2002 Saturn Vue Complaint Log

2002 SATURN VUE (65,000 MILES) MAKING NOISE. WOULD NOT START, TOWED TO MECHANIC. TIMING CHAIN FAILURE CAUSING ENGINE DAMAGE. ESTIMATED COST IS $3000; LOSS OF VEHICLE FOR AT LEAST A WEEK WHILE BEING REPAIRED. CURRENTLY AT THE MECHANICS AWAITING REPAIR. *JB

(1) WAS TURNING RIGHT FROM DRIVEWAY ONTO STREET FROM WORK (2) WAS A LOUD METAL SNAPPING SOUND, THEN A GRINDING TYPE SOUND WHILE DRIVING HOME. THUMPS WHEN MAKING TURNS WHEN CHECKED AT HOME, DISCOVERED THAT FRONT STABILIZER BAR'S RIGHT LINK HAD SNAPPED LOOSE AT JUNCTION OF ROD AND BALL JOINT ON THE SUSPENSION STRUT. GRINDING WAS DUE TO LOOSE END OF THE LINK RUBBING INSIDE THE WHEEL. (3) LINK HAD TO BE REPLACED, WAS DIFFERENT DESIGN FROM ORIGINAL. ORIGINAL WAS 3 PIECES SCREWED TOGETHER, REPLACEMENT WAS CASST SINGLE PIECE. ORIGINAL IS AVAILABLE. FAILURE COULD HAVE LED TO THE BROKEN PIECE DISABLING BRAKES IF IT RUPTURED THE BRAKE HOUSE, OR DISABLING ABS HAD IT BROKEN WIRE LEADS WHICH ARE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY. PARTS REDESIGN POINTS TO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE THAT OLD DESIGN IS DEFECTIVE. *JB

REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OPENING MECHANISM FAILED. OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FOR BACK SEAT WHERE CHILDREN SIT IN CAR. DEALER NOTED THAT MANUF HAD SINCE REDESIGNED THE MECHANISM HOWEVER MANUF WOULD NOT REIMBURSE FOR REPAIR COST OF $275 WHEN CONTACTED REPEATEDLY. *NM

WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 SATURN VUE TO WORK, THE REDUCED POWER AND SERVICE ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY, AND I HAD NO POWER. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE A STATE TROOPER SAT BEHIND ME WITH HIS LIGHTS ON SO THAT I WOULD NOT BE REAR-ENDED. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR STATION WHERE IT COULD NOT BE FIXED, SO IT WAS TOWED TO THE SATURN DEALER. IT WAS REPORTED TO ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND SINCE THE ENGINE WAS A "ZERO TOLERANCE" ENGINE, THE ENTIRE ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $2000. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT DO NOT HAVE COPIES OF THE RECEIPTS FOR OIL CHANGES SO THEY WILL NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY (FOR WHICH I PAID $1700). HERITAGE (THE COMPANY WHICH I BOUGHT THE WARRANTY FROM WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR AT SATURN) SAYS THAT IF I PAY $435 TO HAVE THE ENGINE TORN DOWN, THEY WILL SEND AN AUDITOR TO DETERMINE IF THEY WILL PAY FOR THE REPAIRS OR NOT. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE ENGINE THAT THEY WILL PUT IN HAS 28,000 MILES ON IT AND THE TIMING CHAIN MAY BREAK ON THIS ENGINE AS WELL. *NM

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, OUR 2002 VUE MADE A GRINDING NOISE AND THEN BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. AS WE WERE PULLING OFF TO THE SIDE, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THEN WOULD NOT RE-START. THE SATURN DEALERSHIP TOWED THE VUE TO THEIR LOT AND INFORMED US , THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD SKIPPED AND BLEW THE MOTOR. THE TIMING CHAIN WAS SUPPOSED TO BE NO MAINTENANCE AND DIDN'T EVEN NEED TO BE CHECKED UNTIL 100,000 MILES. MY VUE HAD 65,000 MILES. AFTER 3 WEEKS WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY WOULD REBUILD THE ENGINE AT A COST OF $3500- $3800 AND SATURN WOULD PAY HALF OF THAT COST. SEVERAL WEEKS PRIOR, THE VEHICLE WAS STALLING WHILE DRIVING AND WOULD NOT RESTART UNTIL IT COOLED OFF. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED A SENSOR FOR THE CAM SHAFT. THE SWITCH FOR THE BACK WIPER HAS BEEN REPLACED AND WE WERE TOLD BY SATURN TECH'S THAT THE MOTOR FOR THE BACK WIPER ALSO NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, AGAIN AT OUR COST. *JB

