2005 Saturn Vue Complaint Log

AS ENTERING THE INTERSECTION OF HWY 173 AND BI PASS 534. OTHER VEHICLE TURNED LEFT IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD THE GREEN LIGHT. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY 2005 SATURN VUE. WE WERE GOING BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MILES PER HOUR IN A 55 MPH ZONE. THE FRONT CENTER TO THE LEFT FRONT CORNER COLLIDED WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE INSURANCE COMPANY SAID SOMETIMES THEY JUST DON'T. AT THE SEEN OF THE ACCIDENT THE EMT TOLD ME I SHOULD GET OUT OF THE CAR IF I WAS ABLE TO. BECAUSE THE AIR BAGS MIGHT STILL DEPLOY, AS THEY HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO DO SO BEFORE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY REFUSES TO PAY FOR NEW AIR BAGS. STATING THAT THERE IS NO DANGER OF THEM UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOYING. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THEY MIGHT UNEXPECTEDLY. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH WITH PRIOR BRAKING, THE VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER HEAD ON. THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS DAMAGED AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS INCONCLUSIVE ON WHETHER OR NOT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED.

THE IGNITION ON THIS CAR KEEPS LOCKING UP..I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A DEALER THINKING THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS. I WOULD LOVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT THIS. *TR

DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON HIGHWAY 116. VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND SLIGHTLY PULLED OFF TO THE RIGHT OF THE HIGHWAY. AT THE TIME BEFORE THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STARTED TO SLOW DOWN I HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70 MPH WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. I SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 60-65 MPH AND PULLED OFF THE ROAD SLIGHTLY. THERE WAS A SEMI TRUCK TRAVELING SOUTH BOUND ON THE HIGHWAY I THOUGHT EITHER THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE ROAD AHEAD OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME OR THE TRUCK WAS IN OUR LANE. THE ROADS WERE DRY AND THE SUN WAS COMING UP. AS I BEGAN TO COME BACK ON THE ROAD MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS FEELING WOBBLY AND I EITHER HIT THE CURB ON THE BRIDGE OR A PIECE OF METAL CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I RAN HEAD ON TO THE SOUTHBOUND SIDE OF THE BRIDGE THEN STARTED SPINNING AND HITTING THE BRIDGE SEVERAL TIMES. I FINALLY ENDED UP BACK ON THE NORTHBOUND SIDE OF THE BRIDGE ABOUT 3/4 OF THE WAY DOWN THE BRIDGE. WITH MY FRONT END HITTING THAT SIDE OF THE BRIDGE. WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT MY AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED IN THE VEHICLE AND I SUSTAINED NECK, SHOULDER AND RIGHT KNEE INJURIES. AT THIS TIME THE VEHICLE IS AT A LOCAL BODY SHOP WITH THE INSURANCE, AND COMPANY THAT MAKES THE VEHICLE INVESTIGATES THE DAMAGE. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH SATURN LETTING THEM KNOW THAT I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A PRODUCT DEFECT. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE CRASHED AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED BUT DID NOT INFLATE. THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS THE POINT OF IMPACT IN THE CRASH. THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE 2 OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE, BOTH WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS DID NOT TIGHTEN TO KEEP CONTACT AND PASSENGER FROM HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL OR DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK,BACK, CHEST AND TOOTH INJURIES. PASSENGER SUFFERED FROM B URNS FROM MATERIAL THAT CAME OUT OF THE AIR BAGS, AND SUSTAINED CHEST, BACK AND LEG AND BACK INJURIES FROM HITTING DASHBOARD. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. *AK

CAR LOSES POWER. HAPPENS FREQUENTLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, AND HAS NEARLY CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THREE YEARS, AND HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. SATURN SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG, BUT IT WILL COST US $1200 + TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED AND POSSIBLY REPAIRED.*TR THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL WHILE IN TRAFFIC. UPDATED 09/23/09

WE PURCHASED OUR 2005 SATURN VUE IN APRIL OF 2005. WE HAD NO PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS FOR THE FIRST 10-12000 MILES. THEN WE STARTED TO GET A SLIPPING IN THE TRANSMISSION THAT PREVENTED ACCELERATION. THIS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY, A COUPLE OF TIMES WHEN I WAS TRYING TO MERGE INTO ON-COMING TRAFFIC. I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW DISCONCERTING IT IS TO BE ACCELERATING INTO TRAFFIC WITH YOUR TWO KIDS IN THE CAR, AND THAN YOUR ENGINE REVS LIKE IT IS IN NEUTRAL AND YOU CANNOT MOVE! WE TOOK THE CAR INTO THE SATURN DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR THIS PROBLEM. BOTH TIMES WE WERE TOLD THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THAN ON FEBRUARY 9TH, 2006, MY HUSBAND WAS LEAVING HIS WORK, AND COULD NOT GET OUT OF HIS PARKING SPACE, AS HIS CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. IT WOULD GO FORWARD, BUT ONLY WHEN IN PARK. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE LIBERTYVILLE SATURN DEALER, AND, OF COURSE, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETECT A PROBLEM. THEY SAID IF THE CAR IS COLD, THE COMPUTER WILL PREVENT THE TRANSMISSION FROM BEING ENGAGED, TO AVOID TRANSMISSION DAMAGE. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THE SLIPPING IN THE TRANSMISSION WAS "NORMAL OPERATION" FOR THE CVT TRANSMISSION. WELL, I DID NOT HAVE THIS ISSUE HAPPEN WHEN I TEST DROVE THE CAR, AND FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MONTHS AFTER. I DO NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM FOR A WEEK OR SO AFTER AN OIL CHANGE. I FEEL THAT THERE IS A BLATANT PERFORMANCE PROBLEM WITH THE CVT (CONTINUOUS VARIABLE TRANSMISSION) CONTINUOUS IMPLIES THAT THE TRANSMISSION VARIES "CONTINUOUSLY" I CAN ASSURE YOU, IF MY CAR HAD DONE THIS WHILE I WAS TEST DRIVING IT, I NEVER WOULD HAVE BOUGHT THE CAR. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD, AND MAKES ME EXTREMELY ANXIOUS WHEN I AM DRIVING, AS THERE IS NO WAY TO ANTICIPATE WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN. SATURN HAS REPEATEDLY STATED THAT THIS "SLIPPING" IS NORMAL. I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL WEB SITES ON THE WEB WITH PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF THIS EXACT PROBLEM. *JB

LAST JAN. 2004 WE PURCHASED A 04 SATURN VUE, THE VEHICLE ENDED UP BEING IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS SUCH AS SUSPENSION, DRIVE TRAIN, WHEEL BEARINGS ETC. THE LAST REPAIR WAS THE STEERING COLUMN AND SATURN AGREED TO REPLACE THE M/V. IN JULY 04 WERE RECEIVED OUR NEW 04 VUE. ON SATURDAY WE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE AND TO CHECK A RATTLE IN THE FRONT END. WE ARE NEW SCHEDULED TO HAVE THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACE IN THIS M/V. SATURN STATED THAT THE M/V IS SAFE TO DRIVE BUT MY CONCERN IS TWO (2) 04 VUE'S WITH STEERING COLUMN REPLACEMENTS AND SATURN NOT TELLING ME IF THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THESE M/V'S. WHAT ARE THE ODDS THAT THIS COULD ONLY HAPPEN TO US NOT ONCE BUT TWICE.*JB

LAST JAN. 2004 MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A 2004 SATURN VUE AWD V6. FROM DAY ONE IT WAS IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS, DRIVE TRAIN, FRONT END ETC.( WE HAVE A COPY OF ALL RECORDS) THE LAST REPAIR WAS A STEERING COLUMN REPLACEMENT AROUND JUNE 04. IN JULY 04 SATURN TOOK THIS VEHICLE BACK AND REPLACED IT WITH A 04 VUE. THIS PAST OCTOBER 05 IT DEVELOPED A RATTLE IN THE FRONT END AND SATURN REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN. AFTER REPAIR THE RATTLE IS STILL THERE AND I HAD A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP CHECK THE VEHICLE AND ONCE IT WAS ON THE LIFT THEY WERE ABLE TO MOVE THE STEERING COLUMN WITH THEIR HAND. SATURN HAS SAID THIS VEHICLE AND THE LAST ONE ARE SAFE TO DRIVE BUT MY CONCERN IS TWO VUE'S AND BOTH HAVING THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED AND TOLD THERE IS NO PROBLEM. I CAN'T BE THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS REPAIR OR PROBLEM AND I FEEL SATURN IS GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND. *NM

ON JULY 23, 2005, I HAD THE OIL SEAL REPLACED. THE VUE HAD BEEN LEAKING OIL IN MY GARAGE AND OTHER PLACES WHEN I PARKED. I HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH ON TWO OCCASIONS AND WAS ALMOST UNABLE TO GET THE KEY TO TURN. SOMETIMES TOOK UP TO 20 MINUTES OR SO. ON JULY 22, 2006 I HAD THE AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER AND SEAL REPLACED. IT WAS OVER 100 DEGREES. I HAD TO GET A RENTAL FOR THIS REPAIR. THIS TOOK SEVERAL DAYS BECAUSE THE MECHANIC TOOK MY CAR APART, THOUGHT IT WAS REPAIRED, BUT WAS NOT, I WAS TOLD. SECOND DAY OF CAR RENTAL, I WAS TOLD THEY ORDERED THE PART, BUT THEY "SENT THE WRONG PART". FINALLY, ON THE THIRD DAY, I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR HAD TO BE TAKEN APART AGAIN TO BE REPAIRED. I RENTED A CAR FOR THREE DAYS. ON AUGUST 6, 2006, I WENT TO LEAVE TO PICK UP MY SON, THE VUE WAS IN MY GARAGE AND THERE WAS NO CLUTCH. I HAD TO CALL SATURN ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO SATURN OF HENDERSON. ON AUGUST 7, 2006, I HAD THE CLUTCH CYLINDER, CONCENTRIC SLAVE REPLACED. ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2006, I WAS TAKING MY SON TO THE AIRPORT TO BE WITH HIS FATHER FOR THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY IN MICHIGAN. I WAS ATTEMPTING TO BACK OUT OF THE GARAGE, BUT COULD NOT PUT THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE. WE PUSHED THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE. I DROVE VERY CAREFULLY (A BIT CONCERNED THINKING IT MAY BREAKDOWN) BECAUSE I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBLE DANGERS INVOLVED, BUT HAD TO GET MY SON TO THE AIRPORT ON TIME. I PULLED OFF OF THE 215 WHEN AT THAT OFF RAMP, ALL OF MY GEARS WERE SUDDENLY GONE. THE CABLES SNAPPED INSIDE AND I COULD NOT GO ANYWHERE, CAUSING ME TO ONCE AGAIN, CALL SATURN ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, HAVE THE 2005 VEHICLE TOWED AWAY AGAIN, MY SON MISSED HIS FLIGHT TO MICHIGAN AND I HAD TO MISS PART OF A WORK DAY AND AGAIN RENT ANOTHER CAR. *JB

DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 2005 SATURN VUE. THE CONSUMER STATED HER VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A DOOR AJAR FEATURE. SHE STATED SHE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND HER FRONT PASSENGER DOOR FLEW OPEN. THE DEALERSHIP WAS JUST AS SHOCKED AS SHE WAS BECAUSE THIS FEATURE WAS NOT INCLUDED ON HER VEHICLE. 8JB

(1) AIR BAGS-I WAS INVOLVED IN A MULTIPLE-VEHICLE ACCIDENT CAUSED BY BLACK ICE IN DEC, 2005 AND NOT ONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THIS WAS CONCERNING. (2) BRAKES-FROM DAY ONE, WHEN IT RAINS, MY BRAKES SOUND LIKE AN OLD PERSON TRYING TO MOVE. (3) IGNITION-TOO MANY TIMES TO MENTION. WHEN I WOULD PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND TRY TO START THE CAR, IT WOULDN'T MOVE AND I'D HAVE TO JOLT THE "FROZEN" STEERING WHEEL TO FINALLY GET THE KEY TO TURN/CAR TO START. (4) I'VE SEEN BOTH THE BRAKES & IGNITION ISSUES IN OTHER PEOPLE'S POSTS. JUST WANTED TO PUT THIS OUT THERE FOR INFORMATION'S SAKE. OTHERWISE, THE CAR'S BEEN GREAT TO ME. 10 YEARS OLD, ONLY 47K MILES ON IT AND I JUST RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER.

THE VEHICLE HAS MAJOR WIND NOISE...YOU CAN NOT EVEN HEAR THE RADIO OR CONVERSATIONS IN THE VEHICLE DUE TO THIS NOISE. THE CAR ALSO HAS A RATTLING COMING FROM THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR, WE CAN NOT IDENTIFY THE SOURCE. THE VEHICLE ALSO ROLLS BACK ON A HILL WHEN IN DRIVE. THE BRAKES ALSO SQUEAL AND THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY ARE FINE, BUT WE DO NOT BELIEVE THEY ARE. THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN GOING ON SINCE MAY 2005 AND TILL NOW (1/18/06) SATURN HAS NOT FIXED ANY OF THEM. *JB

SATURN VUE WITH SPORADIC ELECTRONIC FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FAILURE CONSISTS OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND GAUGES GOING TO ZERO. ALSO WHEN THE LIGHTS MALFUNCTION THE POWER STEERING IS DECREASED OR STOPS COMPLETELY. *KB

I WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT IN MY BRAND NEW 2005 SATURN VUE AND WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY A MEDIUM-SIZED TRANSIT BUS AT APPROX. 35-40 MPH. THE DAMAGE TO THE REAR OF THE CAR WAS EXTENSIVE AND RESULTED IN THE TOTAL LOSS OF THE CAR. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE DURING THE ACCIDENT. THE BACK OF THE SEAT COLLAPSED AND FELL BACK INTO THE BACK SEAT. THE SEAT ALMOST TOTALLY BROKE UNDERNEATH AND TWISTED TO THE LEFT. I WAS THE LONE OCCUPANT IN THE CAR AND SUFFERED NUMEROUS ABRASIONS, BRUISES, CUTS, BUMPS, AND SPRAINS, AS WELL AS BACK AND NECK PAIN. I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT AND STILL HIT THE STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING ME TO GET CUTS ON MY LIPS AND FACE. THE MAJORITY OF THE INJURIES TO MY BODY WERE ON THE LEFT SIDE. *AK

MANY INCIDENCES OF SATURN VUE ROLLING BACKWARDS NON-STOP IN DRIVE (GEAR). TOLD UPON EACH OF 5 REPORTS THAT ALL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS ROLL BACKWARDS IN DRIVE. VEHICLE HAS ALSO ROLLED (NOT SLID)4 TIMES FORWARDS IN PARK DOWN THE DRIVEWAY INTO THE ROAD WITH ALL WHEELS ROLLING. IT HAS ROLLED BACKWARDS ONCE WITH ALL WHEELS ROLLING. VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE ENTERED AN EMERGENCY BRAKE PULLED. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO DATE.*AK

1) PURCHASED 2005 SATURN RELAY VAN; 2) ALL LIGHTS ON VEHICLE ARE VARIABLE. THIS IS AT ALL TIMES. IT IS DISTRACTING WHILE DRIVING AT DARK PERIODS. LIGHTS VARY LIGHT OUTPUT, NOT MAINTAINING STEADY OUTPUT. SATURN HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT ALL RELAYS HAVE THIS PROBLEM, AND STATED TO MECHANIC THAT THE ALTERNATOR MUST BE REPLACED. SUPPOSED TO BE AVAILABLE 1-14,2005. 3) DEALER CONTINUES TO ANTICIPATE REPLACEMENT ALTERNATOR, BUT SINCE 1-3-05, WE ARE STILL WAITING, WITH NO RESOLVE.*AK

2005 SATURN VUE FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO TIP OVER WHEN TAKING SHARP TURNS. THIS IS PARTICULARLY NOTICEABLE WHEN DRIVING AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED BUT WITHIN THE POSTED SPEED LIMITS SUCH AS LEAVING THE INTERSTATE FREEWAYS ON TO ADJOINING ON RAMPS/OFF RAMPS WHICH TEND TO HAVE VARIOUS CURVES IN THE ROAD. THE CAR FEELS SCARY WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND REQUIRES A COMPLETE REDUCTION OF SPEED BY THE DRIVER WITH ALL OTHER NEARBY CARS AND SUV'S PASSING BY WITH NO VISIBLE SIMILAR HANDLING PROBLEM. I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF THIS PROBLEM HAS CONTRIBUTED OR PLAYED A ROLE IN ACCIDENTS. *JB

2005 SATURN VUE DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH DRIVING STRAIGHT.*MR THE VEHICLE WOULD WANDER WHILE DRIVING. IF THE CONSUMER WERE TO TAKE HIS EYE OFF THE ROAD FOR A SECOND TO CHECK THE MIRRORS THE VEHICLE WOULD WANDER TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. *NM