2003 Saturn Vue Complaint Log

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE STILL MANAGED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CALLED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED THAT IT BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY INOPERABLE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 102,000.

VEHICLE LOST TIMING CHAIN TENSIONERS AT 57K MILES, DUE TO POOR OIL FLOW AT LOW RPMS DESPITE REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE. COST TO REPAIR IS $1400.00, SATURN WILL NOT RECALL OR COVER COSTS TO REPAIR ENGINE. AND SAYS THERE ARE NO 'KNOWN ISSUES WITH THIS MODEL' YET THE L-SERIES WHICH HAS THE SAME 2.2L ENGINE HAS RECALLS OUT FOR TIMING CHAIN ISSUES. AND IN THE NEW PARTS PURCHASED FOR REPAIR SATURN HAS INCLUDED UPGRADED OILERS TO INCREASE OIL FLOW TO FAILED COMPONENTS. *TR

2003 SATURN VUE. AT 80,000 MILES TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND HAD TO GET IT REPLACED. AT 98000 MILES 8 MONTHS LATER NOTICED SPUTTERING AND TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD AT FIRST IT WAS THE IGNITION COIL AND THE SPARK PLUGS AND MODULES NEEDED REPLACED FOR 682 DOLLARS. 4 HOURS LATER THEY CALLED AND SAID THEY FIXED IT AND IT IS NOT FIXED I NOW HAVE A BAD #1 CYLINDER AND HAVE TO GET THE WHOLE ENGINE REPLACED FOR 5400 DOLLARS. AWAITING CALL BACK FROM SATURN CORPORATE TO SEE IF THEY ARE GOING TO HELP. IT IS PRETTY SAD THAT A 5 YEAR OLD CAN NEEDS BOTH THE TRANNY BUILT AND A NEW ENGINE BEFORE 100,000 MILES. SHOULD OF KEPT MY HONDA CIVIC WITH 230,000 MILES. IT RUNS BETTER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HE PROCEEDED THROUGH A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED GEARS WITHOUT WARNING. FIRST GEAR BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION AND THE RPMS WERE APPROXIMATELY 6000; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE DROVE AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY FOR A MONTH. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH JUNE 2009, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND DROVE AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL GEAR. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BELT SLIPPED AND THAT THE FAILURE WAS COMMON FOR THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED VARIOUS PARTS WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION; HOWEVER, AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS WHILE DRIVING UPHILL, THE RPMS RANGE FROM HIGH TO LOW. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000.

2003 SATURN VUE HAD A PARTIALLY MELTED TRANSMISSION DRIVE SHAFT BOOT. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HIS WIFE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. A FEW MINUTES LATER, THERE AS A LOUD EXPLOSION FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER RAN OUT AND DISCOVERED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES OF TRYING TO GET THE VEHICLE TO START, IT FINALLY STARTED BUT IT WOULD SHUT OFF. ON THE EIGHTH TRY, THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE RUNNING BY PUMPING THE ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MAINTAIN A STEADY RPM. THE VEHICLE HAD NO POWER BRAKES AND THE RPM CONTINUED TO MOVE FROM 2000 TO 3000 AND WHEN THE CONSUMER STOPPED THE VEHICLE, IT DID NOT IDLE. THE BRAKES FINALLY BECAME ACTIVE AND THE RPM WAS STEADY. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM THAT CAUSED THE DAMAGED HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE CONSUMER HAD ANOTHER MISHAP WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER'S WIFE SMELLED SOMETHING ELECTRICAL AND THEN THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THERE WAS DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE NEXT DAY, WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, IT DIDN'T START AND AGAIN IT BACKFIRED WITH A LOUD POP. THE CONSUMER PUT HIS HAND UNDER THE RIGHT BOTTOM SIDE NEAR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THERE WAS BLACK GREASE ON THE UNDERSIDE. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH HAVING A RUBBER BOOT WITH GREASE NEXT TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND UNPROTECTED WITHOUT A SHIELD. *JB

AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON- FOR A FEW YEARS. WHICH, IN TURN, KEEPS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. DEALER LOOKED AT IT A FEW YEARS AGO, AND SAID ALL THAT COULD BE DONE WOULD BE FIX THE COMPUTER. IT WOULD NEED A REPLACEMENT AND THAT WOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILITY. IT WOULD COST WELL OVER $500. WONDER IF THERE IS A RECALL OR SOME WAY I WOULD NOT NEED TO PAY. *TR

I HAVE BOUGHT A 2003 SATURN VUE FROM EBAY ON JULY THE 3RD, 2008 AND WAS DELIVERED TO ME ON THE 21ST OF JULY, WHEN I RECEIVED THE VEHICLE IT HAD A GRINDING NOISE, I DID NOT KNOW WHAT THAT WAS UNTIL IT BROKE DOWN, THE VEHICLE HAD NO WARNING OF THIS PROBLEM. I HAD A MECHANIC TO LOOK AT IT AND STATED IT WAS A TRANSMISSION FAILURE VEHICLE VIN # 2.2 LITER WITH A CVT-I TRANSMISSION WHICH CAN ONLY BE PURCHASED BY THE MANUFACTURER CAN NOT BE REBUILT WITH AN OUTRAGEOUS PRICE THE VEHICLE HAS 95,000 MILES ON WHICH NO LONGER HAS WARRANTY. AS I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHICH NO SIGN OF PRIOR PROBLEM STARTED TO MAKE A KNOCKING AND GRINDING NOISE AS THE VEHICLE WAS STRUGGLING UPON THE HILL, I PULLED OVER TO SAFETY ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD PRIOR TO THE STOP. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. SOMEONE HELPED ME PUSH IT TO THE SIDE AND STATED THERE MAY BE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WITH IT. I GOT IT TOWED TO AAMCO WHERE THE MECHANIC CONFIRM THAT THIS TRANSMISSION WAS HARD TO FIND ONLY THROUGH ITS MANUFACTURER AND THE COST OF $4,000.00. NOW, I AM UNEMPLOYED, SINGLE MOTHER HOW COULD SOMETHING LIKE THIS BE POSSIBLE TO TOP IT OFF AN ADDITIONAL $2500.00 SERVICE CHARGE THAT VEHICLE IS A PIECE OF TRASH I NEED HELP. THE WARRANTY IS ONLY TO 75K MILES ON IT. PLEASE HELP ME GET SOME TYPE OF SATISFACTION TO A RUNNING VEHICLE TO HELP ME FIND A JOB. *TR

IGNITION PROBLEMS. LOCKS UP. IGNITION WAS REPLACED AT LEAST 2X AND WORKED ON A FEW TIMES. LOCK FINALLY DISCONNECTED. COST $ *TR

NO WARNING. ONE DAY THE CAR JUST STOPPED TURNING OVER. WHEN WE TOOK IT TOO THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD US THAT THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE, THE ENGINE WAS DESTROYED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. *TR

SATURN VUE 2003 TRANSMISSION CVT TRANSAXLE 2.2 MOTOR TRANS. QUIT WITH NO WARNING LUCK BEING I WAS NOT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS YEAR PLEASE HELP! *TR

TRANSMISSION/AXLE FAILED SUDDENLY. DRIVING AT 65MPH ON INTERSTATE AT NIGHT WHEN CAR SUDDENLY QUIT MOVING AS IF IT WENT INTO NEUTRAL. ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN BUT CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. COASTED TO A STOP ON INTERSTATE AFTER NEARLY GETTING HIT SEVERAL TIMES. STATE TROOPER CAME BY AND CAR WAS TOWED AWAY. I HAD 4 YEAR CHILD IN CAR AND OUR SAFETY, AND OTHERS, WAS IN DOUBT BECAUSE OF THIS SUDDEN FAILURE. SATURN SAID TRANSAXLE WAS BAD AND REPAIR IS OVER $5000! BUT CANNOT GET A NEW ONE OR PARTS SINCE GM HAS QUIT MAKING THE TRANSAXLE! THIS IS SAME MODEL THAT HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON TRANSAXLE BECAUSE OF NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON TRANSAXLE THAT I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF. SATURN WILL NOT REPAIR OR ANYTHING BECAUSE CAR IS OVER 6 YEARS OLD. SAME CAR THAT HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON REAR WHEEL BEARINGS THAT I HAD REPLACED THAT SATURN WOULDN'T REPAIR. ALSO NEVER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICES OF SOMETHING WITH THE REAR AXLE OR ANY NOTICES AFTER I PURCHASED CAR NEW. CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON HIGHWAY AND GM WON'T REPAIR IT BECAUSE THE TRANSAXLE IS DEFECTIVE. CAR IS A 2003 SATURN VUE. *TR

THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE WITH NO ISSUES FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS. MY PREGNANT WIFE WAS DRIVING ME TO WORK ON SUNDAY OCTOBER 19TH WITH MY 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN THE REAR SEAT OF THE CAR. WE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, WHEN SHE HIT THE GAS TO GO ONCE THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN THE CAR TRAVELED ABOUT 30 FEET WITHOUT A PROBLEM, THEN WITH NO WARNING THE CAR STOPPED AND THE ENGINE REVVED, WE WERE ALMOST REAR ENDED BY THE LINE OF CARS BEHIND US. AND ME AND MY FAMILY WERE LEFT SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION DURING RUSH HOUR. I HAD TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND PUSH IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I FEEL THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE PROBLEM. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO SATURN DEALERSHIP, THEY ARE WILLING TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WITH A REBUILT UNIT WITH THE VTI. I AM CONCERNED THAT THESE TRANSMISSION ARE SO UNRELIABLE THAT THE NEXT TIME THIS ISSUE HAPPENS MY FAMILY OR MYSELF MAY BE HURT. *TR

I OWN A 2003 SATURN VUE AND THE IGNITION KEEPS LOCKING UP ON ME. THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT TO WORK IS TO GIGGLE THE KEY. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER A YEAR. NOW THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION AT ALL AND THE CAR HAS TO BE TOWED AND REPAIRED. MY FATHER HAS THE SAME YEAR MAKE AND MODEL AND HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. HE HAD IT FIXED AND IT HAS STARTED ALL OVER. SATURN SHOULD STOP PUTTING FAULTY PARTS IN ALL OF THEIR AUTOS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30-35 MPH, ALL FOUR WHEELS ON THE VEHICLE LOCKED IN PLACE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT AND LANDED SIDEWAYS IN THE CENTER OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD BE DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER ADVISED HER TO BRING THEM THE VEHICLE AND PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE CONTACT HAS NOT YET TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE SHE IS UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING IT AGAIN WITH HER CHILDREN ON BOARD. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 64,000.

LETTER EMAILED TO SATURN CORPORATION, 09/13/2008 DEAR SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE, RE: 2003 SATURN VUE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2008, I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT AND DECREASED POWER LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER CONTACTING THE LOCAL SATURN, IT WAS SUGGESTED TO HAVE MY VUE TOWED. SO, I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST SATURN DEALERSHIP, CAVENDAR, IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. TODAY, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2008, A DEALERSHIP REPRESENTATIVE CALLED ME THAT THEY HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2008 TO CONTACT SOMEONE AT SATURN IN REGARD TO A POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. AFTER READING SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION USED IN THE 2003 SATURN VUE, DOES THE SATURN CORPORATION / GENERAL MOTORS HAVE A RECALL TO REPAIR THESE TRANSMISSIONS. MY CAR IS AT ABOUT 65,000 MILES. I BOUGHT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AT THE TIME OF THIS NEW CAR PURCHASE IN 2003. THE WARRANTY ONLY LASTED FOR A TOTAL OF 5 YEARS OR 75,000 MILES. THE FIVE YEARS ENDED IN APPROXIMATELY MARCH OF 2008. AFTER READING SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION USED IN THE 2003 SATURN VUE, DOES THE SATURN CORPORATION / GENERAL MOTORS HAVE A RECALL TO REPAIR THESE TRANSMISSIONS? I HOPE THAT SATURN REALLY DOES CARE ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS. SINCERELY, STEVEN WEIDNER, SATURN VUE OWNER, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS SEPTEMBER 13, 2008. *TR