DRIVERS DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN.. THIS HAPPENED 3 OR 4 TIMES OVER THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS BUT USUALLY AFTER ATTEMPTING SEVERAL TIMES THE DOOR WOULD FINALLY OPEN, HOWEVER THIS TIME IT WOULD NOT OPEN.. I RETURNED TO MY HOME AND REFUSED TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL THE DEALER COULD LOOK AT IT AND SOLVE THE PROBLEM. IT TOOK 4 DAYS BEFORE I COULD GET AN APPOINTMENT. AFTER DRIVING 75 MILES TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THAT THE DOOR PANEL HAD 2 BROKEN CLIPS THAT HELD THE SIDE PANEL ON AND THAT IT WOULD COST $450 TO REPLACE THE DOOR PANEL.. I FIND THIS TO BE AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT OR FIRE AND THE NEED TO EVACUATE THE AUTOMOBILE.. MY ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED AS OF YET BUT AFTER OWNING A TOTAL OF 3 SATURN CARS AND ALL THREE HAVING DEFECTIVE ISSUES THAT SATURN WILL PROBABLY DO NOTHING. I FIND IT ODD THAT SATURN OFFERED 2 YEARS AGO TO BUY BACK OUR SATURN VUE BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO USE IT FOR RESEARCH... WE DECLINED ALTHOUGH WE NOW REGRET NOT FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH IT. SATURN DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND NEVER CLAIM LIABILITY FOR THEIR FAULTY PRODUCT. I WOULD NEVER BUY ANOTHER SATURN PRODUCT NOR WOULD I EVER RECOMMEND SATURN TO A FRIEND. *JB

I HAVE A FAILED TRANSMISSION, ON A 2002 SATURN VUE WITH 56K MILES ON IT. I BROUGHT IT IN THREE MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING THEY CLAIMED THEY CHANGED THE FLUID, DID A TUNE UP ETC., BUT THE RIDE REALLY DIDN'T CHANGE. WELL THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY WENT OUT, AND THEY'RE ORDERING PARTS TO "FIX" THE TRANSMISSION INSTEAD OF REPLACING IT. IN FACT THEY DON'T MAKE THE TRANSMISSION ANYMORE (WHICH IS UNDERSTANDABLE, WHO WOULD CONTINUE TO MAKE SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T WORK) BUT NOW IF MINE GOES OUT I HAVE TO EITHER HAVE PARTS REPLACED, OR GET ONE OUT OF A WRECKED ONE. *NM

SATURN VUE HAS ISSUES WITH SWAY BAR, HAD TO REPLACE O RINGS AND DO ALIGNMENT--DEALERSHIP/SERVICE DEPT CLAIMED IT WAS BECAUSE OF MICHIGAN ROADS, FUNNY THING IS THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN VA MOST OF THE PAST 9 MONTHS. MR. FARMER AT SATURN OF FLINT WAS VERY RUDE TO ME ON THE PHONE. MANUFACTURER DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT ONCE THE O RINGS GO THEN GOES THE ALIGNMENT, TIRES AND THEN BRAKES. I HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD 'TROUBLE' WITH THE O RINGS. WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE RECALLED? *JB

SOMEONE WAS PREPARING TO CUT ME OFF, SO I SOUNDED THE HORN AS A WARNING. THE HORN WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. I PULLED THE FUSE TO QUIET THE HORN. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SAME DAY AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE HORN/DRIVER AIR BAG RELAY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT OVER $700 JUST FOR THE PART! COMMON PROBLEM/POOR DESIGN FEATURE - SEE WWW.SATURNFANS.COM/FORUMS/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP/T-52432.HTML. *NM

TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK ALL THE TIME, FEAR OF REAR END COLLISION. THE TURN SIGNALS HAVE TO BE RESET BY TURNING ON HAZARD WARNING FLASHERS MOMENTARILY THEN TRY TURN SIGNALS! *JB

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE HORN WENT OFF ON ITS OWN. THE CONSUMER HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO ANY MECHANIC FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK (11/23/05) *SC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN THE PROCESS OF RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE KEY SLIPPED OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

WHENEVER THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED IT MAKES A NOISE AND SEEMS TO VIBRATE THE VEHICLE. IT HAS NOT YET FAILED, BUT IS VERY WORRISOME.*AK

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING THE RPM GAUGE JUMPED FROM TWO TO SEVEN OR EIGHT. THEN DROPPED BACK TO TWO. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT STATED IT HAPPENED SO FAST THAT THERE WAS NO TIME TO REACT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST SIX TIMES. THE CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE SERVICE DEALER HAS DONE, BUT THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY DID EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE FOR ANOTHER YEAR. *AK

IN THE MORNING MY WIFE ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR AND IT DID NOT START. WHEN I GOT HOME FROM WORK I STARTED THE CAR, BUT THE IDLE WAS VERY ROUGH. I DROVE THE CAR AROUND THE BLOCK (STANDARD TRANSMISSION) AND IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT GETTING THE CAR TO ACCELERATE IN FIRST GEAR. AS I DROVE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT WAS FLASHING. THE IDLE WAS ROUGH, THE ENGINE WAS UNDERPOWERED, AND WHEN I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE ENGINE WOULD STALL. THE PARTS REPLACED WERE #12587426: COIL ASM, #12580215: MODULE AS, #12569190: SPARK PLUG. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. THE REPAIRS WERE DONE AT SATURN OF NATIONAL CITY IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY. THIS VEHICLE IS A 2002 SATURN VUE. IT HAS THE 2.2L (L4) ENGINE. THE PARTS AND THE ENGINE ARE THE SAME ONES FOUND IN THE SATURN L-SERIES SEDAN, WHICH HAD A RECALL FOR THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE. I BELIEVE THAT RECALL IS 03-C-06. I CALLED SATURN'S NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE AND THEY SAID THAT THE RECALL DOES NOT AFFECT MY VEHICLE, EVEN THOUGH IT HAS THE SAME ENGINE AND SAME PART NUMBERS THAT WERE SUBJECT TO RECALL FOR THE L-SERIES SEDAN. *NM

MY SATURN HAS TROUBLE STARTING. WHEN IT DOES START AND RUN THE HEADLIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF CONSTANTLY, MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WON'T SHUT OFF, AND THE ODOMETER WENT FROM READING 36,000 MILES TO READING 76,000 MILES. *NM

DT: CONTACT STATES THE CLUTCH BECAME DISABLED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT CLUTCH CABLE SNAPPED OR THERE WAS PROBLEM WITHIN THE HYDRAULICS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS IN ANOTHER STATE. *AK

DT: STEERING SYSTEM IS FAILING. STEERING LOCKS UP ON LEFT HAND TURNS, THEN STARTS STRAIGHTENING BACK OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN AND WHILE GOING ON/OFF EXIT RAMPS. AT LOW SPEEDS THE WHEEL COMPLETELY STOPS TURNING AND LOCKS UP. *TT

GEAR LEVER CAME UNATTACHED FROM FLOOR ASSEMBLY WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 3-4MPH. AT A HIGHER SPEED, I COULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

MY FIANCE AND I BOTH PURCHASED A 2002 SATURN VUE. DURING THE COURSE OF NORMAL DRIVING SHE USED HER HORN IN ALERTING OTHER DRIVERS AND THE HORN FAILED TO STOP SOUNDING. THE ONLY REMEDY WAS TO PULL OVER AND REMOVE THE FUSE TO STOP THE HORN FROM SOUNDING. THIS OCCURRED THREE TIMES DURING HER OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE AND EACH TIME THE DEFECTIVE PART WAS REPLACED THE PROBLEM WOULD RETURN SHORTLY AFTER. AFTER MUCH INQUIRY WE FINALLY HAD A MANAGER ADMIT TO US THERE WAS A PRODUCT REDESIGN TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITH IT SHORTING OUT WHICH ALSO AFFECTED THE AIR BAG FUNCTIONALITY AS WELL. BOTH SAFETY ISSUES. NOW DURING THE COURSE OF NORMAL DRIVING MY VEHICLE, ALSO A SATURN VUE OF THE SAME YEAR, HAS SUFFERED THE SAME FAILURE. ALTHOUGH THIS IS MY FIRST SUCH INCIDENT WITH THE PROBLEM, I SUSPECT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED CASE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PART WOULD COST ROUGHLY $1000 TO REPLACE WHEN WE HAD TO REPLACE HERS THREE TIMES! I AM NOW FINDING MYSELF IN THE SAME SITUATION WHERE I HONKED THE HORN AND IT REFUSED TO TURN OFF UNTIL I PULLED THE FUSE. I ASSUME THEY WILL ALSO TRY TO CHARGE ME $1000 FOR IT'S REPAIR. *NM

