Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Saturn Vue submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 88 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.
The 25 most recent of 88, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000.
SATURN VUE 2003 HAS STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. HAS STALLED DOING 80 MPH ON HWY HAS STALLED DOING 25-30 IN TOWN. SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON, POWER IS LOST TO ENGINE AND WHEN SECURITY LIGHT GOES OFF, THEN THE ENGINE WILL START AGAIN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AREA. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT OIL LEAKED FROM THE ENGINE VALVE COVER ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO CONFIRMED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 02/05/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VAVLE COVER GASGET WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 02/16/16*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER FIVE ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE FLASHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE ELECTRICAL POWER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER BEING PARKED FOR A LONG TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE COULD DISENGAGE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MY TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT AND WOULD NOT GO. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND TOW MY CAR FROM THE FREEWAY TO MY HOUSE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PURGE VALVE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. UPDATED 01/23/15*LJ UPDATED 6/8/2015 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE BRAKE CALIBER FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,919.
THIS VEHICLE WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD THE ENGINE JUST CUTS OFF, DOESN'T MATTER THE SPEED YOU ARE TRAVELING. IT WILL START BACK UP AUTOMATICALLY BUT YOU LOOSE SPEED .. IT EVEN CUTS OFF WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM STOPLIGHTS AND INTO TRAFFIC, THEN YOU HAVE TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART THE ENGINE. NO MECHANIC CAN FIGURE IT OUT. *TR
THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD FAIL TO TURN WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED. LOCK BODY HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. *TR
TRYING TO START CAR IT WOULDN'T START WAIT A FEW MINUTES THEN IT WOULD THIS HAPPENED 3-4 TIMES. *TR
I JUST PURCHASED MY 2003 SATURN VUE A MONTH AGO AND A DAY AFTER I GOT IT THE VEHICLE STARTED SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING!! SOMETIMES IT CRANKS RIGHT BACK UP AND THEN OTHER TIMES I HAVE TO JUST LET IT SLOWLY ROLL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SO THAT I CAN CRANK IT BACK UP! I HAVE MY TWO CHILDREN THAT RIDE IN MY CAR WITH ME AND IF THIS DOESN'T GET FIXED IT WILL PROBABLY END UP KILLING ALL THREE OF US! OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE SO SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE!! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG GASOLINE FUEL ODOR COMING FROM INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING AND THAT THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED TO READ THE ACCURATE FUEL LEVELS. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY COULD BE REMOVED WHILE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
MY CAR KEPT CUTTING OFF AND WOULDN'T START. SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER I PURCHASED IT FROM AND THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION SENSOR IN IT.. NOW IT SOMETIMES DON'T WANT TO CRANK, THEY CLAIM THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT AND THY CANT FIGURE IT OUT. *TR
MY 2003 SATURN VUE CONTINUES TO RUN WHEN THE KEY FALLS OUT OF THE IGNITION. IF INVOLVED IN A CRASH WILL AIR BAGS DEPLOY ? THIS MODEL IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST FOR GM PRODUCTS WITH THIS PROBLEM. HELP!!!! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND OPERATED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE WARNING INDICATOR WAS NOT ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,600.
THE VUE HAS LOST POWER MULTIPLE TIMES WITH NO WARNING! 3 TIMES WHILE DRIVING IN THE FREEWAY WITH MY 3 CHILDREN!!! I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR WITH MULTIPLE MECHANICS, INVESTED ABOUT 2,700 TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITH NO LUCK. I'M OUT CAR,MY JOB HAS BEEN AFFECTED BECAUSE OF MY CONTINUES TADIES THANKS TO THE CAR STOPPING AT RANDOM TIMES. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS IT RANDOMLY STOPS ANYTIME ANYWHERE, IT'S A ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. I'M LOW INCOME HARD WORKING AMERICAN WHO HAD SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON THIS CAR. AFTER GOOGLING THIS PROBLEM I HAVE COME ACROSS VARIOUS PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED ASAP AND GM NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY THIS PROBLEM CAN TAKE A LIFE AND THAT IS PRICELESS! *TR
MY KEY SOMETIMES WON'T GO INTO IGNITON AND ONCE IT DOES, IT SOMETIMES FALLS OUT WHILE I AM DRIVING OR THE CAR LOSES POWER WHILE I'M DRIVING. IS THIS PROBLEM A PART OF THE GM RECALLS FOR 2003 SATURNS ?? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE LOST COMPLETE ELECTRICAL POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000.
MY 2003 SATURN VUE STALLS AND DIES EVERYDAY THAT I DRIVE IT. HAS ALMOST CAUSED MYSELF AND YOUNG CHILDREN TO GET INTO MANY WRECKS FROM THIS PROBLEM OCCURRING OFTEN AT STOP LIGHTS AND MIDDLE OF INTERSECTIONS AND HILLS. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS MANY TIMES HAS FAIRLY NEW TRANS. AND NEW TIMING BELT ALSO PUT ON BEFORE I PURCHASED THE SATURN. TO ME THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS AND HAS FEW OTHER PROBLEMS ALSO, LIKE IDLING HIGH WHEN IN PARK. WHEN THE STALLING OCCURS IT STALLS AN THE SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON AND FLASHES 3 TIMES BEFORE IT EITHER DIES OR CONTINUES BACK TO NORMAL BEFORE IT STALLS AGAIN. I CANNOT DRIVE IT TO MY NEXT TOWN OVER WITHOUT IT DOING THIS NUMEROUS TIMES. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS VEHICLE TO ANYONE AND THAT'S ONE REASON WHY IM AFRAID TO SELL IT BECAUSE I WOULD HATE TO PUT SOMEONE ELSE IN THIS DANGEROUS CAR AND THEM NOT KNOW HOW TO CONTROL IT IF THIS HAPPENS. *TR
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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