NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Saturn Vue. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
2003 SATURN VUE. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED ON FEBRUARY 12, 2008 WITH 73,270 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DECLARED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS IRREPARABLY DAMAGED. THE DEALER STATED IT FAILED DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PART THAT WAS COVERED BY A RECALL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION WITHIN TWO DAYS. HOWEVER, ON OCTOBER 1, 2009, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN HAVING A PROBLEM SHIFTING INTO DRIVE FROM PARK. IT WOULD TAKE A FEW SECONDS TO ENGAGE. BY THEN END OF THE DAY, IT WAS TAKING APPROXIMATELY 20 SECONDS TO ENGAGE. THE NEXT FEW DAYS WERE PROGRESSIVELY WORSE TO THE POINT IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE FOR 10 MINUTES. ON OCTOBER 13, 2009, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND ONCE AGAIN, THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PART. GM STATED THE SECOND TRANSMISSION WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDED ASSISTANCE.*JB UPDATED 10/20/10. *JB
THE VEHICLE WAS RIDING SMOOTHLY ON THE INTERSTATE. THE VEHICLE AFTER 25 MILES OF HIGHWAY TRAVEL SUDDENLY DECREASED IN SPEED. AT THE SAME TIME THE TRANSMISSION RESPONDED WITH A LOAD CONTINUAL ROAR. I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE AND I WAS ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND MAKE IT TO THE MEDIAN WITHOUT INJURY. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED THE REMAINING 30 MILES AT A TOTAL COST OF $120.00. I WAS TOLD BY THE REPAIR TECHNICIAN THAT IT WOULD TAKE $5,583.00 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION THAT WAS UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE SATURN DEALERSHIP QUOTED THE REPAIR AT $6,000.00. I CURRENTLY OWE $7,800.00 ON THE PRICE OF THE VEHICLE PURCHASED 2 YEARS AGO. THE CAR IS UNDER THE 5 YEAR WARRANTY MARK BUT HAS 93,500 WHICH FALLS SHORT OF THE EXTENDED TRANSMISSION WARRANTY. I AM UNABLE TO AFFORD TO REPAIR IT AND WILL NOT SINCE I'VE HEARD STORIES OF OTHERS NEEDING TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION 2 YEARS LATER. I CAN'T SELL THE CAR FOR 2 REASONS. THE 1ST I DON'T WANT TO PASS THE PROBLEM ON TO SOMEONE ELSE. THE 2ND I STILL HAVE A NOTE ON THE LOAN AND THE HIGHEST OFFER THE SATURN DEALER WILL GIVE US IS $1,500 WITH OR WITHOUT A NEW TRANSMISSION. I AM NOT IN A FINANCIAL POSITION TO HAVE 2 CAR NOTES WITH 1 CAR. I DO NOT NO WHAT ELSE TO DO. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLID ON ICE, TRAVELED DOWN A HILL, AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FRONT END AND SIDES OF THE VEHICLE WERE DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 89,000.
I OWN A 2003 SATURN VUE AWD CAR THAT HAS 79,500 MILES. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR SINCE PURCHASING IT BRAND NEW IN 2003. THE BIGGEST ISSUE INVOLVED THE POWER TRAIN. A SECONDARY BELT IN THE ENGINE BROKE WHILE THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN THE SECONDARY BELT BROKE IS TANGLED WITH THE TIMING BELT CAUSING THE TIMING BELT TO SKIP A TOOTH. 12 VALVES WERE BENT. I CONTACTED A SATURN DEALERSHIP REGARDING THE ISSUE WITH THE POWER TRAIN AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST 7000.00 TO REPAIR. I HAVE HAD THE ENGINE REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. NO WARNING LIGHTS EVER APPEARED TO DENOTE ANY ISSUE WITH THE POWER TRAIN. *TR
PURCHASED MY 2003 SATURN VUE LAST YEAR WITH 32,000 MILES ON IT. I BOUGHT THE BEST EXTENDED WARRANTY AVAILABLE JUST IN CASE. WELL, I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO INSPECTION LAST MONTH AND FAILED FOR EMISSIONS. IT WASN'T THE GAS CAP. SATURN OF FREEHOLD, NJ RAN A DIAGNOSTICS TO FIND OUT THAT IT'S THE THERMOSTAT!. YOU WOULD THINK THIS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY? WELL, EVERYTHING ELSE IS COVERED EXCEPT THE THERMOSTAT...SIGH. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE FOR A FOUR YEAR OLD VEHICLE WITH NORMAL MILEAGE BLOW A THERMOSTAT? I'M WONDERING IF THIS IS COMMON AMONGST THE VUE'S AND IF MAYBE THERE MIGHT BE A RECALL COMING. WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM SOMEONE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN JANUARY 2006. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH IN REVERSE OUT OF HER DRIVEWAY AND THEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEAR INTO THE DRIVE POSITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST SATURN DEALER WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE REPLACEMENT WAS COVERED UNDER HER FACTORY WARRANTY. TWO YEARS LATER, THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DEALER ADVISED HER THAT SHE WOULD NEED ANOTHER TRANSMISSION DUE TO FAILURES. SHE HAS HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES WITHIN 4 YEARS. NO RECENT REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS DESCRIBING THAT PARTICULAR TYPE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGES WAS 52,606 AND THE CURRENT WAS 135,698.
MY SON HAD MY 2003 VUE AT THE DEALER FOR SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT. DEALER ADVISED IT WAS A THERMOSTAT AND THEY NEEDED TO ORDER THE PART. MY SON WAS TOLD IT WAS OKAY TO DRIVE. THE NEXT DAY HE WENT TO GO TO A FRIENDS HOUSE AND IT MADE A GRINDING, WHINE NOISE. IT THEN WOULDN'T GO UP A HILL. FINALLY GOT IT HOME ( LESS THAN A QUARTER MILE) AND IT WOULDN'T GO INTO REVERSE. TOOK IT TO A PRIVATE TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION HAD "BLOWN APART". THE CAR ONLY HAD 59,000 MILES ON IT. HAD A USED TRANSMISSION INSTALLED FOR 2,500.00. A NEW ONE WOULD COST 5500 AND REBUILT 3500. PIECE OF JUNK... WHY DOESN'T SOME ONE MAKE THE DEALER RECALL THIS JUNKER? *TR
SATURN 2003 VUE WITH VTI TRANSMISSION WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 10/02. AT 76,000 MILES WHEN ACCELERATING TO GET ON HIGHWAY, THE RPM'S WERE ROARING AND THE SPEEDOMETER WAS DROPPING. PULLED ON SHOULDER AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE CAR AT 30 MPH A FEW MILES TO THE SATURN CREVE COEUR DEALER, WHO MET US GETTING OUT OF THE CAR, AND TOLD US HE COULD NOT EVEN LOOK AT OUR CAR TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE! DROVE SIDES STREETS 30 MPH TO SOUTH COUNTY SATURN DEALER WHERE PURCHASED. AFTER TEST DRIVING THEY STATED THEY THOUGHT THE RANGE SWITCH WAS BAD. NO LONGER UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY IT WOULD COST $452 TO REPLACE. AFTER READ ABOUT OTHERS COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE, AND HAVING NEVER HEARD OF A RANGE SWITCH I AM LEARY OF SPENDING THE $452 ONLY TO HAVE THEM TELL ME THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENS THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. RECENTLY HAD PROBLEMS WITH IGNITION STICKING WHEN TURNING THE KEY. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS SOME SWITCH THEN TOO AND THE NEXT DAY IT DID THE SAME THING. THEN I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A WHOLE NEW IGNITION AFTER THEY HELD THE KEY AND GROUND IT DOWN! I DO NOT TRUST THEM. CAR HAS NOT HAD A PROBLEMS THE PAST FEW DAYS. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER SATURN! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR FROM HIGH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND HE STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 85,000. UPDATED 02-06-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER IS NOT AT FAULT BUT THE SATURN CORPORATION FOR NOT BEING INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE NEW TYPE OF TRANSMISSION. UPDATED 02/06/08 *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHEN THE KEY WAS PLACED IN THE IGNITION, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN UNTIL SEVERAL MINUTES LATER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,300.
2003 SATURN VUE "VTI TRANS". PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, SOUNDS, SLIPPING, DISENGAGING. WENT INTO SATURN DEALER SEVERAL TIMES,EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THAT THE SOUNDS WERE NORMAL, COMMON TO ALL VTI'S, AND THE SLIPPING WAS TRACTION CONTROL. THEY DID NOT NOTE ANY OF MY COMPLAINTS INTO THEIR COMPUTER. WHEN I TALKED TO THEM NO ONE MENTIONED OR NOTIFIED ME OF ANY KNOWN PROBLEMS,NOR DID THEY NOTIFY ME THAT THE TRANS. WARRANTY FOR THE VUE HAD BEEN INCREASED TO 5YR/75,000MI. I WOULD HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE!RECENTLY I FOUND OUT ABOUT SEVERAL SERVICE BULLETINS IN 2004, I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF ANY. SINCE I COULD NOT AFFORD THE COSTS FOR REPAIR, I "LIMPED" ALONG WITH MY VUE,FOR AS LONG AS I COULD,SOMETIMES IN RATHER DANGEROUS SITUATIONS, UNTIL THE TRANS. FAILED. AFTER GETTING THE WORK DONE HE TOLD ME THAT HE WAS SURE IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN SOON. THE PROBLEM STARTED UP AGAIN THAT VERY NIGHT!CHECK WEB SITES LIKE-HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG AND HTTP://WWW.SATURNFANS.COM AND READ DESCRIPTIONS ABT. SATURN VUE "VTI" TRANS. DESCRIBING THE EXACT PROBLEMS I HAD. THIS IS NOT JUST MY PROBLEM, THIS IS AN EPIDEMIC AND SATURN HAS KNOWN ABOUT IT FOR A LONG TIME AND THEY ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING. FRESNO SATURN DEALER NEVER "REGISTERED" US OR OUR PURCHASE WITH SATURN CORPORATE. SOME OF THEM HAVE NEARLY GOTTEN KILLED, INCLUDING ME AS POWER WAS LOST AS I WAS EXITING PARKING LOTS INTO TRAFFIC. THE MECHANICS, NOW THAT MY CAR IS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY, TOLD ME ABOUT KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH VTI TRANS. THEY TOLD ME BEFORE THEY EVEN LOOKED AT THE CAR,THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANS. IT IS DEFECTIVE FROM MANUFACTURER. WHEN I WENT IN,I SAW 4-5 SATURN VUES(VTI'S) ALL IN LINED UP IN A ROW FOR SERVICE. I WAS TOLD ALL OF THOSE WERE IN FOR TRANS. PROBLEMS(SOME PEOPLE HAVE PUT UP TO 4 TRANS. IN THEIR 2002-2004 VTI VUES. APPARENTLY IT IS BEING REPLACED WITH THE SAME TYPE TRANS. I'VE READ THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE NEARLY BEEN KILLED,WHY HAS THERE BEEN NO SAFETY RECALLS!!! DOES SOMEBODY HAVE TO DIE BEFORE SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING ABOUT THIS! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AND GREATER, THE TRANSMISSION MAKES STRANGE NOISES, HESITATES, JERKS, VIBRATES, HOPS, SLIPS, AND SLAMS INTO GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO GEAR UPON TAKE OFF. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION FOUR TIMES ON THE FOLLOWING DATES: 12/05/2007, 12/08/2007, 01/09/2008, AND 02/11/2008. THE TIRES WERE ALSO BALANCED DURING THE FOURTH REPAIR, BUT THIS DID NOT CORRECT ANYTHING. ONE OF THE TRANSMISSIONS HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVEN 50 MILES. THE NEXT TIME THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, THE DEALER HAD THE VEHICLE FOR TWENTY ONE DAYS. THE DEALER OFFERED HIM A $1,000 CERTIFICATE TO TRADE THE VEHICLE. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED A FIFTH TIME. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
2003 SATURN VUE, AWD, V6,UPON PULLING OUT OF INTERSECTION, ACCELERATING, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NOT UP SHIFTING ON ACCELERATING. LOSS OF POWER. ENGINE ACCELS BUT VEHICLE MOVEMENT SLOWS. TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE. DEALERSHIP STATES THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDS TO BE "DUMMIED UP". VEHICLE IS NOT USE TO A DIFFERENT DRIVER. CAN NOT PULL OUT OF INTERSECTION FAST. GOOD CAR FOR VERY VERY SLOW PERSON.. NOT "VTI" TRANSMISSION. DEALERSHIP HAS DUMMIED UP COMPUTER MANY TIMES. SEEMS TO HELP FOR A WHILE BUT AFTER A WHILE WE ARE JUST USE TO ACCELERATION SLOW TO LET THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT BEFORE APPLYING ADDITIONAL GAS PEDAL. REAR DRIVE UNIT GRINDING ON TURNING. DEALER STATES THAT THIS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND HAS A "KIT" READY WITH ALL PARTS NEEDED TO MAKE THE REPAIRS IN THE REAR END UNIT. PRICE IS OVER $1000.00... I WAS NOT REIMBURSED FOR ANY COSTS. FAILURE ON REAR UNIT OCCURRED AT 70,000 MILES. VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW AND MY WIFE DROVE, TILL 75,000 MILES. NOW I AM DRIVING THE VUE AND I WOULD LIKE TO ACCELERATE A LITTLE MORE QUICKLY OUT OF SOME INTERSECTION. SPARK PLUG FAILED AT 50,000 MILES. THEY ARE TO LAST TO 100,000 MILES. VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR TO REPLACE THE SPARK PLUG, HAVE TO TEAR OFF THE TOP END OF INTAKE MANIFOLD TO GET TO IT. MANY EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT GASKETS HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE LABOR ALSO. I USED MY PERSONAL CERTIFIED MECHANIC TO SAVE SOME MONEY. BAD DESIGN. *TR
ON MY 2003 SATURN, THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY WILL NOT GO INTO DRIVE AND I AM UNABLE TO GO ANYWHERE. AT OTHER TIMES, WHILE DRIVING, I LOSE ALL ABILITY TO ACCELERATE OR DRIVE ABOVE 20 MPH. EXTREMELY UNPREDICTABLE AND UNSAFE. ALTHOUGH I'VE BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE, SATURN CLAIMS THEY CANNOT RECREATE OR FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR
WITHOUT WARNING, THE VUE SUDDENLY CAME TO A DEAD CRAWL WHILE ACCELERATING AND WAS ALMOST T-BONED. VUE PRACTICALLY DIED BUT THE ENGINE REVVED REAL HIGH. ENGINE LIGHT AND REDUCED POWER LIGHT WERE ON. GOT THE VUE TO CRAWL HOME ANOTHER MILE. LATER, I STARTED THE CAR AND THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS. TEST DROVE AROUND THE BLOCK WITH NO PROBLEM DROVE VUE TO O'REILLY AUTO PARTS AND USED CODE SCANNER. THE CODE SCANNER (AUTOXRAY CODE SCOUT 2500) DISPLAYED THE FOLLOWING MESSAGES; ENGINE LIGHT OFF, P1882 = RATIO CONTROL PERFORMANCE, P0701 = TRANSMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM, RANGE/PERFORMANCE, P0700 = TRANSMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. LATER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. SUDDENLY WHILE ACCELERATING AND WITHOUT WARNING I HAD NO POWER. ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING, ENGINE LIGHT AND REDUCED POWER LIGHT CAME ON. NO POWER AND WAS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, ALMOST REAR ENDED. PICKED UP CODE SCANNER AGAIN AND TOOK TO VEHICLE. CONNECTED THE SCANNER AND READ THE SAME CODES AS ABOVE. THIS TIME TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY DISABLED. TOWED VUE TO SOUTH COUNTY SATURN IN ST LOUIS. THE DEALER CALLED NEXT DAY AND SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND THERE ARE NO CODES. DEALER SAID THEY MUST HAVE CODES IN ORDER TO REPAIR PROBLEM. (THERE ARE NO SPECIFIC CODES THAT WILL DISPLAY REGARDING THE PROBLEM. WHEN TRANSMISSION FAILS CODES ARE TOO BROAD AND DO NOT INDICATE SPECIFIC PROBLEM. THERE ARE NO SENSORS INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION THAT MONITOR THE ACTUAL PROBLEMS. I INSISTED THAT THEY TEST DRIVE THE CAR. RELUCTANTLY, THEY HAD A TECHNICIAN DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK. LATER THEY SAID THEY PUT AN ADDITIVE IN THE TRANSMISSION AS PER THEIR TECHNICAL BULLETIN AND THEN THE TECHNICIAN BEGAN TAKING THE CAR HOME. THE PROBLEM IS THE ADDITIVE WILL TEMPORARILY FIX THE PROBLEM. OF COURSE THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT FAIL DURING THE WEEK LONG TEST DRIVE. THEY CALLED TODAY AND SAID WE HAVE TO PICK UP THE CAR AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS FINE. NOW THE CAR IS A TICKING TIME BOMB WAITING FOR THE NEXT FAILURE. *TR
THIS CAR IS A PIECE OF CRAP. I CANNOT EVEN SELL IT BECAUSE PEOPLE WHOMEVER LOOK AT IT SAYS IT RUNS HORRIBLY. THE TRUCK DOESN'T ACCELERATE PROPERLY, THE GAS TANK FLOAT DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK, THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE KEY GETTING STUCK IN THE IGNITION WHEN YOU ATTEMPT TO START THE CAR (IF YOU CAN GET IT IN IT DOESN'T ALWAYS TURN), IT MAKES GRINDING SOUNDS WHEN IT TURNS, THE CD PLAYER SCRATCHES YOUR CD'S, THERE ARE BURNING SMELLS FOR NO REASON .... ON AND ON AND ON. DON'T KNOW WHY THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON WITH IT. IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN A CLASS ACTION SUIT PLEASE EMAIL ME AT. *TR
NOVEMBER SATURDAY 10TH, 2007, MY 2003 SATURN VUE MADE A GRINDING NOISE, I HEARD A POP THEN IT STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT GO FORWARD OR BACKWARD. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND COASTED DOWN THE HILL TO PARK IT. I CALLED SATURN AND DESCRIBED THE SITUATION. THEY SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE THE TRANSMISSION. I HAD IT TOWED TO SATURN OF RENTON. NOVEMBER 13TH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CALLED AND SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE TRANSMISSION BELT. I SAID OK, SO PUT A NEW BELT ON. THE SERVICE PERSON SAID, WELL THE "TRANSMISSION IS SHATTERED". I SAID "HOW ON EARTH DID THAT HAPPEN?!" HE TOLD ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION BELTS IN THE 2003 SATURN VUE'S ARE METAL, SO WHEN THEY BREAK, THEY SHATTER THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. I SAID, SO THERE IS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE TRANSMISSION THEN. HE SAID, "YES, I SEE A LOT OF THESE". HE TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $5,500.00 PLUS TAX TO FIX IT. I CALLED THE SATURN COMPANY CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE. I OPENED A FORMAL CASE AND WAS ASSIGNED TO AN "ADVOCATE". THAT PERSON CALLED ME ON NOVEMBER 15TH AND SAID THAT BECAUSE IT IS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE TRANSMISSION, THEY WOULD HONOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, WHICH ONLY TAKES $1,000.00 OFF OF THE REPAIRS. I SAID THAT WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH, SATURN NEEDED TO PAY THE FULL COST TO GET IT FIXED. MY "ADVOCATE" SAID THAT WAS ALL SATURN WOULD DO, AND I HAD 30 DAYS TO DECIDE IF I WOULD ACCEPT. SATURN WILL DO NOTHING TO CORRECT THIS FAILURE. THEY EVEN INSULTED YESTERDAY (DEC. 11TH) WHEN THEY SAID THEY WOULD GIVE ME ONLY $500.00 ON MY SATURN VUE AS THE TRADE-IN VALUE! THEY SAID BECAUSE OF THE $5,000.00 TRANSMISSION JOB THAT HAD TO BE DONE IN ORDER TO RESELL IT. I SAID "THAT TRANSMISSION JOB WAS CAUSED BY SOMETHING YOUR COMPANY DID, NOT ME...SO NOW SATURN IS SAYING, IN ESSENCE, 'WE SCREWED YOU OVER ONCE, AND NOW WE ARE GOING TO SCREW YOU OVER AGAIN'. IT ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN SATURN...I'D RATHER TAKE IT TO A JUNK YARD THAT GIVE IT BACK TO YOU PEOPLE!!!!! *TR
THE SWITCH IN THE AIRBAG MODULE GETS STUCK AND THE HORN BLOWS CONTINUOUSLY AND WHEN IT WANTS TO; IT HAS FAILED FOR ME AT LEAST 6 TIMES IN ONE DAY BEFORE BURNING OUT THE HORN. THEN AFTER A BODY CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED (NOT NEEDED) AND THE HORN THE FOLLOWING TUESDAY THE HORN BEGAN TO BLOW OUT OF CONTROL AGAIN. I HAVE HAD TO DISABLE THE HORN (A SAFETY FEATURE OF A CAR) TO KEEP FROM IT BLOWING MORE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE INTERMITTENTLY AND STALLED ON THE FREEWAY SEVERAL TIMES. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE SERVICE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN BACK AND FORTH FROM THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY FIVE TIMES. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,357 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND LATER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED A SECOND TIME, BUT LATER BEGAN MAKING A CLICKING SOUND. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CONVERTER WAS RUBBING AGAINST ANOTHER COMPONENT. AFTER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE FOR THE THIRD TIME, SHE SMELLED EXHAUST FUMES INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND PURCHASE DATE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE ENGINE VIBRATED AND THEN MISFIRED. THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 1 MPH AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: MODULE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V231000) FOR THE 2000-2003 SATURN L-SERIES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT FELT THAT HER VIN SHOULD BE INCLUDED. AS OF NOVEMBER 15, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 82,000. UPDATED 01-10-08. *KB THE COIL PACK WAS REPLACED WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 01/08/08
