FaultScore

Saturn VUE airbag problems

310 of the 3,274 complaints filed about the Saturn VUE are about the airbag system — 9% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2006.

310

Complaints

9%

Share of all complaints

69

Crashes

4

Fires

Airbags complaints by model year

2002 VUE 15 4.8%

Median failure at 54,450 miles

2003 VUE 43 13.9%

Median failure at 60,000 miles

2004 VUE 18 5.8%

Median failure at 74,000 miles

2005 VUE 15 4.8%

Median failure at 97,500 miles

2006 VUE 93 30.0%

Median failure at 81,000 miles

2007 VUE 91 29.4%

Median failure at 80,224 miles

2008 VUE 25 8.1%

Median failure at 80,000 miles

2009 VUE 10 3.2%

Median failure at 65,000 miles

What owners said

2006 Saturn VUE Craig, AK Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

The contact owned a 2006 Saturn Vue. The contact stated that while driving at a slow speed under the 50 MPH speed limit, the vehicle slid on a patch of black ice; the contact was able to correct the vehicle. The contact stated that there was snow on the ground.  Soon afterwards, the vehicle slid on another patch of black; the vehicle slid across the road and hit the embankment head-on. The vehicle went up the embankment and down to the ditch below, where the vehicle landed on the driver's side, where it came to a stop. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that none of the air bags deployed. A police report was filed. Afterwards, the contact and the contact's daughter stopped by the clinic. The contact suffered minor injuries to the chest caused by the seat belt. The contact had bruises across the chest. The contact's daughter was in the front passenger seat, and her head hit the windshield. The daughter sustained a bump on the head, which turned out to be a mild concussion, and some bruises. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The insurance company was notified of the accident. The contact was unsure if the insurance company had declared the vehicle a total loss. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. 

NHTSA complaint #11705678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Saturn VUE at 43,097 miles Petaluma, CA

AIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2006 Saturn Vue. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 43,097.

NHTSA complaint #11543867 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Saturn VUE Oakland, CA Crash 3 injured

AIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2005 Saturn Vue. The contact stated that while stopped in traffic, a vehicle began doing donuts in the intersection, causing a multi-car accident and crashing into her vehicle. The air bags had failed to deploy. The contact sustained back and knee injuries, and both her son and grandson had body pain. A police report was available. The vehicle had not been taken to an independent mechanic or a local dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA complaint #11521041 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Saturn VUE at 183,100 miles Crane, MO Crash

AIR BAGS

The contact owned a 2007 Saturn Vue. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 50 mph, the vehicle went around a right-hand corner and skidded. The vehicle then crashed into an embankment, and it stopped in a ditch. No air bags were deployed upon impact. The contact was transported by ambulance to the hospital as a precaution but did not sustain any injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The vehicle was deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 183,100.

NHTSA complaint #11440794 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Saturn VUE at 67,000 miles Arlington, TX

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG INDICATOR COMES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN READ BY A READER DURING AN INSPECTION SYSTEM DID NOT POST A ERROR ABOUT AIR BAG ISSUE. AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ON AND INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON AND GOES OFF.

NHTSA complaint #11415770 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Saturn VUE at 160,000 miles EL Paso, TX Crash

AIR BAGS

WHILE I AM DRIVING I HAVE HAD INTERMITTENT INCIDENTS THAT CANNOT BE REPLICATED. "STABILITRAK" WARNING LIGHT HAS NOT TURNED OFF. I HAVE LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING TWICE BUT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AFTER A FEW SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER TO THE DASH. WHEN I AM TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL GETS VERY HARD TO TURN AND WILL TURN OFF THE RADIO. THIS WILL CAUSE THE CAR TO LOOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING. THEN WHEN I TURN THE CAR OFF I WILL BE UNABLE TO GET THE KEY OUT OR TURN THE VEHICLE ON. I WILL HAVE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE AND THE ALTERNATOR TWICE AND THIS HELPED FOR 2 MONTHS THEN THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. I ALSO REPLACED THE WHEEL SENSORS TO NO AVAIL. I HAVE TAKEN TO 3 MECHANICS BUT THEY CANNOT REPLICATE THE ISSUE. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK, I WILL TRY TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON AND THEN JUST TAP ON THE BRAIN COMPARTMENT ABOVE THE BATTERY AND SOMETIMES THIS WORKS. I HAVE BEEN LEFT STRANDED MORE THAN I CARE TO ADMIT. WHILE DRIVING IF THE ISSUES ARE REALLY BAD AND IF I HAVE TO DRIVE LONG DISTANCE I WILL TRY TO USE CRUISE CONTROLL BUT IT WILL NOT ENGAGE.