I WAS INVOLVED IN 2 ACCIDENTS WITH MY 2002 SATURN VUE. THE FIRST TIME I WAS DRIVING IN RAINY CONDITIONS WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I LOST CONTROL OF MY CAR. I FIRST VEERED TO THE LEFT AND TRIED TO GET CONTROL OF THE CAR, BUT WOUND UP DOING SEVERAL 360 DEGREE TURNS AND SPUN TO THE RIGHT AND OFF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH. THE SECOND AND MOST RECENT TIME, I WAS FOLLOWING TRAFFIC AND TAPPED ON MY BRAKES WHEN AGAIN I LOST CONTROL, WENT TO THE LEFT AND DID A 520 AND PRETTY MUCH MY CAR IS TOTALLED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM FAILED, AND VEHICLE WANDERED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *TC

DURING COLD WEATHER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE BATTERY DIES CONSTANTLY SINCE EARLY AUGUST OF 2002 (PURCHASED CAR ON JUNE 2002). UNABLE TO OPERATE CAR WHEN THE BATTERY DIES. MUST BE JUMPED TO BE ABLE TO OPERATE. IT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND THE RADIO ALSO HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE. THE BATTERY DIES IF THE CAR IS NOT USED FOR MORE THAN 3 DAYS. CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS BECAUSE THE CAR WAS IDDLE FOR TOO LONG. VISITED THE DEALERSHIPS 8 TIMES IN 6 MONTHS FOR THIS PROBLEM - DEALERSHIP ACTIONS DO NOT FIX PROBLEM. I EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE DASH AND THE LIGHTS COMING ON AND OFF. I EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE ALARM - NOT ENGAGING AND MALFUNCTIONING. I ALSO EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE WHEEL STEERING - NEEDING REPLACEMENT.*AK

THE HORN FAILED. DEALERSHIP SAID THAT CONSUMER HIT THE HORN PAD TOO HARD AND DAMAGED THE WIRING. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *TC

9/15/04 VEHICLE LOST POWER WHEN ACCELERATING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. I ALMOST HAD A COLLISION FROM AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. VUE HESITATED AGAIN AND LOST POWER WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO GET UP TO POSTED SPEED. I HAD THE ACCELERATOR FLOORED, RPMS SHOT UP TO 6000 AND I WAS ONLY ABLE TO GO 20 - 25 MILES PER HOUR DOWN THE ROAD. ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE HOME AT THE END OF THE DAY, BUT VUE WOULDN'T EXCEED 20 - 25 MILES PER HOUR. WITH 21,937 MILE, I DROVE TO SATURN OF ROCHESTER (MN) AND DROPPED OFF ADVISED DEALER THAT TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND ENGINE RACED. 9/16/04 SATURN OF ROCHESTER (MN) TECHNICIAN DROVE CAR AND FELT TRANSMISSION SLIP. TECHNICIAN DRAINED FLUID AND FOUND METAL IN FLUID AND BELT SLIPPING. DEALERSHIP CALLED TO ADVISE THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED! RETURNED TO OWNER ON 9/23/04. 9/27/04, WITH 22,060 MILES, BROUGHT VUE BACK TO SATURN OF ROCHESTER (MN) BECAUSE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WAS ON. SATURN VIE WAS ONLY ABLE TO GO 20 - 25 MILES PER HOUR DOWN THE ROAD '' ONCE AGAIN, HAD TO TAKE BACK ROADS TO SAFELY GET TO DEALERSHIP. TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THEY HAD TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION THAT THEY HAD REPLACED! WHEN I ASKED IF THEY HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE SATURN VIE THE SALES PERSON SAID HE HADN'T HEARD OF ANYTHING. THE GENERAL MANAGER MADE THE SAME STATEMENT. USING THE INTERNET I DISCOVERED NUMEROUS LISTINGS ON THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION WEB SITE. I PRINTED OUT THE INFORMATION AND PROVIDED IT TO THE GENERAL MANAGER - - HE PLEAD IGNORANCE. WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED I ASKED THE SHOP MANAGER IF THEY HAD EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS AND HE TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD REPLACED SEVERAL TRANSMISSION AND THAT IT WAS WIDELY KNOW THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. *NM

