2004 Saturn VUE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
276 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
78,456 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 237 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 53 of 276 complaints (19.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 73 | 26.4% |
| Braking behavior | 29 | 10.5% |
| Steering behavior | 21 | 7.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 15 | 5.4% |
| Engine operation | 13 | 4.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.4% |
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 | 53 |
| Power Train | 44 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 38 |
| Unknown Or Other | 17 |
| Suspension:Rear | 16 |
| Suspension | 14 |
| Air Bags | 13 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 13 |
Electrical System: 53; Power Train: 44; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 38; Unknown Or Other: 17; Suspension:Rear: 16; Suspension: 14; Air Bags: 13; Electrical System:Ignition: 13
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 44 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 32 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 32 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 46 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 52 |
| 150,000 and above | 31 |
Under 25,000: 44; 25,000 to 49,999: 32; 50,000 to 74,999: 32; 75,000 to 99,999: 46; 100,000 to 149,999: 52; 150,000 and above: 31
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (52). 39 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 21 |
| 2005 | 21 |
| 2006 | 15 |
| 2007 | 10 |
| 2008 | 20 |
| 2009 | 20 |
| 2010 | 24 |
| 2011 | 21 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 56 |
| 2015 | 18 |
| 2016 | 14 |
| 2017 | 10 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2003: 1; 2004: 21; 2005: 21; 2006: 15; 2007: 10; 2008: 20; 2009: 20; 2010: 24; 2011: 21; 2012: 2; 2013: 5; 2014: 56; 2015: 18; 2016: 14; 2017: 10; 2018: 3; 2019: 8; 2020: 3; 2023: 2; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 73 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 29 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 21 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 10106294 · 2005-01-13 (January 13, 2005)
I HAVE TAKEN MY 2004 SATURN VUE-MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN FOR SERVICE REGARDING A THUMPING THAT I HEARD AND FELT COME FROM THE SHIFTER LOCATION. I GOT THE "EVERYTHING IS WITHIN NORMAL PARAMETERS" LINE. THEN TONIGHT WHEN I WENT TO DOWN-SHIFT FROM 5TH GEAR TO 4TH GEAR, THE SHIFTER MADE A CRUNCH SOUND AND THEN IT BOUNCED INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION. HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSION IS STILL IN 5TH GEAR AND IS SITTING IN FRONT OF THE SATURN SERVICE CENTER AWAITING TO BE LOOKED AT TOMORROW MORNING. THIS IS NOT MY FIRST SATURN BUT IT WILL BE MY LAST AFTER HA…
Owner-reported narrative. 21,495 miles reported. Look up ODI 10106294 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10126233 · 2005-07-15 (July 15, 2005)
DT: WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. IT HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING. IT SEEMED IT ONLY DOES IT WHEN THE MOTOR IS COLD, LIKE IN THE FIRST HALF A MILE DRIVEN. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. MANUFACTURER SAID THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL DEALER COULD GIVE THEM A COMPUTER CODE.*AK *JB UPDATED 024/24/06.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10126233 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10056379 · 2004-02-02 (February 2, 2004)
RANDOM OBD CODE P0571 CRUISE/BRAKE SWITCH MALFUNCTION SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE ON 6 DEC 03. THE SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED. THE FOLLOWING HAS BEEN CHECKED SWITCH ALIGNMENT, CONNECTORS. NUMEROUS FAILURES CURRENTLY WAITING SINCE 29 JAN ON ENGINEER TO LOOK AT FREEZE FRAME DATA FROM THE COMPUTER. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10056379 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10100312 · 2004-11-21 (November 21, 2004)
ELECTRICAL INTERMITTENT FAILURES. UNABLE TO LOCK OR UNLOCK USING REMOTE CONTROL, HEADLIGHTS, INTERIOR LIGHT, DASH LIGHTS, RADIO (ALL ELECTRICAL EXCEPT ENGINE ACCESSORIES) FAIL RANDOMLY. ON ONE OCCASSION ALL INTERIOR & EXTERIOR LIGHTING FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON A DARK HIGHWAY. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY BUT HAD NO HAZARD LIGHTS (AND PRESUMABLY NO BRAKE LIGHTS) TO WARN OTHER TRAFFIC. WIGGLING THE INTERIOR FUSE PANEL RESTORED POWER. LATER CHECKS OF ALL RELAYS AND FUSES REVEALED NO CONTACT OR COMPONENT FAILURES IN EITHER IN INTERIO…
Owner-reported narrative. 31,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10100312 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10137431 · 2005-10-20 (October 20, 2005)
DT: THE CALLER SAID THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS STEERING WHEEL IS HARD TO TURN. SHE SAYS IT MAKES A SQUEALING NOISE. ONCE THE STEERING LOCKED. SHE HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. SHE SAID IT HAPPENED WHEN SHE WAS TURNING INTO PARKING SPOTS, DRIVEWAYS, AND WHILE TURNING CORNERS. IT STARTED HAPPENING WITHOUT WARNING, AND IT WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. DEALER DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING. THEY REPLACED SOMETHING CALLED STEERING SHAFT INTERMEDIATE. ALSO, THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER HOUSING TO FIX THE LOCKING. …
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10137431 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10143854 · 2005-11-28 (November 28, 2005)
I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE IN MY 2004 SATURN VUE WHEN A SUBURBAN REAR-ENDED ME AT APPROXIMATELY 40+ MILES PER HOUR. I THEN HIT THE SUV THAT WAS STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME - AND WE BOTH WENT APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET FORWARD FROM THE STOP SIGN. THE IMPACT TOTALED MY TRUCK TO THE POINT OF THE REAR WAS CRUSHED TO THE BACK SEAT AND THE FRONT FRAME WAS BROKEN IN HALF WITH ABOUT A 1 INCH GAP. MY ISSUES WITH THE SAFETY ARE: THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BROKE NEARLY ALL THE WAY BACK INTO THE REAR SEAT TO THE RIGHT WITH THE SEAT SLIDING…
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10143854 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10105894 · 2005-01-06 (January 6, 2005)
04 SATURN VUE,(ONLY)11,000 MILES. PROBLEMS STARTING AND NOT CRANKING PROPERLY.PROBLEM PROGRESSIVLY GOT WORSE.DEALER IS NOW REPLACING THE ENTIRE WIREING HARNESS IN THE DASH.CUST.SERV.WRITER SAID "YOU HAVE SOME BAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS , SOME PINS WHERE NOT CONNECTING PROPERLY TO START YOUR VEHICLE." THIS MAKES ME VERY UNCOMFURTABLE WITH MY NEW SATURN VUE.MY DEALER NAME IS [XXX] OF JACKSON MS.THEY HAVE HAD MY TRUCK SINCE JAN 4TH AND IT WILL HOPEFULLY BE READY BY THE 10. THEY HAD TO CALL IN A SPECIAL TECHNITION. …
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10105894 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10113257 · 2005-03-30 (March 30, 2005)
ENGINE STALLED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, WHICH WAS DANGEROUS WHILE ON THE ROAD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR A CHECK UP, BUT THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK VEHICLE ACCELERATED TOO FAST WHEN PRESSING GAS PEDAL TO START AUTO AFTER STALLING. *BF *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10113257 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10126529 · 2005-06-24 (June 24, 2005)
DT: WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED AND HESITATED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER LOOKED AT IT, THEY HAVE SPEEDED UP THE COMPUTER, BUT COULD NOT PINPOINT THE PROBLEM. IT HAPPENED EVERY WEEK OR TWO. *AK THE GAS PEDAL WOULD STICK TWICE A WEEK. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10126529 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10177110 · 2006-12-27 (December 27, 2006)
I HAVE UNFORTUNATELY OWNED MY SATURN 2004 VUE FOR 2 YEARS. THE FIRST 3 MONTHS OF HAVING IT, AFTER HAVING TO REPLACE MY 2003 VUE FOR ALL THE PROBLEMS IT HAD WAS IN THE SHOP THE FIRST 4 MONTHS OF PURCHASE. THE POWER ENGINE FAILURE LIGHT WOULD GO ON AND I WOULD LOSE ALL POWER TO THE CAR. THEY HAD NO IDEA HOW TO FIX IT. THEN THE BACK WINDSHIELD SHATTERED. THE GAS MILEAGE IS HORRIBLE AND THE WHOLE GAS TANK AND ODOMETER HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED. I WOULD FEEL THE CAR UP WITH GAS AND THE ODOMETER WOULD GO TO FULL AND MOVE BACK UP TO HALF FULL. THE CAR IS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10177110 at NHTSA ↗