FaultScore

2006 Saturn VUE fuel system problems

12 of the 433 complaints about the 2006 Saturn VUE are about the fuel system — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 51,030 miles.

A

12

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Fuel/Propulsion System 6 50.0%
Fuel System, Gasoline 5 41.7%
Fuel Pump 1 8.3%

Fuel & Propulsion across every Saturn VUE year

2003 32 37.6%
2004 10 11.8%
2006 12 14.1%
2007 20 23.5%
2008 11 12.9%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 120,550 miles Ballston Lake, NY

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ABOUT 60 MILES PER HOUR STEPPED DOWN ON ACCELERATOR A LITTLE HARDER IN ORDER TO PASS SOMEBODY AND THE THROTTLE STUCK WIDE OPEN ENGINE WAS RACING CAR WAS SPEEDING UP. I TRIED TO USE THE BRAKES BUT THEY WERE INSUFFICIENT I SHIFTED THE CAR TO NEUTRAL PULL OVER AND THEN TURN THE ENGINE OFF WHEN I START IT AGAIN THE PROBLEM WAS GONE. I DO NOT WISH TO DRIVE THIS CAR UNTIL THIS IS FIXED

NHTSA complaint #11101094 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 1,523 miles St.petersburg, FL

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

DURNING AFTER PURCHASE ... MY SATURN VUE STARTED TURNING OFF DURING DRIVING ... ALSO TURING CORNER NOW TIMING BELT HAS SLIP AWAY COMPLETLY STOP THE CAR FROM RUNING. OR CRAMPING AND STARTING.

NHTSA complaint #11065611 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 15,000 miles OAK Harbor, WA

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FUEL SENSOR. CAR WILL ACT EMPTY AND NOT START WHEN IT'S A QUARTER OF A TANK OR UNDER. WHEN COMPLETELY FULL WILL SOMETIMES NOT START OR ACTS VERY SLUGGISH. I NEVER KNOW WHEN THE CAR WON'T START.

NHTSA complaint #10852339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 120,000 miles Mogadore, OH

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN MY CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. I HAD TO COAST ACROSS THE INTERSECTION AND HAVE STRANGERS PUSH MY CAR INTO THE GAS STATION. I CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK COMPANY TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE CLOSEST DEALER AND THEN I REALIZED I COULD DRIVE IN REVERSE BUT NOT FORWARD. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME MY OIL PIPE BROKE, WHICH I WAS TOLD FEEDS OIL TO MY ENGINE. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW A VEHICLE ONLY 6 YEARS OLD WITH VIRTUALLY NO UNDERBODY RUST COULD HAVE A PIPE BREAK WITHOUT ANYTHING HITTING IT. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT WITH TEMPERATURES FLUCTUATING THE METAL EXPANDS AND CONTRACTS. BUT WOULDN'T OTHER PARTS HAVE ISSUES AS WELL?

NHTSA complaint #10650563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 95,000 miles Fort Myers, FL

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

FIRST THE VEHICLE HAS MADE A STRANGE NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE SUV. I THOUGHT IT WERE JUST THE TIRES BUT I TOOK IT TO A SHOP AND FOUND THAT THE BEARINGS ON ALL FOUR TIRES NEEDED REPLACED. SHORTLY AFTER, WE WERE STRANDED ON A RAINY FLORIDA AFTERNOON AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE.THE TRANSMISSION CAN GO INTO REVERSE BUT NO FORWARD GEAR. COST TO REPLACE/ REBUILT $2500.00, MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. FURTHERMORE THE RADIO TURNS ON WHENEVER IT WANTS TO, IT FADES IN AND OUT OF ALL LOCAL STATIONS. WORST AMERICAN CAR I HAVE EVER PURCHASED. THAT IS PROBABLY WHY THEY WENT BANKRUPT.

NHTSA complaint #10626909 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 86,000 miles North LAS Vegas, NV

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

MY CAR DEVELOPED A DANGEROUS CRACK IN THE FUEL PUMP. AS A RESULT FUEL WOULD LEAK OUT AND A STRONG GAS SMELL WAS PERVASIVE. I WAS TOLD I SHOULD PARK THE CAR IMMEDIATELY DUE TO THE DANGER. THE MECHANIC ALSO TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A "VERY COMMON" ISSUE WITH MY MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND MULTIPLE OTHER MODELS OF GM CARS, INCLUDING SATURN (BUT NOT THE VUE) HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THAT EXACT ISSUE. THE RECALL WAS EVEN MORE SPECIFIC FOR CARS IN "WARM WEATHER STATES" INCLUDING NEVADA. I AM THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER OF THE VEHICLE AND IT HAS BEEN REGISTERED AND USED IN NEVADA ALL IT'S LIFE. I HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT GM ABOUT MY CONCERNS AT THE LACK OF RECALL ON THIS PART, AND BEEN MET WITH ONLY SILENCE. I FIND IT VERY, VERY HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A PART THAT IS THE SAME, CRACKED THE SAME WAY, IN THE SAME ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY SORT OF RECALL FROM GM THAT PUT MY FAMILY AND I AT GRAVE RISK. WE JUST HAD TO SPEND OVER $1000 TO GET THIS ITEM REPAIRED, AND HAVE KEPT THE OLD PART FOR REFERENCE. I WOULD ENCOURAGE A SEARCH OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL PUMP IN SATURN VUE CARS OR OTHER GM PRODUCTS IN WARM WEATHER STATES TO SEE IF GM CAN BE MOTIVATED ENOUGH TO DO THE CORRECT THING AND ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL ON THIS PART THAT COULD LEAD TO A CATASTROPHIC FIRE. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

NHTSA complaint #10583682 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 95,000 miles Champaign, IL

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

THE 2007-2006 SATURN VUE V6, A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN HONDA/GM HAS THE SAME HONDA ODYSSEY DRIVE TRAIN AS HONDA'S CURRENT RECALL FOR FUEL PUMP COVER. IS THE SATURN MODEL AFFECTED AS WELL AND IF SO WHO WOULD FIX IT?

NHTSA complaint #10572782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 51,030 miles Galveston, TX

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

MY CAR HAS, AGAIN, DEMONSTRATED FAILURE TO ACCELERATE DURING OPERATION. THE CAR HAS BEEN "REPAIRED" BY THE LOCAL GMC DEALER IN OCT 2011 AND AGAIN EARLIER THIS WEEK FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I PICKED THE CAR UP ON WED EVENING, TWO DAYS AGO, AND THE SAME PROBLEM RECURRED TODAY ON MY WAY BACK TO THE OFFICE FROM LUNCH. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR! ONCE THE GAS PUMP FAILS TO OPERATE, IT SIMPLY WILL NOT MOVE UNTIL THE CAR HAS BEEN TURNED OFF AND ALLOWED TO SIT FOR A WHILE.

NHTSA complaint #10465553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 51,000 miles Galveston, TX

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

MY CAR WILL OCCASIONALLY FAIL TO ACCELERATE. THE GAS PEDAL SEEMS TO HAVE NO EFFECT AT ALL - THE ENGINE IS RUNNING, BUT PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL DOES NOT REV THE ENGINE OR CAUSE THE CAR TO ACCELERATE. SOMETIMES THIS OCCURS JUST AFTER I APPLY THE BRAKES, BUT OTHER TIMES IT JUST HAPPENS WHEN I AM DRIVING. THE ACCELERATION NEVER RECOVERS UNTIL I STOP THE CAR, TURN IT OFF, SIT A WHILE AND RE-START THE ENGINE. THE PROBLEM WILL RECUR SOMETIMES IMMEDIATELY AND SOMETIMES NOT FOR SOME TIME. THE FIRST EPISODE HAPPENED IN OCT 2011. AFTER 2-3 INCIDENTS OVER THE COURSE OF A FEW DAYS, I WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE CAR INTO THE DEALER. THEY MERELY CLEANED THE "CONNECTOR TO APP SENSOR TO PCM." THIS PROBLEM RECURRED LAST WEEK AND WITH MORE SEVERITY. INITIALLY, THE PROBLEM RETURNED LAST WEEK, TWICE, BUT I WAS UNABLE TO TAKE THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE. WHILE DRIVING OUT OF TOWN FOR BUSINESS ON MONDAY NIGHT, THE PROBLEM RECURRED THREE TIMES. WHILE RETURNING HOME ON TUESDAY, THE PROBLEM RECURRED ABOUT 15 TIMES DURING THE COURSE OF AN APPROXIMATE 60 MILE DRIVE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERS UPON ARRIVAL HOME AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT DESCRIBED IT AS "RESEALED ALL CONNECTORS RELATED TO ELECT THROTTLE SYSTEM." THEY TOLD ME THE PROBLEM WAS EXCESSIVE CORROSION ON THE PARTS, MORE THAN THEY WOULD EXPECT IN 7 MONTHS, BECAUSE OF OUR LOCATION ON THE COAST. SEARCHING THE INTERNET, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT MY PROBLEM IS NOT AN ISOLATED ONE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS BLOGS AND SITES WHERE SATURN OWNERS DESCRIBE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM I AM HAVING. A LOCAL MECHANIC ALSO ADVISED ME THAT THIS SAME PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED IN A SAAB VEHICLE, WHICH HE ADVISED ME HAD THE SAME PARTS AS MY CAR, AND THAT THE SAAB VEHICLE WAS RECALLED.

NHTSA complaint #10465442 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 25,000 miles Watertown, CT

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

I OWN A 2006 SATURN VUE AWD IN THE 2 YEARS I HAVE OWNED THE CAR HERE IS A LIST OF WHAT HAS BEEN REPLACED; 3 SET OF FRONT BRAKE ROTORS DUE TO EXCESSIVE WARPING TO A POINT WHERE THEY CANT BE TURNED WHICH RESULTED IN A SHIMMY OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THAT KEEPING CONTROL WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. 2)REAR WHEEL BEARINGS AT 25,000MI. 3) FRONT STRUT MOUNTS ALSO AT 25,000 MI. 4) PASS SEAT AIR BAG/SEAT HEATER MODULE($907 ONE WONT WORK WITHOUT THE OTHER) 5) REAR WIPER MOTOR6) WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP 6) GAS TANK VENT VALVE SOLENOID SWITCH (THIS MAKES THE ENGINE LIGHT COM ON) 7)3 YES 3 RADIOS. 8) UPPER PASS. SEAT HEATER ELEMENT.

NHTSA complaint #10245680 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Douglasville, GA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

MY 2006 SATURN VIEW WAS DISCOVERED TO HAVE WIRING LOCATED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE FUEL TANK CHEWED CAUSING THE METAL EXPOSURE OF THE WIRE. THIS WIRE WAS NOT SHIELDED, AS SHOULD BE, AND DUE TO LOCATION ABOVE FUEL TANK COULD HAVE BEEN A DEADLY SITUATION DUE PLASTIC FUEL HOSES JUST BELOW THE WIRES. ALL WIRING INTO THE FUEL TANK AND ADJACENT TO FUEL LINES SHOULD HAVE EXTRA SHIELDING IN CASE OF NOT ONLY CHEWING BY RODENTS BUT POSSIBLE RUBBING ACTIONS.

NHTSA complaint #10234686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 10,434 miles Mckeesport, PA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

WHILE DRIVING THE ROAD THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER. THE FURTHER I DROVE THE LESS POWER I HAD UNTIL THE VEHICLE STALLED. I WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE AFTER A FEW MINUTES BUT WHEN I STEPPED DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL IT STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER ON SATURDAY EVENING. THE DEALER CONTACTED ME ON MONDAY AND SAID THAT THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP WAS FAULTY AND HE WOULD HAVE TO ORDER ONE FROM THE FACTORY. I PICKED UP MY VEHICLE ON TUESDAY EVENING AND IT APPEARED TO BE RUNNING FINE FOR THE MOMMENT. I MADE THEE QUARTERS OF THE WAY HOME AND THE VEHICLE STARTED LOSING POWER AGAIN. I ATTEMPTED TO TURN AROUND AND GO BACK TO THE DEALER BUT THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT LIKE BEFORE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND THE NEW FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. I PICKED THE VEHICLE UP APPROXIMATELY A WEEK LATER AND IT HAS BEEN RUNNING OKAY EVER SINCE. IN FACT IT HAS BEEN RUNNING BETTER THAT NEW NEW. NOW THE EMISSIONS LIGHT IS COMING ON AND GOING OFF AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS?

NHTSA complaint #10176750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2006 Saturn VUE problems

← Full 2006 Saturn VUE report