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE BRAKES TO FAIL AS THE CONTACT APPROACHED A STOP SIGN. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WENT THROUGH THE STOP SIGN AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE DRIVER IN THE OTHER VEHICLE ALSO REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR UNKNOWN INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V490000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHEN HAND WASHING THE CAR! MILD CALIFORNIA WEATHER, NORMAL HOSE TEMPERATURE. WINDSHIELD FRACTURED OUTWARD FROM UNDER EDGE AT THE TOP CENTER. THERE WERE NO CHIPS OR CRACKS PRIOR. DEALER SAYS THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER GLASS. WE THOUGHT GETTING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DID JUST THAT, EXTENDED THE NORMAL WARRANTY. NOW WE HAVE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE THAT IS TOO EXPENSIVE TO FIX! *TR
IGNITION SWITCH/CONTROL "LOCKS" WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE, AND THEN IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO UNLOCK, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE CAR .... VUE IS 4 YEARS OLD, WITH 33,000 MILES... VEHICLE HAS DONE THIS SINCE THE FIRST DAY I OWNED IT. COMPLAINED TO DEALERSHIP A YEAR AGO, DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE CHECK, AND WAS TOLD THAT I MUST BE YANKING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT INTO "LOCK" POSITION WHILE GETTING OUT OF THE CAR! SERIOULY, IF IT WAS THAT DIFFICULT TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION WHILE STARTING IT, DO THEY THINK I WOULD DELIBERATELY DO THIS? IGNITION SWITCH/CONTROL COMPLETELY FAILED 8/7. HAD TO CALLED AAA TWICE FOR HELP; FIRST TIME THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER BANGED ON THE KEY WHILE IT WAS IN THE IGNITION AND IT UNLOCKED...SAID HE SEES THIS ALL OF THE TIME AND THAT THE CONTROL WAS PROBABLY GOING OUT. I CALLED DEALERSHIP AND MADE AN APPT. TO TAKE IT IN, TO BE CHECKED. SECOND TIME, SAME DAY @10 PM....AGAIN AAA DRIVER HAD TO BANG ON THE KEY, TO GET IT UNLOCKED...IMMEDIATELY DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND LEFT IT IN THEIR DRIVEWAY TO SERVICE IN THE MORNING. AWAITING CALL ON COST OF REPAIRS.. MORE THAN LIKELY OUT OF WARRANTY NOW. MY SATURN L300 SEDAN, DID THE SAME THING .....TRADED IT FOR THE VUE WHEN MY LEASE WAS UP. A CO-WORKER SAYS HIS ION DOES IT, AND HIS DAUGHTER'S OLDER MODEL L200 HAS ALWAYS DONE THIS .... *TR
TOTAL FAILURE OF THE VTI TRANSMISSION (SATURN VUE 2003, 4 CYL). REPLACED 3 TIMES. CAR JUNKED, WASTE OF OVER $20,000, I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL. MULTIPLE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS. CONTACT ME, ANYONE SO I CAN GET ON CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. SATURN SERVICE AND PRODUCTS TERRIBLE. *JB
SATURN OF MANCHESTER HAS ADVISED US THAT SATURN IS NO LONGER UTILIZING THE VTI TRANSMISSION IN ANY OF THEIR AWD 4 CYL. SATURN VEHICLES, BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION JUST DID NOT WORK OUT. WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION IN OUR VEHICLE. HOWEVER, AS THE VEHICLE GETS OLDER, IT SEEMS TO REQUIRE MORE AND MORE TRANSMISSION SERVICE. THE 100,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY WE PURCHASED OURSELVES IS NOW ALMOST OVER. AS SENIORS LIVING ON A FIXED INCOME, WE THOUGHT THIS AUTOMOBILE WOULD LAST US FOR MORE THAN ONLY 100,000 MILES. WHO WOULD BUY IT KNOWING ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION? WE THINK THIS PROBLEM MAKES THIS MODEL A LEMON FROM THE BEGINNING. WE HAVE READ SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE VTI TRANSMISSION ON THIS VUE. WE READ THAT OVER 88,000 WERE SOLD. THE ONLY THING SATURN HAS DONE, IS EXTEND THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY FROM 36000 TO 75000 MILES. SATURN CLAIMS TO HAVE ALL AMERICAN PARTS, BUT THIS TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN MADE IN HUNGARY. THERE IS IN PROGRESS A CLASS ACTION SUITE BEING FORMED AGAINST SATURN FOR USING THE VTI TRANSMISSION. WE FOUND THE FOLLOWING ONLINE: "26TH MAR 2007, 07:15 THERE IS CURRENT A CLASS ACTION CASE UNDER REVIEW IN MADISON CO, IL FOR THE AWD 2.2 SATURN VUE TRANSMISSION. IF YOU EMAIL OR PHONE US, WE WILL GIVE YOU THE ATTORNEY'S EMAIL ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER, AND NAME OF THE INVESTIGATOR AND HIS PHONE NUMBER. WE PURSUED IT AND HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE INVESTIGATOR AT THE LAW FIRM. HE CLAIMS THAT HE NOW HAS JUST ABOUT ENOUGH CLAIMS IN ENOUGH STATES TO FILE A CLASS ACTION CASE AGAINST SATURN CORPORATION. WOULD YOU PLEASE BE KIND ENOUGH TO LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM ASAP. SEE IF THIS IS TRUE OR NOT AND LET US KNOW IF WE CAN CLAIM OUR CAR AS A LEMON OR GET SOME KIND OF COMPENSATION? JUST YESTERDAY, THE SATURN SERVICE HAD TO REPLACE HALF OF THE VTI TRANSMISSION AND GAVE US A 12,000 MILE WARRANTY ON IT. THIS WARRANTY DOES US NO GOOD BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE 13,000 MILES OF WARRANTY ON OUR WARRANTY WE PURCHASED OURSELVES, SO THEY OVERLAP. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHENEVER THE CONTACT DRIVES LONGER THAN TWO HOURS AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY STOP ACCELERATING. ONCE THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF FOR AT LEAST 20 MINUTES, THE FAILURE NO LONGER EXISTS. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER, BUT IT STILL PERSISTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,400 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.
