2008 Saturn Vue Steering Problems

I noticed a few days ago that the wheel was getting harder to turn so I made a maintenance appointment for Saturday I was driving to work in Texas in Fort Worth coming from Arlington today and smoke started coming from under the hood I pulled over and it was smoking I was on the highway so to get off the highway in a safe area I had to drive about 5 more miles up the road to the next exit so I started driving it didn’t smoke right off so a couple of minutes into the drive it starts smoking so I finally get to the exit smoke is now coming through the vents , I hurry and pull over and go to open the door it wouldn’t open I then I climb over and get out the back door I go into the business parking lot at this point it’s engulfed in black smoke and then it starts burning.

NHTSA ID

11733687

Incident

Apr 24, 2026

The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Vue. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact heard an abnormal grinding sound coming from under the dashboard on the passenger’s side. The contact stated that the abnormal grinding sound was also heard while the gear shifter was in park(P). There was no warning light illuminated. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed that there was power steering fluid leaking from the vehicle. The contact added power steering fluid to the vehicle; however, the power steering fluid was leaking while driving. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring increasingly. The contact stated that the power steering fluid leaked out entirely after driving for a short distance. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the power steering fluid was leaking. The contact stated that a clamp was added and the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11637489

Incident

Jun 10, 2024

The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Vue. The contact stated while driving from a complete stop, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The power steering warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V470000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 173,445.

NHTSA ID

11626603

Incident

Nov 20, 2024

Mileage

173,445 mi

2008 Saturn vue AWD. Steering wheel is very difficult to turn while driving. There is a lot of resistance. No leaking fluid visible and no visible loss of fluid levels. Transmission was torn down/repaired in 2017 for metal bits present at 95,000 (approximate) miles. It is currently at 107,600 miles. Transmission gets stuck in lower gear and rpms Rev up without the vehicle gaining acceleration. The tear down/rebuild was due to bad 3 5 wave plate also and seems to be replicating the issue again. Check engine light comes on amd goes off intermittently and cannot get issue to replicate at the mechanics. Key has also gotten stuck in the barrel. Took almost 2 hours to try numerous ways to get it to release-also had to unlock manually on the door handle, none of the lights inside worked and when it was able to get started it was very slow and deliberate. Battery appeared to be dead but after jump starting and taking to have it checked, battery was found to be fine. These are serious concerns regarding the vehicle as 1 or all could cause serious damage to the driver and others on the road. It happened again today with the high rpms and low gear/not shifting to next gear.

NHTSA ID

11612064

Incident

Sep 2, 2024

The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Vue. The contact stated that there was oil leaking underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V470000 (Steering) and referred the contact to the manufacturer. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was not under recall and that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V470000 (Steering). The failure mileage was 83,000.

NHTSA ID

11526529

Incident

Jun 5, 2023

Mileage

83,000 mi

The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Vue. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed that there was no power steering fluid. The contact added power steering fluid to the vehicle; however, the power steering fluid was leaking while driving. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring increasingly. The contact stated that the power steering fluid would leak entirely after an hour drive. Additionally, the contact stated that the leak was more significant while the vehicle was parked. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V470000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

NHTSA ID

11508614

Incident

Oct 22, 2022

Mileage

170,000 mi

The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Vue. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel was difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.

NHTSA ID

11440762

Incident

Oct 17, 2021

Mileage

79,000 mi

While driving on the freeway, something weird happened with the steering wheel & my daughter lost control of her vehicle. She crashed into the brick wall on the freeway & totaled her vehicle. She was hospitalized & had to have surgery to repair a broken jaw (in two places), fractured bone under her left eye, & other various fractures in her face. Her teeth were also knocked out of alignment on the bottom.