PURCHASED 2003 SATURN VUE 12 MONTHS AGO. 4 MONTHS AFTER OWNING IT, THE MILEAGE EXCEEDED THE 83,000 MILE WARRANTY AND THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION WENT OUT LEAVING ME STRANDED ON A BACK ROAD IN FLORIDA, BY MYSELF. IM A TRAVEL NURSE, I WAS OUT OF STATE AT THE TIME. IT COST ME 150.00 TO TOW IT AND 250.00 FOR SATURN TO LOOK AT IT, THEY WANTED 6000.00 TO FIX IT. A SMALL DEALERSHIP FIXED THE VTI TRANSMISSION IN IT AND IT LASTED ANOTHER 12000 MILES. IT IS AGAIN BROKE DOWN. I OWE 10000 ON THE CAR AND SATURN WONT RECALL THE VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW THEY HAVE LEFT 1000S OF CUSTOMERS OUT. I HAVE WORKED ALL MY LIFE TO MAINTAIN MY CREDIT NOW THANKS TO SATURN IT WILL BE RUINED. YET THEY HAVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND THEY CANT HELP US OUT. THANKS SATURN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR WOULD CONSISTENTLY ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE FUEL CAP. TWO MONTHS AFTER THE REPAIR, SHE NOTICED THAT THE FUEL NOZZLE SHUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY OR PREMATURELY WHILE FILLING THE VEHICLE AND/OR SES LAMP WITH DTC P0446 EVAP VENT SYSTEM PERFORMANCE SET. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WOULD COST $1,000 TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED ACCORDING TO TSB NUMBER 10017570. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED DUE TO THE EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE USED, THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AS I WENT UP A HILL. AFTER A FEW HOURS OF SITTING IT WORKED AGAIN SO I TOOK IT TO A DEALER. I HAD PURCHASED A POWERTRAIN WARRANTY SO REPAIRS WERE COVERED, BUT THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THERE HAD BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR. THIS OCCURRED AT ABOUT 55,000 MILES. NOW ABOUT A YEAR LATER AT 86,000 MILES AND JUST OVER THE WARRANTY LIMITS, THE TRANSMISSION HAS TROUBLE ENGAGING WHEN I PUT IT INTO DRIVE. I HAVE SINCE DONE SOME SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON YET THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL. *TR

2003 SATURN VUE, PURCHASED 11/2002. NOW STARTING TO STALL PERIODICALLY WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, ONLY 48,000 MILES AND TERRIBLY NOISY, GRINDING SOUND WHEN SLOWING AND STARTING. HAD KEPT LETTER FROM SATURN DATED 3/2004 EXTENDING WARRANTY FOR FAULTY VTI TRANSMISSION, ONLY GOOD FOR 5YEARS AFTER PURCHASE OR 75,000 MILES. AFTER VIEWING ALL OF THE CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET WHERE TRANSMISSIONS HAVE FAILED BETWEEN 50-60,000 MILES. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL. I'M UNFORTUNATELY OUTSIDE OF MY 5 YEAR PERIOD FOR ASSISTANCE IN REPAIRS. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRAG AND LOSE POWER, MAKING AN UNUSUAL NOISE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND THE FAILURE SEEMED TO CEASE HOWEVER, THE UNUSUAL NOISE RETURNED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE FOR THE SECOND REPAIR AND MOST CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE. THE DEALER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 88,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 108,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE REDUCED POWER LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE PERFORMED AT HALF POWER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE BEFOREHAND. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 106,000. UPDATED 10/07/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED T HE SAME PROBLEM THAT OTHER SATURN MODELS HAD AND THEY WERE RECALLED FOR AN IGNITION MODULE PROBLEM. UPDATED 10/08/08. *JB

MY 2003 SATURN VUE'S CHECK ENGINE AND SERVICE SOON LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER WHEN YOU START TO DECELERATE. MY MECHANIC COULD NOT GET ANY CODES TO REGISTER ON HIS COMPUTER, HOWEVER SATURN IS TELLING ME IT NEEDS A THERMOSTAT. I DON'T BELIEVE A FAULTY THERMOSTAT WOULD RENDER MY CAR LOSING ALL POWER. *TR

WHEEL BEARING REPLACED 3 TIMES NOW ON THE SAME WHEEL. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WHEEL BARRING TWICE SO FAR FOR A 2003 VUE, NONE OF THIS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE ACCORDING TO SATURN, IT ALL STARTED WHEN I HAD TO MUCH MILEAGE. I'M ABOUT TO REPLACE IT AGAIN FOR THE 3RD TIME AND I THOUGHT I SAW THAT THERE WAS A RECALL BUT APPARENTLY NOT. THERE IS NO CRASH TO REPORT BECAUSE IT MAKES THIS TERRIBLE NOISE THAT LETS ME KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING AND I CAN REPLACE IT BEFORE IT GETS BAD. *TR

I BOUGHT A 2003 SATURN VUE NEW IN 2003, IN 2006 THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT , THE SATURN DEALER SHIP REPLACED IT. THEN IN 2008 THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AGAIN AND THE DEALER SHIP SAID IT WAS KNOW LONGER UNDER WARRANTY . WHY CAN THEY NOT RECALL THESE SUV'S TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IT COST 4500 DOLLARS IF YOU CAN FIND ONE. MY CAR STILL LOOKS LIKE NEW BUT JUST DOESN'T RUN , I'M AM SO DISCUSSED AND NOW SATURN IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS SO ARE WE JUST OUT OF LUCK? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. HE BELIEVED THAT THE BATTERY WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. HE OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE BATTERY TERMINAL HAD CAME OFF, AND BATTERY ACID LEAKED ALL OVER THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT PURCHASED A NEW EXIDE AUTO LITE BATTERY. THE PRIOR ONE CAME EQUIPPED WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 55,000. UPDATED 07/29/08.*LJ UPDATED 08/05/08. *JB UPDATED 09/17/08. *LJ UPDATED 09/24/08. *JB

MY COMPLAINT IS AGAINST SATURN...MY FAMILY HAS OWNED 4 SATURNS IN THE PAST 8 YEARS...3 OF THESE HAVE HAD FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS AFTER OWNING THEM FOR A LITTLE OVER 5 YEARS... THE OTHER ONE IS AN 07 SO IT HAS 4 YEARS LEFT I GUESS... REGULAR MECHANICS WILL NOT EVEN TAKE A JOB WORKING ON THEM... SATURN WANTS OVER $4500 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION NOT COUNTING LABOR... A FRIEND OF OURS ALSO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HER 2003 VUE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BEEPING NOISE AND THE SECURITY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE LOST TOTAL ELECTRICAL POWER. SHE CONTACTED A PROFESSIONAL MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE BCM WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. CURRENTLY, ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES ARE INOPERATIVE. SHE IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 109,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER TRANSMISSION REPEATEDLY FAILED. SHE HAS HAD TO TAKE HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THIS FAILURE OVER THE COURSE OF THREE YEARS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION TWICE. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS, THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO GRIND, LOSE POWER, AND FAILS TO PROPERLY ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AFTER THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,600.

LET ALL CONSUMERS OF THE SATURN KNOW I PURCHASED MY NEW 2003 SATURN VUE FROM YORK PA SATURN (SUTLIFF GROUP) AND THEY HAVE PATCHED UP MY 2003 VUE BY REPLACING VALVES, SENSORS ETC. ON THE VTI TRANSMISSION/TRANSAXLE 4 OR 5 DIFFERENT TIMES, WHICH THEY WELL KNOW WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I STILL EXPERIENCE TRANSMISSION FAILURE DURING EXTENDED PERIODS OF DRIVING OR TIMES OF TRAFFIC JAM SITUATIONS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FROM THE 10,000 MILE POINT ON TIL THIS TIME. DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY INTO HIGHER GEAR , STILL MAKES GRINDING NOISES WHILE TURNING AND ACCELERATING AND OTHERWISE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY. TRANSMISSION WAS LOOKED AT BY DEALER 5 TIMES AVOIDING THE ISSUE OF TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS HAVE INVOKED ME TO START A MAJOR CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE SATURN CORP. SATURN NEEDS TO HAVE A REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION - CONSUMERS CAN'T AFFORD ALL OF THESE REPAIRS FOR WHAT IS CLEARLY A FAULTY TRANSMISSION THAT HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED! NEXT STEP IS CLASS ACTION SUIT BY OWNERS!!!! ALL I ASK IS FOR GM/SATURN TO REPLACE MY FAULTY DRIVE TRAIN (ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION) FREE OF ALL LABOR AND PARTS WITH THE NEW TYPE DRIVE TRAIN THAT IS IN THE NEW 2007-08 VUE !!! ITS THAT SIMPLE SATURN! AND UNTIL THIS HAPPENS THIS TRANSMITTAL WILL CONTINUE ON TO WEBSITES, PUBLIC POSTS, FLYERS, IN FRONT OF SATURN DEALERS ETC. ETC... PS. I HAVE COPIED THE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY, THE GOVERNMENT RECALL BUREAU, ASTM, AND OTHER SITES TO LET THEM KNOW OF THIS HAZARD/SAFETY PROBLEM. I SUGGEST ALL OTHER CONSUMERS OF THE FAULTY 02-03 VUE AND HAVE THESE SAME PROBLEMS TO TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS, WORKING COLLEAGUES, ETC. GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT SATURN. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2003 SATURN VUE FAILED AT ONLY 66000 MILES. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE VTI VARIABLE TRANSMISSIONS WITH ALL OF THE PROBLEMS WHERE GM HAD TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY. MINE IS PARTIALLY COVERED, BUT I'M STILL OUT A COUPLE THOUSAND OUT-OF-POCKET. GM SHOULD HAVE RECALLED ALL OF THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND REPLACED THEM WITH A STANDARD AUTOMATIC. THEY ARE NO LONGER PRODUCED DUE TO QUALITY PROBLEMS. WHY HASN'T NHTSA ACTED ON THIS? A SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS HUNDREDS OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED AUTOMATICALLY. THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT FLASHED INTERMITTENTLY, AND THE VEHICLE SHUT COMPLETELY OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THEY PLACED HER NAME ON A WAITING LIST AND INFORMED HER THAT SHE WILL BE NOTIFIED WHEN THE PARTS ARRIVED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 84,000.

