RoadVitals

2007 Saturn Vue Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints 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.
33
Latest May 22, 2020
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
12%
of 286 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2007 Saturn Vue submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 33 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.

Owner reports naming steering

The 25 most recent of 33, in the owner's own words

Steering
Filed May 22, 2020

I WAS DRIVING TAKING A RIGHT TURN WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND WOULD NOT TURN FURTHER, I DRIVE INTO THE OTHER LANE. I THEN DECIDED TO GET INTO A PARKING LOT, SECONDS LATER THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AGAIN AND I HAD TO GET THE CAR TOWED TO MY HOUSE. *TR

NHTSA ID
11325623
Incident
May 19, 2020
Mileage
181,974 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Nov 16, 2019

DRIVING ON THE ROAD AND FREEWAY, THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND RADIO GO OUT AND I LOOSE POWER STEERING, THIS IS AN ONGOING AND SPORADIC PROBLEM. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEY RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE THE BOTH BATTERY CABLES, I REPLACE THEM BUT CONTINUE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM, I BELIEVE IT IS AN IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM, BUT THERE IS NO RECALL ON MY VIN NUMBER

NHTSA ID
11280521
Incident
Nov 15, 2019
Mileage
190,200 mi
Driver assistanceSteering
Filed Jun 17, 2019

TAKATA RECALL I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC. MY STEERING WONT LET ME TURN. KEEPS PULLING ME. I CANT RIDE IT.

NHTSA ID
11220743
Incident
May 21, 2019
Mileage
177,000 mi
BrakesElectricalSteering
Filed Apr 23, 2019

WHEN THE CAR STARTS THE STEERING LOCKS UP AND MAKES THE CAR DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. THE BRAKES ALSO GRIND AND THE TRANSMISSION MAKES NOISES. THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS MALFUNCTION AND LIGHTS AND SOUNDS FLICKER ON AND OFF. ALL OF THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN LOOKED INTO BY A MECHANIC AND THEY CANNOT FIND A SOLUTION AS TO WHY THE ELECTRIC MALFUNCTIONING AND STEERING IS LOCKING UP.

NHTSA ID
11203257
Incident
Feb 2, 2017
Steering
Filed Feb 11, 2019

STEERING MAKING NOISES . HAD APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER TODAY AND THEY (DEALER) REPORTED IT IS INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. DEALER ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH THE SATURN VUE...

NHTSA ID
11176386
Incident
Feb 11, 2019
Mileage
148,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed May 29, 2018

2007 SATURN VUE HAVE TWO RECALLS THE IGNITION AND THE TRANSMISSION THEY REFUSED TO FIXED IT BECAUSE I BROUGHT FROM A TIRTH PARTY

NHTSA ID
11098433
Incident
May 7, 2018
Mileage
191,000 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Feb 12, 2018

EACH TIME THIS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY/BEING PARKED, ON 6-10 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS IN THE PAST 2 YEARS, THE KEY HAS GOTTEN LOCKED TIGHT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THIS CAUSED THE BATTERY TO RUN DOWN AND DIE ON MORE THAN A FEW OCCASIONS. ONCE THE KEY WAS FROZEN IN PLACE, AFTER THE ENGINE WAS OFF, THE KEY WOULD NOT MOVE IN ANY DIRECTION AND THE STEERING WAS LOCKED TIGHT UNABLE TO MOVE AT ALL, THE GEAR SHIFT COLUMN WAS UNABLE TO BE PUT IN PARK. OTHER TIMES THE KEY WOULD JUST BE STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND COULD NOT BE REMOVED, REGARDLESS OF EFFORT TO REMOVE IT, ALSO NOT ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO BE PLACE INTO THE GEAR OF PARK. THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSE US TO ABANDON THE VEHICLE MORE THAN ONCE, THIS IS DANGEROUS & SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. I SEE OTHER RECALLS ON OTHER SATURN MODELS BUT NOT THE VUE 2007, WHICH DOES HAVE A DEFECT IN THIS AREA AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. FOR THE RECORD THE CAR KEY AND THE REMOTE ARE THE ONLY THINGS ON MY KEY CHAIN, SO THE WEIGHT OF THE KEY CHAIN IS NOT THE PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE LAST 3 WEEKS.

NHTSA ID
11072263
Incident
Feb 9, 2018
Mileage
180,000 mi
Steering
Filed Feb 4, 2018

LOSS OF STEERING DUE TO MANUFACTURING DESIGN FLAW. PIN RETAINING SHAFT BELOW STEERING MOTOR FELL OUT LEAVING DRIVER WITH NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE VEERED OFF ROADWAY MISSING LIGHT POLE AND FIRE HYDRANT!

