AI Damage2008 Saturn VUE: common problems
Owners of the 2008 Saturn VUE filed 406 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 406
- involving a crash
- 16
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 30% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 22% of all complaints
- 3 Steering 21% of all complaints
- 4 Engine 9% of all complaints
- 5 Air bags 6% of all complaints
- 6 Visibility 6% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 5% of all complaints
- 8 Vehicle speed control 4% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 120 complaints (30% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 88 complaints (22% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Steering: 86 complaints (21% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine: 38 complaints (9% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Air bags: 25 complaints (6% of all), 5 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.
- 2.4 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 3.6 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 2.4 L · hybrid · 4 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- automatic, 6-speed
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 406 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 120 | 3 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 88 | 3 | 0 |
| Steering | 86 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine | 38 | 2 | 0 |
| Air bags | 25 | 5 | 0 |
| Visibility | 23 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 22 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 18 | 2 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 15 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 9 | 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.
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
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
A/c unit will stop blowing hot air, this will fog up windows in mornings and on rainy days causeing you not to see and crash no visable out of windshield, can not see..very dangerous
The contact stated that the seat belt failed to perform as intended. The contact stated that the impact thrust her face into the steering wheel. The contact sustained lacerations to the left side of the face, whiplash, and a laceration to the left knee, which required medical attention. A police report was filed.
When I nudged the gas, my car accelerated on its own with such a force the car went over a concrete barrier in the parking space and I then hit a brick and concrete wall that was knocked down. An iron railing was on top of the concrete and that got smashed as well.
Vehicle was parked inside the garage in parked transmission position, suddenly the vehicle rolled backward and hit the garage door without any warning!
I pulled into a stall at the bank, and put the vehicle in park. The vehicle continued to roll, jumped the curb on to the sidewalk, and hit a pole.
Upon impact, the side airbags did not deploy and the front passenger seat belt failed to retain the passenger. The driver suffered a severe contusion and abrasions. The passenger sustained a damaged knee, shoulder, arm, hand and head. The police were notified and a report was available.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 959 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 3% most complained about).
On average one model year of the VUE has 236 complaints (10 years in the data). This year has 406, above average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Saturn VUE?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, electrical system, steering. Total complaints: 406. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (15%), steering or power steering problems (14%), transmission slipping (6%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2008 Saturn VUE?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2008 Saturn VUE from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2008 models
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.