2004 Saturn VUE: complaints, problems and recalls

WATER THAT COLLECTS IN BOLT HOLE WELLS IN ROOF RACK RAILS CAN PROMOTE CORROSION. EVAPORATION IS THE ONLY WAY FOR THE WATER TO ESCAPE. MANUFACTURER SHOULD PROVIDE A SET OF SEALING PLUGS AND CORROSION INHIBITING GREASE/GEL TO SEAL OF THESE HOLES.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 950 miles reported. Look up ODI 10048857 at NHTSA ↗

ROOF RACK SCREW HOLES HAVE NO WAY TO DRAIN WATER. RESIDUAL WATER SITS IN THE SCREW HOLES OF THE RACK AND HAS STARTED TO RUST THE SCREWS. RACK SCREWS HAVE NEVER BEEN TOUCHED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, BUT ARE RUSTING. BAD DESIGN AND SHOULD BE FIXED.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 1,073 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053201 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

WHEN DRIVING AT 35 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AT A STOP SIGN. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO T-BONE THE OTHER VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DIRECTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEAT, BUT AIR BAG DEPLOYED TOWARDS THE LEFT OF THE SEAT. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10075808 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON JULY 14, 2004 WHILE IN MY 2004 SATURN VUE FRONT WHEEL DRIVE. I WAS HIT ON THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE AREA AND THE BACK TIRE BENT UNDER THE CAR AND MY SATURN WAS TIPPED OVER AND SPUN AROUND WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE DOWN ON THE PAVEMENT. THIS WAS NOT A HIGH SPEED ACCIDENT. I WAS PROBABLY ABOUT 20MILES PER HOUR AND THE PERSON THAT HIT WAS PROBABLY BETWEEN 25-35MPH. MY SATURN VUE SUSTAINED ABOUT $10,500 DAMAGE SOME OF WHICH WAS THE REAR SUSPENSION. I DO NOT YET KNOW OF THE FINAL OUTCOME WITH THE INSURANCE WHETHER IT WI…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10082779 at NHTSA ↗

MY SON WAS DRIVING MY 2004 SATURN VUE ON MONDAY, JULY 26, HE APPARENTLY HIT A PATCH OF GRAVEL WHICH CAUSED HIM TO LOSE CONTROL. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IT WENT INTO THE DITCH ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL COLLAPSED AND THE VEHICLE OVERTURNED. THERE IS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE ON THE FRONT END AND PASSENGER SIDE, AS WELL AS TO THE SHIFT CASING INSIDE THE VUE FROM WHEN MY SON'S KNEE SLAMMED INTO IT. THE VEHICLE IS STILL BEING ESTIMATED FOR INSURANCE PURPOSES (EITHER TO TO…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10082832 at NHTSA ↗

ON MAY 8, 2004, MY SON WAS DRIVING MY 2002 SATURN VUE. HE WAS ON A ROAD THAT SURROUNDS A MALL. SPEED LIMIT IS 20 MPH. HE WAS TURNING LEFT WHEN HE WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BY ANOTHER SUV. THE CAR ROLLED OVER, HE HAD TO GO OUT THE BACK DOOR IN ORDER TO GET OUT. A WITNESS STATED THAT THE "OTHER CAR" WAS GOING A REASONABLE SPEED. OUR SATURN COULD NOT HAVE BEEN GOING MORE THAN 10 MPH, YET, WITH THE ROLL OVER, THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DAMAGED AND THE INSURANCE TOTALLED IT. DAMAGES TO THE OTHER CAR WERE NOT BAD. BOTH CARS WERE DRIVING SLOW, …

Owner-reported narrative. 54,577 miles reported. Look up ODI 10082867 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE TURNING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM PERTAINED TO THE REAR AXLE. HOWEVER, PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10087109 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2003-12-19 (December 19, 2003)

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.5L V6 (L66) ENGINES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS." THE FRONT AND REAR WHEEL RIM SIZE SPECIFICATIONS ON THE TIRE/CERTIFICATION LABEL ARE NOT CORRECT. THE PRINTED WHEEL RIM DESIGNATION SPECIFIED A 16-INCH WHEEL WHEN A 17-INCH WHEEL DESIGNATION WAS REQUIRED.

Consequence: IF THE WHEEL RIM SIZE IS INCORRECTLY PRINTED ON A TIRE/CERTIFICATION LABEL, A SERVICE TECHNICIAN WHO SOLELY USES THE TIRE/CERTIFICATION LABEL FOR SERVICE INFORMATION MAY ATTEMPT TO REPLACE A DAMAGED WHEEL WITH AN INCORRECT WHEEL.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A CORRECTED LABEL AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 15, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-553-6000.

Reported: 2014-08-08 (August 8, 2014)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2002-2004 Saturn Vue vehicles manufactured September 11, 2001, to April 6, 2004. In the affected vehicles, it may be possible for the key to be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position.

Consequence: If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if the transmission is not in the "Park" position; or (b) for a manual transmission, if the parking brake is not engaged and the transmission is not in the "Reverse" position. This potential for rollaway increases the risk for a crash and occupant or pedestrian injuries.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle to see if the key can be pulled out when the ignition is off. If it can, dealers will replace the ignition cylinder and keys, free of charge. The recall began in October 2014. Owners may contact Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 14506. Note: Until a vehicle has been remedied, owners and operators are advised that when exiting, to be sure that the vehicle is in "Park," or in the case of a manual transmission, that the vehicle is in the "Reverse" position and the parking brake is engaged.