I HAVE HAD CONTINUED SUSPENSION PROBLEMS WITH MY 2003 SATURN VUE AWD V-6. I HAVE GONE THROUGH SEVERAL SETS OF TIRES WITH THE TIRES WEARING UNEVENLY. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, COMPLAINING OF LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END NEAR THE TIRES. THEY DID NOT FIND IT. I HAVE HAD THE SWAY BARS REPLACED, AND NOW BELIEVE THAT MY FRONT WHEEL BEARING NEED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY FOUND MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET DEALING WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, OF SUSPENSION, WHEEL BEARING FAILURE, AND LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLES. I HAVE ALSO FOUND MULTIPLE CASES WHERE OWNERS HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEIR WHEEL BEARING MORE THAN ONCE. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY, NOW THAT I KNOW THAT IT IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. *TR

ON OUR 2003 SATURN VUE THE LOCKS KEPT UNLOCKING AND LOCKING AT RANDOM (WHETHER THE CAR WAS RUNNING OR NOT), THEN IT DID NOT RESPOND TO THE KEYLESS ENTRY. THE HORN KEPT GOING OFF RANDOMLY AND COULD NOT BE STOPPED. ON 05/14/08 WE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTICS. WE WERE TOLD THE BCM (BODY CONTROL MODULE) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WE WERE TOLD THAT A BAD BCM COULD AFFECT OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE CAR. I FEEL THAT THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPS. I LOOKED THE BCM FOR SATURN CARS ON THE INTERNET AND THERE SEEMED TO BE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS BEING A RECURRING PROBLEM FOR SATURNS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS PART HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. *TR

2003 SATURN VUE HAS MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS! OURS HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ONCE ONLY 60,000 MILES AGO AND NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. I HAVE READ A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE SATURN CORP IS NO HELP! THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE PROBLEMS. I KNOW AS A LARGE FAMILY WE CANNOT AFFORD A CAR PAYMENT AND TO PAY $5000+ TO FIX IT! *TR

2003 SATURN VUE, BOUGHT USED FROM SATURN OF APPLETON. THEY KNOW THIS VEHICLE HAS A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION BUT THEY CONTINUE TO SELL THIS VEHICLE TO THE UNSUSPECTING PUBLIC, KNOWING THE REPAIR COSTS ARE OUT OF SITE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE COMPANY CARES. IT IS OUTRAGEOUS TO ME THAT THEY HAVE THIS ATTITUDE AND ARE ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH IT. SATURN IS GETTING ALOT OF FREE ADVERTISING FROM ME! SCREW US? SCREW THEM! *TR

HEY - I PURCHASED A 2003 SATURN VUE IN FEB, 2008, AROUND MAY 1ST THE TRANSMISSION DIED ON IT. SINCE THEN I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. WHICH GM WILL NOT CALL A RECALL ON THESE TRANSMISSION. THEY ARE SO BAD THAT YOU CAN NOT FIND A WRECKED SATURN SO YOU CAN GET THE TRANSMISSION OUT TO REPLACE MINE. YOU CAN GET A REFURBISHED ONE FROM SATURN FOR $4,500.00. TO ME WITH THE PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE READ ABOUT GM SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION. GM KNOWS THAT THESE TRANSMISSION ARE DEFECTED BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT USING THEM ANYMORE. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU COULD AT LEAST TELL ME THE STEPS I WILL NEED TO TAKE TO TRY AND GET A RECALL ON THIS TYPE TRANSMISSION. THANKS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE HORN ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED SHE REMOVED THE FUSES FOR THE HORN HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIRBAG PADDING CAUSED THE FAILURE. AS OF APRIL 29, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