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE HORN BLEW CONSTANTLY. I PRESSED THE AREA WHERE THE HORN IS TO TRY TO SHUT IT OFF, TO NO AVAIL. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, OPEN THE HOOD, PULL OFF THE FUSE COVER, FIND THE FUSE AND PULL IT OUT, WHICH FINALLY STOPPED THE HORN FROM BLAIRING. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID THE WHOLE AIR BAG MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROX. $860.00. I CALLED SATURN HEADQUARTERS, AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE SITUATION. AND THE COST. THEY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND SAID THEY WOULD SPLIT THE COST. I AM STILL NOT SATISFIED, I THINK IT SHOULD BE REPLACED AT NO COST TO ME. THIS IS A 2 YEAR OLD VEHICLE AND FOR THE HORN TO MALFUNCTION BECAUSE THE AIR BAG IS PRESSING ON IT, IS RIDICULOUS. SAFETY WISE, THE HORN JUST STARTED BLOWING AND NOT TURNING OFF, SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME, TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND FINDING A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER, I COULD OF INJURED MYSELF AND OTHERS WHEN THIS HAPPENED. WHEN I DO GET IT REPLACED, BECAUSE I STILL DO NOT HAVE A HORN, WHOSE TO SAY IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN WITH THE NEXT AIR BAG,(POOR DESIGN) !*AK

ON MY 2002 SATURN VUE (WITH A 4-CYLINDER ENGINE, 2 WHEEL DRIVE, AND MANUAL TRANSMISSION), THE AIR-CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR CLUTCH UNIT BROKE OFF FROM THE COMPRESSOR. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THERE WAS A FAILURE IN THE ASSEMBLY ATTACHING THE COMPRESSOR CLUTCH TO THE COMPRESSOR. THE PHYSICAL BREAKAGE OF THE AIR-CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR CLUTCH RESULTED IN PIECES OF THE ASSEMBLY COMING INTO CONTACT WITH OTHER ENGINE PARTS THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FAILURE OF THE ENGINE. HE FAILURE WOULD APPEAR TO INDICATE A DEFECT IN THE COMPRESSOR ASSEMBLY. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE, THE ENTIRE COMPRESSOR ASSEMBLY REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE SERVICE ADVISOR STATED THAT THE TECHNICIAN WHO PERFORMED THE REPAIR ON MY SATURN VUE DID NOT SEE ANY EVIDENCE OF THE FAILURE BEING CAUSED BY ROAD DEBRIS OR VEHICLE ABUSE. MY SATURN VUE HAD APPROXIMATELY 52,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AT THE TIME OF THE REPAIR ON AUGUST 27, 2004. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN GENTLY DURING MY TWO YEARS OF OWNERSHIP AND HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED (NO FAST STARTS, FULL-THROTTLE ACCELERATIONS, ETC.). FORTUNATELY, THE FAILURE DID NOT LEAD TO FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, OR, WORSE, TO AN ACCIDENT SINCE THE BROKEN PARTS COULD HAVE HIT OTHER PARTS OF THE ENGINE CAUSING IT TO STOP.*AK

DIRT SUPPOSEDLY GOT IN MY STEERING WHEEL CASE AND HAS DAMAGED A COIL, NOW MY HORN BARELY WORKS AND MY AIR BAG IS AT RISK. SATURN WILL NOT REPAIR WITHOUT A COST OF $378.00 AND THE CAR IS 2YRS OLD ONLY THIS MONTH. I DRIVE THE CAR BACK AND FORTH TO WORK WITH THE AIR ON..AND DUST IN THE CASE PUTS MY LIFE IN DANGER WITHOUT THE POSSIBIITY OF AN AIRBAG. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE TURNING RIGHT VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE LEFT. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK

E-MAIL REGARDING ROLL OVER TIRE PRESSURE. *MR *SC *JB

I WRECKED A SATURN VUE GOING 55 MILES AN HOUR WHEN THE CAR BEGAN TO SWAY THEN SLDING TO THE LEFT HITTING A DITCH GOING AIRBORN ROLLING OVER SEVERL TIMES HITTING THE MOUNTAIN WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE AND ENDED ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE REAR TIRE BROKE OFF THE BENT UNDER THE CAR.*AK

I HAVE HAD MY 2002 SATURN VUE FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND A HALF. THE PROBLEMS ACTUALLY STARTED AFTER ABOUT THREE MONTHS OF MY PURCHASE DATE. I HAVE CONTINUOUSLY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT COMING, NEVER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM TWICE. THE ENTIRE COMPUTER HAD TO BE REPLACED ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO, BUT IS CAUSING ME PROBLEMS AGAIN. I JUST PICKED IT UP LAST NIGHT AFTER THE PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED; THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AGAIN THIS MORNING. THIS IS THE SEVENTH TIME I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS DEALING WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT. I ALSO HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT-END SUSPENSION SYSTEM. THE TORSION BAR LINKS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE, THE TORSION BAR BUSHINGS TWICE. THE LATEST INCIDENT HAPPENED A WEEK AGO AFTER THE SUSPENSION WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED. THE DEALERSHIP HAD PUT THE WRONG SIZE OF BUSHING ON THE TORSION BAR; IT CAME FLYING OFF WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT. THIS COULD HAVE POSED A PROBLEM IF THE PART WERE TO HIT ANYONE. MY WARRANTY IS ALMOST UP AND I AM AFRAID THAT I WILL BE STUCK PAYING FOR ALL OF THESE MANUFACTURING DEFECTS. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND KNOW FOR A FACT THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THESE SAME PROBLEMS. I HAVE NOTIFIED SATURN CORP., BUT REALLY DID NOT GET ANYWHERE. THEY SENT ME A CHECK FOR ONE MONTHLY PAYMENT, HARDLY COMPENSATION FOR HAVING TO DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP TWELVE TIMES WITHIN ONE YEAR.

I PURCHASED A NEW SATURN VUE IN 3/02. IT RAN GREAT UNTIL 1/7/03 AT WHICH TIME THE CAR LOST POWER AND WOULDN'T START. I CALLED SATURN, AND THEY HAD SOMEONE PICKUP THE CAR AND TOW IT TO A DEALERSHIP IN SAGINAW. WHEN I PICKED IT UP, I WAS TOLD THE CAR HAD TOO MUCH GAS GOT IN THE CYLINDER. I'VE BEEN DRIVING CARS FOR 20 YRS &NEVER HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THAT, SO I THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE JUST BEEN A QUIRKY THING...UNTIL IT HAPPENED AGAIN 2 WKS LATER (1/23/03). I CALLED THE SATURN, AND THEY PICKED IT UP. I WAS NOW CONCERNED ABOUT THE CAR BREAKING DOWN WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IT WITH MY 3 SONS. I PICKED UP THE CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD ME THE SAME THING HAPPENED AS THE 1ST TIME. I VOICED MY FRUSTRATION TO THE SVC MGR WHO GAVE ME HIS BUS CARD AND TOLD ME TO HAVE MY WIFE CALL HIM IF SHE EVER BROKE DOWN...I DON'T THINK HE WORKS 24X7. THE SAME THING JUST HAPPENED AGAIN ON 1/13/04. I ASKED DEALERSHIP HAPPENED THIS TIME - THEY SAID IT WAS THE SAME THING. I PRESSED THIS PERSON FOR MORE INFO AND HE ASKED ME HOW FAR I HAD DRIVEN THE CAR BEFORE IT BROKE DOWN. I TOLD HIM JUST A SHORT DISTANCE. HE SAID THERE'S A QUIRKY THING WITH SATURNS - IN COLD WEATHER YOU HAVE TO LET THEM RUN FOR 2 OR 3 MINUTES EVEN IF YOU'RE TAKING THE CAR FOR A SHORT DRIVE OR THE CAR WILL GET TOO MUCH GAS IN THE ENGINE AND BREAK DOWN. THE SVC PERSON I WORKED WITH, GOT THE SVC MGR (TERRY MCKEE) WHO ECHOED THE SAME THING. KEEP IN MIND, I HAVE A WIFE AND 3 LITTLE BOYS. IF MY WIFE USES OUR CAR, I CAN'T EXPECT HER TO HAVE TO FOLLOW THIS PROCEDURE FOR FEAR OF BEING STRANDED! I GOT THE CUSTOMER CARE # AT SATURN FILED A COMPLAINT (REFERENCE #110098470). BRIAN FROM SATURN SAID THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING TO HELP ME OUT. HIS ONLY SOLUTION WAS FOR ME TO LET THE CAR RUN FOR 2-3 MINUTES BEFORE I DRIVE IT. I WOULDN'T HAVE BOUGHT THE CAR IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS! I DON'T WANT THE CAR ANYMORE, BUT I CAN'T SELL IT TO SOMEONE IN GOOD CONSCIENCE. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP????

I OWN A 2002 SATURN VUE AND BEFORE I HAD IT 1 MONTH A SQEAL WAS HEARD. THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH FUEL PUMPS. A FEW MONTHS AGO THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT WAS A FULE EVAP ISSUE. IT CAME ON AGAIN 2 WEEKS AGO AND THIS TIME THE FUEL EVAP CANISTER WAS REPLACED. I AM CONCERNED WITH SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE FUEL ISSUES. ALSO IN MID DECEMBER THE CLUTCH RETURN SPRING SNAPPED IN HALF. THE AIR CONDITIONING LINES LEAKED INTO THE VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THIS CAR IS A LEMON!*AK

WHILE DRIVING IN THE SNOW THE VEHICLES TIRES STARTED TO SPIN AND SLIP. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED THREE TIMES. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE RADIO/DASH LIGHTS WERE DIM PRIOR TO THE STALLING. THE BLOCK ASSEMBLY AND WIRING HARNESS JUNCTION WAS REPLACED. THE GROUND CONNECTOR IN THE LEFT FRONT BUMPER AREA WAS LOOSE AND WAS TIGHTENED/RE-ASSEMBLE. *SC *JB

I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN TWICE IN LESS THAN 15 MONTHS. THE 2001 SATURN VUE'S HORN BECOMES JAM DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRBAG. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANICS AT THE SATURN DEALERSHIP THE AIRBAG PRESSES DOWN ON THE HORN AND JAMS IT CAUSING IT TO GO OFF NON STOP, THE ONLY WAY TO TURN IT OFF IS TO DISCONNECT THE FUSE. THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED TO ME ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP IT FRIED THE HORN CONNECTION IN THE STEERING WHEEL, MY CONCERN ABOUT THIS SINCE ITS HAPPEN TO ME SO OFTEN IS COULD IT ACCIDENTALLY SET OFF THE AIRBAG? ALSO CAN THIS BE A FIRE HAZARD DUE TO THE CABLES BEING BURNT WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL? I WOULD BE WILLING TO LET YOU GUYS INSPECT MY AUTOMOBILE. IN ORDER TO REPAIR THIS THE WHOLE AIRBAG SYSTEM, AND HORN NEEDS TO BE REPAIR.*JB

THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD THIS TROUBLE SINCE ITS PUCHASE. AFTER THE FIRST BREAK DOWN, SATURN RETURNED IT TO US STATING THAT IT WAS A LOOSE BATTERY TERMINAL. THE SECOND TIME SATURN STATED THAT THEY REPLACED TWO OF THE THREE ON BOARD COMPUTERS, THEY ALSO STATED THAT A FULL DIAGNOSTIC AND REPAIR RECORD WOULD BE FOWARDED TO US. THAT NEVER CAME. YESTEDAY 7/6/03 THE ENGINE SHUT OFF IN TRAFFIC. I COULD NOT GET IT STARTED AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. I WILL NOT PUT MY FAMILY BACK IN THIS CAR AGAIN, I DON'T TRUST SATURN, THE COMPANY OR THE VEHICLE WITH MY FAMILIES LIVES.

