RoadVitals

2005 Saturn Vue Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
170
+1 complaint in 30 days
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
18
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
1
Reports on file since Jan 26, 2005

What this page shows

Our database holds 170 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2005 Saturn Vue. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 170 · page 1 of 7

Electrical
Filed Jul 20, 2026

The contact owns a 2005 Saturn VUE. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the ignition key fell out of the ignition switch and the steering wheel seized. The contact stated that the key failed to fit back in the ignition switch. The contact turned off the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the parts were discontinued. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall related to the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000.

NHTSA ID
11751633
Incident
Jul 15, 2026
Mileage
116,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 8, 2023
Crash reported3 injuries reported

The contact owns a 2005 Saturn Vue. The contact stated that while stopped in traffic, a vehicle began doing donuts in the intersection, causing a multi-car accident and crashing into her vehicle. The air bags had failed to deploy. The contact sustained back and knee injuries, and both her son and grandson had body pain. A police report was available. The vehicle had not been taken to an independent mechanic or a local dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID
11521041
Incident
May 5, 2023
Body & structure
Filed Mar 31, 2021

THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE SATURN VIEWS IT IS WHERE THE ENGINE CARRIAGE BOLT ATTACHES TO THE FRAME THE WATER FROM THE ROAD IN EVERYTHING SHOOTS RIGHT UP ON IT AND RUST THIS AREA WHERE I HAD TO WORK ON THIS AREA AND REMOVE THE BOLTS IN THE FRONT THERE WAS SO MUCH RUST THAT NOW THE BOLT CANNOT BE REATTACHED THIS WOULD CAUSE PROBLEMS ON THE ROAD IF IN A WRECK IT WOULD FOLD UP NOW I'M TRYING TO FIND SOMEBODY TO FIX IT. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE WITH ANY OF THE CARS I HAVE PREVIOUSLY WORKED ON. THE FRAME OF A CAR SHOULD NOT RUST OUT LIKE THIS. SHOULD B THE LAST THING TO RUST OUT.THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT THE TIME WAS REPLACING SWAY BAR COMPONENTS.

NHTSA ID
11405745
Incident
Jan 10, 2020
Mileage
20,000 mi
Filed Dec 28, 2020

THE FRAME TO SUBFRAME AREAS THAT HOLDS UP MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION RUSTED AND BROKE LOOSE. AS I WENT OVER A LARGE BUMP ON A CITY STREET THE WHOLE SUBFRAME SEPARATED. I WAS ON A BUY HERE PAY HERE LOAN FROM TNT MOTORS IN OREGON ILLINOIS. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THEM AND I'M WORRIED THEY WILL TRY TO PUT IT BACK ON THE ROAD

NHTSA ID
11385259
Incident
Dec 28, 2020
Mileage
144,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 27, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SHAMROCK AUTO BROKERS, LLC (322 B NH-104, NEW HAMPTON, NH 03256, (603) 548-3165) TO GET THE VEHICLE INSPECTED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE FAILED THE STATE INSPECTION. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE PERFORATIONS ON THE SUBFRAME DUE TO RUST. GREENWOOD AUTO (6 FARRARVILLE RD, BELMONT, NH 03220, (603) 528-0158) WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,540.

NHTSA ID
11341601
Incident
Mar 17, 2020
Mileage
169,540 mi
Steering
Filed May 7, 2020

I WAS SITTING IN DRIVER SEAT AND I OUT MY KEY IN IGNITION AND TURNED IT TO 1 PAST THE ACC AND I WAS ABLE TO TAKE MY KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE IT STILL BEING TURN TO 1. WHILE IN PARK. I CAN ALSO TAKE MY KEY OUT OF IGNITION WHILE IT'S RUNNING WHILE IN DRIVE OR PARK ON THE 1 MARK AFTER ACC. *TR

NHTSA ID
11323779
Incident
May 7, 2020
Mileage
150,319 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 29, 2020

