2004 Saturn Vue Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2004 Saturn Vue. The contact stated that the light on the instrument panel was abnormally dim. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds over a bumpy road surface, the rear end of the vehicle was swaying from side to side. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle made an abnormally loud sound at start up, and it was difficult to remove the key from the ignition switch after turning off the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.

NHTSA ID

11689505

Incident

Sep 24, 2025

Mileage

35,000 mi

The ignition (key) has stopped working again after being recalled a few years ago, and being replaced. The key will not turn and start the car.

NHTSA ID

11683762

Incident

Aug 28, 2025

Transmission has Lube issues for Honda and TRANSGO HONDALK fixes that but requires several hours labor pulling transmission. Transmission and torque converter overheat causing failure. Mine overheated and stalled crossing traffic, wouldn't go into gear. Caused accident.

NHTSA ID

11553676

Incident

Nov 17, 2021

My Father's car key can be taken out of the ignition when it is not in the off position but his specific VIN is not listed as part of the recall.

NHTSA ID

11502848

Incident

Jan 20, 2023

RUSTED FRONT SUBFRAME/ ENGINE CRADLE I CARRIED MY SATURN VUE TO HAVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS REPLACED AND MY MASTER-MECHANIC DISCOVERED THE RUSTED SUBFRAME AND BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION. HE SHOWED IT TO ME AND EXPLAINED THE THE DANGER IN OPERATING THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11364004

Incident

Oct 12, 2020

Mileage

193,500 mi

MY 2004 VUE HAD A RECALL IN 2014 FOR THE IGNITION KEY COULD BE REMOVED WITHOUT BEING IN THE OFF POSITION, I HAD THIS REPAIRED ON 12/11/14. RECENTLY MY IGNITION KEY CAN AGAIN BE REMOVED WITHOUT BEING IN THE OFF POSITION.

NHTSA ID

11362451

Incident

Oct 1, 2020

Mileage

107,406 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11352361

Incident

Aug 1, 2018

Mileage

160,000 mi

I HAVE ALL READY TAKEN MY SATURN VUE TO THE DEALER IN HEMET CA. ( GOSCH CHEVROLET). THE IGNITION SWITCH BROKE AGAIN A WEEK LATER. I TOOK IT BACK BUT GOSCH WOULD NOT FIX IT AGAIN. THE REASON WAS BECAUSE THE HOUSING HAD DAMAGE AROUND IT. NOW THE REASON FOR THAT WAS BECAUSE I WAS STRANDED 20 MILES FROM NOTHING WHEN THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN MY VEHICLE ON, I WAS ALONE FOR 2 DAYS BEFORE I HAD TO MESS WITH IT TO GET IT STARTED. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR ME. I'VE MISSED AN AIR FLIGHT. AND 2 JOBS FIRED ME BECAUSE I COULD NOT GET TO WORK. ITS BEEN A DOWNWARD SPIRAL EVER SINCE. SATURN'S ARE GREAT CARS OTHERWISE.

NHTSA ID

11223006

Incident

Jan 14, 2018

Mileage

145,790 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN VUE. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE KEY CAME OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. VALLEY CHEVROLET (525 HWY 7E, HUTCHINSON, MN) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V490000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 248,000.

NHTSA ID

11208063

Incident

May 1, 2019

Mileage

248,000 mi

THERE WAS A RECALL BACK IN OCTOBER 20TH, 2014 REGARDING AN ISSUE WITH THE IGNITION. WHERE YOU CAN PULL THE KEY OUT WHILE ITS RUNNING. I'VE NEVER GOTTEN A CALL FROM NHTSA REGARDING THE ISSUE. MAY I HAVE IT DONE FREE OF CHARGE. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY

NHTSA ID

11205369

Incident

Jul 9, 2015

TAMARA RECALL I GOT A RECALL IN THE MAIL FOR MY 2004 SATURN VUE FOR THE IGNITION I'VE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I GOT IT AND THEY SAID THEY KNEW ABOUT IT BUT DID NOT TELL ME WHEN I BOUGHT IT. AND SAID I HAVE TO TAKE CAR OF IT MYSELF.

NHTSA ID

11193662

Incident

Mar 12, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN VUE. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE KEY FELL OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE THAN TWICE WHILE DRIVING. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE AN ABNORMAL SQUEAKY AND RATTLING SOUND WHILE BEING TURNED. EXCESSIVE FORCE HAD TO BE USED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE POWER STEERING AND IGNITION FAILURES WERE NOT DIAGNOSED BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PROPER ELECTRIC TOOLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250,000.

NHTSA ID

11192156

Incident

Mar 12, 2019

Mileage

250,000 mi

GOING 40 MPH MADE A LEFT TURN, MEDIUM LOUD NOISE AND FRONT RIGHT CONTROL ARM TORE IN 2 (BEEN REPLACED AND HAVE PART) AND BACK LEFT TIRE NOW TILTED IN AT TOP ABOUT 1 INCH( STILL TRYING TO GET FIXED ).

NHTSA ID

11182690

Incident

Jan 22, 2019

Mileage

26,600 mi

WHILE MY CAR IS RUNNING I CAN'T TAKE MY KEY OUT ALSO WHEN I TURN MY HEATER ON MY CAR WILL JERK ETC

NHTSA ID

11175942

Incident

Feb 6, 2019

Mileage

226,980 mi

I JUST BOUT MY 2004 STAURN VUE FROM A PRIVATE OWNER AND HAVE TO REPLACE MY IGNITION FOR THE 2ND TIME IN LESS THEN A MONTH. I LOOKED ONLINE AND SEEN THAT THE 2004 SATURN VUE HAVE HAD A RECALL ON THIS SAME PROBLEM. I AM NOT ABLE TO LOCATE MY VEHICLE IN THE REGISTRATION OF THE RECALL SYSTEM. MY IGNITION LOCKS TO WHERE I CAN START THE CAR AND KEY GET STUCK.

NHTSA ID

11164417

Incident

Dec 30, 2018

Mileage

183,000 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

IGNITION SWITCH-KEY COMES OUT WHILE ENGINE IS RUNNING. SATURN (GM) ADVISES THAT THIS SUV IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE SATURN RECALL FOR IGNITION SWITCH.

NHTSA ID

11084390

Incident

Apr 10, 2018

Mileage

117,456 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN VUE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT HAD BURNED OUT AND WAS MELTED AT THE SOCKET. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT THREE TIMES IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,000.

NHTSA ID

11083597

Incident

Dec 1, 2017

Mileage

171,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION WILL JUMP OUT OF GEAR,NEED TO SHIFT GEAR SELECTOR INTO NEUTRAL,THEN BACK INTO DRIVE,SOMETIMES MORE THAN ONCE.WE HAVE AVOIDED SEVERAL SERIOUS INCIDENTS SINCE THIS PROBLEMATIC ISSUE STARTED.VEHICLE WAS CHECKED OUT SEVERAL TIMES AT SATURN OF MODESTO.CA.NOW OUT OF BUSINESS,THERE FIX JUST REPLACE TRANSMISSION $5,000 AT CUSTOMERS FULL EXPENSE.CONTRACTED SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE,THEY ADVISED US TO CONTACT CHASE CHEVROLET STKN.CA AS THEY CAN SERVICE YOUR SATURN VEHICLE.CALLED CHASE CHEVROLET WAS ADVISED THERE SHOP DID NOT HAVE PROPER EQUIPMENT TO SERVICE OUR VEHICLE,DIDN'T HAVE UPDATED COMPUTER SOFTWARE.STILL HAVING SAME ISSUES.

NHTSA ID

11048108

Incident

May 4, 2008

Mileage

45,000 mi

MOVING ALONG IN STREET TRAFFIC, STOPPED AT A LIGHT, THEN WENT TO GO FORWARD, TRANSMISSION ONLY WENT FORWARD IN LOW GEAR. TOWED TO REPAIR GARAGE BUT THEY WANT $500 JUST TO LOOK AT IT.

NHTSA ID

11043028

Incident

Jan 12, 2017

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V490000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) ON 9/5/17. THE IGNITION CYLINDER WAS REPLACED BY DON NESTER AUTO GROUP (7566 WEST HOUGHTON LAKE DRIVE, HOUGHTON LAKE, MI 48629, PHONE: (989) 422-5126); HOWEVER, THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED TWO KEYS WITH THE REPAIR, BUT NEITHER OF THEM UNLOCKED THE VEHICLE DOORS. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO ASSIST WITH REPLACING THE DOOR LOCKS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,479.

NHTSA ID

11023651

Incident

Sep 5, 2017

Mileage

162,479 mi

STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT... WHEN IT GREEN AND TIME TO DRIVE THE GAS MOVED BY THE CAR WAS A COMPLETE STOP AND IT WONT NOT MOVE FOWARD OR BACKWARDS... LEAVING ME AND MY 2 TODDLERS STUCK INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC

NHTSA ID

11019927

Incident

Aug 16, 2017

Mileage

170,000 mi

THE KEY FALLS OUT WHILE DRIVING AND THE CAR WON'T START SOMETIMES

NHTSA ID

11013069

Incident

Feb 17, 2017

THE IGNITION LOCKS AND CAN NOT TURN KEY WITH OUT JERKING AND BEATING THE STERRING WHEEL. YOU CAN'T PUT THE INGITION IN THE OFF POSITION. KEY CAN BE REMOVED WHILE ENGINE IS RUNNING. MY VIN # WAS NOT LISTED ON THE RECALL LIST BUT OTHER SAME MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLES WERE IN WITH THIS RECALL. I NEED THIS FIXED PLEASE. I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR 2 YEARS.

NHTSA ID

11005281

Incident

Jul 13, 2017

Mileage

158,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING AT AN HIGH SPEED OF 65-70 ON FREEWAY THROUGH MOUNTAIN TERRITORY, SPEED DROPS AND ACCELERATION IS HARD TO GET BACK UP TO SPEED LIMIT. ALSO CAR START SHAKING WHILE ACCELERATING.

NHTSA ID

10994307

Incident

Jun 9, 2017

Mileage

93,800 mi