Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Saturn Vue submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 29 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.
The 25 most recent of 29, in the owner's own words
The key can be removed from the vehicle while being driven. Also the ignition doesn't "click" off when vehicle is parked and key is removed causing the battery to drain. There have been several recalls for this issue but not with the 2006 year model. This is a dangerous problem and there are very limited resources to get it resolved.
ignition gets stuck with key and locks steering wheel, now it wont shut off all the way to left and kills my battery looks like there has been MANY ignition issues and recalls with saturns which this is pretty important to have working to drive and be safe esp as a female in this world ..getting stuck or with a dead battery isnt good $300-400 at a gmc to fix this issue I feel personally this should be considered a recall fix
My power steering went out
My car is very rusted out,underneath the body and no one will work on my car because they feel it's a hazard to drive and work on. I went to an iron works shop and mechanic said it's a common problem with Saturn Vue's,I took it back to where I bought it because they knew it before I bought it . All they wanted to do was put me ina sports car,my car is a hazard to drive it plus I have 1 more year to pay for it. Seems like something could be done about this
The ignition was locked and key wouldn't go in, to get it to unstick I put key in as far as it would go and noticed I could start it without the key being fully inserted. This happened a few times before but this was the first time I realized I didn't need the key to be in the ignition to start nor does it need to be in the ignition to drive. I was able to reproduce problem in driveway. I made a video but think only photos can be uploaded
THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS FLICKER OFF AND ON AND IT'S HARD TO STEER I LOSE POWER STEERING. *TR
WHEN MAKING A TURN (ANY DIRECTION) OR JUST TURNING STEERING WHEEL THE CAR WILL CUT OFF AND LOCK THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TURN. THIS HAPPENED ON CITY STREETS OR HIGHWAY WHILE IN MOTION. *TR
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BURNING SMOKE EMISSIONS AND A BURNING ODOR FROM THE STEERING WHEEL / STEERING COLUMN AREA WHERE THE WIPERS AND SIGNAL LIGHT/HIGHBEAM HEADLIGHT SWITCHES ARE CONNECTED. THE SMOKE EMISSIONS AND THE BURNING ODOR APPEARED TO BE TRIGGERED BY THE TURNING SIGNALS OR FROM ACTIVATION OF THE HEADLIGHTS. FOR SAFETY PURPOSES, THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND PARKED; HOWEVER, THE HEADLIGHTS CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE AFTER THE HEADLIGHTS WERE SHUT OFF. EVENTUALLY, THE CAR BATTERY DIED; BUT THE HEADLIGHTS CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE; HEADLIGHTS WERE FINALLY EXTINGUISHED WITH DISCONNECTION OF BATTERY CABLE.
ALL OF 2108 THE IGNITION IS VERY HARD TO START WHEN YOU PUT THE KEY IN VERY HARD TO TURN AND WHEN YOU GET IT STARTED IT SOMETIMES SHUTS OFF WHILE GOING TO DRIVE.