WHEN TRAVELING AT 65 MILES AN HOUR ON THE FREEWAY FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHETHER IT'S IN TRAFFIC OR GETTING OFF THE FREEWAY THE CAR SUDDENLY JERKS VIOLENTLY BACK AND FORTH AND CLUNKING SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS SLIPPING THE CAR WILL ALL OF A SUDDEN JUST DIED AND STOP RUNNING.BY PUTTING THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL THE CAR WILL COME TO A STOP THE JERKING OF THE TRANSMISSION RELEASING THE GEARS

NHTSA ID
11322715
Incident
Apr 1, 2020
Mileage
255,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 10, 2019
Crash reported3 injuries reported

TAKATA RECALL MY FAMILY AND I WERE IN A ROLL OVER ACCIDENT ON AUGUST 20TH 2019 OUR AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT IMPACT. WE WERE IN MOTION GOING 60MPH ON COURNTY ROAD 799 GOING TOWARDS GEORGE WEST TX WHEN MY VEHICLE WAS HEADED TOWARDS A COVERT AND JERKED THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO AVOID THE DITCH BUT THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED BACK TO THE RIGHT SENDING US ON THE 2 SIDE PASSENGER WHEELS AND THEN ROLLING OVER 3 TIMES I BLACKED OUT AND WHEN WE STOPPED THE AIR BAGS STILL DIDNT DEPLOY.

NHTSA ID
11254532
Incident
Aug 20, 2019
Mileage
155,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 24, 2019

THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WHEN THE IGNITION IS NOT IN THE "OFF" POSITION. THERE WAS A RECALL (#14V490000 ON 08/08/2014) FOR 2002-2004 SATURN VUE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, TO APRIL 6, 2004, HOWEVER, I HAVE A 2005 SATURN VUE THAT HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND THERE IS NO RECALL OR REMEDY AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11246247
Incident
Aug 17, 2019
Mileage
143,000 mi
Filed Jun 10, 2019

THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION EVEN AFTER JIGGLING THE STEERING WHEEL AND FLIPPING THE KEY BACK AND FORTH. WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD YOUR ARE ABLE TO PULL THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION AND CONTINUE DRIVING

NHTSA ID
11219145
Incident
Jun 7, 2019
Mileage
83,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 3, 2019
Fire reported

DASHBOARD FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY FOR TWO AND HALF HOURS BEFORE IT WAS NOTICED THE DASHBOARD WAS ON FIRE.

NHTSA ID
11183770
Incident
Mar 1, 2019
Mileage
200,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 1, 2019

EVERY TIME THE CAR HITS A BUMP THERE A SEVERE RATTLE FROM THE FRONT END. I HAD NEW STRUTS INSTALLED AND THAT IS WHEN THE MECHANICS TOLD AND SHOWED ME THAT THE BUSHINGS ON THE RACK AND PINION UNIT WERE GOING BAD. I HAVE CHECKED SINCE THEN AND NOBODY SEEMS TO SELL THE BUSHING. THEY WANT YOU TO BUY A NEW UNIT FOR 600ISH DOLLARS OR A REMANUFACTURED ONE FOR AS MUCH AS 300ISH DOLLARS. NOW WHEN YOU PURCHASE EITHER OF THESE UNITS IT IS SUGGESTED THAT YOU ALSO BUY THE NEW BOLTSAND CASTLE NUTS FOR IT WHICH LESS THEN 29 DOLLARS. THE UNITS HAVE NEW BUSHINGS INSTALLED SO I KNOW SOME ONE IS PRODUCING THEM AND YOU CAN BUY THE BOLTS FROM ALMOST ANYONE. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED SOONER THEN LATER WOULD BE BEST AS RACK MAY COME LOOSE FROM FRAME AND CAUSE A SEVER LOSS OF STEERING WHICH WOULD INCLUDE SEVERE BODILY HARM OR DEATH. AND GM DOES SELL RACK AND PINION MOUNT BUSHING FOR THEIR OTHER VEHICLES JUST NOT THE SATURNS FOR SOME REASON! START DATE IS APPROXIMATE THE FORUMS HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME SITUATION BUT NO SOLUTIONS

NHTSA ID
11183541
Incident
Jan 15, 2018
Electrical
Filed Nov 19, 2018

KEY WONT TURN IN IGNITION. BOUGHT NEW KEY BUT PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED. CAR IS OFF AND IN PARK WHEN THIS HAPPENS.