NHTSA ID

11438900

Incident

Oct 15, 2021

The contact's cousin owns a 2008 Saturn Vue. The contact stated that while his cousin was driving 65 MPH, the power steering locked which caused the vehicle to veer off to the left side off the highway across three lanes of traffic. The contact's cousin was able to stop the vehicle on the shoulder of the highway. The contact stated that he was uncertain if any warning lights had illuminated prior to or during the failure. After some time, his cousin was able to restart the vehicle and the power steering returned with normal operation. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that there was no recall on the vehicle. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11433819

Incident

Sep 20, 2021

IT IS HARD TO TURN WHEN IT SIT IDLE, AND THE STEERING WHEEL ONLY LOOSENES UP WHEN I PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL, WITCH MAKES IT HARD TO PARK OR TURN WHEN AT A GREEN LIGHT OR STOP SIGN AND WHEN I REVERSE OR NEED TO GO FORWARD AND TURN A LITTLE BIT IN SMALL SPACES TO ADJUST THE PLACEMENT OF WHICH MY VEHICLE IS IN ITS TO DANGEROUS BECAUSE IN ORDER TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL YOU HAVE TO PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE IN MOTION FOR THE STEERING WHEEL TO MOVE WITHOUT HAVING TO USE SO MUCH STRENGTH TO FORCE IT TO TURN.

NHTSA ID

11407346

Incident

Apr 1, 2021

Mileage

176,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR WOULD BEEP 3 TIME WHILE LIGHTS FLASH ON THE DASH. I WOULD LOSE POWER STEERING AND THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT OFF. ... USUALLY WOULD START BACK UP IF I WAITED LONG ENOUGH. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME QUITE A FEW TIMES. I HAVE BEEN ALSO ON A STREET GOING 35 MILES AN HOUR AND SAME THING WOULD HAPPEN. THE LAST TIME I TRIED TO DRIVE IT I PUT MY KEYS IN AND CANT GET THEM OUT. .

NHTSA ID

11361453

Incident

Apr 5, 2018

Mileage

134,000 mi

MY CAR STEERING GOES IN AND OUT LOUD WHINING NOISE LIKE I'M GONNA LOSE CONTROL GOT RAN AND PINION REPLACED AND POWER STEERING PUMP SO WHAT CAN STILL BE THE PROBLEM ALSO JUST REPLACE CONTROL MODULE FOR TRANSMISSION AND NOW LIGHT JUST CAME BACK ON 3 MONTHS AFTER GETTING FIXED SAME CODE P0700

NHTSA ID

11361220

Incident

Mar 21, 2018

MAY HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE NUT SECURING THE POWER STEERING LINE TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAY LOOSEN. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THERE MAY BE A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK. SATURN WAS IN MOTION WHEN THIS OCCURRED.

NHTSA ID

11328782

Incident

Jun 13, 2020

Mileage

181,500 mi

FOR THE LAST YEAR, WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, AND WHILE STOPPED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF. IT WON'T RESTART FOR A FEW MINUTES, SOMETIMES IT WILL RESTART ON FIRST TRY. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (I'M GUESSING) MAKES A LOT OF CLICKING NOISES-FROM THE ENGINE AND INSIDE THE CAR-DASHBOARD LIGHTS WILL FLICKER, ELECTRIC DOOR AND WINDOW LIGHTS ON DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL FLICKER, AIRBAGS, HAZARDS, RADIO LIGHTS WILL ALL FLICKER, AND WINDOWS WON'T GO UP OR DOWN, OR WILL SLIGHTLY, DOOR LOCKS WON'T OPERATE, ETC. ELECTRICAL ISSUES STARTED THE SAME NIGHT I PURCHASED IT SEPT. 2017 WHEN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WENT HAYWIRE AND THE ENGINE DIED AND ALL THE ELECTRICAL LIGHT FLICKERED. THE DEALER HAD IT HOOKED UP TO A BATTERY CHARGER THE NEXT DAY AND THE BATTERY DIED. IN ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE, WE OPEN AND SHUT DOORS, TRY TO USE ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS (WINDOWS, DOOR LOCKS ETC.), AND THAT SEEMS TO HELP, AS AFTER A FEW MINUTES IT WILL START, SEEMINGLY FROM OPENING AND CLOSING DOORS AND THE HATCHBACK. THE DOORS WILL NOT LOCK VIA THE DOOR LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE KEY FOB. WHEN DOORS ARE LOCKED AND ALARM IS SET VIA KEYFOB (LIGHTS WILL FLASH AND ALARM NOISE WILL GIVE NOISE TO CONFIRM IT), HOWEVER, THE DOORS WILL OPEN BY JUST PULLING ON THE HANDLE, AND ALARM WILL GO OFF. THE STEERING HAS A LEAK THAT LEAKS OUT ALL THE FLUID IN A DAY OR TWO, AS WELL.

