10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 2 / 4
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 3 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 74,247 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
All of my dashboard lights including my brake light is on my emergency brake light beeps while I'm driving but it's not engaged my shifting is very choppy and I'm having a hard time with the tire pressure as well a few weeks ago I noticed that there was lights on my dashboard I went to a automobile place they erase all the codes so we could figure out what's going on with it and every single thing that could go wrong with it they're saying it's wrong with it but it still drives it has a hard time shifting and this is an automatic so I'm not in charge of the shift it's very choppy when it shifts into different gears the automobile place that it's either the computer or the transmission this car has mile number 134380 on it it always has the right amount of fluids in it I always get oil changes on time I have no clue what's going on with this car
- Marblemount, WA, USA
It's my turn signals my locks and my flashers headlights
- Louisville, KY, USA
I have had electrical and climate control problems since I bought this car. Most of the A/C components have been replaced. Now I don't have any A/C at all. I've also had heating problems that required two different repairs which were very expensive. My car is garage kept, well maintained and it only has 30,000.
- Irving, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Vue. While driving approximately 10 mph, the vehicle shook and lost power. The check engine, traction control, and anti lock brake system indicators illuminated. The vehicle was pulled into a parking space and restarted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who replaced and reprogrammed the ECM. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure recurred after one and half years. The vehicle was taken to a different dealer where it was diagnosed. The dealer replaced the transmission solenoid control circuit and reprogrammed the transmission module. The failure mileage was 56,178.
- Warren, OH, USA
There was a recall bulletin issued for my model year vehicle: www-ODI.NHTSA.dot.gov/acms/cs/jaxrs/download/doc/ucm472842/rcrit-14V614-0055.pdf however, when I contacted my closest GM dealer they said that my VIN was not associated with this recall. This is concerning as the recall is describing the exact problem w/ the car and has been diagnosed by a service professional. One of the connectors on my ECM somehow has become contaminated and is causing the car to unexpectedly die while in use. Also as a result, the tcs/esp/and check engine lights all come on and remain on until the computer can be reset. It has done so twice while my wife has been driving it on the highway, creating very dangerous situations. It strands her on the side of the road until we can get the car started again and off the highway. This has also happened while the car is idling, and while traveling at low speeds off the highway. I understand that only certain vins are involved in certain recalls, but since the problem in the recall bulletin linked above is happening to our vehicle and our vehicle's VIN is not listed, I am concerned there could be others that are not aware of this and could become seriously injured when the vehicle shuts off.
- La Grange, KY, USA
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Vue. While driving various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. Also, the doors would suddenly lock and unlock and the lighting on the instrument panel flashed. The contact stated there were many other electrical malfunctions that would occur without warning. In order to get the vehicle to function correctly, the contact had to turn the vehicle on and off several times. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who was unable to diagnose the failures. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 103,000.
- Greenville, SC, USA
The key stuck in the key lock cylinder and would not turn. The Saturn Vue 08 had to be towed to the dealer, and the key lock cylinder drilled out and replaced. The new key lock assembly is performing similar to the one that failed. The key sticks in the cylinder and requires 4 or 5 tries to turn the ignition on. It will not pull out easily, but jams at the inside edge where the metal shank of the key meets the black plastic key casing. The new key lock assembly metal cover on the steering column appears to be catching, and shows bending. The new key shows severe scratches. The replacement key lock assembly silver rectangular opening where one inserts the key does not appear to be sturdy enough, and it bends easily causing the key to catch. The problem is progressing, and the key is starting to stick as before, making it impossible to turn and start the car. This has happened in a poorly lit parking lot, in line at drive throughs, and at the filling station. The problem is worsening. The dealer promised that the initial $700-plus repair is under warranty, but did not keep the scheduled repair date.
- Fair Play, SC, USA
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Vue. After the vehicle was turned off, the ignition key would not release until after numerous attempts. The failure became progressively worse and, most recentlt, the ignition key could not be removed from the ignition cylinder. The battery was disabled and reconnected whenever the vehicle needed to be driven. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000. The VIN was unavailable.
- Sparrow Point, MD, USA
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Vue. While driving in a parking lot, the contact noticed extensive smoke entering into the vehicle without warning. The contact was able to pull the vehicle over into a parking space and a fire erupted under the hood. The contact attempted to extinguish the fire, but the flames were too intense. A fire truck arrived to extinguish the flames. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to a yard to be inspected by the insurance company. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was not available.
- Holly, MI, USA
Driving at freeway speed my car turned off briefly locking the steering wheel. The car started again and we where able to pull over safely. I checked and evaluated the car and we continued on. 35 miles later it did the same thing. When we stopped this time I removed the ignition key from the key ring and we traveled 500 miles to home. I had the ignition evaluated at victory layne Chevy and they determined the ignition was worn and replaced it but would not cover it under the active GM ignition recall. It should be expanded to include Saturn.
- Ft Myers, FL, USA
After driving my car the ignition key would not turn to the "off" position once the car is stopped and the shifter in park. The key was stuck the after driving " had power but I couldnt remove my key, its stuck, couldn't move my steering wheel its locked. I tried moving back into the park position several times before the ignition key would release allowing the key out so can leave. Key in "off" position. I couldnt remove the key, steering wheel locked up, this happened twice now ? both times after driving in on slightly bumpy road fwy. "
- Long Beach, CA, USA
The heater core went bad in the vehicle. It started to smell like chemicals and the windows always fogged up when the heater was on.
- Cedar, MI, USA
Key stuck in ignition lock cylinder. Steering wheel locked. Brakes locked. Shifter locked. Emergency flasher lights not working. All electrical off, windows would not open. Key would not turn in lock cylinder. Car would not start. Onstar communication was disabled. Lock cylinder had to be drilled out and replaced. Housing in steering column was damaged and had to be replaced. Car had to be towed. Saturn Vues were recalled for ignition lock cylinder replacement, but 2008 models were left out of the recall. They should be on the recall list for ignition cylinder steering wheel lock problems along with the other Saturn Vue models. Steering wheel locked and prevented me from leaving a nearly empty parking lot at dusk. I had no way to call for help from the car. I depend on onstar for emergency assistance where cell signals are weak.
- Fair Play, SC, USA
Steering wheel locked. Key would not turn in lock cylinder. Car would not start. Onstar communication was disabled. Lock cylinder had to be drilled out and replaced. Housing in steering column was damaged. Saturn Vues were recalled for ignition lock cylinder replacement, but 2008 models were left out of the recall. They should be on the recall list for ignition cylinder steering wheel lock problems along with the other Saturn Vue models. Steering wheel locked and prevented me from leaving a nearly empty parking lot at dusk. I had no way to call for help from the car. I depend on onstar for emergency assistance where cell signals are weak
- Fairplay, SC, USA
Power steering would cut in and out while driving. Check lights would come on. Let car sit a bit restart engine then would steer correctly but not for too long then steering would become very hard and check lights would come on again. A few days would pass without incident then it would fail to steer properly, (without power). Took in and mechanic found a code for electric power steering motor failure and also the torque sensor, ( steering colum angle sensor) was bad. I read an artical sometime in 2013 that described my problem and it was being followed for a history but had not become a recall yet. Before wrinting this complaint form I reviewed my VIN # and still no recall :(
- Blaine, MN, USA
I replaced alernator starter and new battery and still having power issues with draining battery
- Phoenix , AZ, USA
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Vue. While driving at any speed, the brakes seized, all of the calibers seized, and the anti-skid and ABS warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that there was contamination in the brake fluid. As a result, the brake pads, the hoses, and the brake fluid were replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however; the contact stated that the failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the brake fluid was flushed and the booster and master cylinder were replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 105,000.
- Kansas City, MO, USA
Driver side headlight went out and then came back on.then the next day it went out again and never came back on.took the headlight out and the connectors are melted..this I think is not good and its going to cost about $150 to fix
- Glasgow, KY, USA
Since the Saturn was purchased in October of 2013 it has had problems with the A/C and defrosters and sometimes heating, it works for about 10 to 15 minutes and quits and sometimes it does not work at all. Maybe not having A/C does not cause safety issues but not having defrosters work when it is pouring out and you can"T see out the window or when it is snowing and you can't defrost it off your windshield to see to drive then these things interfere with your safety. Apparently this is a known issues with this make and model of car and should be a recall to have it corrected. 2 years of this every summer and winter is quite enouugh.
- Magnolia, NJ, USA
- Lexington, OH, USA