FaultScore

Saturn VUE engine problems

296 of the 3,274 complaints filed about the Saturn VUE are about the engine — 9% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2003.

296

Complaints

9%

Share of all complaints

8

Crashes

16

Fires

Engine & Cooling complaints by model year

2002 VUE 50 16.9%

Median failure at 91,500 miles

2003 VUE 90 30.4%

Median failure at 80,949 miles

2004 VUE 24 8.1%

Median failure at 95,100 miles

2005 VUE 18 6.1%

Median failure at 84,662 miles

2006 VUE 16 5.4%

Median failure at 77,101 miles

2007 VUE 35 11.8%

Median failure at 80,000 miles

2008 VUE 51 17.2%

Median failure at 70,800 miles

2009 VUE 10 3.4%

Median failure at 97,000 miles

2010 VUE 2 0.7%

Median failure at 49,000 miles

What owners said

2008 Saturn VUE Arlington, TX Fire

ENGINE

I noticed a few days ago that the wheel was getting harder to turn so I made a maintenance appointment for Saturday I was driving to work in Texas in Fort Worth coming from Arlington today and smoke started coming from under the hood I pulled over and it was smoking I was on the highway so to get off the highway in a safe area I had to drive about 5 more miles up the road to the next exit so I started driving it didn’t smoke right off so a couple of minutes into the drive it starts smoking so I finally get to the exit smoke is now coming through the vents , I hurry and pull over and go to open the door it wouldn’t open I then I climb over and get out the back door I go into the business parking lot at this point it’s engulfed in black smoke and then it starts burning.

NHTSA complaint #11733687 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Saturn VUE Jackson, MI

ENGINE

the transmission will not shift out of first gear

NHTSA complaint #11663992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Saturn VUE Dayton, OH

ENGINE

Stalls stops, with Engine power reduced, stabilitrak off. After turning or braking. Engine light with down arrow. Accident probability. DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY IF ON HIGHWAY OR COUNTRY RD!

NHTSA complaint #11618624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Saturn VUE San Jose, CA Crash 3 injured

ENGINE

Alternator I changed the starter I changed the alternator brand new it ran but then it stopped in mid drive and I won't just start and that's how I crashed into something now my car is wreck in the fridge and it won't start and if it does it stops

NHTSA complaint #11612712 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Saturn VUE at 89,973 miles Huntingdon Valley, PA

ENGINE

The contact owns a 2006 Saturn Vue. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving 35 MPH, the vehicle shuddered violently. The contact's daughter lost control of the vehicle and drove off the road before coming to a complete stop. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who determined that the torque converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 89,973. The VIN was unavailable.

NHTSA complaint #11611523 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Saturn VUE at 66,000 miles Columbus, OH

ENGINE

[Wednesday 4:11 PM] Rosales, Denise CTR (NHTSA) The contact owns a 2007 Saturn Vue. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to engage in hybrid mode the morning after being purchased. In addition, the vehicle failed to start and maintain battery power. The vehicle was towed to 2 different independent mechanics and 1 independent mechanic who came to the residence where it was diagnosed that the vehicle did not have hybrid functions possibly due to the battery failing to maintain power. The contact stated the battery was replaced however the failures remained present. An appointment with the dealer was scheduled to inspect the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 66,000.

NHTSA complaint #11585902 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Saturn VUE Bloomington, IL 1 injured

ENGINE

I was driving and pulled up to get some gas and put my car in park it just stop and turned off and I haven’t been able to get it back on. Went and saw a mechanic and he said it was the timing chain on the car it only had 97,000 miles on it and it would shake while I’m in ideal

NHTSA complaint #11584265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Saturn VUE Indianapolis, IN Fire

ENGINE

I was driving on the highway, on the way to the beach with my family and our pup! We heard a pop and thought maybe it was the tire but the engine began smoking. I pulled the vehicle over as safely as possible. I popped the hood and there was a fire. Everyone evacuated the vehicle as quickly and safely as possible. I was the last to get out of the vehicle. Within minutes the entire vehicle was engulfed in flames. We stood there and watched the only vehicle we have completely burn up. I cried and I watched my kids cry. What was supposed to be a beach day for us to distress and relax turned into us almost losing our lives on the highway. We are thankful for the state trooper, the fire department, and the paramedics who all arrived on scene and kept my family safe. Im thankful our lives weren’t lost. However we still faced a life or death situation today.

NHTSA complaint #11536826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Saturn VUE Deerfield, NH

ENGINE

ignition gets stuck with key and locks steering wheel, now it wont shut off all the way to left and kills my battery looks like there has been MANY ignition issues and recalls with saturns which this is pretty important to have working to drive and be safe esp as a female in this world ..getting stuck or with a dead battery isnt good $300-400 at a gmc to fix this issue I feel personally this should be considered a recall fix

NHTSA complaint #11461547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Saturn VUE Ramsey, MN

ENGINE

Sweet smell coming from vents, suspect there is a coolant leak in the heater core, only 98000 miles and the heater core is failing.