NHTSA complaint #11385133 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Saturn VUE at 128,509 miles Clovis, CA

AIR BAGS

I WAS DRIVING THIS EVENING ON A CITY STREET WHEN MY SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. MY PASSENGER AMD DRIVER AIRBAGS HOWEVER DID NOT. WHEN MY SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IT STARTLED ME AND I HIT A CURB MESSING UP MY ALIGNMENT. THIS WAS INCREDIBLY UNEXPECTED AND COULD'VE BEEN A LOT WORSE.

NHTSA complaint #11383453 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Saturn VUE Worcester, MA

AIR BAGS

IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S STILL HAVING SOME PROBLEMS DUE TO THE RECALLS..THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND THE TIRE SENSOR LIGHT IS ON..

NHTSA complaint #11319626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Saturn VUE at 155,000 miles SAN Antonio, TX Crash 3 injured

AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL MY FAMILY AND I WERE IN A ROLL OVER ACCIDENT ON AUGUST 20TH 2019 OUR AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT IMPACT. WE WERE IN MOTION GOING 60MPH ON COURNTY ROAD 799 GOING TOWARDS GEORGE WEST TX WHEN MY VEHICLE WAS HEADED TOWARDS A COVERT AND JERKED THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO AVOID THE DITCH BUT THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED BACK TO THE RIGHT SENDING US ON THE 2 SIDE PASSENGER WHEELS AND THEN ROLLING OVER 3 TIMES I BLACKED OUT AND WHEN WE STOPPED THE AIR BAGS STILL DIDNT DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #11254532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Saturn VUE Dayton, OH

AIR BAGS

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AFFECTED . SOME DASH PANEL LIGHTS NOT WORKING & AIRBAG LIGHT STAYING ON

NHTSA complaint #11245588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Saturn VUE Columbus, GA

AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL. I HAVEN'T RECEIVED NOTIFICATION TO REPLACE MY TAKATA AIRBAGS BUT ALL OTHER MAKES AND MODELS OF CARS AND TRUCKS HAVE RECEIVED THEIR RECALLS. I WANT MY TAKATA AIRBAGS REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #11205852 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Saturn VUE Merced, CA

AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL FIRST MY IGNITION STARTED STICKING AND THEN MY BATTERY WOULD NOT START MY CAR NOW MY CAR WONT EVEN TURN ON BECAUSE THE IGNITION IS STUCK ON OFF THE KEY GOES IN BUT WONT MOVE..AND ON MY REMOTE WHEN I UNLOCK MY DOORS MY HOT SEAT BUTTONS FLICKER AND SOMETIMERS MY AIR BAGS SAY THERE NOT ON

NHTSA complaint #11190617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Saturn VUE at 180,000 miles Columbia, MO Fire

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG LIGHT WILL BE ON, OR FLASH PERIODICALLY WHEN ALREADY FASTENED. HAD AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE LEFT SIDE OF STEERING COLUMN 7/27/18. CRUISE GOES IN AND OUT. DIM/BRIGHT LIGHT COMES ON WHEN USING TURN SIGNAL. IGNITION SWITCH LOCKS UP FROM TIME TO TIME WHERE KEY CAN'T BE REMOVED AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP OR YOU CAN REMOVE KEY BUT SWITCH IS STILL ENGAGED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN MOTION WHEN MOST INCIDENTS OCCURRED AND LOCKUPS OCCUR DEPENDING ON WHAT POSITION THE STEERING WHEEL IS IN (ADJUSTABLE). THE ELECTRICAL FIRE HAPPENED JUST AS I EXITED THE HIGHWAY FROM A 30 MINUTE TRIP AFTER RELEASING THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON. LUCKILY I WAS ONLY 4 BLOCKS FROM HOME. CFD WAS CALLED AND THEY DISMANTLED THE COLUMN, EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. I WAS BLESSED. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE!

NHTSA complaint #11118776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Saturn VUE at 125,000 miles Roanoke, VA

AIR BAGS

TRIED TO HAVE THE CAR INSPECTED AND THEY TOLD ME IT WOULDN'T PASS INSPECTION BECAUSE OF MY AIRBAG LIGHT ON . THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC AND IT SAID MY PASSENGER SEAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED OR GET THE SENSOR FOR THE PART. UNFORTUNATELY THE DON'T MAKE THE PIECES FOR THE CAR ANYMORE . YOU HAVE TO GO TO A JUNK YARD , BUT EVEN THEY HAVEN'T HAD ANY ANY OF THE PIECES.

