Owner-reported complaints naming the interior system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. 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. 17 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
I WAS IN A FRONT END COLLISON ON 3 12 2019. THE DRIVER SEAT TRACK BROKE UPON COLLISION CAUSING ME AND THE SEAT TO BE SENT FORWARD INTO THE DASH CAUSING PERSONAL INJURY. THE LEVER THAT MOVES THE SEAT DISCONNECTED AND THE WHOLE MECHANISM CAME TOWARD THE DASH
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR ELECTRONIC LOCK AND UNLOCK FUNCTIONS FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO OPEN THE DOORS FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE KEY TO ENTER THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE FAILURE PROGRESSED. THE CONTACT WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V490000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND WAS TO CONTACT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR TRUNK LATCH WOULD NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK WHEN ACCESSING IT WITH THE AUTOMATIC KEY FOB. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. 09/21/11 *BF UPDATED 10/05/11. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH ON A SNOW AND ICE COVERED ROAD SURFACE WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE STOPPED. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR, THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT RELEASE. ALL OF THE INTERIOR DOOR LOCKS BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR BY APPLYING EXCESSIVE FORCE WITH A HAMMER TO THE DOOR LOCK MECHANISM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO A COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. THE TECHNICIAN ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,000.
MY 2003 SATURN VUE DRIVERS SAT CAUGHT FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT, I SMELT A BURNING SMELL, STOPPED TO LOOK UNDER THE HOOD ALL LOOKED GOOD TO ME,I CONTINUED DRIVING AND THE CAR THEN BEGAN TO FILL UP WITH SMOKE NATURALLY I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY AND REALIZED IT WAS THE SEAT I WAS SITTING IN. *TR
WHEN IT IS EITHER HUMID OR RAINY, DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM THE INSIDE. WHEN I PRESS THE UNLOCK BUTTON, IT ELECTRONICALLY SWITCHES BETWEEN LOCK AND UNLOCK SEVERAL TIMES. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE DOOR OPEN IS TO HOLD IT DOWN THE BUTTON IN UNLOCK MODE, UNROLL THE WINDOW AND THEN I HAVE TO OPEN IT FROM THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE. THIS HAS NOT BEEN A SAFETY ISSUE YET, BUT I FEAR THAT IT COULD BECOME ONE IF IT GETS ANY WORSE OR IF I EVER HAD TO GET OUT OF MY CAR QUICKLY. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE DOOR LATCH TWICE, WHICH HAS HAD NO IMPACT ON RESOLVING THE ISSUE AND I WILL BE RETURNING TO THEM TOMORROW FOR A THIRD TRIP TO RESOLVE THIS. *TR
2003 VUE CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD A RECALL AND AFTER HAVING IT FIX IT BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER THEN THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED**CC THE DRIVERS DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE, THE BRAKES SQUEALED WHENEVER THE CONSUMER BACKED-UP AND THE REAR WIPER WAS REPLACED. *JB
2003 SATURN VUE HOOD RELEASE CABLE AND WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WAS REPLACED. *TS THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS REPLACED (WARRANTY). WHILE REPAIRING THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE PROMPT SHAFT CENTER BEARING WAS BROKEN (WARRANTY). THERE WAS NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSAXLE. THE TECHNICIAN UPDATED THE TCM AND ADDED CVT ADDITIVE (WARRANTY). THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS FAULTY (WARRANTY). THE AIR BAG AND HORN WERE ALSO REPLACED. *NM
SATURN VUE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, CATALYTIC CONVERTER SHIELD, WINDSHIELD, ACCELERATOR, REAR SUSPENSION, DEFECTIVE PASSENGER SIDE BALL JOINTS, STRUTS AND BUSHINGS.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE DEFECTIVE CATALYTIC CONVERTER SHIELD WAS REPLACED, THERE WAS NOISE UNDER THE VEHICLE IN THE EXHAUST AREA OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE MUFFLER. THE WINDSHIELD RATTLED AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK RESULTING IN SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE DRIVER'S DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. *NM
UPON PRESSING DOWN FAIRLY HARD ON MY VEHICLE'S HORN IT HONKED IN A NORMAL FASHION AND STOPPED UPON WHEN I REMOVED MY HAND, BUT THEN IT CONTINUED TO HONK ON ITS OWN ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. AT THE SAME TIME, THE SERVICE VEHICLE WARNING LIGHT WENT ON. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP THIS CONDITION UNTIL THE FUSE WAS REMOVED.
AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY LOCK THE DOORS WHICH PREVENT THE CONSUMER FROM GETTING IN OR OUT OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. DEALER REPLACED THE POWER DOOR ASSEMBLY, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. THEN, DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVED THIS ISSUE. *AK
1) LEFT PASSENGER DOOR FLEW OPEN WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH DOWN A SURFACE STREET; 2) NO DOOR AJAR SYSTEM FOR PASSENGER DOORS (ONLY TRUNK AND IF A LOOSE GAS CAP); 3) CONTACTED SATURN, FEEL THERE 2003 SATURN VUE IS SAFE WITHOUT THIS FEATURE. THEY WILL ONLY TAKE IT UNDER ADVISEMENT. IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THE DOORS ARE CLOSED. UNACCEPTABLE! EVEN MY 8 YEAR OLD FORD AEROSTAR VAN HAD THAT SYSTEM; AND, WITH KIDS IT IS NECESSARY! *AK
AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AT 42,000 MILES.
MY COMPLAINTS ARE SEVERAL . ALL OF WHICH HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED IN TECHNICAKL BULLETINS. I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER NO LESS THAN 10 TIMES SINCE I OURCHASED IT. NOW, I LIVE WITH THE ISSUES BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE ADDITIONAL WORK , THE WORST PROBLEM IS THE VIBRATION IN THE DRIVETRAIN AT IDLE (WHEN IN DRIVE AND THE VIBRATION DRIVING AT 60-65. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT DRIVERS DOOR SQUEEKS ( I BELIVE ITS THE INSULATION) MY LUGGAGE BOLTS BROKE, THE SEAT CUSHION ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WOULD NOT STAY ATTACHED ON THE FRONT EDGE, THERE IS A POPPING NOISE WHEN THE TRUCK IS IDLING, WHEN YOU CLOSE THE REAR LIFTGATE, THE PLASTIC INTERIOR SEPERATES FROM THE DOOR, WHE IT IS COLD MY STEERING COLUMN MAKE NOISE.
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK, THE DRIVER PULLED THE DOOR HANDLE TO EXIT. THE LOCKING MECHANISM FAILED TO RELEASE OR DISENGAGE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH
CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT DOOR LATCHES RELEASED FROM THE INSIDE OF VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK THE INSIDE RELEASE HANDLES FAILED. THE ONLY WAY TO OPEN THE DOOR WAS TO REACH OUTSIDE THE WINDOW AND PULL THE DOOR HANDLE. *PH THE DOOR WAS REPAIRED THREE TIMES. *JB
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS BROKEN DOWN 3X IN THE LAST 5 DAYS. DEALER HAS CONFIRMED THAT THE "BCM", THE MAIN BRAIN/COMPUTER OF THE VEHICLE IS FAILING. TS
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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