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2003 Saturn Vue

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Vue years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Saturn Vue are substantially higher than the model-year median of 276.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

482 reports with mileage · 140 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 316 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 124 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 62 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

29 crash reports9 fire reports20 injury reports

Power Train complaints

316 reports
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72,000 miles · Jan 22, 2010
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGIN TO HESITATE AND DECREASE IN SPEED WHEN THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. SHE WAS ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE; HOWEVER, THE RPMS INCREASED RAPIDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUTO REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TR…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGIN TO HESITATE AND DECREASE IN SPEED WHEN THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. SHE WAS ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE; HOWEVER, THE RPMS INCREASED RAPIDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUTO REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER MECHANIC FOR A SECOND OPINION, WHO ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE REPAIR SHOP UNTIL A DECISION IS MADE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 72000.

NHTSA ODI #10301905

52,606 miles · Jan 19, 2010
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN JANUARY 2006. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH IN REVERSE OUT OF HER DRIVEWAY AND THEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEAR INTO THE DRIVE POSITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST SATURN DEALER WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED DUE TO T…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN JANUARY 2006. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH IN REVERSE OUT OF HER DRIVEWAY AND THEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEAR INTO THE DRIVE POSITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST SATURN DEALER WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE REPLACEMENT WAS COVERED UNDER HER FACTORY WARRANTY. TWO YEARS LATER, THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DEALER ADVISED HER THAT SHE WOULD NEED ANOTHER TRANSMISSION DUE TO FAILURES. SHE HAS HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES WITHIN 4 YEARS. NO RECENT REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS DESCRIBING THAT PARTICULAR TYPE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGES WAS 52,606 AND THE CURRENT WAS 135,698.

NHTSA ODI #10300330

14,002 miles · Jan 8, 2010
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN DECEMBER 2002. SHE STATED THAT THERE WERE NUMEROUS FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 6 MPH THROUGH A BRUSH-LESS CAR WASH, WATER ENTERED INTO THE SUN ROOF HOUSING. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, SHE ALSO SMELLED OIL BURNING AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE RIGH…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN DECEMBER 2002. SHE STATED THAT THERE WERE NUMEROUS FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 6 MPH THROUGH A BRUSH-LESS CAR WASH, WATER ENTERED INTO THE SUN ROOF HOUSING. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, SHE ALSO SMELLED OIL BURNING AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE RIGHT INNER CV JOINT BOOT. THE HAZARDS LIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE NORMALLY AND WERE REPAIRED TWICE DUE TO REPEAT FAILURES. WHEN SHE ENGAGED THE HAZARD SWITCH, IT COLLAPSED INTO THE DASHBOARD CONSOLE. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE THERMOSTAT FAILED AND IT WAS REPLACED. ALL REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE PER THE WARRANTY. THE REAR LATERAL LINK ASSEMBLY RECALL NUMBER 04067001 2002-2004 VUE REAR SUSPENSION RECALL WAS ALSO REPLACED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT CLOSE; HOWEVER, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED THE IMPROPER LEVEL OF FUEL THAT WAS IN THE FUEL TANK; ALTHOUGH, THE FUEL SENDING UNITS WERE REPLACED. ALL OF THE REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE HAVE FAILED MORE THAN ONCE. THE HORN WOULD ALSO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY ON ITS OWN. THE DEALER FOUND A SHORTAGE IN THE BODY CONTROL MODULE AND REPLACED THE OPERATING DESIGN SYSTEM WHICH FORCED THE MECHANIC TO REPROGRAM THE KEYS TO THE VEHICLE. THE VALVE COVER GASKET FAILED A SECOND TIME WHEN THE CONTACT SMELLED OIL BURNING. THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS FOR MOST OF THE OTHER FAILED COMPONENTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,002 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,501.

NHTSA ODI #10298766

57,000 miles · Jan 4, 2010
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE, SHE COULD HEAR A LOUD WINDING NOISE; SHE ALSO NOTICED THAT IT SHIFTED VERY HARD IN SECOND GEAR, AS IF A "HORSE WERE KICKING THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE". SHE NOTICED THE ISSUE EVERY TIME SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ALSO SLIPPED IN GEAR …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE, SHE COULD HEAR A LOUD WINDING NOISE; SHE ALSO NOTICED THAT IT SHIFTED VERY HARD IN SECOND GEAR, AS IF A "HORSE WERE KICKING THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE". SHE NOTICED THE ISSUE EVERY TIME SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ALSO SLIPPED IN GEAR ON THE HIGHWAY AND SHE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED IT OFF. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FINE AND A YEAR FROM NOW, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD BECOME A PROBLEM. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT IF IT WAS A VTI FAILURE AND UNDER 5 YEARS, THEY WOULD PAY 100% OF THE REPAIR COSTS AND IF OVER 5 YEARS, THEY WOULD PAY 50% OF THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED TO-DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,662. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 57,000.

NHTSA ODI #10298156

50,000 miles · Nov 30, 2009
Power Train

NORMAL DRIVING WHEN MANUAL TRANSMISSION - WITHOUT WARNING - SHIFTER LINKAGE BECAME DISCONNECTED, LEAVING ME UNABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF THE CURRENT GEAR, RENDERING THE CAR UNDRIVABLE AND LEAVING ME STRANDED IN TRAFFIC ON A BUSY STREET. MECHANIC REPORTS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON SATURNS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS BUT THAT NO …

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NORMAL DRIVING WHEN MANUAL TRANSMISSION - WITHOUT WARNING - SHIFTER LINKAGE BECAME DISCONNECTED, LEAVING ME UNABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF THE CURRENT GEAR, RENDERING THE CAR UNDRIVABLE AND LEAVING ME STRANDED IN TRAFFIC ON A BUSY STREET. MECHANIC REPORTS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON SATURNS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS BUT THAT NO SAFETY RECALLS HAVE EVER BEEN ISSUED. SATURN SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AT NO COST TO OWNERS AND TO REIMBURSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AND HAD TO PAY TO GET IT FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10293990

96,664 miles · Nov 14, 2009
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN MY 2003 SATURN VUE, MILEAGE IS UNDER 100,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10292175

122,000 miles · Nov 10, 2009
Power Train

A FEW YEARS AGO I PURCHASED A USED 2003 VUE. CURRENTLY THERE IS APPROXIMATELY 120,000 MILES ON IT. ON 10/31/09 I DROVE MY 40 MILES TO WORK AND ALL WAS FINE. AT LUNCH BREAK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WHEN I PUT THE GAS ON THE VEHICLE WOULD HARDLY MOVE. AFTER DISCUSSING THE PROBLEM WITH MY HUSBAND, WE DECIDED TO HAVE I…

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A FEW YEARS AGO I PURCHASED A USED 2003 VUE. CURRENTLY THERE IS APPROXIMATELY 120,000 MILES ON IT. ON 10/31/09 I DROVE MY 40 MILES TO WORK AND ALL WAS FINE. AT LUNCH BREAK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WHEN I PUT THE GAS ON THE VEHICLE WOULD HARDLY MOVE. AFTER DISCUSSING THE PROBLEM WITH MY HUSBAND, WE DECIDED TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION PLACE, NOT A SATURN DEALER, BECAUSE OF COST. THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY RUNNING IN 3RD GEAR, ALL OTHER GEARS WERE NOT WORKING. WHEN THAT PROBLEM WAS FIXED, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE COMPUTER WAS NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION PLACE HAS BEEN VERY NICE AND EVEN PAID FOR A RENTAL CAR FOR ME, BUT WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE, I WILL OWE THEM ABOUT $3000. WHY AM I READING ALL THESE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION AND NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN DONE? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10291683

70,000 miles · Nov 2, 2009
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. SHE NOTICED THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. A TECHNICIAN RESET THE ERROR CODE. WEEKS LATER WHILE ENTERING A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. SHE NOTICED THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. A TECHNICIAN RESET THE ERROR CODE. WEEKS LATER WHILE ENTERING A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT AN EXPENSE OF $5300.00. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND A REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THERE WAS VOLUNTARY CAMPAIGN ON THE TI1 TRANSMISSION FOR "ORIGINAL: OWNERS. SINCE SHE WAS THE SECOND OWNER SHE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70,000. UPDATED 12/10/09. *LJ UPDATED 12/10/09.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10290622

75,000 miles · Oct 22, 2009
Power Train

2003 SATURN VUE - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WAS TOLD BY SATURN DEALERSHIP THAT THESE WERE RECALLED AND WILL ONLY REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IF FIRST OWNER. I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM THIS DEALERSHIP IN 2005 WITH 30,000 MILES AND WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THE RECALL. NOW THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AND THEY WANT ME TO PAY $5,350…

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2003 SATURN VUE - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WAS TOLD BY SATURN DEALERSHIP THAT THESE WERE RECALLED AND WILL ONLY REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IF FIRST OWNER. I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM THIS DEALERSHIP IN 2005 WITH 30,000 MILES AND WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THE RECALL. NOW THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AND THEY WANT ME TO PAY $5,350 TO HAVE IT REPLACED. WHAT IS MY RECOURSE? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10289360

98,000 miles · Oct 9, 2009
Power Train

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2003 SATURN VUE. THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS. THE CAR JUMPS INTO FIRST GEAR. GREENBROOK SATURN TOLD ME A FEW THINGS THAT COULD BE WRONG. I PAID TO FIX THE CAR NOTHING THEY DID WORKED. NOW I AM BEING TOLD IT IS THE TRANSMISSION. NOW THAT THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY I AM BEING TOLD NOTHING C…

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I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2003 SATURN VUE. THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS. THE CAR JUMPS INTO FIRST GEAR. GREENBROOK SATURN TOLD ME A FEW THINGS THAT COULD BE WRONG. I PAID TO FIX THE CAR NOTHING THEY DID WORKED. NOW I AM BEING TOLD IT IS THE TRANSMISSION. NOW THAT THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY I AM BEING TOLD NOTHING CAN BE DONE. IT WAS IN WARRANTY WHEN I BEGAN HAVING THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10286859

Official recalls

1

14V490000 · Electrical System:ignition

Aug 8, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2002-2004 Saturn Vue vehicles manufactured September 11, 2001, to April 6, 2004. In the affected vehicles, it may be possible for the key to be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if the transmission is not in the "Park" position; or (b) for a manual transmission, if the parking brake is not engaged and the transmission is not in the "Reverse" position. This potential for rollaway increases the risk for a crash and occupant or pedestrian injuries.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle to see if the key can be pulled out when the ignition is off. If it can, dealers will replace the ignition cylinder and keys, free of charge. The recall began in October 2014. Owners may contact Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 14506. Note: Until a vehicle has been remedied, owners and operators are advised that when exiting, to be sure that the vehicle is in "Park," or in the case of a manual transmission, that the vehicle is in the "Reverse" position and the parking brake is engaged.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

PE06006 · Timing Chain Failure

Opened Jan 24, 2006 · Closed Jun 6, 2006

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

ON DECEMBER 12, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A DEFECT PETITION (DP05-008) REQUESTING THE INVESTIGATION OF TIMING CHAIN FAILURES THAT COULD CAUSE STALLING IN SATURN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.2L (L61) ENGINE. ODI OPENED PE06-006 ON JANUARY 24, 2006, WITH 24 VEHICLE OWNER COMPLAINTS THAT ALLEGED A BROKEN TIMING CHAIN CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP OPERATING.ON APRIL 12, 2006, ODI RECEIVED INFORMATION FROM GENERAL MOTORS (GM) CONCERNING TIMING CHAIN FAILURES IN APPROXIMATELY 412,000 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2000 THROUGH 2003 SATURN L-SERIES AND ION VEHICLES WITH 2.2L ENGINES. GM'S RESPONSE INCLUDED 1,020 OWNER COMPLAINTS AND FIELD REPORTS CONCERNING TIMING CHAIN FAILURE, INCLUDING 228 THAT ALLEGED THE FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING.GM ALSO PROVIDED WARRANTY CLAIM DATA THAT SHOWED 1,902 SUBJECT VEHICLES RECEIVING TIMING CHAIN REPAIRS, INCLUDING 261 WHICH INDICATED THAT A STALL WHILE DRIVING RESULTED FROM THE FAILURE.THE GM COMPLAINTS, FIELD REPORTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS THAT DID NOT CONTAIN SUFFICIENT INFORMATION TO DETERMINE THAT A STALL WHILE DRIVING OCCURRED WERE PROVIDED IN THE CATEGORY OTHER.GM STATED THAT THE MAJORITY OF THESE INCIDENTS PROBABLY OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLES WERE PARKED SINCE THE TIMING CHAIN IS MORE LIKELY TO BREAK DURING HIGH CHAIN LOAD SITUATIONS, SUCH AS ENGINE STARTUP.GM'S DATA SHOWED ELEVATED FAILURE RATES IN APPROXIMATELY 20,500 MY 2001 L-SERIES VEHICLES PRODUCED DURING A FOUR MONTH PERIOD FROM NOVEMBER 2000 THROUGH FEBRUARY 2001.OVER ONE-THIRD OF GM'S TOTAL COMPLAINTS AND FIELD REPORTS (34.3%) AND WARRANTY CLAIMS (38.2%) INVOLVED L-SERIES VEHICLES BUILT DURING THE 4-MONTH PERIOD, WHICH ARE ONLY ABOUT 5% OF SUBJECT VEHICLE PRODUCTION.THE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE RATE IN THE VEHICLES BUILT DURING THIS RANGE IS OVER 10 TIMES GREATER THAN THE REMAINING SUBJECT VEHICLE POPULATION. FOR THE MY 2001 L-SERIES VEHICLES BUILT DURING THE 4-MONTH PERIOD, THE 36-MONTH FAILURE RATE FOR REPAIRS INVOLVING STALL WHILE DRIVING IS SLIGHTLY UNDER ONE PERCENT.HOWEVER, IF THE INCIDENTS CODED AS OTHER ARE ADDED, THE 36-MONTH FAILURE RATE RISES TO NEARLY FIVE PERCENT FOR THOSE VEHICLES.ODI AND GM ARE CONTINUING TO ASSESS THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS CODED BY GM AS OTHER THAT INVOLVE INCIDENTS OF STALL WHILE DRIVING.GM'S STATISTICAL MODELING OF THE FAILURE DATA INITIALLY CONCLUDED THAT THE FAILURE RATES WERE DECLINING WITH AGE AND MILEAGE FOR ANY SET OF WARRANTY DATA ANALYZED (E.G., STALL WHILE DRIVING, OTHER OR COMBINED).HOWEVER, SUBSEQUENT ANALYSIS SHOWED THAT THE FAILURE RATES ARE INCREASING. BASED ON THE HIGH COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY RATES FOR TIMING CHAIN FAILURE IN THE 4-MONTH PRODUCTION PERIOD FOR THE MY 2001 L-SERIES VEHICLES, THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO FURTHER ASSESS THE FREQUENCY OF STALL INCIDENTS DUE TO TIMING CHAIN FAILURES IN THOSE VEHICLES (EA06-009).

PE04052 · Rear Suspension Toe Control Link

Opened Jul 22, 2004 · Closed Nov 1, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension; Suspension:rear

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES DURING CERTAIN SEVERE DRIVING MANEUVERS.THE INVESTIGATION WAS PROMPTED BY NHTSA-CONDUCTED NCAP DYNAMIC ROLLOVER TEST INCIDENTS INVOLVING MY 2004 SATURN VUE VEHICLES AND ONE CONSUMER COMPLAINT THAT ALLEGED WHEN RECOVERING FROM A ROAD EDGE DEPARTURE, THE LEFT-REAR WHEEL OF A MY 2003 SATURN VUE ?BENT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE,? RESULTING IN A ROLLOVER CRASH.ODI ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE DURING THE NCAP TESTS WAS THE RESULT OF WHEEL RIM-PAVEMENT CONTACT TRANSMITTING SIGNIFICANT COMPRESSIVE FORCES TO THE TOE CONTROL LINK, THUS CAUSING IT TO BUCKLE.THIS FAILURE OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED DURING A SEVERE TEST USED TO ASSESS ROLL STABILITY.THE FORCES GENERATED DURING THIS TYPE OF WHEEL-RIM PAVEMENT CONTACT ARE MORE THAN SIX TIMES THE GREATEST FORCES MEASURED DURING GM?S MOST SEVERE VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION TESTING.ODI INSPECTION AND ANALYSIS OF CONSUMER COMPLAINT VEHICLES SHOWED THAT DAMAGE TO THE TOE CONTROL LINK APPEARED TO BE THE RESULT OF VEHICLE CRASHES AND DID NOT PRECIPITATE THE CRASHES.TO DATE, ODI IS AWARE OF NO VEHICLE CRASHES OR ROLLOVER INCIDENTS RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.ADDITIONALLY, THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A VOLUNTARY CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO STRENGTHEN THE REAR SUSPENSION OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST. THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE SUMMARY REPORT ATTACHED FOR FURTHER DETAIL.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Suspension

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES DURING CERTAIN SEVERE DRIVING MANEUVERS.THE INVESTIGATION WAS PROMPTED BY NHTSA-CONDUCTED NCAP DYNAMIC ROLLOVER TEST INCIDENTS INVOLVING MY 2004 SATURN VUE VEHICLES AND ONE CONSUMER COMPLAINT THAT ALLEGED WHEN RECOVERING FROM A ROAD EDGE DEPARTURE, THE LEFT-REAR WHEEL OF A MY 2003 SATURN VUE ?BENT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE,? RESULTING IN A ROLLOVER CRASH.ODI ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE DURING THE NCAP TESTS WAS THE RESULT OF WHEEL RIM-PAVEMENT CONTACT TRANSMITTING SIGNIFICANT COMPRESSIVE FORCES TO THE TOE CONTROL LINK, THUS CAUSING IT TO BUCKLE.THIS FAILURE OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED DURING A SEVERE TEST USED TO ASSESS ROLL STABILITY.THE FORCES GENERATED DURING THIS TYPE OF WHEEL-RIM PAVEMENT CONTACT ARE MORE THAN SIX TIMES THE GREATEST FORCES MEASURED DURING GM?S MOST SEVERE VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION TESTING.ODI INSPECTION AND ANALYSIS OF CONSUMER COMPLAINT VEHICLES SHOWED THAT DAMAGE TO THE TOE CONTROL LINK APPEARED TO BE THE RESULT OF VEHICLE CRASHES AND DID NOT PRECIPITATE THE CRASHES.TO DATE, ODI IS AWARE OF NO VEHICLE CRASHES OR ROLLOVER INCIDENTS RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.ADDITIONALLY, THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A VOLUNTARY CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO STRENGTHEN THE REAR SUSPENSION OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST. THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE SUMMARY REPORT ATTACHED FOR FURTHER DETAIL.

Suspension:rear

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES DURING CERTAIN SEVERE DRIVING MANEUVERS.THE INVESTIGATION WAS PROMPTED BY NHTSA-CONDUCTED NCAP DYNAMIC ROLLOVER TEST INCIDENTS INVOLVING MY 2004 SATURN VUE VEHICLES AND ONE CONSUMER COMPLAINT THAT ALLEGED WHEN RECOVERING FROM A ROAD EDGE DEPARTURE, THE LEFT-REAR WHEEL OF A MY 2003 SATURN VUE ?BENT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE,? RESULTING IN A ROLLOVER CRASH.ODI ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE DURING THE NCAP TESTS WAS THE RESULT OF WHEEL RIM-PAVEMENT CONTACT TRANSMITTING SIGNIFICANT COMPRESSIVE FORCES TO THE TOE CONTROL LINK, THUS CAUSING IT TO BUCKLE.THIS FAILURE OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED DURING A SEVERE TEST USED TO ASSESS ROLL STABILITY.THE FORCES GENERATED DURING THIS TYPE OF WHEEL-RIM PAVEMENT CONTACT ARE MORE THAN SIX TIMES THE GREATEST FORCES MEASURED DURING GM?S MOST SEVERE VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION TESTING.ODI INSPECTION AND ANALYSIS OF CONSUMER COMPLAINT VEHICLES SHOWED THAT DAMAGE TO THE TOE CONTROL LINK APPEARED TO BE THE RESULT OF VEHICLE CRASHES AND DID NOT PRECIPITATE THE CRASHES.TO DATE, ODI IS AWARE OF NO VEHICLE CRASHES OR ROLLOVER INCIDENTS RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.ADDITIONALLY, THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A VOLUNTARY CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO STRENGTHEN THE REAR SUSPENSION OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST. THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE SUMMARY REPORT ATTACHED FOR FURTHER DETAIL.