2008 Saturn VUE: complaints, problems and recalls

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. WHEN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT SWITCH IS IN THE AUTOMATIC POSITION, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DOES NOT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 640 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18. UPDATED 12/12/07.

Owner-reported narrative. 18 miles reported. Look up ODI 10209968 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. AFTER HAVING THE TIRES INSPECTED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNALS PRIOR TO THE INSPECTION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A STARTER, IN WHICH THEY REPLACED AND THERE HAD BEEN NO FURTHER OCCURRENCES. A FORMAL COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 2,000. UPDATED 01-29-08. *KB

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10214064 at NHTSA ↗

THE CAR IS A 2008 SATURN VUE 4 CYLINDER AUTOMATIC WITH TWO MAIN SAFETY PROBLEMS. PROBLEM ONE IS THE CAR WILL LOCK YOU OUT AUTOMATICALLY WITH THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION. CAR CAN BE RUNNING OR SHUT OFF. THIS HAPPENED TWICE WITH MY SON IN THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 14 TIMES. LUCKILY I HAD THE WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN AND WAS ABLE TO ACCESS THE CAR. SATURN HAS REPEATED THIS PROBLEM ON OTHER VUE AND DEEMS IT A "NORMAL FUNCTION" EVEN THOUGH THE OWNERS MANUALS SAYS THERE IS A FUNCTION IN THE CAR ENGINEERED INTO IT TO PREVENT YOU FROM LOCKING YOUR KEYS …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10216833 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE I AM NOT REPORTING ANY DEATHS OR INJURIES, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO YOUR ATTENTION IN HOPES OF PREVENTING UNNECESSARY DEATHS OR INJURIES. THE INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY NOTED IN THEIR VEHICLE RATINGS THAT 'TWO TESTS OF THE VUE WERE CONDUCTED. IN THE FIRST TEST, THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY, AND THE REAR PASSENGER DUMMY'S HEAD WAS HIT BY THE WINDOW SILL OF THE REAR DOOR. THIS IMPACT DID NOT PRODUCE HIGH HEAD INJURY MEASURES, BUT THE HEAD PROTECTION WAS INADEQUATE. IN RESPONSE, GENER…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10216945 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, AND INSTRUMENTAL PANEL LIGHTS SHUT OFF SEVERAL TIMES. MOST RECENTLY, WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, ALL OF THE LIGHTS DIMMED. WHEN THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED, THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPUTER BODY SENSOR. AFTER THE LAST FAILURE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE INSTRUMENTAL GAUGE CLUSTER AND THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT DRIVEN THE VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO EXCHANGE THE VEHICL…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,070 miles reported. Look up ODI 10217487 at NHTSA ↗

I PICKED UP MY BRAND NEW 2008 SATURN VUE FROM THE DEALER SEPTEMBER 27TH, 2007. UPON DRIVING IT TO MY OFFICE I NOTICED A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE TO WHICH THE SALES PERSON ADVISED IT WAS BECAUSE THEY HAD STORED THE CARS IN DOORS. KNOWING NOTHING ABOUT CARS I TOOK THE CAR AND LEFT. SHORTLY AFTER THAT I NOTICED THE NOISE UPON STARTING THE CAR. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR IN 3 TIMES SINCE PICKING IT UP FOR THIS ISSUE AND HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT SATURN DESIGNED THE CAR THIS WAY WHICH DOES NOT SEEM LOGICAL TO ME. NOW I AM AT ABOUT 1…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10217629 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN CAR IS IN CRUISE CONTROL IT IS CONSTANTLY DOWNSHIFTING TO MAINTAIN SPEED EVEN ON FLAT SURFACE. APPARENTLY THE GEARING ON THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SUPPORT TO WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE AND IT CANNOT MAINTAIN THE CRUISE CONTROL SPEED. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 3,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10218552 at NHTSA ↗

AIRBAG ISSUE - REAR SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS WERE TESTED BY THE IIHS AND FOUND TO BE FAULTY - THEY DID NOT INFLATE QUICKLY ENOUGH, ALLOWING THE REAR OCCUPANTS' HEADS TO HIT THE WINDOW. IT IS STATED ON THE IIHS WEBSITE THAT GM REDESIGNED THESE AIRBAGS AND THAT MODELS MANUFACTURED AFTER DECEMBER 2007 HAVE THE NEW AIRBAGS THAT INFLATE MORE QUICKLY AND EXTEND FURTHER AND HAVE FIXED THIS PROBLEM. UPON CONTACTING GM CUSTOMER SERVICE CANADA, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THIS INFORMATION AND THAT THE VEHICLE HAS NO SAFETY ISSUES AND "MEETS AND …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10221417 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2008-05-05 (May 5, 2008)

GM IS RECALLING 26 MY 2008 SATURN VUE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 6T70 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE TRANSMISSION CASE SIDE BORE THAT HOLDS THE PARK PAWL PIVOT PIN MAY HAVE A CASTING POROSITY. THIS CONDITION, COUPLED WITH NORMAL OPERATING STRESSES, COULD LEAD TO FAILURE, ELIMINATING THE ABILITY TO SECURE THE TRANSMISSION IN 'PARK' POSITION.

Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED ON A NON-LEVEL SURFACE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSE INJURY TO PEOPLE IN ITS PATH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 5, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .

Reported: 2008-09-17 (September 17, 2008)

GM IS RECALLING 42,408 MY 2008-2009 SATURN VUE VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE NUT SECURING THE POWER STEERING LINE TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAY LOOSEN. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THERE MAY BE A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK.

Consequence: THE FLUID COULD CONTACT HOT EXHAUST COMPONENTS RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE NUT SECURING THE POWER STEERING LINE TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP. IF THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF A FLUID LEAK, DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE NUT. IF A FLUID LEAK IS PRESENT, DEALER WILL TIGHTEN THE NUT AND CHECK THE FLUID LEVEL. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .

Reported: 2009-06-25 (June 25, 2009)

GM IS RECALLING 44,451 MY 2008 SATURN VUE VEHICLES WITH BODY COLOR OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES. THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES MAY STICK OR BIND. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE DOOR MAY NOT LATCH WHEN CLOSED.

Consequence: DRIVING WITH AN UNLATCHED DOOR COULD RESULT IN AN UNBELTED OCCUPANT FALLING OUT OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING INCREASED RISK OF INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES WITH CHROME DOOR HANDLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE AUGUST 18, 2009. OWNER MAY CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.