NHTSA ID
11066908
Incident
Feb 4, 2018
Mileage
340,000 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Aug 21, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY WHILE IN THE IGNITION PAST THE "ON" POSITION. THE CONTACT HAD DIFFICULTY REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. AFTER JIGGLING THE KEY AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL SEVERAL TIMES, THE KEY WAS ABLE TO COME OUT AND HAD DIFFICULTY BEING REINSERTED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ANYTIME WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR KIA DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 71,000.

NHTSA ID
11016528
Incident
Jul 26, 2017
Mileage
71,000 mi
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Feb 22, 2017

MY KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF IGNITION, HAD TO DRILL OUT IGNITION CYLINDER AND REPLACE HOUSING ALSO. HAD TO GET A MECHANIC TO KEY THE CYLINDER AND NOW THE LIGHTS, A/C, AND RADIO DO NOT WORK AFTER ENGINE STARTS UNTIL IT RUNS FOR ABOUT 8 MINUTES. THEN EVERYTHING WORKS, BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON, THE ENGINE RUNS GOOD, UNTIL IT SITS PARKED OVERNIGHT AND HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN THE NEXT DAY. ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR. STILL DOING THE SAME. HAD IT PARKED FOR ABOT TWO MONTHS AND JUST START IT AND RUN THE ENGINE TO PRESEVE THE BATTERY. USE OTHER VEHICLE INSTEAD.

NHTSA ID
10956286
Incident
Nov 6, 2016
Mileage
146,500 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Oct 20, 2016

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING WAS LOST MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE AS THERE WAS NO ELECTRONIC ASSISTED STEERING AT THAT POINT. IN ADDITION, THE DIGITAL COMPONENTS ON THE DASHBOARD (SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GAUGE, ETC.) LOST POWER. THE POWER STEERING WOULD GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING MAKING IT VERY DANGEROUS TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10917673
Incident
Oct 12, 2016
Mileage
130,158 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Oct 12, 2016

MY STEERING IS HARD TO TURN WHEN I START MY CAR, THEN AFTER MESSING WITH THE LOCK AND UNLOCK BUTTON THE STEERING WHEEL RELEASES. THE LIGHTS ON MY DASH START FLASHING IT GOES ON AND OFF. THE FUSES ARE FINE IT'S SOMETHING ELSE. THERE'S NO PLACE TO PUT POWER STEERING FLUID? HELP.

NHTSA ID
10915522
Incident
Oct 12, 2016
AirbagsSteering
Filed Nov 18, 2015

MORE THEN 5 TIMES THE SUV HAS NOT STARTED, AND WE HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH BECAUSE THE KEY WOULD NOT EVEN TURN IN IT. I BELIEVE WE HAVE TANAKA AIRBAGS.

NHTSA ID
10794553
Incident
Aug 20, 2014
Mileage
85,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalSteering
Filed Jan 13, 2015

IGNITION LOCKED COULD TURN KEY OR PULL OUT AND/OR START VEHICLE. HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES THROUGH THE YEARS. THE MOST ONE I AM CONCERNED WITH IS THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON & OFF, MOSTLY STAYS ON. THIS STARTED SOMETIME AROUND AUGUST, 2014. I HAVE TAKE A PICTURE OF IT ON MY PHONE & WILL FORWARD WITH ANOTHER E-MAIL. I'VE CHECKED FOR RECALLS ON THE VIN# & HAVE NONE. I KNOW THERE SHOULD AT LEAST BE A RECALL ON THE AIRBAGS, I'VE HEARD. PLEASE TAKE CARE OF THIS SOON AS I TRAVEL TO WORK EVERYDAY & SOMETIMES TAKE MY GRANDCHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME & I AM CONCERN SOMETHING HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING & THEY ARE WITH ME. YOU CAN SEND ANY INFO TO MY E-MAIL ADDRESS: [XXX] OR PH# [XXX]; AND/OR BY MAIL. THANK YOU. [XXX]2007 SATURN VUE; (VIN#: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10672303
Incident
Jun 10, 2010
Mileage
76,545 mi
Steering
Filed Dec 12, 2014

THE KEY CONTINUALLY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION OF MY VUE. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED A COUPLE OF TIMES BECAUSE I COULD NOT TURN THE KEY OR REMOVE IT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO BOB JEANOTTE BUICK GMC (14949 N. SHELDON, PLYMOUTH MI. 734-453-2500) AND THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I ALSO HAVE A SECOND VUE THAT THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED TO AND THE IGNITION WAS CHANGED TWICE BUT STILL HAS A STICKING ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THEM BACK IN TO HAVE THEM CHANGED BUT THEY ARE NOT CURRENTLY ON THE LIST. ONLY 2007 ION AND SKY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10663785
Incident
Jul 1, 2013
Mileage
40,000 mi
AirbagsSteering
Filed Nov 21, 2014
Fire reported

