AI DamageSaturn VUE: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Saturn VUE across 10 model years: 2,355 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 29% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 28% of all complaints
- 3 Air bags 13% of all complaints
- 4 Steering 12% of all complaints
- 5 Engine and cooling 6% of all complaints
- 6 Engine 6% of all complaints
- 7 Suspension 6% of all complaints
- 8 Service brakes 4% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 684 complaints (29% of all), 15 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 651 complaints (28% of all), 20 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Air bags: 307 complaints (13% of all), 68 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Steering: 287 complaints (12% of all), 10 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 149 complaints (6% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.2 L · petrol · 4 cyl 2002–2007named in 14 complaints
- 2.4 L · petrol · 4 cyl 2008–2010
- 3 L · petrol · 6 cyl 2002–2003
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl 2004–2010named in 4 complaints
- 3.6 L · petrol · 6 cyl 2008–2010
- 2.4 L · hybrid · 4 cyl 2007–2010
- 3.6 L · hybrid · 6 cyl 2009
- automatic, 4-speed 2002–2010
- automatic, 5-speed 2003–2007
- automatic, 6-speed 2008–2010
- CVT 2002–2009named in 12 complaints
- manual, 5-speed 2002–2007named in 12 complaints
Drive: FWD, AWD, 4WD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 2,355 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 684 | 15 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 651 | 20 | 0 |
| Air bags | 307 | 68 | 0 |
| Steering | 287 | 10 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 149 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine | 143 | 7 | 0 |
| Suspension | 130 | 18 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 96 | 7 | 0 |
| Structure | 94 | 13 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 76 | 6 | 0 |
| Visibility | 70 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 62 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 53 | 1 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 51 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that none of the air bags deployed. A police report was filed. Afterwards, the contact and the contact's daughter stopped by the clinic. The contact suffered minor injuries to the chest caused by the seat belt. The contact had bruises across the chest.
Alternator I changed the starter I changed the alternator brand new it ran but then it stopped in mid drive and I won't just start and that's how I crashed into something now my car is wreck in the fridge and it won't start and if it does it stops
Transmission and torque converter overheat causing failure. Mine overheated and stalled crossing traffic, wouldn't go into gear. Caused accident.
"stabilitrak" warning light has not turned off. I have lost control of my vehicle while driving twice but was able to pull over after a few seconds. The vehicle will lose power to the dash. When I am turning the steering wheel gets very hard to turn and will turn off the radio.
My vue went out of control, after I slammed on the brakes, it took off like a rocket , going faster and faster up to 90 miles per hour, it would not stop and would not slow down, I threw it into neutral, after 1 min the engine died, and I coasted for a few min
Takata recall my family and I were in a roll over accident on august 20th 2019 our airbags did not deploy at impact. We were in motion going 60mph on cournty road 799 going towards george west tx when my vehicle was headed towards a covert and jerked the wheel to the left to avoid the ditch but the steering wheel…
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.