WHEN IT IS EITHER HUMID OR RAINY, DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM THE INSIDE. WHEN I PRESS THE UNLOCK BUTTON, IT ELECTRONICALLY SWITCHES BETWEEN LOCK AND UNLOCK SEVERAL TIMES. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE DOOR OPEN IS TO HOLD IT DOWN THE BUTTON IN UNLOCK MODE, UNROLL THE WINDOW AND THEN I HAVE TO OPEN IT FROM THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE. THIS HAS NOT BEEN A SAFETY ISSUE YET, BUT I FEAR THAT IT COULD BECOME ONE IF IT GETS ANY WORSE OR IF I EVER HAD TO GET OUT OF MY CAR QUICKLY. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE DOOR LATCH TWICE, WHICH HAS HAD NO IMPACT ON RESOLVING THE ISSUE AND I WILL BE RETURNING TO THEM TOMORROW FOR A THIRD TRIP TO RESOLVE THIS. *TR

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2003 SATURN VUE. THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS. THE CAR JUMPS INTO FIRST GEAR. GREENBROOK SATURN TOLD ME A FEW THINGS THAT COULD BE WRONG. I PAID TO FIX THE CAR NOTHING THEY DID WORKED. NOW I AM BEING TOLD IT IS THE TRANSMISSION. NOW THAT THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY I AM BEING TOLD NOTHING CAN BE DONE. IT WAS IN WARRANTY WHEN I BEGAN HAVING THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY SLIP OUT OF GEAR. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SILENTLY RECALLED THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL IN 2003 FOR TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE DEALER FURTHER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY REFERRED HIM TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 146,000.

THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING JUST ABOUT SINCE I'VE PURCHASED MY 2003 MANUAL SATURN VUE. I DRIVE DOWN THE FREEWAY AND SUDDENLY THE CAR LOSES POWER AND THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT AND SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHTS COME ON. THE CAR VERY SUDDENLY AND DANGEROUSLY LOSES POWER ON THE FREEWAY, I'VE HAD THIS OCCUR ON THE 405/5 SPLIT WHERE THERE WERE NO SHOULDERS TO PULL OVER TO. I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR ENGINE OFF AND THEN RESTART TO RETURN TO NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I'VE TAKEN THIS CAR IN 8 TIMES FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM AND SATURN HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE ROOT CAUSE. EACH TIME THEY ATTEMPT TO FIX IT BY REPLACING THINGS, THE LAST TIME THEY TOLD ME THEY REPLACED ALL ELECTRONIC WIRING. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT AS IT ONLY OCCURS AT VERY HIGH SPEEDS! I KNOW THIS HAS AFFECTED OTHER VUE OWNERS BECAUSE I HAVE READ SEVERAL BLOGS WHERE PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS. *TR

IGNITION LOCKS UP AND CANNOT TURN TO START CAR. CAN LOOSEN UP BY WIGGLING STEERING WHEEL ,GEAR SHIFT OR KEY. HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR YEARS BUT COMPLAINTS WERE IGNORED. NOW HEARING ABOUT GM'S IGNITION RECALL . I'M VERY CONCERNED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV WITHOUT WARNING. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP, THE VEHICLE REVVED VERY LOUDLY AND THEN LOST POWER. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GAIN SPEED. HE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF FOR TEN MINUTES AND RESTARTED IT, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $6,000. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD ATTEMPT TO WORK OUT A RESOLUTION, BUT HAVE NOT CONTACTED HIM BACK IN REFERENCE TO THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 110,000.

TRANSMISSION SLIPS, AUTO SUDDENLY STOPPED ON FREEWAY, IT DID NOT SPEED AT ALL BUT 30 TO 40 MILES PER HOUR AFTER A PULL-OVER 30 MINUTES BREAK. IT CONTINUES SLIPPING AND SHAKING DURING STOPS. *TR

DELAYED IN SHIFTING, NO WARNING CAR WILL SHIFT OUT OF GEAR AT FREEWAY SPEEDS TRANSMISSION FAILURE X4, REPLACE OLD ONE WITH NEW ONE FAILURE X2 AT 15,000 MILES,CALLED DEALERSHIP AND CORPORATE OFFICE NO HELP, FOUND OUT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING THIS MAKE AND MODEL, IM SURPRISED NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *TR

