RoadVitals

2002 Saturn Vue Fuel system Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Fuel system reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Feb 23, 2021
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 167 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Saturn Vue submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming fuel system

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Feb 23, 2021

CAR POWER SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING, UNABLE TO START AGAIN IN ANY TRAFFIC OR ROAD CONDITIONS TO MOVE CAR TO A SAFE AREA. FULL LOSS OF POWER UNEXPECTED, VEHICLE SIMPLY STOPS RUNNING. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED 'USED' FROM A PRIVATE SELLER I SUSPECT WAS WELL AWARE OF THE SITUATION BUT DIDN'T EXPOSE IT. $2300 SPENT SO FAR WITH NO FINDINGS AS TO WHY THE PROBLEM OCCURS. ONLY AN ADDED 30 MILES TO THE ODOMETER SINCE PURCHASE. PRESENT READING IS 107,251.

NHTSA ID
11397618
Incident
Jul 26, 2020
Mileage
107,257 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 5, 2020

AIR INTAKE THROTTLE IS FAULTY. MAKING THE ENGINE RUN ROUGH AND CAUSING OTHER PROBLEMS SUCH AS EXCESSIVE FUEL CONSUMPTION. *TR

NHTSA ID
11327414
Incident
Jun 1, 2020
BrakesElectricalFuel system
Filed Dec 28, 2015

ABS LIGHT REMAINS ON; MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS FAULTY; MY BLINKERS WORK AT WILL. MY FUEL LINE SENSOR CAUSES MY VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF AFTER DRIVING A DISTANCE. THERE IS A NOISE WHEN I REVERSE. MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT IS NOW APPEARING AND THE WHEEL LOCKS AND HARD TO TURN. READ THE MANUAL; VEHICLE DOES NOT REQUIRE POWER STEERING FLUID. MUST CONTACT A DEALER PER THE MANUAL. WILL CALL TODAY. FUEL LINE ISSUES SEPTEMBER 2015 OTHER ISSUES TO DATE 12/28/2015.

NHTSA ID
10816439
Incident
Sep 15, 2015
Mileage
200,000 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Jul 16, 2014

DRIVING WITH ALMOST A FULL TANK OF GAS, I LOST POWER ON THE FREEWAY. SCARIER THAN THAT, IT WAS RIGHT IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE ON THE FREEWAY. I FREAKED. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT TO DO. I LET IT COAST TO A STOP. I ALMOST GOT SLAMMED BY A 18 WHEELER. I THOUGHT I WAS DEAD. I WENT TO RESTART THE CAR AND THE KEYS FELL OUT OF THE CARS IGNITION SWITCH. IT TOOK ME TRYING TO GET IT RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES. I HAD WAITED ABOUT 10 MINUTES BEFORE TRYING IT WHEN IT FINALLY RESTARTED. I'M GLAD TO BE ALIVE DON'T GET ME WRONG. BUT, BEING STUCK ON A FREEWAY IN 106DEGREES AND ALMOST DYING SUCKED. I HAVE ACCESS TO ALL MAINTENANCE RECORDS FOR THIS AUTO. IT HAS BEEN VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND ONLY HAS 41K MILES ON IT. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT TO DO AT THIS POINT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10611112
Incident
Jul 16, 2014
Mileage
41,200 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Apr 12, 2014

I BOUGHT THIS AWD 2002 SATURN JUNE 28 2013 FROM TOYOTA NATION IN BUENA PARK AND EVEN WITHIN 3 HRS OF OWNING THE CAR IT QUIT WORKING SO I HAD IT TOWED BACK I HAD TRADED IN MY 2010 CHEVY COBALT THAT ONLY HAD 25K MILES ON IT ANYHOW I VE HAD IGNITION REPLACED I HAD SOME OTHER THINGS SPENT ALMOST $1000 ALREADY I CANT GET DEALERSHIP TO FIX IT LAST I REPLACED BCM AND STILL NOT WORKING RIGHT I LL BE DRIVING 45 MPH AND POOF SECURITY LIGHT FLASHES I LOOSE GAS AND IT DIES I LIVE IM MOUNTAINS SCARY AS HECK WITH MY KIDS IM SINGLE PARENT PLS HELP. *JS

NHTSA ID
10579380
Incident
Jun 28, 2013
Mileage
50,000 mi
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Jul 11, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 25-30 MPH, THE SERVICE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT MECHANICS AND EACH OF THEM STATED THAT A THROTTLE BODY CONNECTOR WAS NEEDED; HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT A DIAGNOSTIC COULD BE PERFORMED FOR THE THIRD TIME AT THEIR FACILITY IN ORDER TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000. UPDATED 07/29/08 *BF UPDATED 08/07/08

NHTSA ID
10234022
Incident
Feb 29, 2008
Mileage
117,901 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Nov 15, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *TC

NHTSA ID
10095074
Incident
Sep 17, 2004
Mileage
19,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jan 22, 2004

I PURCHASED A NEW SATURN VUE IN 3/02. IT RAN GREAT UNTIL 1/7/03 AT WHICH TIME THE CAR LOST POWER AND WOULDN'T START. I CALLED SATURN, AND THEY HAD SOMEONE PICKUP THE CAR AND TOW IT TO A DEALERSHIP IN SAGINAW. WHEN I PICKED IT UP, I WAS TOLD THE CAR HAD TOO MUCH GAS GOT IN THE CYLINDER. I'VE BEEN DRIVING CARS FOR 20 YRS &NEVER HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THAT, SO I THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE JUST BEEN A QUIRKY THING...UNTIL IT HAPPENED AGAIN 2 WKS LATER (1/23/03). I CALLED THE SATURN, AND THEY PICKED IT UP. I WAS NOW CONCERNED ABOUT THE CAR BREAKING DOWN WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IT WITH MY 3 SONS. I PICKED UP THE CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD ME THE SAME THING HAPPENED AS THE 1ST TIME. I VOICED MY FRUSTRATION TO THE SVC MGR WHO GAVE ME HIS BUS CARD AND TOLD ME TO HAVE MY WIFE CALL HIM IF SHE EVER BROKE DOWN...I DON'T THINK HE WORKS 24X7. THE SAME THING JUST HAPPENED AGAIN ON 1/13/04. I ASKED DEALERSHIP HAPPENED THIS TIME - THEY SAID IT WAS THE SAME THING. I PRESSED THIS PERSON FOR MORE INFO AND HE ASKED ME HOW FAR I HAD DRIVEN THE CAR BEFORE IT BROKE DOWN. I TOLD HIM JUST A SHORT DISTANCE. HE SAID THERE'S A QUIRKY THING WITH SATURNS - IN COLD WEATHER YOU HAVE TO LET THEM RUN FOR 2 OR 3 MINUTES EVEN IF YOU'RE TAKING THE CAR FOR A SHORT DRIVE OR THE CAR WILL GET TOO MUCH GAS IN THE ENGINE AND BREAK DOWN. THE SVC PERSON I WORKED WITH, GOT THE SVC MGR (TERRY MCKEE) WHO ECHOED THE SAME THING. KEEP IN MIND, I HAVE A WIFE AND 3 LITTLE BOYS. IF MY WIFE USES OUR CAR, I CAN'T EXPECT HER TO HAVE TO FOLLOW THIS PROCEDURE FOR FEAR OF BEING STRANDED! I GOT THE CUSTOMER CARE # AT SATURN FILED A COMPLAINT (REFERENCE #110098470). BRIAN FROM SATURN SAID THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING TO HELP ME OUT. HIS ONLY SOLUTION WAS FOR ME TO LET THE CAR RUN FOR 2-3 MINUTES BEFORE I DRIVE IT. I WOULDN'T HAVE BOUGHT THE CAR IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS! I DON'T WANT THE CAR ANYMORE, BUT I CAN'T SELL IT TO SOMEONE IN GOOD CONSCIENCE. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP????

NHTSA ID
10054674
Incident
Jan 13, 2004
Driver assistanceEngineFuel system
Filed Jan 14, 2004

I OWN A 2002 SATURN VUE AND BEFORE I HAD IT 1 MONTH A SQEAL WAS HEARD. THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH FUEL PUMPS. A FEW MONTHS AGO THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT WAS A FULE EVAP ISSUE. IT CAME ON AGAIN 2 WEEKS AGO AND THIS TIME THE FUEL EVAP CANISTER WAS REPLACED. I AM CONCERNED WITH SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE FUEL ISSUES. ALSO IN MID DECEMBER THE CLUTCH RETURN SPRING SNAPPED IN HALF. THE AIR CONDITIONING LINES LEAKED INTO THE VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THIS CAR IS A LEMON!*AK

NHTSA ID
10053148
Incident
Jan 2, 2004

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .