2006 Saturn VUE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
300 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
75,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 237 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 85 of 300 complaints (28.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 41 | 13.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 30 | 10.0% |
| Braking behavior | 25 | 8.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 18 | 6.0% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 1.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 1.7% |
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 | 85 |
| Air Bags | 76 |
| Steering | 29 |
| Power Train | 17 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 15 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 14 |
| Seats | 14 |
| Structure:Body | 13 |
Electrical System: 85; Air Bags: 76; Steering: 29; Power Train: 17; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 15; Air Bags:Frontal: 14; Seats: 14; Structure:Body: 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 | 29 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 41 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 46 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 43 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 66 |
| 150,000 and above | 12 |
Under 25,000: 29; 25,000 to 49,999: 41; 50,000 to 74,999: 46; 75,000 to 99,999: 43; 100,000 to 149,999: 66; 150,000 and above: 12
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (66). 63 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 22 |
| 2009 | 16 |
| 2010 | 23 |
| 2011 | 21 |
| 2012 | 15 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 85 |
| 2015 | 23 |
| 2016 | 20 |
| 2017 | 14 |
| 2018 | 16 |
| 2019 | 10 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2006: 7; 2007: 7; 2008: 22; 2009: 16; 2010: 23; 2011: 21; 2012: 15; 2013: 9; 2014: 85; 2015: 23; 2016: 20; 2017: 14; 2018: 16; 2019: 10; 2020: 2; 2021: 4; 2022: 2; 2023: 2; 2024: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 41 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 30 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 25 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 10153044 · 2006-03-10 (March 10, 2006)
2006 VUE REAR TIRES WERE CUPPED, TIRES WERE REPLACED. CONSUMER EXPERIENCED UNUSUAL STEERING CONDITIONS. *TS THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THEY WERE GOING TO SWAPPED THE RACK FROM ANOTHER VUE AND CHANGED SOME SENSORS IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE DEALER NEVER MADE THE REPAIRS. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10153044 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10158385 · 2006-05-15 (May 15, 2006)
CONSUMER COMPLAINT DEACTIVATION OF 2006 SATURN VUE AIR BAG. *TS ***TRANSFERRED TO TIS*** THE CONSUMER REQUEST THAT AN AIR BAG ON/OFF SWITCH BE INSTALLED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER IS 4' 10-1/2 INCHES, 88 POUNDS AND HAS TO SIT CLOSE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO REACH THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDAL. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10158385 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10156783 · 2006-05-04 (May 4, 2006)
2006 SATURN VUE, VEHICLE DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN,ENGINE MISS FIRED,THEN SHUT OFF. TOWED TO DEALER, DEALER STATED BAD BATTERY......SECOND TIME VEHICLE SAME THING JUST SHUT OFF.... ALSO IGNITION KEY ENTRY STICKS WHEN TRYING TO START VEHICLE, DEALER SAID TO HAVE REPLACED BUT STILL STICKS WHEN TRYING TO TURN TO START..... *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 4,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10156783 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10197126 · 2007-07-21 (July 21, 2007)
2006 SATURN VUE WITH 18,000 MILES. THREE TIMES, WHILE MY 73 YEAR OLD MOTHER WAS DRIVING, THE ENTIRE WARNING LIGHT CLUSTER HAS COME ON WHILE DRIVING. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE SHE PULLED OVER AND STOPPED THE MOTOR. SHE RESTARTED IT AND THE LIGHTS REMAINED ON FOR ABOUT 1 MILE, THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE WORKING OKAY, THEN THE LIGHTS WENT OUT BEFORE SHE GOT HOME. SHE REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER (IT IS A LEASE VEHICLE). THEY ASKED HER TO DRIVE IT IN THE FOLLOWING DAY; THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND RETURNED THE CAR TO HER. THE SAME THING HAPPENED …
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10197126 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10197391 · 2007-07-24 (July 24, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN VUE. WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP AT ANY SPEED, THE BRAKES MAKE A RATTLING SOUND. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAKE PAD PIN CUSHION FAILED AND THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 32,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10197391 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10251863 · 2008-12-15 (December 15, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION BECAME STUCK IN THE PARK POSITION, WHICH PREVENTED HIM FROM SHIFTING INTO DRIVE. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR, THE GEAR SHIFTER BECAME LIMP AND FELL OFF IN HIS HAND. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE LINK PARTS AND INSTALLED THEM AT LEAST TWO TIMES. THE LINK PARTS WERE MADE OF PLASTIC AND DO NOT LAST WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10251863 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10262908 · 2009-03-24 (March 24, 2009)
MY WIFE'S 2006 SATURN VUE HAS A TRANSMISSION DEFECT THAT IS NOT IN THE NEWER MODELS. YOU CAN SHIFT INTO GEAR WITHOUT YOUR FOOT ON BRAKE WHILE THE KEY IS IN ACC. I TOLD SATURN AND THEN SAID GM SAID THAT IS THE WAY IT IS DESIGNED TO WORK. THEY DID CHANGE IT ON THE NEW MODELS AND EVERY OTHER CAR YOU MUST PUT YOUR FOOT ON BEFORE SHIFTING. I HAD IT BACK FOR IT AND THEY SAID NOTHING COULD BE DONE. CAN YOU HELP ME WITH THIS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10262908 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10176750 · 2006-12-21 (December 21, 2006)
WHILE DRIVING THE ROAD THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER. THE FURTHER I DROVE THE LESS POWER I HAD UNTIL THE VEHICLE STALLED. I WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE AFTER A FEW MINUTES BUT WHEN I STEPPED DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL IT STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER ON SATURDAY EVENING. THE DEALER CONTACTED ME ON MONDAY AND SAID THAT THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP WAS FAULTY AND HE WOULD HAVE TO ORDER ONE FROM THE FACTORY. I PICKED UP MY VEHICLE ON TUESDAY EVENING AND IT APPEARED TO BE RUNNING FINE FOR THE MOMMENT. I MADE THEE QUARTERS OF THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,434 miles reported. Look up ODI 10176750 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10394939 · 2011-04-04 (April 4, 2011)
THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION TO START THE ENGINE AND/OR TO STOP THE ENGINE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE KEY WAS WORN OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BUT THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON A DAILY BASIS SOMETIMES NOT ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO BE TURNED OFF AND AT OTHER TIMES NOT ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO START UP. IF THE VEHICLE STALLS ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AND CANNOT BE STARTED, THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AS WELL AS IF THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE SHUT DOWN IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT OR FIRE.
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10394939 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10234686 · 2008-07-17 (July 17, 2008)
MY 2006 SATURN VIEW WAS DISCOVERED TO HAVE WIRING LOCATED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE FUEL TANK CHEWED CAUSING THE METAL EXPOSURE OF THE WIRE. THIS WIRE WAS NOT SHIELDED, AS SHOULD BE, AND DUE TO LOCATION ABOVE FUEL TANK COULD HAVE BEEN A DEADLY SITUATION DUE PLASTIC FUEL HOSES JUST BELOW THE WIRES. ALL WIRING INTO THE FUEL TANK AND ADJACENT TO FUEL LINES SHOULD HAVE EXTRA SHIELDING IN CASE OF NOT ONLY CHEWING BY RODENTS BUT POSSIBLE RUBBING ACTIONS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10234686 at NHTSA ↗