NHTSA complaint #11447965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Saturn VUE at 204,495 miles Salisbury, MD

ENGINE

The contact owns a 2007 Saturn Vue. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle for a state inspection, the contact was told that the front engine cradle mounts were severely corroded. The contact was also informed that the corrosion was so severe that the part could not be replaced. The dealer nor the manufacturer had been notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was 204,495.

NHTSA complaint #11437464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Saturn VUE Hamptonville, NC

ENGINE

My 2008 Saturn vue Engine size 3600cc, 6 cylinders has been feeling like the transmission is slipping when you get up to a certain speed and this could be very harmful to other drivers that are driving.. Sometimes the car won't go into park or reverse and I feel that since there are 3 RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE AND I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED THAT THE GM PLACE SHOULD HAVE TO FIX THIS Because someone could get hurt really badly if the transmission locks up while going down the road.

NHTSA complaint #11427977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Saturn VUE at 87,000 miles LA Habra, CA Fire

ENGINE

OCTOBER 22 2020 MY HUSBAND AND I HAD PURCHASED A 2008 SATURN VUE (LIC PLATE # 6EZZ507)FROM A PRIVATE PARTY. ON MARCH 25 2021 THE CAR SUDDENLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES THEN EXPLODED. MY HUSBAND MANAGED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IN JUST SECONDS BEFORE THE CAR EXPLODED. WE'VE COME TO FIND OUT AFTERWARDS THAT THIS PARTICULAR YEAR,MAKE,MODEL HAD BEEN RECALLED. IS THERE ANYTHING COULD POSSIBLY BE DONE?

NHTSA complaint #11412911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Saturn VUE at 107,257 miles Chicopee, MA

ENGINE

CAR POWER SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING, UNABLE TO START AGAIN IN ANY TRAFFIC OR ROAD CONDITIONS TO MOVE CAR TO A SAFE AREA. FULL LOSS OF POWER UNEXPECTED, VEHICLE SIMPLY STOPS RUNNING. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED 'USED' FROM A PRIVATE SELLER I SUSPECT WAS WELL AWARE OF THE SITUATION BUT DIDN'T EXPOSE IT. $2300 SPENT SO FAR WITH NO FINDINGS AS TO WHY THE PROBLEM OCCURS. ONLY AN ADDED 30 MILES TO THE ODOMETER SINCE PURCHASE. PRESENT READING IS 107,251.

NHTSA complaint #11397618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Saturn VUE at 116,000 miles Brooklyn, NY

ENGINE

I'M GETTING CODES P0171 AND P2138, AIR BAG NOT WORKING CODE ON..

NHTSA complaint #11389677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Saturn VUE Baltimore, MD

ENGINE

ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SEVERAL MECHANICS THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. SEVERAL YEARS AGO SPENT OVER &1000.00 ON IT ( TRANSMISSION) AT A GM DEALER ONLY TO HAVE THE ISSUE TO STILL EXIST. NEVER BUYING A GM VEHICLE AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #11372920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Saturn VUE at 134,000 miles 92040, CA

ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR WOULD BEEP 3 TIME WHILE LIGHTS FLASH ON THE DASH. I WOULD LOSE POWER STEERING AND THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT OFF. ... USUALLY WOULD START BACK UP IF I WAITED LONG ENOUGH. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME QUITE A FEW TIMES. I HAVE BEEN ALSO ON A STREET GOING 35 MILES AN HOUR AND SAME THING WOULD HAPPEN. THE LAST TIME I TRIED TO DRIVE IT I PUT MY KEYS IN AND CANT GET THEM OUT. .

NHTSA complaint #11361453 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Saturn VUE South Chicago Heights, IL

ENGINE

MY CAR STEERING GOES IN AND OUT LOUD WHINING NOISE LIKE I'M GONNA LOSE CONTROL GOT RAN AND PINION REPLACED AND POWER STEERING PUMP SO WHAT CAN STILL BE THE PROBLEM ALSO JUST REPLACE CONTROL MODULE FOR TRANSMISSION AND NOW LIGHT JUST CAME BACK ON 3 MONTHS AFTER GETTING FIXED SAME CODE P0700

NHTSA complaint #11361220 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Saturn VUE at 88,000 miles Sheboygan, WI

ENGINE

MY VEHICLE'S TIMING CHAIN BROKE WITH ONLY 88,000 MILES. CAUSING ME TO BE STRANDED AND NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE. THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #11340066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Saturn VUE at 119,179 miles Salisbury, NC Fire

ENGINE

DROVE TO A STORE .5 MILES FROM MY HOUSE NOTICED MY CAR WAS SMOKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. DROVE BACK HOME, PARKED, AND TURNED THE CAR OFF, THEN RAISED THE HOOD AND THE WIRE HARNESS BY MY STARTER WAS ON FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #11289378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Saturn VUE problems