RoadVitals

2008 Saturn Vue Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure 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.
15
Latest Dec 30, 2024
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.
4%
of 406 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.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Saturn Vue submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 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 body or structure

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structurePowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 30, 2024

Excessive frame rust at 107,000 miles. Major holes and chunks of supporting materials are missing. This is near the rear subframe on both sides of the vahicle. Makes it dangerous to drive and should be recalled by GM

NHTSA ID
11633260
Incident
Dec 30, 2024
Body & structureExterior lightingPowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 16, 2020

I HAVE REPLACED MY HEADLIGHTS 4 TIMES(BOTH SIDES) AND WIRE HARNESS KEEPS MELTING. I HAVE MADE A COMPLAINT BEFORE AND RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. I HAVE NOW PURCHASED THE WIRE HARNESS AND I HOPE THIS WILL NOT BURN ALSO. 2. THE CAR JUMPS WHEN SHIFTING IN REVERSE WHICH INDICATES THE PARKING PAWL. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR OVER A YEAR NOW AND NO RESPONSE RETURNED. 3. WATER IS LEAKING INTO MY CAR. THE FRONT AND BACKSEAT FLOORS ARE SOAKED. LOOKS LIKE THE SEAL AROUND THE FIREWALL IS NOT SEALING PROPERLY. I SAW MULTIPLE PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE ON THE 2008-2010 SATURN VUE. WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL? THIS COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ELECTRICAL ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
11321338
Incident
Mar 1, 2020
Mileage
160,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalExterior lighting+1 more
Filed Apr 13, 2018

NOW THIS IS LIKE THE 5TH TIME I THINK I HAVE WROTE A LETTER TO THIS COMPANY AND NO ONE HAS ANSWERED ME I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR BEING PARKED ON A HILL AND IT ROLLS BACKWARDS WHEN NO ONE'S INSIDE OF IT AND OTHER LITTLE THINGS THATS ON THE SATURN RECALL BUT MY CAR IS NOT ON THE LIST. BUT NOW I'M HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY BACK DOOR NOT SHUTTING WHEN I SHUT IT IT OPENS UNEXPECTENTLY. IN THE WORDS OF CAR TALK IT'S CALLED 1. TRANSMISSION CASE POROSITY AT PARK PAWL 2. OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE STICKS/BIND. ALSO THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ON THE TRANS STICK IS OUT, MY WARNING DASH BOARDS LIGHT COME IN FOR NO REASON 1ST IT WAS OIL LIGHT WHICH I RECEIVED AN OIL CHANGE A MONTH AGO AND NOW IT'S THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, CAR ALARM GOES OFF WHEN THE BACK DOOR ACTS UP. NOW I HOPE TO HERE FROM SOMEONE SOON. I MIGHT GO TO THE NEWS CAUSE I NEED HELP AND YOU PEOPLE NOT HELPING SO THAT MIGHT MAKE U MOVE FASTER. BUT IF I DIE OF MY CAR ROLLS AWAY AND KILLS ONE OF THESE KIDS OUTSIDE I WILL SUE YOU PEOPLE SO HARD. WAITING FOR AN AWSER BYE. FYI IVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN 2014.

NHTSA ID
11085014
Incident
Apr 4, 2018
Mileage
115,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 11, 2018

HOOD STRUTS FAILED AT 48,000 MI AND HOOD SLAMMED SHUT WHILE CHANGING OIL.. NEW STRUTS WERE INSTALLED .

NHTSA ID
11062249
Incident
Apr 12, 2017
Mileage
48,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 20, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED MORE THAN A YEAR AGO AND THE DEALER (KENNY ROSS CHEVROLET NORTH, 22010 PERRY HWY, ZELIENOPLE, PA 16063, (724) 609-5069) MADE NO MENTION OF THE RUST ON THE UNDERBODY OF THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR A STATE INSPECTION WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS EXTENSIVE RUST AND CORROSION ON THE SUBFRAME MAINLY NEAR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE MECHANIC AT THE INSPECTION STATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO RECALL CAMPAIGN TO ADDRESS THE REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

NHTSA ID
11006618
Incident
Aug 10, 2015
Mileage
89,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 23, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS EXTENSIVE RUST AND CORROSION AT THE MIDWAY POINT FROM THE CHANNEL TO THE FRAME. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO SOLUTION. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 03/17/17*LJ

NHTSA ID
10947092
Incident
Nov 7, 2016
Body & structure
Filed May 11, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,955.

NHTSA ID
10864412
Incident
May 7, 2016
Mileage
157,955 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 26, 2016

HOOD LATCH CABLE FAILED. HOOD WAS SHUT BUT STARTED TO LIFT AND VIBRATE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. ALSO REAR LIFT GATE ELECTRICAL FAILED. COULD NOT OPEN. HAD LOTS OF GROCERIES IN REAR FORCING US TO PULL REAR SEATS DOWN TO RETRIEVE. WHY NO KEY HOLE TO OPEN. SOMEONE DROPPED THE BALL. LIGHT SHIELD ON OVERHEAD PANEL FALLS OUT CONSTANTLY.