NHTSA ID
11152517
Incident
Nov 19, 2018
Mileage
87,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 15, 2018

KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION IN THE ON POSITION WHEN IN MOTION

NHTSA ID
11140473
Incident
Oct 1, 2018
Mileage
65,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 24, 2018

I HAD JUST RETURNED HOME FROM SHOPPING WHEN I EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. FORTUNATELY THE INCIDENT HAPPENED ON MY DRIVEWAY AS I WAS DRIVING UP TO THE FRONT OF MY GARAGE. SINCE I WAS MOVING VERY SLOW I WAS ABLE TO STOP BY SHIFTING THE TRANS INTO "PARK". I LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND SAW A PUDDLE OF BREAK FLUID ON THE DRIVEWAY AT EACH REAR WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP BY A TOWING SERVICE AND DELIVERED TO AUTO-LAB OF TROY, MI 48084. THEIR INSPECTION FOUND THAT BOTH BRAKE LINES AT THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH WHICH ALLOWED THE FLUID TO SPAY OUT OF THEM WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED.

NHTSA ID
11131044
Incident
Sep 21, 2018
Mileage
88,367 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 30, 2018
Fire reported

I WAS DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY, BRAKING REGULARLY WITH THE STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, MY BRAKES SUDDENLY LOCKED UP ON ME AND I WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET BACK UP TO 50 MPH. EVENTUALLY I WAS CLOSE TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS, BUT THE CAR WASN'T SHIFTING CORRECTLY. THIS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES, AND WE BEGAN REPLACING PARTS ON THE BRAKES. THEN, WHILE DRIVING AGAIN, THE BRAKES LOCKED DOWN AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. ONCE LOCKED, THE BRAKES DID NOT RELEASE, OR DO NOT RELEASE COMPLETELY. AND WE DISCOVERED - ULTIMATELY, ONCE THIS HAPPENS YOU SIMPLY CAN'T FIX IT. THE FIRST THING THAT WE DID IS WE REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, TIE ROD ENDS AND BOOTS, BECAUSE WE THOUGHT THE PADS WERE GOING BAD AND THE ROTOR WAS WARPED (THE FRONT END HAD STARTED HAVING A SHIMMY AT HIGHER SPEEDS SOMETIMES ALSO). THAT SEEMED TO FIX ALL BUT THE SHIMMY SO WE THEN REPLACED THE TWO FRONT TIRES AND HAD THEM REBALANCED AND REALIGNED. AFTER THAT THE BRAKES SUDDENLY LOCKED UP RATHER HARD. I MANAGED TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY SAFELY, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD BARELY DO 10 MPH BECAUSE OF THE BRAKES LOCKING DOWN. WE TOOK IT IN AND REPLACED PARTS FOR ALL OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. WE REPLACED THE PADS, ROTORS, CALIPERS, HOSES, MASTER CYLINDER AND THE ABS UNIT (ONLY FOUND IN JUNKYARDS NOW). THEN THE BRAKES LOCKED ONCE AGAIN AND CAUGHT FIRE! WE PUT IT OUT, BUT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO REPLACE BRAKE PARTS ON THIS MODEL. WE FOUND NUMEROUS REPORTS ONLINE THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL, AND NOT JUST FOR 2005.