MY 2003 SATURN VUE WITH VTI TRANSMISSION IS BASICALLY A PIECE OF JUNK!!! I HAVE HAD 3 TRANSMISSIONS IN 13 MONTHS AND SATURN STILL CHARGES ME FOR LABOR! THEY ONLY GIVE ME A 12,000 MILE WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW THEIR TRANSMISSION DESIGN IS AT FAULT. THEY REFUSE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR COLOSSAL MISTAKE AND THEIR SOLUTION WAS TO OFFER ME A WHOPPING 4 FREE OIL CHANGES! LIKE THAT MAKES UP FOR A $7000 TRANSMISSION! THEY KNEW IT WAS A BAD DESIGN AND STILL SHAFTED PEOPLE, THEY SHOULD GO TO JAIL FOR THEIR ACTIONS AND NOW SHOULD BE HELD 100% LIABLE FOR THE HASSLES ALL OF US WHO PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE HAVE HAD! *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR DOWN THE ROAD AND STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN WHEN PULLING OFF THE CAR STARTED TO JERK AND WOULD NOT GO WHEN IT DID GO AFTER ABOUT A SECOND AND I WAS ALREADY OUT IN THE ROAD THE CAR WAS STALLING AND ME AND MY THREE CHILDREN WAS ALMOST HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. TOOK THE CAR INTO A SHOP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHICH A TRANSMISSION CANNOT BE FOUND TO FIT THIS CAR BUT ONE WHICH ALMOST 8000. AND NOW I AM READING ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS AND NOW AM SCARED TO TAKE A CHANCE TO FIX IT NOW THAT IT MAY NOT TAKE SINCE ALL OF THE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE RECALL THIS TYPE TRANSMISSION BEFORE SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS TO SOMEONE AND THEIR CHILDREN. *TR

FLAGGED. [ FLAG MESSAGE - MARK AS UNREAD ] SUBJECT: RE: SATURN DEFECT DATE: MON, 25 FEB 2008 16:38:45 -0500 FROM: "PUB INQ WEB MAILBOX" <PUBINQ@NTSB.GOV> ADD MOBILE ALERT THE CORRECT AGENCY TO CONTACT WOULD BE THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, WWW.NHTSA.DOT.GOV. SUSAN STEVENSON INFORMATION SPECIALIST NTSB RECORDS MANAGEMENT DIVISION 490 L'ENFANT PLAZA EAST, SW WASHINGTON, DC 20594 800-877-6799 -----ORIGINAL MESSAGE----- FROM: PUBLICMAIL@NTSB.GOV [MAILTO:PUBLICMAIL@NTSB.GOV] SENT: MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2008 3:20 PM TO: PUB INQ WEB MAILBOX SUBJECT: PUBLIC CORRESPONDENCE THE FOLLOWING REQUEST WAS RECEIVED FROM THE NTSB WEB SITENONE USA HIGHWAY MESSAGE: I AM TYING TO FIND OUT IF THE NTSB HAS INVESTIGATED THE VTI TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THAT SATURN IS IGNORING. THIS IS WELL DOCUMENTED THAT SATURN KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT RECALL THEM OR COME UP WITH A PERMANENT FIX. I AM ON MY THIRD TRANNY AND THESE ARE A REAL SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE OF THE FREQUENCY AND QUICKNESS WITH NO WARNING THAT THEY ARE BREAKING. MINE HAS LEFT ME AND/OR MY WIFE STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD OR THE INTERSECTION TWICE NOW. IS IT NOT GOING TO BE INVESTIGATED UNTIL AFTER SOMEONE GETS KILLED OR SERIOUSLY HURT? HAS THE NTSB ALREADY DONE AN INVESTIGATION AND FOUND NOTHING? PLEASE LET ME KNOW THANK YOU *** THIS REQUEST FOR AN INFORMATION PRODUCT REQUIRES A RESPONSE *** *TR

REPEATED MANUAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. SHIFT CABLE BINDINGS AND CLIPS/ADJUSTERS BROKE, LEAVING THE CAR UNDRIVABLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN LESS THAN 4.5 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. THE VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 15K MILES WHEN THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED, AND ABOUT 43K MILES THE SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT TO GET INTO GEAR AT TIMES, EVEN AFTER REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE TO FIX THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE SHIFT CABLES AND ADJUSTERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN 4.5 YEARS. *TR