NHTSA ID
10822410
Incident
May 1, 2015
Mileage
115,000 mi
Body & structureEngineOther / unspecified
Filed Aug 16, 2015
Crash reported

I HAD BEEN OUT TO LUNCH AND WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING PLACE IN MY WORKPLACE PARKING LOT. I EASED INTO THE PARKING SPACE AND NUDGED THE GAS TO GET COMPLETELY IN THE SPACE. WHEN I NUDGED THE GAS, MY CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WITH SUCH A FORCE THE CAR WENT OVER A CONCRETE BARRIER IN THE PARKING SPACE AND I THEN HIT A BRICK AND CONCRETE WALL THAT WAS KNOCKED DOWN. AN IRON RAILING WAS ON TOP OF THE CONCRETE AND THAT GOT SMASHED AS WELL. MY CAR WAS MOVING AT SUCH A FAST AND FURIOUS SPEED I HAD NO CONTROL OVER IT. AS A RESULT, MY CAR WAS TOTALED DUE TO THE REPAIRS THAT WERE NECESSARY. THIS EXACT THING HAPPENED EXACTLY THREE YEARS AGO IN THIS CAR AND IT WAS THE SAME SITUATION. I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING PLACE AT A SHOPPING MALL AND AS I EASED ON THE GAS TO PULL INTO THE SPACE, AGAIN, MY CAR ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AND I HIT A TRUCK THAT WAS IN THE SPACE IN FRONT OF WHERE I WAS PULLING IN AND MY CAR STOPPED WHEN IT HIT THE CAR NEXT TO THE TRUCK. MY CAR WAS REPAIRABLE. THANKFULLY, BOTH OF THESE TIMES I WAS IN THE CAR ALONE. I HAVE CALLED GM/SATURN AND MADE A COMPLAINT WITH THEM. ...UPDATED 09/28/15*BF

NHTSA ID
10748967
Incident
Aug 10, 2015
Mileage
106,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Mar 13, 2015

I WENT TO OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR AND THE EXTERIOR HANDLE JUST BROKE. THE BREAKAGE POINT OCCURRED "INSIDE" THE DOOR, AT THE REAR PORTION OF THE HANDLE. FROM THE OUTSIDE THE DRIVER IS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. I MUST ENTER THE VEHICLE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE TO USE THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE, TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR. THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE IS STILL ATTACHED ON THE FRONT END BUT IS COMPLETELY UNUSABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10694163
Incident
Mar 13, 2015
Mileage
92,612 mi
Body & structureBrakesEngine
Filed May 5, 2014
Fire reported

I WAS DRIVING DOWN FM 1960 I SAW WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THROUGH THE VENTS. I TURNED OFF THE AIR CONDITION; THEN GREY SMOKE START BEING VISIBLE FROM THE UNDER THE HOOD. I CAME TO A YELLOW LIGHT AND TRIED TO BRAKE BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. WHEN I WAS ABLE TO GET THE TRUCK TO STOP, A CLOUD OF BLACK SMOKE CAME FROM THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT AND FLOOR BOARD AREAS. I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND ABOUT 30 SECONDS LATER THE FLAMES ENGULFED THE TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10586571
Incident
May 2, 2014
Mileage
234,000 mi
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed Dec 12, 2010

SAFETY RECALL FOR 2008 SATURN VUE WITH SAME COLOR DOOR HANDLES WOULD BE REPLACED WITH CHROME HANDLES. MY 2008 SATURN VUE HAS THE SAME COLOR DOOR HANDLES AND WHEN I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE HANDLES BECAUSE THE VIN WASN'T PART OF THE RECALL. HOWEVER, MY DOOR HANDLES HAVE STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION SEVERAL TIMES. KNOWING OF THE RECALL, I'M VERY CAREFUL TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DOOR HANDLE LATCHES AND THE DOOR CLOSES. ALTHOUGH I'M CAREFUL, MY PASSENGERS MAY NOT NOTICE IT AND COULD POSSIBLY HAVE THE DOOR OPEN ON THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10370276
Incident
May 1, 2009
Mileage
60,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 29, 2010

DOOR HANDLE STICKS IN OPEN POSITION. THE DOOR HAS FLOWN OPEN WHILE DRIVING TWICE DUE TO THIS DEFECTIVE HANDLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10346239
Incident
Jul 3, 2010
Mileage
40,000 mi
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed Feb 25, 2010

ON 2/23/09- MY HUSBAND OPENED THE HATCHBACK OF MY 2008 SATURN VUE. HE NOTICED THE HATCHBACK A BIT HEAVY AND AFTER LIFTING IT, HE NATURALLY LET IT GO. I WAS ALREADY STARTING TO PUT GROCERIES WHEN THE DOOR FELL DOWN. LUCKILY, MY HUSBAND WAS QUICK AND CAUGHT THE DOOR BEFORE IT CRUSHED MY ARM. HE OPENED IT AGAIN AND THEN REALIZED THE PNEUMATIC LIFTS WERE NOT WORKING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10314206
Incident
Feb 23, 2010
Mileage
19,900 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 6, 2008
1 injury reported

UPON GETTING IN MY TRUCK THE CHANGE TRAY WAS SLIGHTLY OPEN . I GOT IN AND IT CUT MY RIGHT LEG ONE INCH DOWN FROM MY KNEE. IT BEGAN TO BLEED AND SKIN WAS LEFT ON THE SHARP PART OF THE TRAY. IT HAS LEFT A SCAR AND I WANT TO ADVISE YOU HOW SERIOUS IT WAS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10237290
Incident
Jul 25, 2008
Mileage
8,723 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .