2004 Saturn Vue Body & structure Problems

THE IGNITION BROKE AFTER MANY OF TIMES THE KEY COMING OUT.

NHTSA ID

11352361

Incident

Aug 1, 2018

Mileage

160,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING FROM PROVIDENCE RI TO ATHENS OH. I WAS IN WEST VIRGINIA AROUND MORGANTOWN, DRIVING FROM 68 WEST TO 79 SOUTH RAMP, AND I WAS DRIVING IN THE RANGE OF SPEED LIMITS. SUDDENLY IN THE RAMP, I FELT CAR IS TURNING UNWANTEDLY TO THE LEFT, AND I TRIED TO BRING IT BACK TO THE ROAD BUT I COULD NOT, AND THE CAR HIT ORTHOGONALLY THE JERSEY BARRIERS ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE RAMP. MY AIRBAGS OPENED, ONE OF MY TIRES EXPLODED, AND FRONT OF MY CAR COMPLETELY WRECKED. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE HIT ME FROM SIDE AND BEHIND. I COULD REALLY DIE, I SEE DEATH IN FRONT OF MY EYES WHEN I WAS TURNING WITH THE CAR. I HAD REPLACED MY CONTROL ARM, SHOCKS ROTORS, BRAKE PADS, ALL IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS OF THE ACCIDENT. BUT THIS CAR WAS TERRIBLY BAD IN THE TURNS AND RAMPS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM DID NOT WORK WELL IN THESE CARS IN COMPARE TO THEIR HEIGHTS, AND ALWAYS YOU HAVE THE CHANCE OF COLLAPSING. FORTUNATELY, I DID NOT COLLAPSE. IT HAD HAPPENED A LOT FOR ME THAT I FELT THESE CAR IN NOT STABLE IN RAMPS AND TURNS, BUT I NEVER THOUGHT A DANGEROUS ACCIDENT WOULD HAPPEN TO ME. I ALSO DID NOT HAVE COLLISION INSURANCE, AND I HAD TO SELL MY CAR FOR A 100 $ TO A JUNK YARDS. I AM ALMOST SURE THERE IS SOME PROBLEM WITH THEIR SUSPENSION SYSTEMS, AND I AM REQUESTING TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE IN THESE CARS.

NHTSA ID

11110846

Incident

Jul 7, 2018

Mileage

160,000 mi

REAR HATCH WON'T OPEN BECAUSE ACTUATOR MECHANISM IS BROKEN. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL YEARS AGO (2013 OR 14?), & THERE IS NO WAY TO OPEN THE HATCH TO FIX IT. YOU HAVE TO CLIMB THRU THE CAR TO GET THE OUT JACK, ETC.

NHTSA ID

10862944

Incident

May 1, 2014

Mileage

154,000 mi

I WAS GOING TO PARK INTO A PARKING SPACE OF A SHOPPING MALL AND WHEN I WAS GOING TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE VUE, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND SO DID THE IGNITION AND I COULDN'T STEER OR STOP IN TIME BEFORE IT HIT A CONCRETE BASE OF A POLE LIGHT FIXTURE (THAT MOST OF ALL SHOPPING MALLS HAVE THROUGHOUT THEIR LOTS). THE RIGHT, PASSENGER, SIDE TIRE WAS BENT SO BAD THAT IT COULDN'T BE DRIVEN AND HAD TO BE TOWED...IT SMASHED THE FENDER, GRILL, BOTTOM COVERING OF THE ENTIRE FRONT PLASTIC PART ALONG WITH TIRE ROD END, STRUT, STABILIZER BAR, ALIGNMENT, PAINT JOB AND COST...FORTUNATELY, WE HAVE COLLISION ON THIS VEHICLE AND ONLY HAD TO THE FIRST $1,000.00 FOR THE COMPLETE JOB.

NHTSA ID

10730804

Incident

Aug 21, 2014

Mileage

50,000 mi

I WAS ON MY WAY HOME IN MY 2004 SATURN VUE WHEN A BUCK JUMPED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. I STOMPED ON THE BRAKES, HOWEVER, I ENDED UP HITTING THE BUCK (DEER) THAT THEN RAN AWAY. MY ENTIRE FRONT IN WAS SMASHED IN, THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED, THE SEAT BELTS DIDN'T LOCK WHEN I STOMPED ON THE BREAKS. MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE BOTH IN THE FRONT SEATS AND WE BOTH WENT FORWARD MESSING UP BOTH OF OUR NECKS AND BACKS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10660575

Incident

Oct 27, 2014

Mileage

74,000 mi

I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY AUTO REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE OF THE RECENT ONSET OF AN UNUSUAL RUMBLING SOUND WHEN DECELERATING. AFTER A TEST DRIVE AND INSPECTION THE MECHANIC WROTE THESE COMMENTS ON THE REPAIR INVOICE. "DETERMINED FRONT FRAME RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING EXTREME MOVEMENT OF ENGINE CRADLE AND ENGINE ASSEMBLY. UNIBODY IS RUSTED OUT. THIS VEHICLE IS PROBABLY TOTALED AND THIS INFORMATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE NHTSA. CAUTION: THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE STREET IMMEDIATELY." BOTH THE MECHANIC AND MYSELF FEEL THAT THIS SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPEDED TO A TEN YEAR OLD CAR WITH LESS THAN 86,000 MILES THAT HAS BEEN PRPERLY MAINTAINED. THE MECHANIC ALSO PHOTOGRAPHED THE DAMAGE. YOUR PROMPT ATTENTION WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10621979

Incident

Aug 13, 2014

Mileage

85,987 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN VUE, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS INDEPENDENTLY ENGAGED AND DISENGAGED WHILE TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,654 AVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/28/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD LOCK THE DOOR UPON REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. UPDATED 06/03/2014 *JS

NHTSA ID

10584181

Incident

Mar 1, 2014

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD "POP" FROM REAR OF CAR. AFTER PULLING OVER THE DRIVER SAW THAT THE TOP OF THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WAS TIPPED IN. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR STATION. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE RIGHT REAR LATERAL LINK ASSEMBLY BROKE. THE MOUNTING BOLT BROKE CAUSING THE MOUNTING FLANGE TO BRAKE OFF OF THE FRAME. THIS ACTION ALSO CAUSED THE FRAME TO BEND. IT WAS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE FRAME, LINKS, CONTROL ARMS AND SHOCK ABSORBER. TOTAL COST TO ME WAS $1,900.42. SATURN SAID THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE AND WOULD NOT PAY FOR ANY EXPENSES. A RECALL ( CAMPAIGN #04067001 ) TO REPLACE THE REAR LATERAL LINKS WAS PERFORMED ON THIS VEHICLE ON 5/21/2005. APPARENTLY, THIS RECALL WORK WAS NOT EFFECTIVE. THE DRIVER WAS NOT SPEEDING, DID NOT HIT A POT HOLE OR OTHER OBJECT. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT INVOLVED, AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. THESE ARE NOT PARTS THAT REQUIRE PERIODIC MAINTENANCE OR UPKEEP. THE PARTS ON THIS CAR FAILED. THE MECHANIC AT THE CHEVROLET DEALER THAT PERFORMED THE WORK SAID THAT ALL THE BOLTS IN THAT AREA WERE RUSTED AND NEEDED REPLACED. IF THIS FAILURE WOULD HAVE OCCURRED ON AN INTERSTATE ROAD GOING AT A MUCH FASTER RATE OF SPEED, I CAN'T IMAGINE THE CONSEQUENCES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10347816

Incident

Mar 28, 2010

Mileage

92,132 mi

THE GLASS ON THE REAR LIFTGATE SHATTERED FOR NO REASON WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10103619

Incident

Dec 9, 2004

Mileage

425 mi

ROOF RACK SCREW HOLES HAVE NO WAY TO DRAIN WATER. RESIDUAL WATER SITS IN THE SCREW HOLES OF THE RACK AND HAS STARTED TO RUST THE SCREWS. RACK SCREWS HAVE NEVER BEEN TOUCHED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, BUT ARE RUSTING. BAD DESIGN AND SHOULD BE FIXED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10053201

Incident

Jan 14, 2004

Mileage

1,073 mi

WATER THAT COLLECTS IN BOLT HOLE WELLS IN ROOF RACK RAILS CAN PROMOTE CORROSION. EVAPORATION IS THE ONLY WAY FOR THE WATER TO ESCAPE. MANUFACTURER SHOULD PROVIDE A SET OF SEALING PLUGS AND CORROSION INHIBITING GREASE/GEL TO SEAL OF THESE HOLES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10048857

Incident

Nov 14, 2003

Mileage

950 mi