2003 Saturn Vue Powertrain (other) Problems

The contact purchased a 2003 Saturn Vue. The contact stated that two days after purchasing the used vehicle, the vehicle was taken to AutoZone, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact stated while driving 45-50 MPH, the contact noticed smoke coming from underneath the hood and from the gas tank location. A service warning light was illuminated. The contact stated while pulling to the side of the road, a bystander alerted the contact that there was a fuel leak. The contact and the other passengers of the vehicle immediately exited the vehicle. The contact stated that the fire started at the gas tank location and extended to the front of the vehicle. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. The contact stated that the vehicle was significantly burned. The contact could not confirm that a fire department report was filed. There was no property damage. Neither the contact nor the other passengers of the vehicle sustained injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot by the registered owner. The contact could not confirm whether the vehicle was totaled. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

NHTSA ID

11645047

Incident

Feb 22, 2025

Mileage

110,000 mi

Knocking/grinding noise from under vehicle and shift problems. Taken to automotive service provider for diagnostic and they're evaluation revealed internal fail in the cvt vti transmission.

NHTSA ID

11417855

Incident

May 4, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OPERATED IN THE FORWARD GEARS BUT, FAILED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

NHTSA ID

11318278

Incident

Nov 5, 2019

Mileage

88,000 mi

GM AFTER BANKRUPTCY: GM'S TRANSAXLE (CVT M75) IN THIS VEHICLE IS KNOWN BY ALL OWNERS TO FAIL. THIS UNIT FAILED TO PROVIDE FORWARD MOMENTUM AND LEFT THE VEHICLE STRANDED HIGH HEAVY TRAFFIC IN PORTLAND, OR YEAR APRIL 2019. MULTIPLE CALLS TO GM FOUND THAT SERVICE PROVIDERS COULDNT EVEN ID THE PROPER TRANS AXLE THAT GOES IN THIS VEHICLE SO WE COULD GET A REPLACEMENT. WE BELIEVE GM IS IN PROCESS OF A NEW "CLASS ACTION SUITE" TO REPAIR DAMAGES TO THE SECOND OWNERS. IS, THIS TRUE - LET US KNOW IF YOU KNOW - PLEASE THX. THIS TRANS AXLE WAS BUILT DAMAGED.

NHTSA ID

11204895

Incident

Apr 22, 2019

Mileage

85,000 mi

I STARTED MY VUE TO GO TO WORK AND IT SOUNDED NORMAL. AS I BACKED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND PUT IT IN DRIVE IT WAS GOOD. AS I STARTED TO SPEED UP THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO OUT OF 1ST GEAR. I COULDN'T GET IT TO GO ANY FASTER THAN 20 MPH. HAD IT TESTED BY A MECHANIC ON 4 DIFFERENT MACHINES. NO CODES! MECHANIC SAID I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION!

NHTSA ID

11170222

Incident

Jan 14, 2019

Mileage

134,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OPERABLE AFTER IT WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND REVERSE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS INTENDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000. *TT UPDATED 9/19/18*JB

NHTSA ID

11054586

Incident

Dec 3, 2017

Mileage

170,000 mi

SO I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM SOMEONE ON CRAIGSLIST AND WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS IN GREAT SHAPE AND THE HISTORY REPORT MENTIONED A POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION ISSUES BUT I WAS ALSO TOLD THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED NOT TOO LONG AGO BY THE OWNER WHO HAD THE CAR BEFORE THE GUY I BOUGHT IT FROM. WELL AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR 2 DAYS, THE SUBFRAME CRACKED WHICH WAS A $700 FIX AND TOOK ME MONTHS TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY AND MY CAR WAS NOT DRIVEABLE AT THE TIME. I GOT THE VUE FROM THE SHOP MAYBE 2 WEEKS AGO AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING. WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE IT EITHER DOESN'T MOVE OR GIVES ME A LOT OF TROUBLE MOVING. WHEN I POP IT INTO DRIVE IT EITHER DOESN'T MOVE, GIVES ME TROUBLE MOVING, GOES INTO REVERSE, OR WILL MAKE A LOUD NOISE AND JERK AGGRESSIVELY BEFORE DRIVING. I TOOK THE CAR TO GET LOOKED AT AND WAS TOLD IT HAD ONE OF THE ORIGINAL CVT SATURN TRANSMISSIONS AND IT WILL NEED REPLACED. THE PROBLEM IS THE TRANSMISSION IS NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND AND COST MOST THAN THE CAR IS WORTH AND MORE THAN I EVEN PAID FOR THE CAR, ACCORDING TO THE MECHANICS I TOOK THE CAR TO. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND EVEN CAUSED A LAWSUIT WITH SATURN AND GM. SINCE THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE TYPE OF ENGINE SATURN USED, I DIDN'T KNOW IF I COULD GET IT REPLACED LIKE MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN THE LAWSUIT DID. I AM A BROKE AND STRUGGLING COLLEGE STUDENT AND OTHER THAN THE TRANSMISSION THIS CAR IS IN GREAT CONDITION. I AM WORRIED I WILL BE DRIVING TI ONE DAY AND THE CAR WILL STOP WORKING AND I'LL CRASH.

NHTSA ID

11002624

Incident

Jun 19, 2017

Mileage

115,000 mi

AIR BAGS LIGHT ON. SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T WORK. POWER STEERING HARD. GAVE OUT WHILE DRIVING AUTO LIGHT GONE. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON. GAS NEEDLE NOT WORKING. KEY COMES OUT WHEN CAR IS STARTED. RPM NOT WORKING

NHTSA ID

10990765

Incident

May 20, 2017

Mileage

188,000 mi

MARCH 11, 2010 THE TRANSMISSION IN MY VUE WAS NOT RUNNING PROPERLY. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO HAD DETERMINED THAT MY VUE FIT IN THE VIT TRANSMISSION "RECALL". A NEW ONE WAS INSTALLED FOR 50% OF THE REGULAR PRICE. MARCH 11, 2017, YES 7 YEARS TO THE DAY, MY TRANSMISSION BEGINS SLIPPING, SMOKE IS COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE IN EITHER DRIVE, REVERSE OR OVERDRIVE. THE CAR WAS ACTING LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. I DO BELIEVE A TRANSMISSION SHOULD LAST FOR MORE THAN 7 YEARS. FIRST TRANSMISION HAD 95605 MILES AND THIS ONE 108095 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ID

10960280

Incident

Mar 11, 2017

Mileage

193,700 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN THE STREET AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE ISSUE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10914328

Incident

Oct 4, 2016

Mileage

100,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10883801

Incident

Jul 1, 2016

Mileage

125,000 mi

ENGINE HAS ONLY 52000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. WHILE DRIVING ON THE STREET OR HIGHWAY THE CAR LOSES POWER AND WILL NOT GO ANY FURTHER.

NHTSA ID

10819156

Incident

Dec 11, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING AT NUMEROUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON ALL FOUR OCCASIONS, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 126,000.

NHTSA ID

10748375

Incident

Apr 5, 2013

Mileage

126,000 mi

I WAS GOING DOWN THE ROAD STOP AT LIGHT IT WOULDNT MOVE FORWARD OR REVERSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10714619

Incident

May 4, 2015

Mileage

156,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE EXITING A PARKING LOT, THE TRANSMISSION MADE A BUMPING NOISE AND FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

NHTSA ID

10705581

Incident

Apr 10, 2015

Mileage

108,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND JERKED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE CONTACT UNINTENTIONALLY STRUCK THE KEY WITH HER HAND AND EJECTED IT OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE THE SHIFT LEVER WAS IN DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V490000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

NHTSA ID

10703296

Incident

Jan 1, 2014

Mileage

190,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED, BUT FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

10694819

Incident

Mar 13, 2015

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10671922

Incident

Dec 15, 2012

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

NHTSA ID

10671330

Incident

Jun 20, 2014

Mileage

106,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO START THE VEHICLE AND COULD BE REMOVE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10660815

Incident

Apr 20, 2014

HELLO, I AM PROUD OWNER OF A 2003 SATURN VUE AND AM THE 2ND ORIGINAL OWNER. THIS PAST SEPTEMBER WHEN I WAS DOING SOME WORK IN THE YARD I HAD MY VUE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY.. NEXT THING I KNOW IS THAT IS POPPED OUT OF GEAR(PARKING BRAKE CABLE HAD BROKEN PRIOR TO THIS) AND IT TOOK A "MINOR" SHOT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. SCRATCHING THE FENDER, TURN LIGHTS, AND BUMPER COVER. THE IGNITION HAS ALWAYS BEEN A LITTLE WEIRD SINCE I PURCHASED IT HOWEVER, IT MAKE MORE SENSE KNOW. UNTIL I GET IT FIXED I ALWAYS KEEP IT IN REVERSE AND NOW HAD THE PARKING BRAKE FIXED. I WOULD ASK GM TO LOOK AT, REPAIR MY IGNITION, AS WELL AS FIXING THE FRONT OF THE CAR. IT WAS ONLY GOING A FEW MILES AN HR BUT THIS I ALWAYS TOOK GREAT CARE OF IT AND NOW IT AS THAT BUMP ON THE FRONT. I WILL BE MAKING AN APPOINTMENT AT THE CLOSEST GM DEALER TO ME (WHICH HAPPENS TO BE ALMOST 20MILES AWAY) TO HAVE THAT IGNITION THING FIXED ASAP. THANKS FOR YOUR UNDERSTAND AND I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING BUSINESS WITH GM IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. -[XXX] IN PA INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10654296

Incident

Sep 30, 2014

Mileage

138,550 mi

I WAS DRIVING HOME GOING 35-45 MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN HAD NO POWER. MANAGED TO SAFELY PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. TRIED TO TURN CAR BACK ON, PUT INTO GEAR AND NOTHING HAPPENED. HAD CAR TOWED TO MECHANIC AND THE SAID I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. UNFORTUNATELY HE DIDN'T KNOW I HAD RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ( A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO) AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN REBUILT. I PUT ON LESS THEN 20000 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10639162

Incident

Sep 24, 2014

Mileage

132,000 mi

I TOOK THE CAR TO A GM DEALER FOR ROUTINE SERVICE. SERVICE MANAGER SAID KEY WAS WORN DOWN AND COULD BE REMOVED WHILE NOT IN PARK. SAID A NEW KEY NEEDED TO BE CUT AND THEY CHARGED FOR IT. I TOLD THE MANAGER I NEVER HAD A KEY WEAR DOWN, AND THE KEY WAS ON A RING WITH OTHER KEYS, INCLUDING AN OLDER CAR, AND THERE WERE NO ISSUES WITH KEYS WEARING DOWN. MANAGER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO ABOUT IT. SOUNDS RELATED TO THE IGNITION RECALL, SO I'M CONCERNED THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS NOT EVEN AWARE OF IT, AND STILL HAS NOT CONTACTED ME ABOUT THE RECALL. IF THAT IS NOT COVERING UP THE IGNITION ISSUE, IT IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF POOR REPORTING AND TRACKING OF THE ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10637835

Incident

Jan 17, 2014

Mileage

110,482 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER OF WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,652.

NHTSA ID

10631002

Incident

Apr 1, 2014

Mileage

98,652 mi

2003 SATURN VUE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION AND KEY PROBLEMS. *SMD

NHTSA ID

10629755

Incident

Sep 1, 2014