THE HORN ON THE STEERING WHEEL IS SO DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THAT IT IS COMPLETELY USELESS. WHILE DRIVING, A PERSON CANNOT FEEL WITH HIS/HER FINGERS THE DIFFERENCE IN TEXTURE ON THE WHEEL FROM WHERE THE HORN IS LOCATED AND WHERE IT IS NOT. ONCE IT IS FOUND, THE PLASTIC IS SO DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS THAT AN INDIVIDUAL MUST APPLY AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF PRESSURE WITH THEIR ENTIRE FIST FOR THE HORN TO GO OFF, AND FINALLY, THE AREA TO ACTIVATE THE HORN IS SO SMALL IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND, I ESTIMATE IT IS SLIGHTLY SMALLER THAN THE NAIL ON MY THUMB...AND I HAVE VERY AVERAGE SIZE HANDS FOR A MAN. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS HORN ASSEMBLY, AS A RESULT, IT IS USELESS IN REAL LIFE DRIVING SITUATIONS. *JB

WHILE TRYING TO STOP BY APPLYING THE BRAKES WHEN APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION, THE ACCELERATOR WOULD NOT DISENGAGE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE UNSTOPPABLE IN THAT SHORT DISTANCE. THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS OF THIS TYPE AND HAS BEEN REPORTED ON THE INTERNET AND BY OTHER OWNERS. THE RESULT WAS A COLLISION THAT TOTALED THE SATURN AND ANOTHER DRIVER'S VOLVO. *NLM

CONSUMER HAD THE AIR BAG MODULE REPLACED FOUR TIMES. DEALER SIMPLY CONTINUED TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE AIR BAG MODULE, BUT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

ON MARCH 14, 2003, MY FAMILY AND I WERE TRAVELING W ON HWY 138 IN STOCKBRIDGE, GA. WE HAD A GREEN LIGHT AND WERE PROCEEDING THROUGH WHEN A FORD EXPLORER PULLED IN FRONT OF US. WE HIT HIM IN THE PASSENGER SIDE, SQUARELY ACROSS THE FRONT OF OUR VEHICLE. WE WERE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN WE HIT AND THE TWO FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DAMAGE TO OUR VEHICLE IS EQUAL ACROSS THE FRONT AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE IS CRUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE FRONT TIRES. OUR VEHICLE WAS A 2002 SATURN VUE. NO ONE WAS INJURED SERIOUSLY, BUT WE WERE TOLD WHEN WE BOUGHT THE CAR THAT THE AIRBAGS DEPLOY IN FRONT END COLLISIONS. *NLM

IN EXTREME COLD WEATHER, THE AIR BAG TROUBLE LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED AFTER VEHICLE IS STARTED.

VEHICLE'S SEAT BELT HAVE BROKEN THEY WONT LOCK OR RETRACT. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

WHEN MY 2002 SATURN VUE IS VERY COLD 20 DEGREES OR COLDER INSIDE CAR THE HORN IS VERY HARD TO PUSH THE PLASTIC WILL NOT FLEX MANY WOMEN WUOLD NOT BE ABLE TO USE THE HORM.

CONSUMER COULD CHANGE GEARS WITHOUT FOOT ON BRAKES. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS. *AK

THE CONSUMER INSISTED THE 2002 SATURN VUE WAS A POTENTIAL DEATH TRAP FOR ANYONE WITH SIGNIFICANT DRIVING REQUIREMENTS. ACCORDING TO VUE OWNER'S MANUAL ALL-WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) SYSTEM HAS THE FOLLOWING FATAL FLAW. IF VEHICLE IS EXPOSED TO EXTENDED HEAVY USAGE, THE AWD SYSTEM WILL SHUT OFF TO PROTECT THE SYSTEM FROM OVER HEATING. WHEN THE SYSTEM COOLS, THE AWD SYSTEM WILL ACTIVATE ITSELF AGAIN AUTOMATICALLY. COOL DOWN PERIOD CAN TAKE UP TO 20 MINUTES DEPENDING ON OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE AND VEHICLE USE. CONSUMER PRESENTED THE FOLLOWING ARGUMENTS TO SATURN, AND THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THEM. *AK *JB

IN JULY I BOUGHT A 2002 SATURN VUE. OVER CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS I NOTICED IT WAS LEAKING TRANSIMISSION FLUID FROM A CONNECTION IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS AMAZED TO FIND THESE LINES TOTALLY UNPROTECTED AND VULNERABLE TO ROAD HAZARD DAMAGE. DUE TO THEIR PROXIMITY TO THE EXHAUST I'M CONCERNED WITH A RUPTURE AND FIRE. I HAVE PICTURES AVAILABLE TO SHOW THE LOCATION OF THESE LINES BUT AM UNABLE TO ATTACH THEM TO THIS TYPE OF FILE. THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN!