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.
38
Latest Oct 7, 2025
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.
32%
of 118 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.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2
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 2009 Saturn Vue submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 38 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 38, in the owner's own words
The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Vue. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel became inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel became difficult to turn and was inoperable while attempting to reverse. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 113,000.
NHTSA ID
11691955
Incident
Oct 7, 2025
Mileage
113,000 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 20, 2024
Vehicle has lost power steering. Difficult to steer especially in reverse and sometimes in turning left. If wheels are not completely straight, you have turn with all the strength you can muster. Reluctant to turn left unless you have twice as much time as you should need to avoid an accident.
NHTSA ID
11615531
Incident
Jan 1, 2024
Steering
Filed Jan 7, 2022
The power steering goes out especially at lower speeds are from take off ,it takes every thing you have to turn wheel it has almost caused me two accidents, fluid level is fine, makes no unusual noise steering just goes out making it very dangerous to turn to the right are left & very difficult to turn from a complete stop .No one has figured the problem out & its my only vehicle there is definitely a Manufacture problem with the steering in this vehicle
NHTSA ID
11446620
Incident
Dec 28, 2021
Steering
Filed Jun 8, 2021
the car stable trak light comes on for service then the power steering service light comes and I lose power steering and power of my car this happened at 60mph on the highway, shut the car off for 5 mins and everything went back to normal then it happened again proceeded to do the same thing and it went back to normail
NHTSA ID
11420066
Incident
Jun 5, 2021
Steering
Filed Sep 7, 2020
VEHICLE HAS A HIGH WHINING SOUND ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING AS WELL AS WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION YOU CAN TELL SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT WITH THE STEERING ALMOST LIKE IT'S GETTING STUCK IN EITHER DIRECTION
NHTSA ID
11353556
Incident
Apr 9, 2020
Mileage
81,000 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 1, 2020
CARE WAS PARKED IN STORE PARKING LOT. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, KEY WOULD NOT MOVE FROM ACC TO PARK. CAR WOULD START, BUT NO MATTER WHAT I TRIED, I COULD NOT REMOVE THE KEY. DROVE TO DEALER WHO TOLD ME IT WAS THE SHIFTER. GAVE ME A WORK-AROUND: MOVE AUTOMATIC GEAR TO M (MANUAL) THEN PUSH UP HARD TO P (PARK.). THE KEY COULD THEN BE REMOVED. THIS POSES A SAFETY ISSUE IF WORK-AROUND WAS NOT KNOWN. THERE'S A DANGER TO LEAVING THE CAR, UNABLE TO LOCK IT AND RUNNING THE BATTERY DOWN. IF THE CAR HAD BEEN IN A CRASH WITH THE NEED TO IMMEDIATELY LEAVE THE VEHICLE, THERE WOULD BE A RISK TO PASSENGERS, NEARBY PEDESTRIANS, OTHER DRIVERS AND PROPERTY. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER TO CONFIRM SERVICE NEEDED AND SET AN APPOINTMENT FOR SERVICE, I WAS TOLD THAT I SHOULD NOT WAIT AND COME IN IMMEDIATELY.
NHTSA ID
11342710
Incident
Jul 25, 2020
Mileage
96,580 mi
Steering
Filed Jun 13, 2020
THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING QUITS SEVERAL TIMES DURING A 2-3 MILE TRIP. THE WHEEL IS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN BUT DOES PIVOT THE FRONT TIRES. IT TAKES A LOT OF FORCE TO TURN THE WHEEL. *TR
NHTSA ID
11328714
Incident
Jun 8, 2018
Mileage
88,895 mi
Steering
Filed Oct 28, 2019
KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT AFTER PUTTING CAR IN PARK. TOOK IT TO MYERS AUTOWORLD, THEY FOUND THE SHIFTER SWITCH WAS BAD.
NHTSA ID
11271681
Incident
Sep 30, 2019
Mileage
121,000 mi
Driver assistanceSteering
Filed Aug 31, 2019
WHILE DRIVING POWER STEERING WENT OUT. DIFFICULT TO CONTROL OR TURN WHEEL. ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. FORTUNATELY WAS DRIVING 25MPH ON CITY STREET WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE IF ON INTERSTATE.
NHTSA ID
11252589
Incident
Aug 19, 2019
Steering
Filed Aug 28, 2019
"TAKATA RECALL" I HAVE A 2009 SATURN VUE I LOOSE MY POWER STEERING AT LOW SPEEDS WHILE TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT. IT TAKES TWO HANDS AND VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN.
NHTSA ID
11252053
Incident
Jun 30, 2019
Mileage
90,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jul 15, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PHIL SMITH CHEVROLET (LOCATED AT 1640 N STATE RD 7, LAUDERHILL, FL 33313, (954) 372-2576) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
NHTSA ID
11232036
Incident
Jun 26, 2019
Mileage
103,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jul 13, 2019
POWER STEERING LOCKED FROM TIME TO TIME. DEALER SAYS MODULE AND MOTOR AT THE POWER STEERING IS CAUSING THAT. THAT CAN HAPPEN WHETER THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND IN MOTION. VERY UNSAFE
NHTSA ID
11231636
Incident
Jun 26, 2019
Mileage
103,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed May 28, 2019
AT LESS THAN 35,500 MILES I HAD A POWER RACK LEAK AND RACK NEEDS TO REPLACED WITH A PRICE OF $1000. AT 62,000 MILES WE HAD TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP WITH A COST OF $700, AND NOW AT 64,000 MILES I FIND I HAVE A CRACKED WAVE PLATE IN THE TRANSMISSION THAT WILL COST ANOTHER $2,000.
NHTSA ID
11210317
Incident
May 24, 2019
Mileage
35,500 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 20, 2018
WE PURCHASED THIS CAR USED NOW HAS UNDER 90,000 MILES ON IT AND THE ENGINE STARTED LEAKING FROM ALL SEALS. $2700 TO REPAIR THIS NOW THE POWER STEERING SEEMS TO BE NOT WORKING MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. NO INDICATION OF ANY LEAKS JUST NOTICES WHEN THE GRINDING STARTED THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING FLUID ON THE DIP STICK. I SEE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FOR THIS PROBLEM AND GIVEN THE SAFETY ISSUE FEEL IT SHOULD BE RECALLED.
NHTSA ID
11121055
Incident
Jul 1, 2018
Mileage
89,173 mi
Steering
Filed Jul 6, 2018
I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 62,301 MILES ON IT. AT 90K MILES, I'M ON MY WAY TO WORK, AND WHILE DRIVING AROUND A CURVE I NOTICED A TUG LIKE FEELING IN MY STEERING WHEEL. I THOUGHT I WAS IMAGINING IT. BESIDES OF THAT LITTLE S CURVE, IT'S A STRAIT SHOT TO WORK. I NEEDED GAS, SO I WENT TO TURN INTO THE GAS STATION AND ALMOST HIT A TRUCK PARKED THERE BECAUSE I HAD NO STEERING. I TURNED THE WHEEL A FULL 360 AND LUCKILY MANAGED A TURN ENOUGH TO MISS THE GUYS TRUCK BY INCHES (LITERALLY). IN MY COMPLETE EMBARRASSMENT, I JUMP OUT APOLOGIZING AND TOLD HIM THE ISSUE. HE STATED HE SEEN ME CRANKING THE WHEEL AND FIGURED AS MUCH AND OFFERED TO CHECK THE STEERING FLUID FOR ME. ASTOUND TO FIND THERE WAS NOTHING TO CHECK. I TOOK IT TO LACLAIRS IN CHESANING MI, AND THIS IS WHAT THE REPAIR ORDER READS : POWER STEERINGQUIT WHILE DRIVING. AND NOW STEERING BINDS AND CLUNKS AND CAN BARELY TURN, SCANNED SYSTEM, BUT NO CODES STORED, CONTACTED TECH ASSIST CENTER..UNPOWERED STEERING ASSIST MOTOR THEN STEERING MODULE. CONDITION NO DUPLICATED, REPLACED STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY AND PERFORMED FRONT AND REAR ALIGNMENT AS NEEDED RESET FRONT AND REAR TOE. $672.33. I CHOSE THE REMANUFACTURED PART HOPING THAT WHAT EVER THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE ORIGINAL WOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED BEFORE THEY COULD PUT IT BACK ON THE SHELF, NOW, AT 131 K MILES, ONLY 42 K MILES SINCE THAT REPAIR, THE SAME ISSUE HAS RETURNED. NOW, I HAVE TO ONCE AGAIN PAY TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, AND ONCE AGAIN PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FROM MANY DIFFERENT YEARS FROM PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME YEAR WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT AND YET THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL MADE. I LOOKED UP THE RECALL INFORMATION WHEN I FIRST HAD THIS PROBLEM AND LIKE EVERYONE ELSE MY VIN WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, YET MY CAR HAS THE SAME ISSUE. IT'S NOT JUST THE POWER STEERING THAT FAILED, IT WAS ALL THE STEERING. A FULL 360 TURN AND ONLY MOVED LITTLE INCHS
NHTSA ID
11109883
Incident
Jul 6, 2018
Mileage
90,136 mi
Steering
Filed Dec 12, 2017
1 injury reported1 death reported
HI MY NAME IS [XXX]. I AM HAVING DIFFICULTIES WITH THE POWER STEERING IN MY 2009 SATURN VUE XE. THIS HAD BEEN ON ONGOING PROBLEM APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE WARRANTY ON MY SATURN IS NO LONGER NEEDED SERVICE. THE POWER STEERING PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN MUCH MORE WORSE OVER THE COURSE OF TIME. IT IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER OR TURN MY VUE. I AM A 65 YEAR OLD AND MY STRENGTH ISN'T WHERE IT USED TO BE. THE FIRST TIME THE STEERING WENT OUT I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR MY EXACT CAR MODEL. YES, I WAS TOLD THE RECALL WAS NOT FOR MY SPECIFIC MODEL. BUT, AS TIMES GET HARDER AND HARDER I REALLY DON'T HAVE THE FINANCES TO FIX THIS CAR. WOULD YOU GUYS BE WILLING TO EXTEND MY WARRANTY PLEASE TO GET THIS FIXED. THIS CAR IS AS MY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE ANYTHING IN YOUR SHIRTS THAT YOU COULD DO TO RESOLVE MY ISSUE. THANK YOU KINDLY AND GRACIOUS REGARDS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ID
11054381
Incident
Nov 2, 2017
Mileage
103,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Mar 29, 2017
PURCHASED VEHICLE WITH MILEAGE AT 25,394 5/28/2014 CURRENTLY TODAY, 3/29/2017 MILEAGE IS 53,588, AVERAGE USE PER YEAR 9,398. WITHIN THE MARCH 2017, 3/3/2017 HAD A TRANSMISSION REBUILT, 3/20/2017 CHECK ENGINE, STABILITRAK & TRACTION SIGNS FLASHING MAP SENSOR AND OXYGEN SENSORS WERE REPLACED, 3/29/2017, POWER STEERING LINE LEAK. UNDER 2009 SATURN VUE-V6 UTILITY 4D RED LINE AWD A RECALL #08284 WAS SITED ON SEP 16, 2008 WITH NHTSA ID# 08V470000. READING DESCRIPTION MY VEHICLE FALLS UNDER THE RECALL CONDITION BUT MY VIN# DOESN'T SHOW ANY RECALL ATTENTION REQUIRED. ON 3/20/2017, DEALER FOUND A RECALL 15806 ACTION 9102060 AND IT WAS CLEARED BUT I STILL CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLES STEERING. I CAN'T ACCELERATE AND HAVE DIFFICULTY STEERING TO LEFT OR RIGHT...
NHTSA ID
10969422
Incident
Mar 1, 2017
Mileage
53,385 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 2, 2017
WHILE TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS POWER STEERING GOES OUT. THE VEHICLE BECOMES HARD TO STEER.
NHTSA ID
10939028
Incident
Dec 21, 2016
Mileage
88,700 mi
Steering
Filed Feb 22, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND AN ABNORMAL SOUND EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE INLET PIPE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASION WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GEAR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE SHAFT WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,685. UPDATED 04/21/2016*LJ UPDATED 05/31/18*JB
NHTSA ID
10837447
Incident
Nov 22, 2011
Mileage
36,685 mi
Steering
Filed Feb 1, 2016
THE WHEEL IS HARD TO TURN WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AND MAKING TURNS TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT.IT HAPPENS WHEN EVER I MAKE A TURN IN DRIVE AND WHEN I AM BACKING UP FROM PARK. IT STARTED WHEN THE CAR MILAGE HIT OVER 100,000. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD WE NEEDED TO FLUSH THE POWER STEERING FLUID. WE DID THAT AND THE PROBLEM SITLL HAPPENS. IT STARTED AGAIN ABOUT 2 HOURS AFTER WE PICKED UP THE CAR. TOOK THE CAR BACK AND WAS TOLD THAT WE NEED TO CHANGE THE RACK AND THE PUMP. WILL COST ME OVER $1500. IS THIS ON A RECALL?
NHTSA ID
10823627
Incident
Sep 23, 2014
Mileage
100,000 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 3, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS A RECURRING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE R/R HUB SPEED SENSOR AND STEERING ANGLE SENSOR WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE STEERING R/R HUB WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
NHTSA ID
10745732
Incident
Jun 15, 2015
Mileage
106,000 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 3, 2015
WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE POWER STEERING SEEMED TO FAIL AND IT TOOK A GREAT DEAL OF STRENGTH TO COMPLETE THE TURN. I HAVE ALSO HAD THIS PROBLEM WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURNS. IT HAPPENS AT LOW SPEEDS BEING THAT IT HAPPENS WHEN TURNING. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIME. I SEE THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON SOME VEHICLES BUT NOT MINE FOR THE SAME TYPE OF ISSUE. I AM AFRAID THAT I WILL LOOSE CONTROL OF MY CAR. MY SERVICE CENTER, WHICH IS A SATURN AUTHORIZED DEALER MENTIONED A STEERING SENSOR, BUT I BELIEVE IT IS A POWER STEERING ISSUE. THEY TOLD ME THE REPAIR WOULD COST OVER $500.
NHTSA ID
10745715
Incident
Jun 17, 2015
Mileage
105,600 mi
Steering
Filed Jul 31, 2015
WHEN MAKING TURNS AT LOWER SPEEDS I HAVE TO USE TWO HANDS TO GET THE VEHICLE TO TURN AND THIS HAPPENS UNEXPECTEDLY AND HAS BEEN OCCURRING REGULARLY
NHTSA ID
10745192
Incident
Jul 1, 2015
Mileage
125,000 mi
Steering
Filed May 25, 2015
POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE TURNING AND VEHICLE HEADED INTO ONCOMING VEHICLE. WAS ABLE TO BRAKE AND STOP THE VEHICLE BEFORE CRASH AND STEERING CAME BACK AFTER SLOWING DOWN. DRIVER INFO CENTER SHOWED A POWER STEERING MESSAGE BUT WAS UNABLE TO READ IT BEFORE IT WENT AWAY.
NHTSA ID
10721320
Incident
May 24, 2015
Mileage
85,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 6, 2015
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN THE FAILURE RECURRED, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME SLIGHTLY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
NHTSA ID
10692479
Incident
Mar 6, 2015
Mileage
45,000 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