Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
THE TIMING CHAIN RUINED THE ENTIRE ENGINE AS A RESULT OF THE CHAIN TENSIONER FAILING FROM LACK OF OIL BEING APPLIED. APPARENTLY AS SOON AS I HEARD THE CLANGING SOUNDS IT WAS TOO LATE. I AM BUYING A WHOLE NEW ENGINE WHICH HAS REPLACED THE OILING MECHANISM THAT WAS FAULTY IN THE 2002-2003 MODELS OF THE SATURN VUE. *TR
I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. SHOCKS, STRUTS, REAR SUSPENSION, BRAKES, ELECTRICAL, OIL HAS BEEN EITHER LEAKING OR BURNING TO THE EXISTENT I PUT SOME IN EVERYOTHER DAY BECAUSE IT IS LOW, THE SWAY BAR AND THE STEERING COLUMN, THE TRANSMISSION AND DRIVE TRAIN, AND THE TIMING CHAIN. THERE ARE MANY OTHER UNSAFE ISSUES I HAVE HAD AND I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO THEIR ATTENTION FROM DAY ONE BECAUSE I HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER, BUT HE REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING TO HELP ME. IT FINALLY BROKE DOWN ON ME AND NOW I AM WITHOUT A VEHICLE . *TR
WHEN OPERATING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN AND STEERING BRAKING AND ALL CONTROL IS LOST' THIS CONSTANTLY HAPPENS. *TR
I WAS REFERRED TO COTTMAN TRANSMISSIONS,WHEN I LEARNED ABOUT MY PARTICULAR MAKE,MODEL,&YEAR VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL ON 2002 TO 2005 VUE AND 2003 TO 2004 IONS VTI TRANSMISSIONS WERE DEFECTED,I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICES TO INFORM ME OF THIS PROBLEM. I AM A STAY AT HOME MOTHER,TWO KIDS WITH AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES AND NOW NO CAR,CAUSE MY TRANSMISSION IS RUINED AND EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO WORK ON.THOUGH GM FILED A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT/SETTLEMENT FOR THE SATURN OWNERS,ALL I WANT /NEED IS MY VEHICLE BACK,MY HUSBAND HAS HIS AND HOURS AT WORK IS LATE IN THE EVENING WHEN IMPORTANT PLACES LIKE DMV,POST OFFICES,AND MY KIDS DOCTORS OFFFICES.I HAD MY SATURN FOR 6 YEARS AND NEVER ONCE DID I HAVE A PROBLEM THIS SERIOUS,TO WHERE I HAVE TO SELL IT OR JUNK IT,CAUSE OF THE EXPENSE OF GETTING IT REBUILT,OR IF I WOULD BE LUCKY ENOUGH TO FIND A MECHANIC TO DO THE JOB.I AM SO FURIOUS WITH GM AND SATURN,THEY DIDN'T CONTACT ME,I DON'T WANT MUCH,JUST TO HAVE MY VEHICLE AND MY FREEDOM TO DRIVE.I DON'T WANT THEM TO REPLACE IT JUST GIVE ME WHAT IT'S WORTH,SO I CAN PURCHASE ANOTHER ONE. *JS
PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2002 SATURN VUE 6 CYLINDERS 3.0 ENGINE. HAD TO REPLACED EVERY ELECTRONIC COMPONENT IN THIS VEHICLE. COMPUTER, ACCELERATOR SENSOR, TRANSMISSION AND TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. THE "SERVICE ENGINE" LIGHTS IS CONSTANTLY ON. THEREFORE, I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER. THEY TELL ME I NEED A NEW THROTTLE BODY AND A BRAND NEW HARNESS SINCE THE NEW THROTTLE BODY WILL NOT WORK WITH THE EXISTING WIRES. THEY WANT $3,000.00 FOR THIS. WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD I MADE THE DEALERSHIP AWARE OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THEY REPLY THAT THIS SUV WAS OPERATING NORMAL. I REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AFTER THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. NOW THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE IS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER WANTS $860 FOR THE PART PLUS PROGRAMMING CHARGES. *TR
CAR ROLLED DOWN DRIVE WAY WITH KIDS IN IT. MY FINDINGS WERE THAT IN MY 2002 SATURN VUE WAS IN THE ACC POSITION ON THE KEY THE TRANSMISSION SAFETY THAT REQUIRES YOU TO PUSH THE BRAKE IN ORDER TO SHIFT IS UNLOCKED. I FEEL THIS COULD POTENTIALLY BE VERY DANGEROUS LUCKY NO INJURIES TO MY KIDS JUST THE CAR. AS FAR AS I KNOW THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL AND NO REPAIR I COULD DO. *TR
I PURCHASED A 2002 SATURN VUE 4WHEEL DRIVE IN FEBRUARY 28,2009. THIS VUE WENT FROM 55 MILES AN HOUR TO 1MILE ON THE HIGHWAY. I THOUGHT FOR SURE I WAS DEAD. THE "LOW POWER LIGHT COMES ON" AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALER, $255.00 DOLLARS LATER THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD NOT DO THIS AGAIN. THEN MONDAY, IT HAPPENED AGAIN IN DOWNTOWN TRAFFIC. I PULLED OUT AND "NOTHING" IT WONT GO I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WASN'T KILLED. THIS IS SO DANGEROUS. HOLY COW! FOR THE SECOND TIME I WAS ALMOST DEAD. THE MOTOR SOUNDS LIKE IT CAN'T FIGURE WHICH "GEAR" TO GO INTO? I CAN FEEL THE TRANSMISSION TRYING TO GO AND THE MOTOR INCREASES IN SOUND BUT DOESN'T SEEM TO GO INTO GEAR. WHAT THE HECK! CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID IT NEEDS A :"THROTTLE BODY" REPLACES IT WILL BE AT LEAST $1000.00. HE SAID 800.00 FOR PART 200 TO PUT IT ON. WHAT THE HECK? I ALMOST DIED. THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE. I HAVE LISTENED TO "CAR TALK" AND IT IS KNOW TO THESE FOLKS. WHAT CAN BE DONE? IS IT REALLY 800.00 FOR A REPLACEMENT " THROTTLE BODY? COULD THERE BE AN SIGHT WHERE WE COULD SEE THIS IS CORRECT PRICE? COULD I REPLACE THE PART? OR WILL IT NEED TO BE ON A RACK BECAUSE I CAN NOT GET TO IT. MY FATHER JOHN B PHARR RETIRED FRO GENERAL MOTORS IN GEORGIA AND TAUGHT ME ABOUT CARS. BUT HE PASSED AWAY. I NEED HIS HELP, BUT AS A OVER 30 YEAR EMPLOYEE I HOPE THAT SOMEONE WILL CONSIDER THIS AND HONOR HIS DEDICATION TO GENERAL MOTORS . I AM GRATEFUL BECAUSE THEY PROVIDED US HEALTH INSURANCE GROWING UP. I WILL BE GRATEFUL FOR ANY HELP POSSIBLE OR DISCOUNT. I WILL HAVE PARK IT AND RIDE THE BUS FOR NOW BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN RECOVERING FROM A MEDICAL LEAVE OF 60 DAY FROM MY EMPLOYER HENNEPIN COUNTY IN MINNESOTA. I AM NOW EARNING MY INCOME AGAIN. MY INCOME IS LIMITED DUE TO THE TIME OFF FOR SHORT TERM DISABILITY. I HAVE RETURNED TO WORK BUT AM REPAYING LATE PAYMENTS BECAUSE OF THE MEDICAL LEAVE. I HOPE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO HELP IN ANY WAY. *TR
LEAKING RIGHT AXLE SEAL. *TR
THE CONSUMER INSISTED THE 2002 SATURN VUE WAS A POTENTIAL DEATH TRAP FOR ANYONE WITH SIGNIFICANT DRIVING REQUIREMENTS. ACCORDING TO VUE OWNER'S MANUAL ALL-WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) SYSTEM HAS THE FOLLOWING FATAL FLAW. IF VEHICLE IS EXPOSED TO EXTENDED HEAVY USAGE, THE AWD SYSTEM WILL SHUT OFF TO PROTECT THE SYSTEM FROM OVER HEATING. WHEN THE SYSTEM COOLS, THE AWD SYSTEM WILL ACTIVATE ITSELF AGAIN AUTOMATICALLY. COOL DOWN PERIOD CAN TAKE UP TO 20 MINUTES DEPENDING ON OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE AND VEHICLE USE. CONSUMER PRESENTED THE FOLLOWING ARGUMENTS TO SATURN, AND THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THEM. *AK *JB
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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