AFTER REGULAR PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE, 2003 SATURN VUE HAS CONTINUOUSLY EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FROM 70,000K POINT ON. VEHICLE DROPS GEAR (OFTEN IN BUSY TRAFFIC, AT INTERSECTIONS, OCCASIONALLY WHILE JUST TRAVELING DOWN A ROAD AT 30-40 MPH), DOES NOT SHIFT INTO HIGHER GEAR (CAUSING SUDDEN LOSS OF SPEED DURING HIGHWAY TRAVEL), MAKES LOUD GRINDING NOISES WHILE TURNING AND ACCELERATING AND OTHERWISE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY. RECENTLY HAD VEHICLE SERVICED ($1,000 IN CHARGES) AND WAS TOLD THAT MODULAR WAS CRACKED AND TRANSMISSION FLUID NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PROBLEMS CONTINUE AFTER SERVICING. HAVE READ EXTENSIVE REPORTS AND COMPLAINTS INVOLVING SATURN VUE VT1 TRANSMISSION. SATURN NEEDS TO HAVE A RECALL - IT'S CONSUMERS CAN'T AFFORD ALL OF THESE REPAIRS FOR WHAT IS CLEARLY A FAULTY TRANSMISSION THAT HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED!*JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE CAN BE DRIVEN, BUT HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THE GAUGES DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE PURCHASE DATE AND CORRECT VIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 27,000. UPDATED 02/01/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED A/C, HORN, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, INTERNAL LIGHTS, AND ODOMETER ALL WERE INOPERABLE. THE CONSUMER STATED AUSTIN SATURN TRIED TO TIGHTEN THE FUSE BLOCK BOLTS, BUT IT WAS ACTUALLY WORSE AFTERWARDS. THEY REPLACED THE BCM FOR HALF PRICE. UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR
03 SATURN VUE AT ANDERSON HUMMER04/14/06.03/16/07SERVICE @RED LION CHEVY HESITATION ALMOST STALLING. GRINDING NOISE COULDN'T DUP PROB AFTER 33M TEST-DRIVE, REPLACED FRONT PADS&ROTORS.MILES IN 81258 OUT 81293, 04/03/07 NO POWER. STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF ROAD. ANDERSON SAID TOW CAR TO SATURN OF YORK RD. DEALER SAID WE NEED A NEW TRANS,$5,000.82,442 MILESVTI TRAN.TOTAL WAS $1,077.35 REFUNDED $578 OUT OF THE EXTENDED 5YR/75K MILE WARRANTY. DEALER INFORMED US TRANS REPAIR WAS UNDER A 1YR/12,000 MILE WARRANTY. PICKED UP CAR 04/19/07. ON 11/02/07 TOOK THE CAR IN TO BE SERVICED AGAIN,SATURN OF YORK, PA. SES LIGHT AND HES WHEN COLD. SES CODE P0841,TRANS CODE TECH NOTICED TRANS WHINE (LOW FLUID)LEAK AT RIGHT SHAFT SEAL, REPAIRED SEAL FILLED TRANS,ROAD TESTED FOR VTI OPERATION. NOISE IN THE REAR TIRE WHEN BRAKING. THEY CLEANED AND DEGLAZED THE REAR BRAKES ADJUSTED AND TEST DROVE. THIS COST AN ADDITIONAL $454.51.INSPECTED AT SATURN OF YORK ON 03/05/08, PASSED. 05/20/08 DROPPED THE CAR OFF AGAIN AT SATURN OF Y. CAR HAD BEGUN TO HAVE A VIBRATING SOUND IN THE REAR PASS SIDE AND NO POWER WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP/TURNING, IT FELT LIKE THE CAR WAS GOING TO STALL OUT. PER SATURN THE REAR DIFF NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, MY HUSBAND SPOKE WITH THE TECH THAT HAD LOOKED OVER MY CAR. VTI TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE, I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. SATURN HAS OFFERED TO PAY 50% OF THE $5000 TRANSMISSION REPAIR BUT I AM TOO SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR. I STILL OWE $9402.63. WE WENT TO SATURN OF YORK TO FIND OUT WHAT OUR TRADE IN OPTIONS WERE - WE WERE OFFERED $1000 FOR THE CAR! WILLING TO BUY SATURN AGAIN AS LONG AS NO VTI TRANS.SATURN IS NOT WILLING TO HELP US THEY ARE ASKING THAT WE PUT $4100 IN TO A CAR THAT THEY WOULD POSSIBLY GIVE US $4500 IN PERFECT CAR. VTI OF THE CAR IS SO LOW DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION USED. LAKIN LAW FIRM CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST SATURN FOR VTI TRANS.PA/MD WERE NOT IN 12 STATES INCLUDED.2 TRANS IN TWO YRS.EXTENDED WARRANTY NOT ACCEPTABLE,VTI TRANS IS A JOKE! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. ON MAY 10, 2007, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE ENGINE WOULD RUN BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 92,500. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION WAS 50,000 AND THEN CHANGED THE MILEAGE TO 75,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE COST OF THE REPAIR IS $4,950 AND A CREDIT WAS ISSUED BY THE DEALER OF $1,000. THE CONSUMER STATED WANTED TO KNOW WHY WAS THE FULL AMOUNT NOT PROVIDED? UPDATED 09/05/07 *TR
MY 2003 SATURN VUE VTI TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 59K MILES. IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION. THIS NEW TRANSMISSION LASTED 12 HUNDRED MILES. IT WAS AGAIN REPAIRED UNDER THE WARRANTY, THEN 1200 MILES LATER IT FAILED AGAIN. IT WAS "REBUILT" BY THE SATURN DEALERSHIP EACH TIME. IT IS NOW DRIVING EXACTLY THE WAY IT DID AFTER THE 2ND REPAIR AND I BELIEVE IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL IT FAILS AGAIN. *TR
2003 SATURN VUE WITH ROUGHLY 107,000 MILES SUDDENLY SLIPPED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. LUCKILY, HUSBAND MADE IT HOME. I DROVE TO LOCAL SHOP WHERE DIAGNOSIS REVEALED A RECALL ON FAULTY TRANSMISSION WIRE THAT COULD LEAD TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I TOWED TO SATURN DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD CAR WOULD NOT REVERSE. WHEN PRESENTED WITH RECALL INFO, THEY "CHECKED" AND SAID RECALL HAD BEEN DONE. SATURN SERVICE MANAGER CONFIRMED THAT SATURN KNEW THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY ONLY USED VTI FOR 18 MONTHS, THEN TOTALLY CHANGED 2004 WITHOUT VTI. SATURN KNEW VTI TRANSMISSIONS WERE FAULTY AND RATHER THAN RECALL AND FIX, THEY ONLY EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 75000 MILES. I HAVE HAD CAR LESS THAN 2 YEARS. WHEN CONTACTED SATURN HEADQUARTERS, THEY WOULD ONLY EXTEND A 15% DISCOUNT TO REPAIR TRANSMISSION AT $3000+. CAR IS CURRENTLY AWAITING PRICE ON REBUILT TRANSMISSION BECAUSE SATURN IS REFUSING TO FIX CAR AT A LOWER PRICE. *TR
I AM DISSATISFIED WITH THE CORRECTIVE ACTION TOWARDS SATURN VUE RECALL CAMPAIGN # 04067001. THE INSIDE PIVOT BOLT ON THE DRIVER SIDE REAR LATERAL LINK SHEARED OFF ON OUR SATURN VUE BEFORE HAVING THE RECALL WORK PERFORMED. THE BOLT I AM TALKING ABOUT IS THE M12-1.75X85MM 10.9 HARDNESS BOLT. MOMENTS BEFORE THE BOLT BROKE, MY WIFE AND ONLY CHILD WERE ON THE HIGHWAY. LUCKILY SHE WAS OFF THE HIGHWAY AND ONLY TRAVELING AROUND 20 MPH ROUNDING A CORNER WHEN THE BOLT SHEARED OFF. THAT VERY BOLT THAT SHEARED OFF WAS REPLACED WITH THE EXACT SAME DIAMETER AND HARDNESS BOLT AS PART OF THE CORRECTIVE ACTION. TO ME, SATURN IS STILL COMPROMISING THE SAFETY OF MY WIFE AND ONLY CHILD. I CRAWLED UNDER A 2007 SATURN VUE ON THE SHOWROOM FLOOR AT SATURN OF BINGHAMTON. JUST AS I SUSPECTED...........THAT VERY SAME PIVOT BOLT UNDER THE 2007 WAS MUCH LARGER IN DIAMETER (16MM IN DIAMETER ROUGHLY). SO THIS WAS OBVIOUSLY APPARENT IN THE ENGINEERS DESIGN, BECAUSE THEY MADE A CHANGE TO THE NEWER VEHICLES. IT WAS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW, SO WHY WASN'T OURS FIXED CORRECTLY? WHAT'S FROM KEEPING THIS SAME BOLT FROM SHEARING OFF AGAIN IN SAY 2 OR 3 YEARS. THE M12 BOLT OBVIOUSLY DOESN'T HAVE THE SHEAR STRENGTH FOR THAT APPLICATION. THAT IS WHY THEY ARE NOW PUTTING A MUCH LARGER DIAMETER BOLT IN ITS PLACE ON THE NEWER MODELS. ALL THESE 2002-2004 SATURN VUE OWNERS IN THE COUNTRY HAVE WARM AND FUZZY FEELINGS ABOUT FEELING SAFE IN THEIR VEHICLE AGAIN NOW THAT THEY HAD THE RECALL CAMPAIGN PERFORMED. WHEN IN FACT THE MAJORITY DON??T EVEN HAVE A CLUE WHAT THE RECALL ENTAILED. SATURN IS BANKING ON THESE VEHICLES TO BE IN THE SCRAP YARD BEFORE ANYTHING MAJOR HAPPENS AGAIN. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE, AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED!!! I ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE WITH SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE ALREADY. THEY ARE BASICALLY SAYING TOUGH LUCK, THE RECALL CORRECTIVE ACTION IS WHAT IT IS. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHEN CHANGING GEARS, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND THE VEHICLE IS NOT FLUID WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE FAILURE BEGAN IN APRIL OF 2007. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME SINCE APRIL THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,346 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,346.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO SEVERAL TREES. THE VEHICLE ROLLED AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT INJURED HER NECK AND HER VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 58,000.
O3 SATURN VUE PURCHASED WITH 48,555 MILES. 3/20/07 TOOK TO INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION MECHANIC DUE TO TRANSMISSION GOING OUT. I WAS TOLD HE COULD NOT DO A THING TO IT BECAUSE OF A RECALL. TOOK TO SATURN OF MESQUITE TX, 3/21 ASSUMING THAT THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF PROBLEM. CUSTOMER STATES VEH WILL NOT SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY FOUND CODE PO606 IN TCM FOLLOWED DOC# 1200876 TO CHECK FLUID AFTER FLUID CHECK FOUND TRANS A LITTLE LOW ON FLUID FLUSHED TRANS AND PUT IN ADDITIVE. 3/26 TOOK BACK TO DEALERSHIP. CUST STATES HEARING A NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. FOUND VEHICLE TO BE EXTREMELY NOISY WITH INTERMITTENT NO GEAR OPERATION. FOLLOWED BULLETIN # 04-07-30-24E TO REPLACE CASE COVER, FILTER AND TORQUE CONVERTER. AFTER COMPLETING BULLETIN, TEST DROVE VEHICLE. PULLED HARD TO THE LEFT, ALIGNED VEHICLE, ALL IS FINE. THE COVER ASSEMBLY, VARIABLE DRIVE AND DRIVEN PULLEY A REPAIRED. AT THIS TIME I ASSUMED THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN REPLACED. 6.4.08 CAR BACK TO SATURN CUSTOMER STATES VEHICLE SLIPPING, LIGHT IS ON. TECH SAYS NO LIGHT IS ON AND FOUND VEH DRIVING AND SHIFTING PER DESIGN. WENT BACK IN SUMMER 09, SLIPPING ONCE AGAIN, AFTER 5 DAYS THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM BUT CAR WAS FINE. 2.19.10 CAR TOWED TO SATURN, TOLD TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED THIS TIME I THOUGHT THAT WAS WHAT THEY DID IN 07. CONTACTED SUPPORT TO BE TURNED OVER TO GM EMPLOYEE . HE CONTACTED ME ON 2.22.10 TO ADVISE HE WAS WORKING ON PROB.. SATURN INFORMED ME 2.25.10 AFTERWARD THAT 2500.IS WHAT I COULD PAY FOR NEW TRANSMISSION. I ALREADY HAD A LETTER DATED 11.09 STATING THE SAME THING AFTER CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. TANNER CALLED 2.25 TO UPDATE I COULD PAY 2500.00. IF I HAD USED MY EXT WARRANTY CONTRACT IN 07 I WOULD NOT BE OUT MONEY AND HAD A NEW TRANSMISSION. SAID HE GM COULD NOT HELP ME AND IF I WAS NOT SATISFIED I COULD TAKE IT UP WITH DEALERSHIP. THEY PUT A BANDAID ON A RECALL AND NOW I AM TO PA. *TR
