2007 Saturn Vue Suspension Problems

The brackets welded to the frame of the vehicle holding the steering knuckle/subframe together was designed in a very poor way. This design issue causes the vehicle to collect excess moisture in a way that is difficult if not impossible to drain, resulting in eventual rust build up in this area of the vehicle at an increased rate. Additionally, this section of the frame did not use thick enough steel, resulting in this bracket rusting off much quicker than the age of this vehicle should allow. This resulted in the engine dropping about an inch and a half, damage to the suspension, gasket and valve cover leaks, damaged wheel hubs, and general inoperability of the vehicle due to unsafe conditions created. It's unsafe driving condition has been confirmed by the lead mechanics at our GM Dealership, and is currently undergoing inspection by GEICO for a possible total loss claim. No indications were given other than excessive wear on the wheel hubs shortly before the engine dropped and the corner of the frame rusted/broke off. We live in a salt state yes, but the poor design of this frame is to blame and should be recalled for total replacement by the manufacturers due to the incredible safety risk that this poses to the public.

NHTSA ID

11501729

Incident

May 4, 2022

LOWER CONTOL ARM LEFT REAR SUSPENTION,PULLED OUT OF MOUNT. BODY RUSTED AND MAIN COMPONENT PULLED OUT CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL .

NHTSA ID

11118685

Incident

Jul 28, 2018

Mileage

157,228 mi

CARS SHAKES AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50

NHTSA ID

11044321

Incident

Aug 1, 2015

Mileage

65,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A GRINDING TYPE NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL AND THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARING WAS FAULTY. THE BEARING WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INDICATING THAT THE SYSTEM WAS TURNED OFF ALTHOUGH A PASSENGER WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE FAILURES WERE NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID

10746928

Incident

Aug 1, 2011

Mileage

70,000 mi

DRIVING ALONG AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS HAD TO AVOID HITTING A VEHICLE AFTER BEING CUT OFF. THIS RESULTED IN USING GREATER THAN USUAL BRAKE FORCEAT THAT MOMENT, HEARD POP NOISE WHICH CAME FROM REAR OF VEHICLE THEN VEHICLE VEERED TO RIGHT AT THE SAME INSTANT STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO MOVE CLOCKWISE AND COUNTER CLOCKWISE RAPIDLY. HAD TO BRING VEHICLE UNDER 35 MPH TO GET STEERING UNDER CONTROL (ALMOST LOST CONTROL INTO CEMENT BARRIER) WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE BACK TO SPEED LIMIT VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY FOR ALMOST 2 MILES UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF HIGHWAY. WHEN BRAKING ON OFF RAMP VEHICLE VEERED TO RIGHT ! LATER THAT DAY HAD VEHICLE CHECKED AND TECH FOUND REAR SUBFRAME BOLT HAD LOST ITS HEAD (LITERALLY) APPEARED TO BE BADLY RUSTED BELOW DEPTH OF SUBFRAME.. BOLT WAS REPLACED AND ALIGNMENT CHECKED,TWO DAYS LATER LEFT FRONT WHEEL LOCKS WHEN COMING TO STOP OR WHEN BRAKES ARE PUMPED 2-3 APPLICATIONS. HAD FRONT PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED BRAKES FLUSHED.,REAR BRAKES CHECKED AND SERVICED. NO INDICATION OF STICKING CALIPERS OR FLEX HOSE ISSUES. . VEHICLE HAS ALSO EXPERIENCED UN EXPLAINED WIDE OPEN THROTTLE WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED MORE THAN 50 PERCENT. NEARLY REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN WOT OCCURRED. THESE ISSUES ALONG WITH IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM HAVE DRAINED MY POCKETBOOK. NEVER HAVE I ENCOUNTERED THIS MANY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES WITH ANY OF MY PREVIOUS VEHICLES WHICH I OWNED. . *TR

