEN BEGAN AGAIN WHEN THE CAR BEGAN SMOKING.

NHTSA complaint #10592291 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

WHILE IN OUR DRIVEWAY GETTING READY TO LEAVE IN OUR SATURN VUE, MY HUSBAND PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE AND STARTED TO BACK UP. AT THIS TIME THE LANYARD ON THE KEY CHAIN GOT HOOKED AND TUGGED THE KEY A BIT. THE ENTIRE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF.UPDATED 06/09/14 *BF AFTER HEARING OF THE RECENT GM RECALLS AND REMEMBERING THIS HAPPENING WITH MY VUE, WE TRIED TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM WHILE IN MY DRIVEWAY, BUT NOT IN PARK OR NEUTRAL. BY TUGGING ON THE LANYARD, THE ENGINE TURNS OFF WHEN THE CAR IS IN DRIVE PRETTY MUCH EVERY TIME. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE KEY COME COMPLETELY OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE DRIVING, BUT AS LONG AS IT COMES STRAIGHT OUT AND DOES NOT PULL AT AN ANGLE TO TURN THE STARTER, THE CAR STAYS ON AND CONTINUES TO DRIVE WITH NO KEY IN THE IGNITION. GM NEEDS TO LOOK AT THIS MODEL AS WELL AS THE OTHERS. IF WE CAN EVEN REPLICATE THE ISSUE ON DEMAND, THERE DEFINITELY IS A PROBLEM. I CAN PRODUCE VIDEO OF THIS HAPPENING WITH MY CAR ON REQUEST. UPDATED 06/12/2014 *JS

NHTSA complaint #10574997 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I OWN A 2005 SATURN VUE AND IN JUNE 2011 I EXPERIENCED A/C FAILURE THAT TOOK MY MECHANIC SEVERAL WEEKS TO DIAGNOSIS THE PROBLEM. WE ORDER THE PARTFROM MILTON RUBEN CHEVY DEALER AND THE PART WAS REPLACED ON MY VUE AT THE END OF JUNE 2011. AS OF YESTERDAY I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND SMOKE STARTED TO RISE OUT FROM UNDER MY VUE. I PULLED OVER AND NOTED AS LONG AS THE MA/C WAS OFF THAT THE SMOKE STOPPED. MY HUSBAND TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC WERE THE SAME PART AT THE SAME PLACE SPLIT AGAIN NOW MY A/C DOES NOT WORK AND IT IS STILL 100 PLUS DEGREES AND THE PART IS NOT EVEN NINETY DAYS OLD. I BELIEVE WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS THAT I HAVE READ ON THE A/C SATURN PROBLEMS THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PART .

NHTSA complaint #10423142 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

8-10-2011 WELL I DRIVE A 2005 SATURN VUE REDLINE, I HAVE SMALL BABY SO WHEN IT COMES TO COLD AIR MY A/C IS VERY IMPORTANT. IN HOUSTON RIGHTNOW ITS BEEN 3-DIGIT TEMPATURES....IN MAY OF 2011 MY A/C STARTED ACTING UP. WHEN MY SUV IS IDLEING IT BLOWS VERY HOT AIR, BUT WHEN I'M DRIVING IT GETS COLDER, SO WHEN I STOP AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN I HAVE TO TAKE OFF PRETTY QUICK TO GET IT BLOWING COLD. IT IS TO HOT OUT TO BE WITHOUT AN A/C EXPECIALLY FOR MY DAUGHTER. I'VE BEEN ONLINE READING HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS JUST LIKE MINE FOR THE SATURN VUE. MANY HAVE PAID ENORMUS AMOUNTS OF MONEY TO TRY AND FIND OUT THE PROBLEM WITH THESE A/C SYSTEMS AND MOST STILL DONT HAVE THEIRS WORKING RIGHT. I CANT AFFORD TO SPEND SPEND AND SPEND TRYING TO FIND THE PROBLEM ONLY FOR THE PROBLEM TO KEEP HAPPENING. SO PLEASE SOMEONE, ANYONE IF YOU READ THIS HELP US TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE WE PURCHURED THESE VEHICLE WITH OUR HARD EARNED MONEY SO WE DESERVE TO GET WHAT WE'VE PAYED FOR AND I AM STILL PAYING ON MINE. 354 A MONTH AND FINAL BILL AROUND 17,500. I LIVE A BLOCK AWAY FROM A GM DEALERSHIP BUT CANT AFFORD TO PAY THEM TO DIAGNOS THE PROBLEM....

NHTSA complaint #10418458 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

OUR 2005 SATURN VUE 4 CYLINDER TIMING CHAIN BROKE WITH ONLY 36,000 MILES ON IT. UPON RESEARCHING THIS I HAVE FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL ON 1999-2001 SATURN L-SERIES FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. THE VUE 4 CYLINDER, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE EXACT SAME MAKE UP AS THE L-SERIES THAT THE RECALL WAS ON. ALSO UPON MY INVESTIGATION I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS PROBLEM WITH THE TIMING CHAIN ON THE VUE IS WIDESPREAD. OVER AND OVER AGAIN I HAVE RUN ACROSS THE SAME ISSUE THAT I AM CURRENTLY HAVING WITH MY VUE FROM PEOPLE ACROSS THE U.S. ON TOP OF THAT THE FIX FOR THIS ISSUE IS COSTING US 1,500.00 AND SATURN HAS TOLD ME IT IS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #10330415 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

WHENEVER THE CONTACT STARTS THE VEHICLE HE CAN HEAR A CLUCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VALVE COVER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES BEFOREHAND, THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS AT 57000. BML UPDATED 11/06/09 *BF THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUD BROKE OFF THE CYLINDER #1. UPDATED 11/09/09

NHTSA complaint #10281104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHENEVER THE CONTACT STARTS THE VEHICLE HE CAN HEAR A CLUCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VALVE COVER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES BEFOREHAND, THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS AT 57000. BML UPDATED 11/06/09 *BF THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUD BROKE OFF THE CYLINDER #1. UPDATED 11/09/09

NHTSA complaint #10281104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

PURCHASED 2005 SATURN VUE 02/20/08 WITH 13,000 MILES. ON 03/19/09 MY SATURN VUE BROKE DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SATURN HONOLULU AND SUBSEQUENTLY FOUND TO HAVE A DEFECTIVE DAMPER PULLEY. THE SATURN MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT THE DAMPER PULLEY HAD WALKED AWAY FROM THE BLOCK WHICH CAUSED THE SERPENTINE BELT TO SHRED. THE SHREDDED PIECES GOT INTO THE TIMING BELT COVER CAUSING THE TIMING BELT TO SKIP AND BENDING ALL OF THE VALVES. THE SATURN MECHANIC HAD NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE AND HAD AGREED THAT THE PART (DAMPER PULLEY) WAS DEFECTIVE. BECAUSE THIS WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT, I THOUGHT THAT SATURN WOULD CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER GENERAL MOTORS AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I WAS INFORMED THAT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED. ESTIMATE COST FOR REPAIR ($7,000) DOLLARS. I WAS INFORMED THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FROM A DIFFERENT DEALER THAT SATURN WOULD NOT COVER THE DAMAGES. I ALSO WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE DID HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANT ON IT PURCHASED BY THE ORIGINAL OWNER, BUT, BECAUSE THE WARRANTY WAS NOT CHANGED TO ME FOR THE $25. DOLLAR FEE, I COULD NOT USE THE WARRANTY. I REALLY NEED SOME HELP. THANKS.

NHTSA complaint #10267228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

IGNITION CONTROL MODULE FAILED ON MY 2005 SATURN VUE, EQUIPPED WITH 2.2L L4 ENGINE. CYLINDERS 2 & 3 MISFIRED, CAUSING SECONDARY FAILURE OF THE OXYGEN SENSORS AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER AFTER DRIVING IT ONLY 10 MILES TO DEALERSHIP AFTER PRIMARY FAILURE OCCURRED. THIS IS IDENTICAL TO THE PROBLEM THAT IS THE SUBJECT FOR RECALL OF SEVERAL OTHER SATURN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME ENGINE. THE REPAIR COST ME APPROXIMATELY $250 FOR THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE, $150 FOR OXYGEN SENSORS AND AN AS YET UNDETERMINED AMOUNT FOR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER.

NHTSA complaint #10250422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TIMING CHAIN BROKEN ON A 2005 SATURN VUE AT 67,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10248358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.