FAILED VTI TRANSMISSION..STARTED ON 12/03/03 WITH 9199 MILES. REDUCED POWER LIGHT, CAR WOULD NOT GO WHEN PLACED IN GEAR, FIX-CODE P0107, MAP SENSOR LOW CIRCUIT VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM ON 6/28/04 WITH N14807 MILES. WRENCH LIT, SATURN ALLEGEDLY NOT FOUND ON 12-02-04 WITH 20178 MILES NOT PROPERLY SHIFTING,WRENCH LIGHT,FIXED. DTC B2707 INTO SHIFT LOCK TRANSMISSION ON 6/30/05 WITH 27797 MILES SES LIGHT, NOT FOUND. ON 7/17/06 WITH 48664 MI.LES WONT SHIFT GEARS. FIX TOTAL REBUILD AS PER SATURN EXTENDED WARRANTY. ON 11/21/06 4WITH 8664 MILES NOT SHIFTING , STOPPED, THEN WENT INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC. WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE, FIX ED AGAIN. ON 3/10/07 WITH 50107 MILES STOPPED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THEN WENT. INTERMITENTLY SHOOK IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHEN AT OPERATING TEMPERATURES. AS PER SATURN NOT FOUND. ALSO, AIR BAG/HORN ISSUES, ON 1/31/06 WITH 38441 MILES AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON. .SATURN ALLEDGED NOT FOUND ON 4/10/06, AND ON 41040 MILES AGAIN AIR BAG LI, AS PER SATURN DTCB1800472,,DTCB1001, REPLACED MODUAL ASSEMBLY.WAS CHARGED $578.40 .AFTER THAT HORN WAS GOING ON OWN , ASSUMED WAS PART OF ALARM SYSTEM . HORN BURNED OUT, AND SATURN WANTA ABOUT $1500 TO REPAIR WHEN THERE IWAS A AN ADMITTED DESIGN FLAW. ALARM SYSTEM WAS VERIFIED BY OUTSIDE SOURCE OPERATIONAL, NOT EVEN SURE IF AIR BAG WILL DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK
TL*- THE CONTACT HAS A 2003 SATURN VUE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A PLANE TAKING OFF WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH OR ABOVE. WHILE TURNING AT SLOW SPEED THERE WAS A CREAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD A FAILURE WITH THE HUB ASSEMBLY AT 40,644 MILES AND REPLACED THE HUB ASSEMBLY. AT 46,972 THE CONTACT HAD THE SAME FAILURE AND REPLACED THE HUB ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOW HAVING THE SAME SYMPTOMS THEY HAD IN THE PRIOR FAILURES BEFORE THEY REPLACED THE HUB ASSEMBLY. THE CONTACT CAN PROVIDE ANY INVOICE REPAIR IF NEEDED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65000.*AK
CALLED DEALER WHEN THE CAR HAD 60,000 MILES TO INQUIRE ABOUT REPLACING TIMING BELT AND WAS TOLD THAT IT DID NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED UNTIL 80,000 MILES. CAR NOW HAS 69,000 MILES AND IS BEING REPAIRED DUE TO A FAILURE IN THE TIMING BELT AND AM KNOW BEING TOLD THERE MAY BE MORE DAMAGE IN THE VALVES DUE TO THE FAILURE. *JB
ABOUT TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION IN 2003 SATURN VUE FOR THE FOURTH TIME IN ONE CALENDAR YEAR. *TR
2003 VTI TRANSMISSION IN SATURN VUE. THE TRANSMISSION REQUIRES CONSTANT TRIPS TO DEALERSHIP FOR MONITORING UPDATES OR REPAIRS. GETS FIXED, ONLY TO HAVE SAME PROBLEMS RETURN AGAIN VERY SOON. SEE WWW.SATURNFANS.COM BLOG TO SEE HIGH REPORTS OF PROBLEMS. TRIED TO TRADE IN VEHICLE ON NEWER VUE WITHOUT VTI TRANSMISSION. DEALER OFFERED TRADE-IN VALUE SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER THAN KELLY BLUE BOOK. DEALER STATED "WE WON'T PUT A VTI VUE ON LOT FOR RESALE." SATURN DISCONTINUED PROBLEMATIC TRANSMISSION IN 04. *JB
IT STARTED WITH HAVING STRANGE CLICKING IN THE TURN SIGNALS. THEN THE TEMP LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND THE NEEDLE WOULD BURY ITSELF INTO THE RED PORTION OF THE DIAL. WE NOTICED NO SMELL OR PROBLEMS WITH DRIVING THE CAR AND THE RADIATOR AND COOLANT RESEVIOR CHECKED OUT TO BE FINE. NEXT CAME THE OIL LIGHT ON AFTER WE HAD ALREADY HAD THE OIL CHANGED. THEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD STAY ON LONGER AFTER STARTING THE CAR. THEN AS SUDDENLY AS THINGS STARTED, EVERYTHING WENT BACK TO NORMAL EXCEPT THE TURN SIGNALS. A FEW WEEKS LATER IT BEGAN. THIS TIME WITH THE HORN GETTING STUCK, THEN THE SERVICE LIGHT COMING ON AND STAYING ON ALONG WITH THE OIL LIGHT. THEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT STARTED STAYING ON LONGER AND LONGER. BY THIS TIME IT IS WINTER AND I'M HEARING STRANGE SOUNDS FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. ONE DAY WE NOTICE THE HORN IS NO LONGER WORKING AND THE FRONT END SOUND LIKE IT'S GOING TO FALL OFF. WE'RE AFRAID TO USE THE HEATER DEFROSTER TOO MUCH FOR FEAR THE CAR MAY OVER HEAT. I TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR OIL CHANGE AND DIAGNOTIC. IT WAS NOT BOUGHT AT A SATURN DEALER. I AM TOLD THAT THE HOUSING FOR THE OIL FILTER IS BROKEN AND NEEDS REPLACING. I PAY FOR HALF OF THAT. I NEED NEW LINKS IN THE FRONT. THE HORN WORKS. THE TEMP GAUGE IS GOING INTO THE RED. AFTER I EXPLAINED WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH THE GAUGES. IT WAS SUGGESTED I TAKE IT TO A SATURN DEALER. I WENT TO MY LOCAL SATURN DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE FRONT LINKS. THEY DIAGNOSED THE OTHER PROBLEMS AS: AIRBAG STEER WHEEL CONTACTS COLLAPSED - $800.00, SHORTED BCM- $449.00, HORN SHORTED- $101.00, FUSE BLOWN-$23.60, NOT INCLUDING LABOR. SPOKE WITH SATURN CORP, THEY HAVE AGREED TO PAY $500.00 TOWARD REPAIR OF AIRBAG AS LONG AS WE GO TO THE SATURN DEALER. PRESENTLY WE'RE SEEKING MONETARY ASSISTANCE FROM THE SELLING DEALERSHIP WHICH HAS MOVED OVER 50 MILES AWAY. THIS CASE IS STILL PENDING.