NHTSA ID

11287918

Incident

Dec 3, 2019

Mileage

70,000 mi

TROUBLE WITH MY STEERING!! IT'S BAD I FEAR THE SAFETY FOR MY FAMILY!!!THE PROBLEM HAPENNED WHILE IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY 6!!

NHTSA ID

11280711

Incident

Aug 19, 2019

Mileage

10 mi

THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND IS HARD TO TURN! THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE I LOOKED IT UP AND IT WAS A RECALL!! I NEED TO KNOW THE STEPS TO ACCESS HOW TO GET IT FIXED!! THE VEHICLE WAS DRIP AT THE TIME AND THE INFORMATION CENTER HAS A LIGHT THAT CAME ON.

NHTSA ID

11280710

Incident

Aug 19, 2019

Mileage

10 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING HAD TO BE REPLACED THREE TIMES SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE ORIGINAL OWNER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT REFUSED TO CONTINUE REPAIRING THE POWER STEERING AT HER EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFUSED TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EACH POWER STEERING REPAIR LASTED ONE YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED FROM LINDSAY CHEVROLET (15605 JEFFERSON DAVIS HWY, WOODBRIDGE, VA 22191, (571) 200-4754). THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

NHTSA ID

11244340

Incident

Jun 1, 2011

Mileage

66,000 mi

MY STEERING TIGTHRNS UP WHEN I AM IN REVERSE OR DRIVE AND THE WAY I GET IT TO LOSSEN IS PUTTING BACK BACK I DRIVE AND MOIVN THEN BACK IN REVERSE

NHTSA ID

11230564

Incident

Jun 24, 2019

Mileage

138,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11210567

Incident

May 28, 2019

Mileage

180,000 mi

HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN TWICE DUE TO ANTI LOCK BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL ISSUES. BOTH SYSTEM LIGHTS ARE ON THE DASH. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT BUT THE ONLY FIX IS A STEERING COLUMN WHICH ARE HARD TO FIND. HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 2 YEARS

NHTSA ID

11187215

Incident

Mar 15, 2019

ON FRIDAY OCTOBER 26, 2018, MY BATTERY DIED. I HAD IT REPLACED AFTER THE TOW COMPANY DIAGNOSED IT. IT WAS LATER DISCOVERED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS MALFUNCTIONG. MY CAR ON A BUSY INTERSECTION JUST DIED WITH ON COMING HEAVY TRAFFIC. I COULD NOT MOVE OR PUT IT IN NUETURAL TO MOVE IT. IT HAD TO BE JUMPED IN ORDER TO CLEAR THE DANGEROUS SITUATION. MY CONCERN THAT THE CAR JUST LOCKED UP, NO POWER OR ABILITY TO MOVE. I COULD NOT USE MY HAZARD LIGHTS. A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND THEN I WAS ACCELERATING THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN EVERYTHING WENT DARK. PLEASE ADVISE OF WHAT TYPE OF DOCUMENTATION YOU WILL NEED FOR THIS FILE? I AM JUST WRITING BECAUSE THIS WAS A SAFETY RELATED MALFUNCTIONING THAT WAS LIFE THREATENING.

NHTSA ID

11144514

Incident

Oct 27, 2018

Mileage

194,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL - NO POWER STEERING WHEN MAKING SHARP TURNS AND PULLING INTO PARKING SPOTS. TOOK TO DEALER WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED NEW POWER STEERING PUMP AND STEERING GEERS. MILEAGE 116787

NHTSA ID

11132148

Incident

Jul 2, 2018

Mileage

116,787 mi

THE VEHICLE IS HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRIC STEERING. UNLIKE THE FULLY FUNCTIONAL POWER STEERING WHEEL DOES, IT MAKES THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE FEEL UNSAFE. IT FEELS EXTREMELY OBVIOUS WHEN MAKING SHARP TURNS, WHICH COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ID

11129400

Incident

Sep 9, 2018

POWER STEERING DOEN NOT WORK

NHTSA ID

11121824

Incident

Jul 21, 2018

Mileage

155,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT STEERING WHEEL FLUID WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

11114532

Incident

Jul 12, 2018

Mileage

140,000 mi