NHTSA ID
11114537
Incident
Jul 28, 2018
Mileage
145,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 25, 2018

IGNITION SWITCH IS FAULTY, AND HAS BEEN FOR SOME TIME. SOMETIMES THE KEY WILL TURN, OTHER TIMES IT JAMS AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE KEY TO TURN. MY MECHANIC HAD TWO NEW FACTORY KEYS MADE LAST SUMMER AS HE WAS CERTAIN IT WAS THE KEYS, THOUGH I DID NOT BELIEVE IT AND IT CERTAINLY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE KEYS. MY MECHANIC IS NOW CHECKING ON GETTING ANOTHER SATURN VUE IGNITION SWITCH (HAS HAS MY VIN). MY MECHANIC HAS SAID (LAST SUMMER AND STILL NOW) THAT HE BELIEVES THIS WAS A RECALL ITEM ON SATURN.

NHTSA ID
11090059
Incident
Jun 6, 2017
Filed Mar 6, 2018

TIMING CHAIN LOOSE/DANGER OF EXCELARATION ON HIGHWAY

NHTSA ID
11076471
Incident
Mar 2, 2018
Steering
Filed Jan 3, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN VUE. WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER (SOUTH POINTE CHEVROLET, 9146 S. MEMORIAL DRIVE, TULSA OK, 74133) STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 59,000.

NHTSA ID
11058270
Incident
Dec 18, 2017
Mileage
59,000 mi
Steering
Filed Nov 25, 2017

KEY IGNATION WILL NOT TURN OVER STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED

NHTSA ID
11048420
Incident
Nov 25, 2017
Mileage
77,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 16, 2017

GAS CAP CAUSES CEL TO COME ON. REPLACEMENT CAPS FAIL TO WORK. IT SEEMS A CHRONIC PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
11033877
Incident
Oct 14, 2017
Mileage
42,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 11, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN VUE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE PASSENGER DOOR AIR BAG AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER (CENTRAL BUICK GMC OF NORWOOD, 70 BOSTON PROVIDENCE HWY, NORWOOD, MA 02062; (781) 473-0908) STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR SINCE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11022608
Incident
Sep 8, 2017
Mileage
150,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jul 6, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN VUE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE KEY FAILED TO TURN. ADDITIONALLY, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND SEIZED COMPLETELY AT ONE POINT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE LATER AND THE CONTACT COULD POTENTIALLY NEED A NEW STEERING WHEEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,000.

NHTSA ID
11003400
Incident
Jul 3, 2017
Mileage
169,000 mi
BrakesElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 20, 2017

MY CAR HAS THE ABS SYSTEM LIGHT ON, AND THERE ARE TONS OF PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM! I HAVE ALMOST GONE OFF THE ROAD TONS OF TIMES WHEN THE ROADS HAVE BARELY ANY SNOW OR ICE ON THEM, AND THIS IS SERIOUSLY A COMMON PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE A RECALL! THE ABS SYSTEM ON THE SATURN VUES SEEMS TO GO OUT ALL THE TIME, WHICH CAUSES OTHER PROBLEMS, MALFUNCTIONING BREAKS, BEARING DEGENERATION TOO! I NEED TO CONSTANTLY CHANGE THE BREAKS AND NOW I NEED NEW BEARINGS. MY CAR ONLY HAS 84K MILES ON IT!!! AND WITH MY CAR, MY TRANSMISSION IS ALSO GOING OUT AND THAT STARTED AT 60,000, MILES AND NOW ITS GIVING ME REAL PROBLEMS TOO! SO THE SATURN VUE 2005 AWD V6 CAR I HAVE... HAS A COMMON PROBLEM OF CHEAP ABS SYSTEM PARTS GOING BAD, AND BAD TRANSMISSIONS! BOTH NEED TO BE RECALLED, AND ADDRESSED BY GM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10946575
Incident
Apr 23, 2015
Filed Dec 13, 2016

IGNITION CYLINDER SWITCH.KEY COMES OUT AT ALL TIMES.AND THEN WHEN U TURN IT OFF SWITCH LOCKS AND NOW IT WANT UNLOCK TO START

NHTSA ID
10935175
Incident
May 20, 2014

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.

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