NHTSA complaint #11118607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Saturn VUE at 67,071 miles West Sacramento, CA

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG LIGHT GOES ON AN OFF ON PASSENGER SIDE. NOW AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME.IT HAPPENED WHEN CAR WAS MOVING AND STOPPED.TOOK IT TO SHOP TO GET IT CHECKED OUT SAID IT IS A DEFECTIVE IMPACT SENSOR AN UNABLE TO VERIFY IF AIR BAG WORKS . AM GETTING IT REPLACED AS SOON AS I GET THE MONEY, JUST REPLACED CATALATIC CONVERTER AT ONLY 72000 MILES. DEALER REPLACED IT FOR 260.00 PLUS PART 1200.00

NHTSA complaint #11114231 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Saturn VUE at 160,000 miles Kingston, RI Crash

AIR BAGS

I WAS DRIVING FROM PROVIDENCE RI TO ATHENS OH. I WAS IN WEST VIRGINIA AROUND MORGANTOWN, DRIVING FROM 68 WEST TO 79 SOUTH RAMP, AND I WAS DRIVING IN THE RANGE OF SPEED LIMITS. SUDDENLY IN THE RAMP, I FELT CAR IS TURNING UNWANTEDLY TO THE LEFT, AND I TRIED TO BRING IT BACK TO THE ROAD BUT I COULD NOT, AND THE CAR HIT ORTHOGONALLY THE JERSEY BARRIERS ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE RAMP. MY AIRBAGS OPENED, ONE OF MY TIRES EXPLODED, AND FRONT OF MY CAR COMPLETELY WRECKED. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE HIT ME FROM SIDE AND BEHIND. I COULD REALLY DIE, I SEE DEATH IN FRONT OF MY EYES WHEN I WAS TURNING WITH THE CAR. I HAD REPLACED MY CONTROL ARM, SHOCKS ROTORS, BRAKE PADS, ALL IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS OF THE ACCIDENT. BUT THIS CAR WAS TERRIBLY BAD IN THE TURNS AND RAMPS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM DID NOT WORK WELL IN THESE CARS IN COMPARE TO THEIR HEIGHTS, AND ALWAYS YOU HAVE THE CHANCE OF COLLAPSING. FORTUNATELY, I DID NOT COLLAPSE. IT HAD HAPPENED A LOT FOR ME THAT I FELT THESE CAR IN NOT STABLE IN RAMPS AND TURNS, BUT I NEVER THOUGHT A DANGEROUS ACCIDENT WOULD HAPPEN TO ME. I ALSO DID NOT HAVE COLLISION INSURANCE, AND I HAD TO SELL MY CAR FOR A 100 $ TO A JUNK YARDS. I AM ALMOST SURE THERE IS SOME PROBLEM WITH THEIR SUSPENSION SYSTEMS, AND I AM REQUESTING TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE IN THESE CARS.

NHTSA complaint #11110846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Saturn VUE at 102,500 miles Kalona, IA

AIR BAGS

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE AND WILL STAY ON FOR SEVERAL DAYS WHILE IN MOTION AND WHILE STATIONARY, ON CITY STREETS AND ON THE HIGHWAY. IT MAY GO OFF FOR A LITTLE BIT, SUCH AS 5 MILES, THEN COME BACK ON OR IT MAY STAY ON. THESE DAYS CAN BE BOTH HOT AND HUMID OR JUST HOT WITH NOT A LOT OF HUMIDITY. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE DEPLOYMENT WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY OR MAYBE IT WON'T DEPLOY AT ALL IF IT WAS IN A CRASH. I HAD THE COMPUTER SYSTEM READ ON 6/25/2018 AND WAS TOLD IT IS SHOWING THAT IT IS SOMETHING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE SUMMER 2015.

NHTSA complaint #11104242 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Saturn VUE at 7,500 miles Sikeston, MO

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JOHN SINCLAIR NISSAN (478 SIEMERS DR., CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO 63701), BUT WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,500. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT

NHTSA complaint #11097984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Saturn VUE at 70,000 miles Ranson, WV

AIR BAGS

DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT SOMETIMES ON, SOMTIMES OFF.

NHTSA complaint #11096577 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Saturn VUE at 40,000 miles NEW York, NY

AIR BAGS

, A PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT CONSTANT COME ON WHEN YOU SIT SOMETHING IN THE SEAT I HAVE HAD IT CHECKED TWO TIMES AND IT STILL COMES ON I THINK IT'S A DEFECT IN THAT SYSTEM

NHTSA complaint #11092764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Saturn VUE problems