POWER STEERING RACK MALFUNCTION. CAUSES VIBRATION AT HIGH SPEEDS AND STIFF TURNING
ON THE FIRST START OF THE DAY, AT OR BELOW 24 DEGREES F, THE INTERIOR ITEMS FLASH ON AND OFF UNTIL THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WARMED UP. I ALSO LEARNED THAT IF THE IGNITION WAS ON FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES IT WAS THE SAME AS IF IT WAS RUNNING. I LIVE IN NASHVILLE AND FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS IT ONLY OCCURRED WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMP WAS 24 DEGREES OR BELOW. THE FLASHING ON AND OFF OF THE LIGHTS AND EQUIPMENT IS THE BODY CONTROL MODULE PROTECTING THEM WHEN THE CHARGE RATE IS TOO HIGH. IT WAS CONSIDERED AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND WHO CAN TROUBLESHOOT AT OR BELOW 24 DEGREES? A MONTH AGO (JULY) IT STARTED ALL THE TIME, NO FLASHING, NO STEERING, NO DASH INSTRUMENTS, ETC. LONGER STORY SHORT WITH THE PLUG REMOVED FROM THE ALTERNATOR (IT CONTROLS THE FIELD VOLTAGE THROUGH THE ECM/PCM) THE ALTERNATOR WAS STILL PUTTING OUT 18.5 VOLTS. THIS DEFINITELY SHOULD NOT OCCUR BUT SOMETHING WAS BAD WRONG INSIDE THE ALTERNATOR. IT WAS BOILING THE ACID OUT OF THE BATTERY TOO. ONCE THE ALTERNATOR WAS REMOVED (BENCH CHECKED FAILED) AND REPLACED IT ALL WENT AWAY. IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE WEATHER GETS BELOW 24 DEGREES AGAIN. THIS ALTERNATOR IS MANUFACTURED BY GM, IS DISCONTINUED AND NO LONGER AVAILABLE FROM GM. ONLY REMANUFACTURED UNITS FROM CHINA ARE AVAILABLE AT THE AFTERMARKET PARTS STORES. THERE IS NO TROUBLESHOOTING PROCEDURE IN THE MAINTENANCE MANUAL FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE ALTERNATOR PLUG CAN BE DISCONNECTED WITHOUT ANY DISASSEMBLY. THIS WAS THE SECOND FAILURE OF THE ALTERNATOR ON THIS VUE THE FIRST OCCURRED AT 87,000 MILES. IT SEEMS THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE COMPONENTS OF THIS ALTERNATOR.
KNUCKLE PART OF STEERING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MECHANIC UNABLE TO GET PART DUE TO RECALLS ON 2009 VUE. WORRIED MY STEERING MAY GO WHILE I'M DRIVING. ALSO. WHY ISN'T 2006 COVERED BY RECALL ????? FIRSTNOTICED PROBLEM WHEN TURNING.
1ST ISSUE. BOTH HEATED SEATS WENT OUT. THEN PASSENGER AIRBAG SOMETIMES GOES OFF EVEN WITH PASSENGER SITTING IN CHAIR. I CAN RESET AIRBAG WITH PASSENGER HEATED SEAT BUTTON. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME AND IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR PASSENGER. KEY SWITCH LOCKS AND I HAVE TO JIGGLE STEERING WHEEL TO RELEASE.
THE TRUCK IS DRIVABLE WITHOUT THE KEY BEING IN THE IGNITION, SO ONCE YOU START THE TRUCK YOU CAN TAKE THE KET OUT OF THE IGNITION AND STILL BE ABLE TO DRIVE. ALSO THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS FOR NO APPARENT REASON.
WHEN YOU TRY TO START THE CAR WHEN IT'S COLD, ALL OF THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON, RADIO COMES ON, AND THEN THE LIGHTS AND RADIO GO OFF AND THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING. AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS AND ABOUT 5 MINUTES PASS, IT WORKS PROPERLY. SOME TIMES, UNEXPECTEDLY, ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE CAR START FLASHING, THE LOCKS ON THE DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCK REPEATEDLY WHILE DRIVING. WE'VE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE ALTERNATOR, AND HAVE A BRAND NEW BATTERY (2X IN 6MO). THIS CAR IS POSSESSED! I WORRY FOR THE SAFETY OF MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR.
WHEN I TRY TO START MY VEHICLE I CANNOT TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION...I HAVE TO PUSH UP THE GEAR SHIFTER AND THEN KEEP TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL UNTIL THE KEY CAN TURN. I THOUGHT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS BUT CANNOT FIND THE INFORMATION UPDATED 11/06/2017*CN
MY KEY REGULARLY FALLS OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE I'M DRIVING. I HAVE NOTICED THAT SOME OF THE SAME MODELS THAT CHEVY MANUFACTURED HAVE BEEN RECALLED, BUT NOT THE VUE. *TR
BOUGHT A 2006 SATURN VUE IN 2008. WITHIN A YEAR, HAD PROBLEMS: IGNITION SWITCH/KEY. DOES NOT FUNCTION AS IT SHOULD WITH THE KEY TURNING IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. REPLACED TUMBLER. WORKED FOR AWHILE. IT BROKE AGAIN. FOR BOTH TIMES IT TAKES ANYWHERE FROM 5 - 15 MINUTES EVERY TIME TO GET THE KEY TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. I AM A 60+ YEAR OLD WOMAN WHO WORKS NIGHTS. IF I HAVE TO LEAVE AN AREA QUICKLY FOR MY OWN SAFETY, I CANNOT DO SO. THE AC FAN SHUTS OFF AS SOON AS THE EXTERIOR CAR TEMP REACHES 100 DEGREES. HAD THAT FIXED TWO YEARS AGO. BUT THE PROBLEMS PERSISTED. NOW THE AC ONLY BLOWS WARM AIR WHEN AND IF THE FAN WORKS. DOOR LOCKS: KEYS FUNCTION INCONSISTENTLY. PASSENGER SIDE DOOR DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO LOCK ALL DOORS, WHICH IT ONCE DID. FOB: FUNCTIONS INCONSISTENTLY DESPITE BATTERY REPLACEMENT. WINDOWS; DO NOT CLOSE ALL THE WAY, ALLOWING RAIN AND AIR IN. STEERING WHEEL: SHAKES. HAD IT FIXED. SHAKES AGAIN BETWEEN 60-70 MPH. I AM FED UP WITH THIS CAR. WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER AMERICAN MADE CAR. *TR
WAS HAVING TO SHAKE THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER FOR THE KEY TO TURN. FINALLY SHAKING IT STOPPED WORKING AND HAD TO TAKE IT TO GET REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC FOUND THE IGNITION CASING WAS CRACKED AND HE ALSO SAID I HAD TO GET A NEW KEY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE 113,005.
THE IGNITION SWITCH STOPPED WORKING WITH THE FACTORY KEY. THE KEY WOULD GET JAMMED IN THE IGNITION AND NOT TURN ON AND JIGGLING IT WOULD TURN IGNITION ON. GOOD CAR BUT THE IGNITION SHOULD NOT BE MESSING UP. *TR
I HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH A COUPLE OF YEARS AFTER PURCHASING THE 2006 SATURN VUE. WHEN REMOVING THE KEY ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS IT WOULD TWIST MY KEY AND EVENTUALLY WEAR DOWN THE KEY WHICH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. EVENTUALLY THE KEY GOT STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AND IGNITION REPLACED AT MY OWN COST. IT IS DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN WEARING DOWN MY KEYS AND PRACTICALLY TWISTING IT OFF WHEN I TRY TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. I HAVE WORN DOWN MANY, KEYS IN THE PAST 8 YEARS. TOO MANY TO COUNT, WHICH ARE EXPENSIVE AND VERY TIME CONSUMING TO REPLACE. I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE ANOTHER IGNITION AGAIN!!!! I NEED HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR
PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO START UP THE CAR WITH THE ORIGINAL CAR KEY. *TR
1) LEADING EVENTS - PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2009 USED FROM A CERTIFIED DEALER, WAS PROVIDED WITH 2 SEPARATE SETS OF KEYS. WITHIN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF DRIVING I NOTICED INCREASED DIFFICULTY IN STARTING THE CAR WITH THE KEYS PROVIDED. ALERTED DEALER AND WAS GIVEN ANOTHER SET OF KEYS. 2) FAILURE - KEY TO IGNITION FREQUENTLY STICKS AND STAYS IN THE IGNITION WHILE CAR IS RUNNING. ALSO HAVE IDENTIFIED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FREQUENTLY LOCKS WHICH MAKES IT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO START THE IGNITION. 3) INITIALLY I WAS GIVEN A REPLACEMENT KEY FROM THE DEALER THAT WORKED ON AND OFF. THE CAR WILL BE TURNED IN FOR SERVICE THIS WEEKEND TO DETERMINE WHAT THE DEFECT IS IF ANY ON THE CAR. ESTIMATED COST $250-$500. *TR
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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