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND SMOKE BEGAN COMING FROM AROUND THE STEERING WHEEL OF MY CAR. A SYMBOL OF A PERSON HOLDING A AIRBAG APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, I THEN FELT THAT THE AIRBAG WAS GOING TO DEPLOY. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OUT OF TRAFFIC INTO A AUTO ZONE. AWORKER SEEN THE SMOKE, AND FELT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT THE SMOKE IS COMING FROM AROUND THE STEERING WHEEL. HE SAID "GET OUT OF YOUR CAR, IT'S DANGEROUS! THE AIRBAG LIGHTS FOR BOTH DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE COME ON AND OFF. MY SATURN IS PAID FOR, AND I'M UNEMPLOYED RIGHT NOW AND CAN NOT AFFORD TO INVEST IN A NEW VEHICLE. WHAT CAN BE DONE FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TRUSTED THE INDUSTRY? *TR

NHTSA ID
10660180
Incident
Sep 25, 2014
Mileage
93,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalSteering
Filed Oct 20, 2014

MY AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR WHEN MY GAS GOES DOWN BELOW A HALF TANK. STEERING BECOMES A BIT MORE STIFF WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON. IT DOES EVENTUALLY GO OUT. WHEN I AM IN AND OUT OF THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY THE LIGHT WILL ALL OF A SUDDEN COME ON. MY BRAKES ACT STRANGELY WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON. I HAVE HAD MY BRAKES DONE SO I KNOW THEY ARE OKAY. IT WORRIES ME THAT THE AIRBAG JUST RANDOMLY COMES ON. *TR

NHTSA ID
10648886
Incident
Oct 6, 2014
Mileage
80,448 mi
ElectricalFuel systemSteering
Filed Sep 30, 2014

I HAVE TWO MAJOR COMPLAINTS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WHILE IN THE "ON" POSITION AND IS HARD TO START. GM HAS CLAIMED THIS VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE IGNITION RECALL THE SECOND COMPLAINT, THE VEHICLE LEAKS FUEL FROM ABOVE THE TANK WHICH SEEMS TO BE TYPICAL TO SATURN VUES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10640249
Incident
Sep 8, 2014
Mileage
80,800 mi
AirbagsElectricalSteering
Filed Sep 5, 2014

MY 2007 SATURN VUE HAS GIVEN ME PROBLEMS WITH THE KEY, IGNITION, STEERING WHEEL AND AIR BAG LIGHT. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS TIMES WHERE THE KEY HAS GOTTEN STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND WON'T TURN OR COME OUT OF THE IGNITION, LEAVING ME STRANDED IN AND OUT OF TOWN. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN MANY TIMES THAT AFTER ENTERING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE KEY WILL NOT TURN TO START THE CAR. WHEN I TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, THE WARNING SIGNAL GOES OFF AND I HAVE TO PUT THE TIP OF THE KEY IN THE IGNITION JUST ENOUGH TO TRIGGER A PART OF THE SWITCH TO CLICK INTO PROPER PLACE. THESE THINGS ARE NOT NORMAL AND ARE DEFINITELY DEFECTIVE. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL JUST COME AN AT ANY GIVEN TIME. IT WORRIES ME THAT THEY WILL NOT DEPLOY WHEN I NEED IT OR THEY DEPLOY AS I'M DRIVING-A SERIOUS HAZARD. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY EVERY OTHER SATURN HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR DEFECTS OTHER THAN THE VUE FOR THESE VERY SAME ITEMS. DO THEY NOT ALL REQUIRE THE SAME PARTS OF WHICH WE SPEAK OF? THERE ARE ENOUGH VALID COMPLAINTS HERE AND TO COME TO RESPONSIBLY TAKE CARE OF THE MATTER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10630913
Incident
Oct 1, 2013
ElectricalSteering
Filed Aug 24, 2014

IGNITION KEY LOCKED IN PLACE AND WOULD NOT TURN ON OR UNLOCK STEERING WHEEL CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE IMMOBILE. THIS COULD CAUSE THE STEERING TO HAZARDIOUS IF THE STEERING LOCKED WHILE MOVING. OTHER GM VEHICLES, INCLUDING SATURNS HAVE HAD RECALLS ON THE IGNITION SWITCH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10627888
Incident
Aug 18, 2014
Mileage
129,000 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 3, 2014

I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT (TURNING RIGHT) ONTO STREET. THE POWER STEERING FAILED CAUSING ME TO SWING WIDE INTO MIDDLE LANE INSTEAD OF NEAREST LANE TO CURB. CAR TRAVELING IN MIDDLE LANE HAD TO BRAKE AND SWERVE TO AVOID HITTING ME. THE POWER STEERING IS FAILING INTERMITTENTLY ON THIS CAR, ESPECIALLY IN LOW SPEED SITUATIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10618505
Incident
Jul 23, 2014
Mileage
106,000 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Jul 24, 2014

AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, MY SATURN VUE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE IGNITION LOCK SYSTEM WHICH COST ME A FEE OF $141.12 TO HAVE IT REPLACED AT THE A-ABRA-CADABRA LOCK SERVICE IN AKRON, OHIO. THE PROBLEM WAS WHEN I INSERTED THE IGNITION KEY, SOMETIMES THE MOTOR WOULD START, AND SOMETIMES IT WOULDN'T. OFTENTIMES, I HAD TO SHAKE THE STEERING WHEEL TO GET THE IGNITION TO WORK. ALSO, SOMETIMES THE IGNITION KEY WAS DIFFICULT TO GET IN AND OUT OF ITS SLOT. BECAUSE OF THESE IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEMS, I FEARED AN ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO THE OWNER OF THE LOCK SERVICE SHOP, AT THAT TIME HIS INSTALLATION AT 09/27/10, THE REPLACEMENT MECHANISM WOULD EVENTUALLY GIVE ME THE SAME PROBLEMS, AND FAIL ONCE AGAIN. HE SAID IT WAS THE ONLY IGNITION SWITCH AVAILABLE FOR THIS VEHICLE, AND ONLY ONE MANUFACTURER SUPPLIER PRODUCED THE PART. HE SAID ALL OF THEM WERE DEFECTIVE. GM SHOULD IMMEDIATELY RECALL AND REPLACE THIS PART FOR THE SATURN VUE BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT IN THE IGNITION FAILURE. THIS SAME IGNITION SWITCH HAS ALREADY BEEN RECALLED AND REPLACED IN THE SATURN ION AND OTHER GM VEHICLES. WHY NOT THE SATURN VUE? *TR

NHTSA ID
10616051
Incident
Sep 27, 2010
Mileage
23,000 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Jul 17, 2014

I HAVE TO TURN THE WHEEL BACK AND FORTH SEVERAL TIMES AND STEP ON THE GAS A LITTLE TO UNLOCK THE WHEEL AND START THE CAR. IT'S BEEN DOING THIS REGULARLY SINCE WINTER. I DON'T HAVE ANY BIG KEY RINGS, ETC., SO THAT SHOULDN'T BE WHY IT'S DOING THAT. ALSO, THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEN NO ONE IS SITTING THERE. IN ADDITION, A FEW TIMES MY CAR HAS STALLED OUT IN TRAFFIC. THERE IS SOMETHING GOING ON WITH THIS MODEL YEAR SATURN VUE ESPECIALLY SINCE I'VE READ MANY COMPLAINTS OF AN IDENTICAL NATURE. PLEASE RECALL THIS YEAR AS WELL AND GET THESE PROBLEMS FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10611247
Incident
Feb 25, 2014
Mileage
100,000 mi
AirbagsEngineSteering
Filed Jul 13, 2014

THE IGNITION WILL LOCK UP AND YOU HAVE TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH WHILE YOU ARE TURNING THE KEY TRYING TO GET TO START. WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD (USUALLY IN 4TH GEAR) THE GAS PEDDLE WILL STOP WORKING, YOU CAN PUT IT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND GET NOTHING. I USUALLY CAN PUSH THE CLUTCH IN AND MAKE IT WORK AGAIN.THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL COME ON WHEN NO ONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10610167
Incident
May 28, 2014
Mileage
128,000 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Jun 18, 2014

THE KEY HAS HAD MANY INSTANCES OF TROUBLE INSERTING OR REMOVING FROM THE IGNITION. THE KEY CAN ALSO BE REMOVED WHILE IN ANY OF THE POSITIONS. AT TIMES THE KEY ALSO HAS TROUBLE TURNING BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT POSITIONS. SEEMS TO BE THE SAME ISSUE THAT MANY SIMILAR MODEL YEAR SATURN VEHICLES ARE HAVING. I VENTURE THE PROBLEM IS IMPACTING MORE VEHICLES THAN GM IS WILLING TO ADMIT. THE LONGER IT CAN PUSH OF THE REPAIR THE LESS COSTLY IT IS TO THE COMPANY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10604377
Incident
May 12, 2010

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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