101 of the
3,280 complaints filed about the Saturn VUE
are about the fuel system —
100% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2003.
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.
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.
The contact purchased a 2003 Saturn Vue. The contact stated that two days after purchasing the used vehicle, the vehicle was taken to AutoZone, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact stated while driving 45-50 MPH, the contact noticed smoke coming from underneath the hood and from the gas tank location. A service warning light was illuminated. The contact stated while pulling to the side of the road, a bystander alerted the contact that there was a fuel leak. The contact and the other passengers of the vehicle immediately exited the vehicle. The contact stated that the fire started at the gas tank location and extended to the front of the vehicle. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. The contact stated that the vehicle was significantly burned. The contact could not confirm that a fire department report was filed. There was no property damage. Neither the contact nor the other passengers of the vehicle sustained injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot by the registered owner. The contact could not confirm whether the vehicle was totaled. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
NHTSA complaint #11645047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving the engine lights kept coming on, so we decided to get it checked by a mechanic and he told us that we have a faulty fuel tank pressure sensor and that the IMRC actuator valve is not working at all.
NHTSA complaint #11480794 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
VEHICLE HASN'T RETAINED CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL. VEHICLE HAS ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ISSUES OUT OF NO WHERE. DRIVER SEAT HAS ISSUES THAT WILL NOT ALLOW FOR THE SEAT TO INCLINE BUT ONLY RECLINE WHICH HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREET. I'M SCARED TO DRIVE VEHICLE AND I'VE ONLY HAD IT FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS.
NHTSA complaint #11282295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TAMARA RECALL I GOT A RECALL IN THE MAIL FOR MY 2004 SATURN VUE FOR THE IGNITION I'VE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I GOT IT AND THEY SAID THEY KNEW ABOUT IT BUT DID NOT TELL ME WHEN I BOUGHT IT. AND SAID I HAVE TO TAKE CAR OF IT MYSELF.
NHTSA complaint #11193662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN TURNING THE CAR ON;, THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKER,THE RADIO TURNS OFF AND ON, THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD THAT SHOW MILEAGE FLICKER, POWER STEERING IS OFF, WINDOWS DO NOT GO UP OR DOWN AND LOCKS DO NOT UNLOCK. TAKES 10-15 MINS FOR CAR TO STOP FLICKERING AND POWER TO BE RESTORED TO CAR, BEFORE THEN YOU CANNOT DRIVE IT. ABS LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE GO ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY . CAR BATTERY HAS DIED 3 TIMES. I HAVE BEEN LATE FOR APPOINTMENTS, LATE FOR PICKING MY CHILDREN UP AND GETTING THEM FROM SCHOOL, DUE TO WAITING FOR THE CAR TO STOP FLICKERING AND MALFUNCTIONING. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING DAILY, AND IT WAS NOT ABLE TO BE FIXED YET.I DO NOT HAVE A PICTURE, BUT I WILL TAKE PIC/VIDEO IF YOU NEED ONE
NHTSA complaint #11191738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
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.
WHEN IT SNOWS MY DRIVEWAY IS ON A HILL AND MY CAR IS IN PARK IT ROLLS BACKWARDS DOWN THE HILL AND ILL LOOK OUTSIDE TO FIND IT MOVED FROM WERE I LEFT IT. NOW FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS IF I PARK AT THE STORE, SCHOOL,JOB AND GET READY TO GO TRY TO SHIFT THE CAR ON DRIVE WHEN I STEP ON THE BRAKE TO SHIFT IT I HEAR AND FEEL CLICK SOUND AND CANT MOVE THE GEAR.
NHTSA complaint #11057635 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION WILL JUMP OUT OF GEAR,NEED TO SHIFT GEAR SELECTOR INTO NEUTRAL,THEN BACK INTO DRIVE,SOMETIMES MORE THAN ONCE.WE HAVE AVOIDED SEVERAL SERIOUS INCIDENTS SINCE THIS PROBLEMATIC ISSUE STARTED.VEHICLE WAS CHECKED OUT SEVERAL TIMES AT SATURN OF MODESTO.CA.NOW OUT OF BUSINESS,THERE FIX JUST REPLACE TRANSMISSION $5,000 AT CUSTOMERS FULL EXPENSE.CONTRACTED SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE,THEY ADVISED US TO CONTACT CHASE CHEVROLET STKN.CA AS THEY CAN SERVICE YOUR SATURN VEHICLE.CALLED CHASE CHEVROLET WAS ADVISED THERE SHOP DID NOT HAVE PROPER EQUIPMENT TO SERVICE OUR VEHICLE,DIDN'T HAVE UPDATED COMPUTER SOFTWARE.STILL HAVING SAME ISSUES.
NHTSA complaint #11048108 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
"TAKATA RECALL" MY 2008 SATURN VUE HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR 3 ITEMS, ALL OF WHICH I AM EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH BUT ACCORDING TO MY VIN NUMBER MY VEHICLE DOES NOT APPLY FOR THESE RECALLS. I DID RECEIVE A NOTICE A FEW YEARS AGO BUT SINCE MY VEHICLE WAS STILL OKAY AT THE TIME, I NEVER BROUGHT IT IN. THE 3 RECALLS ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, 2. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, 3. STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS. MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT MIKE ANDERSON CHEVROLETT DUE TO THESE ISSUES BUT THE ONLY ITEM THAT'S APPEARING COVERED IS THE TRANSMISSION. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW MY VIN HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL WHEN ALL THE 2008 SATURN VUE'S ARE MADE WITH THE SAME PARTS. I WOULD LIKE AN INVESTIGATION TO BE MADE DUE TO MY VEHICLE FALLING UNDER THE RECALL CATEGORY BUT NOT FALLING UNDER THE CORRECT VIN NUMBER CATEGORY. MY VEHICLE CURRENTLY WON'T ALLOW ME TO GO PASS 40MPH, MY STEERING WHEEL GETS LOCKED MAKING IT HARD FOR ME TO TURN AND THERE IS A LEAK, ALSO WHEN MY LOCKS ARE UNLOCKED THE HANDLES STILL WON'T OPEN AS IF IT'S STILL LOCKED. IMMEDIATE ATTENTION IS RESPECTFULLY REQUESTED.
NHTSA complaint #10981721 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I OWN A SATURN VUE 2003 AND TOPPED THE TANK WITH GAS ONLY TO WITNESS A FUEL ODOR AND A LEAK UNDER THE TANK AREA. THE DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY MONDAY THE 3RD OF APRIL I VISITED DEWEY BARBER IN GARDENDALE ALABAMA AFTER RESEARCH AND INQUIRED ABOUT SPECIAL COVERAGE 12191, FUEL ODOR AND GROUND SPOTTING. I FURTHER EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT WHEN I ACCELERATE THERE'S A HESITATION AS IF THE FLOW OF GAS IS ALTERED. THEY LOOKED UP MY VIN AND DISCOVERED A RECALL OF THE KEY IGNITION CYLINDER AND ORDERED THE SWITCH AND KEY WHICH WOULD BE IN AT 7:30AM TUESDAY. THEY WROTE IT UP ON A FORM AND PASSED IT ON. 2-HOURS LATER THEY SAID THE SPECIAL COVERAGE 12191 WASN'T FOR MY CAR AND THAT IT DIDN'T APPEAR UNDER MY VIN. THEY ALSO CONCLUDED THAT MY KEY WAS SO WORN THAT A COPY COULDN'T BE MADE, ANOTHER KEY IS ORDERED FROM THE MANUFACTURER. SO I WAS TOLD TO CALL BACK WEDNESDAY TO SEE IF THE KEYS ARRIVED. WHO DO I GET TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS CONCERNING THE FUEL ODOR FROM THE GAS LEAK????? THERE IS A DISTURBANCE OF FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE THAT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED!!!!!!!
NHTSA complaint #10970651 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.