HORN WAS ALWAYS HARD TO HONK. I HONKED THE HORN AND IT WOULDN'T STOP. I HAD TO REMOVE THE FUSE TO GET IT TO STOP. I TOOK IT TO SATURN AND THEY SAID IT WOULD COST $889 TO FIX. THE HORN AND AIRBAG ARE IN THE SAME MODULE. I'VE SEEN TOO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND I REFUSE TO HAVE TO PAY TO FIX A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *JB
DAMAGE TO MY REAR DIFFERENTIAL CLUTCHES ON MY AWD 2003 SATURN VUE. THE VENT THAT LETS AIR IN AND OUT OF THE CLUTCH HOUSING WOULD ALLOW WATER TO ENTER AS WELL. WATER WOULD THEN MIX WITH THE GEAR OIL IN THAT CLUTCH HOUSING CASE AND CAUSE THE CLUTCH PACK TO "WHINE" OR "GROWL" ON A SHARP TURN. THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ON THE 2003 SATURN VUE AND SATURN RE-DESIGNED THE VUE IN 2004. *JB
ON 5TH SET OF TIRES, UNEVEN WEAR, MAINLY RIGHT REAR. GETTING ONLY 12,000 MILES FOR 1ST 2 SETS, BOUGHT BETTER TIRES ELSEWHERE. TOLD OF NOISE AND VIBRATION. WAS TOLD WAS CAUSED BY WORN TIRES. WHEN TIRES WORE AGAIN, WENT TO DEALER TO REPLACE THE WORST, RIGHT REAR, AND TOLD OF UNEVEN WEAR, NOISE AND VIBRATION. WAS BLAMED WITH POOR MAINTENANCE, DEALER DID NOT TEST DRIVE. OFFERED ALIGNMENT, COULD NOT GET RIGHT REAR TO ALIGN. THEY SAID REPLACE KNUCKLE JOINT, BUT COULDN'T TELL ME IT WOULD FIX IT. TOLD THEM I COULDN'T AFFORD AT THAT TIME, DIDN'T TELL ME IT WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY. DIDN'T LIKE HOW I WAS TREATED, WENT ELSEWHERE FOR OTHER 3 TIRES. THEY ALSO SAID THE NOISE/VIBRATIONS FROM WORN TIRES. THEY ALIGNED NO PROBLEMS. REPLACED WHEEL BEARING MONTH LATER. EVERY 10 -12 MONTHS REPLACED TIRES AND ALIGN, ALL TOLD ME THE NOISE/VIBRATION FROM WORN TIRES (THE NOISE/VIBRATION WOULD GO AWAY WITH NEW TIRES). LAST ROUND, HAD TIRES, ALIGNMENT, NEW FRONT BRAKES, AND REAR BRAKES CLEANED. FOUND BROKEN REAR AXLE. REPLACED AXLE, NOISE/VIBRATION BACK, WITH NEW TIRES. THEY PULLED UP SERVICE BULLETIN FROM 2004, DEFECTIVE REAR DIFFERENTIAL SEAL LEAKING CAUSING THE CLUTCH DRUM TO GO. TOOK TO DEALER, THEY CONFIRMED REAR DIFFERENTIAL CLUTCH DRUM NEEDED REPLACED. THEY WOULD NOT PAY , AS NO WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH THEY MISSED THE DIAGNOSIS IN 2006, UNDER WARRANTY. I ASKED THEM TO LOOK AT THE OLD AXLE (I HAVE ). THEY SAID IT LOOKED LIKE IT FELL APART, NOT BROKEN. BEEN TRYING TO REACH CORPORATE INVESTIGATOR OVER 3 WEEKS WITH NO LUCK. SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AS I HAVE READ NUMEROUS REPORTS OF OTHERS WITH THESE SAME ISSUES. NOTES: MILEAGE WAS DOCUMENTED 3000 MILES OVER ACTUAL ON 2 OCCASIONS (DEALER), WAS GIVEN A COMPETITOR WARRANTY COMPANY'S PHONE NUMBER WHEN I ASKED FOR DEALERS WARRANTY COMPANY PHONE NUMBER, AND CORPORATE DOCUMENTED MY PHONE NUMBER WRONG (EVEN AREA CODE) AND THEN TRIED TO BLAME ME. CURRENT MILEAGE IS 83,962, DEALER HAS ME DOCUMENTED AT 85623 ON 06/23/08. *TR
VTI TRANSMISSION HAS A PROPENSITY TO REDUCE POWER WHEN WHEELS SLIP. IF PULLING OUT INTO AN INTERSECTION, WHEN ENGINE RPMS DROP THERE IS A CHANCE FOR BEING BROADSIDED BY VEHICLES. WE'VE HAD SEVERAL NEAR MISSES. DRIVER IS NEVER QUITE SURE IF THE POWER WILL BE AVAILABLE TO SAFELY ENTER TRAFFIC OR CROSS INTERSECTION. THIS REDUCTION IN POWER CAN RESULT FROM A LIGHT DUSTING OF SNOW TO SLIPPERY CROSSWALK PAINTED LINES, TO DIRT, GRAVEL OR OIL ON ROADWAY. *JB
TRANSMISSION SHIFT FAILURES. *NM
TRANSMISSION SHIFT FAILURES. *NM
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS 2003 SATURN VUE IS HAVING FUEL PROBLEMS. HE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING HIS VEHICLE HE CONTINUES TO SMELL GAS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAS TO DRIVE WITH HIS WINDOWS OPEN BECAUSE THE FUMES ARE SO STRONG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS STARTED HAPPENING IN OCTOBER OF 2006, WHEN HE HAD THE FUEL INJECTOR REPLACED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THE DAY AFTER THE INJECTOR WAS REPLACED AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR SEAL WAS NOT REPLACED PROPERLY. THEY REPLACED THE SEAL AT THAT TIME, BUT HE STILL SMELLS GAS WHILE DRIVING HIS VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS TAKEN HIS VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS BECAUSE OF THE FUMES AND THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH HIS VEHICLE. *JB UPDATED 02/27/07. *JB