NHTSA ID

10712115

Incident

Jan 6, 2014

Mileage

115,000 mi

PULLED OUT OF A GAS STATION ON MARCH 20, 2013 AND HEARD SOMETHING FALL IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND DRAG THE GROUND. PULLED OFF TO SEE WHAT IT WAS AND THERE WAS A BAR HANGING DOWN FROM THE CAR. TESTED THE CAR OUT AND IT WAS DRIVING AND STEERING FINE SO DROVE HOME. TRIED TO GO TO A GM DEALERSHIP (DUBLIN BYERS, DUBLIN, OH). THEIR HOURS SAID THEY WERE OPEN UNTIL 6:00 P.M AND IT WAS 5:45 P.M. BEEPED THE HORN AND THEY DID NOT ANSWER. WAS TAKING THE CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP ON THE 22ND TO GET A WHEEL BEARING REPLACED AND CALLED AND LEFT THEM A MESSAGE TO TELL THEM WHAT HAPPENED. CHECKED MY CAR OUT ON MARCH 21, 2013 AND TOLD ME IT WAS THE STABILIZER BAR (SWAY BAR). I BELIEVE THIS HAS BEEN BROKEN FOR QUITE SOME TIME BUT WHEN I WENT DOWN THE SLIGHT EMBANKMENT AT THE GAS STATION APPARENTLY THAT WAS ALL IT NEEDED TO FALL DOWN. IT IS A VERY CLEAN BREAK AND DID NOT BREAK AT THE BOLTS BUT IN THE MIDDLE. APPARENTLY THIS IS HAPPENING TO A NUMBER OF CARS AS FOLKS HAVE BEEN PUTTING IT ON THE INTERNET. I DID MAKE A COMPLAINT TO GM SATURN ON-LINE AND THEY HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH ME AND WANTED ME TO TAKE THE STABILIZER BAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT IT TOOK A WHILE TO GET THROUGH TO THE SERVICE MANAGER. WENT TODAY AND HE NEVER EVEN CAME OUT AND MET ME. HE HAD ONE OF THE SERVICE TEAM MEMBERS JUST TAKE THE INFORMATION DOWN AND THEY MADE A COPY OF MY REPAIR BILL AND TOOK MY PHONE NUMBER AND SAID THEY WILL SUBMIT IT TO GM. I HEARD THAT THEY ARE STILL HAVING ISSUES WITH THE STABILIZER BAR ON THE NEW VEHICLES AS WELL. I BELIEVE THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THESE AND AM HOPING THEY REIMBURSE ME FOR THE PART. I AM INCLINED TO BELIEVE THESE PARTS ARE NOT SOLID METAL THAT THERE COULD BE SOME FILLER IN THEM AND BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. I CAN SEND YOU A PHOTO OF MY PART IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10505440

Incident

Mar 20, 2013

Mileage

92,250 mi

FRONT STABILIZER BAR BROKE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. 1 INCH THICK BAR SNAPPED LEAVING PARTS DRAGGING, ABS SYSTEM INACTIVE AND CAR UNEXPECTEDLY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. LUCKILY THE CAR WAS NOT BEING DRIVEN AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10435614

Incident

Oct 30, 2011

Mileage

85,000 mi

FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED AT 83500 AND ALREADY MAKING NOISE AGAIN AT 85,400 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10425201

Incident

Aug 3, 2011

Mileage

83,500 mi

I PURCHASED A 2007 SATURN VUE IN 2009. I WAS NEVER TOLD OR MADE AWARE THAT THE TIE ROD ATTACHED TO THE TWO FRONT TIRES WAS ALMOST BROKEN. ONE DAY DRIVING VERY LOCALLY, IT BROKE AND WAS HANGING THERE TIL I GOT HOME. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE REMOVED IT TELLING ME I HAD TO REPLACE IT WHICH WILL COST $323. I WAS ALSO TOLD BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY THIS VEHICLE WAS IN TWO ACCIDENTS PRIOR TO MY PURCHASING IT BUT I WAS NEVER TOLD OF THAT EITHER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10403968

Incident

Nov 10, 2010

Mileage

70,000 mi

DRIVING ~20MPH ON DIRT ROAD FOR 7 MILES WHEN SMELLED HOT OIL. DETERMINED THAT BOTH SHOCKS HAD BLOWN OUT THEIR GREASE AND THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING OUT OF BOTH REAR SHOCKS. SHOCKS STOPPED SMOKING WITHIN 30 MINUTES OF LETTING CAR SET, SHOCKS ARE NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL. WONDERING IF IT WOULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE IF WE HADN'T STOPPED IMMEDIATELY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10324499

Incident

Mar 29, 2010

Mileage

53,000 mi