2002 Saturn VUE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
167 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
72,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 132 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 31 of 167 complaints (18.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 25 | 15.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 23 | 13.8% |
| Engine operation | 22 | 13.2% |
| Braking behavior | 16 | 9.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 15 | 9.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 31 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 20 |
| Engine | 16 |
| Air Bags | 9 |
| Electrical System:Horn | 9 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 9 |
| Steering | 9 |
| Power Train | 8 |
Electrical System: 31; Engine And Engine Cooling: 20; Engine: 16; Air Bags: 9; Electrical System:Horn: 9; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 9; Steering: 9; Power Train: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 22 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 32 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 16 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 39 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 22; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 32; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 39; 150,000 and above: 10
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (39). 35 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 18 |
| 2004 | 17 |
| 2005 | 11 |
| 2006 | 15 |
| 2007 | 13 |
| 2008 | 21 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 11 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 22 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2002: 7; 2003: 18; 2004: 17; 2005: 11; 2006: 15; 2007: 13; 2008: 21; 2009: 6; 2010: 11; 2011: 3; 2012: 2; 2013: 3; 2014: 22; 2015: 8; 2016: 3; 2017: 2; 2018: 1; 2020: 3; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 25 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 23 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 22 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10018861 · 2003-05-17 (May 17, 2003)
THE HORN ON THE STEERING WHEEL IS SO DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THAT IT IS COMPLETELY USELESS. WHILE DRIVING, A PERSON CANNOT FEEL WITH HIS/HER FINGERS THE DIFFERENCE IN TEXTURE ON THE WHEEL FROM WHERE THE HORN IS LOCATED AND WHERE IT IS NOT. ONCE IT IS FOUND, THE PLASTIC IS SO DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS THAT AN INDIVIDUAL MUST APPLY AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF PRESSURE WITH THEIR ENTIRE FIST FOR THE HORN TO GO OFF, AND FINALLY, THE AREA TO ACTIVATE THE HORN IS SO SMALL IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND, I ESTIMATE IT IS SLIGHTLY SMALLER THAN THE NAIL ON MY THUMB…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018861 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023669 · 2003-06-24 (June 24, 2003)
RUBBING SOUND IN STEERING COLUMN. DEALER SAYS SATURN KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM AND IS LOOKING FOR A FIX. HAVE BROUGHT IT IN 3 TIMES AND NOTHING HAS WORKED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023669 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000748 · 2003-01-06 (January 6, 2003)
I HAVE ALSO FOUND A METAL CLANKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER''S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN SHIFTING THE CAR OUT OF PARK, OR REVERSE. IT STILL CONTINUES TO HAVE PROBLEMS BETWEEN THE SPEEDS OF 12 TO 30 MPH, AGAIN THE PROBLEM PRESENTS ITSELF MOSTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COASTING AND LOSING MOMENTUM. THE VEHICLE WOULD BE SLOWING DOWN WITHOUT ANY AID OF BRAKING OF ANY KIND AND AS THE VEHICLE WOULD ATTEMPT TO DOWN SHIFT, IT WOULD SOMETIMES MAKE A CLANKING NOISE, OR BUCK, OR IN THE MOST EXTREME CASES COMPLETELY STALL OUT. ALSO THE WIPER SPRAYERS…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000748 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018584 · 2003-05-12 (May 12, 2003)
WHILE TRYING TO STOP BY APPLYING THE BRAKES WHEN APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION, THE ACCELERATOR WOULD NOT DISENGAGE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE UNSTOPPABLE IN THAT SHORT DISTANCE. THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS OF THIS TYPE AND HAS BEEN REPORTED ON THE INTERNET AND BY OTHER OWNERS. THE RESULT WAS A COLLISION THAT TOTALED THE SATURN AND ANOTHER DRIVER'S VOLVO. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 9,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018584 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019217 · 2003-05-24 (May 24, 2003)
WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE VEHICLE CHUGGS (SURGES) AND ACTS LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN LOOKED AT BY THE DEALER AND THEY BASICALLY SAY "ALL SYSTEMS OPERATING AS INTENDED". THIS SITUATION IS VERY SIMILAR TO COMPLAINT NUMBER 567762. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 12,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019217 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003679 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERE VIBRATION, ESPECIALLY WHEN BRAKING.*JB. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003679 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10034236 · 2003-09-12 (September 12, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED THREE TIMES. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE RADIO/DASH LIGHTS WERE DIM PRIOR TO THE STALLING. THE BLOCK ASSEMBLY AND WIRING HARNESS JUNCTION WAS REPLACED. THE GROUND CONNECTOR IN THE LEFT FRONT BUMPER AREA WAS LOOSE AND WAS TIGHTENED/RE-ASSEMBLE. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10034236 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10054341 · 2004-01-17 (January 17, 2004)
ELECTRICAL/IGNITION . *CB
Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10054341 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10224764 · 2008-04-16 (April 16, 2008)
UPON FILLING MY GAS TANK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON AND STAYS ON--SOMETIMES TILL THE TANK IS HALF EMPTY--SOMETIMES COMING ON WHEN THE TANK REACHES HALF. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10224764 at NHTSA ↗