NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
622 reports96,000 miles · Aug 18, 2008
Latches/locks/linkages
WHEN IT IS EITHER HUMID OR RAINY, DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM THE INSIDE. WHEN I PRESS THE UNLOCK BUTTON, IT ELECTRONICALLY SWITCHES BETWEEN LOCK AND UNLOCK SEVERAL TIMES. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE DOOR OPEN IS TO HOLD IT DOWN THE BUTTON IN UNLOCK MODE, UNROLL THE WINDOW AND THEN I HAVE TO OPEN IT FROM THE OUTSIDE DOOR…
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WHEN IT IS EITHER HUMID OR RAINY, DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM THE INSIDE. WHEN I PRESS THE UNLOCK BUTTON, IT ELECTRONICALLY SWITCHES BETWEEN LOCK AND UNLOCK SEVERAL TIMES. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE DOOR OPEN IS TO HOLD IT DOWN THE BUTTON IN UNLOCK MODE, UNROLL THE WINDOW AND THEN I HAVE TO OPEN IT FROM THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE. THIS HAS NOT BEEN A SAFETY ISSUE YET, BUT I FEAR THAT IT COULD BECOME ONE IF IT GETS ANY WORSE OR IF I EVER HAD TO GET OUT OF MY CAR QUICKLY. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE DOOR LATCH TWICE, WHICH HAS HAD NO IMPACT ON RESOLVING THE ISSUE AND I WILL BE RETURNING TO THEM TOMORROW FOR A THIRD TRIP TO RESOLVE THIS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10238770
Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2008
Power Train
MY COMPLAINT IS AGAINST SATURN...MY FAMILY HAS OWNED 4 SATURNS IN THE PAST 8 YEARS...3 OF THESE HAVE HAD FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS AFTER OWNING THEM FOR A LITTLE OVER 5 YEARS... THE OTHER ONE IS AN 07 SO IT HAS 4 YEARS LEFT I GUESS... REGULAR MECHANICS WILL NOT EVEN TAKE A JOB WORKING ON THEM... SATURN WANTS OVER $4500 FOR A …
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MY COMPLAINT IS AGAINST SATURN...MY FAMILY HAS OWNED 4 SATURNS IN THE PAST 8 YEARS...3 OF THESE HAVE HAD FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS AFTER OWNING THEM FOR A LITTLE OVER 5 YEARS... THE OTHER ONE IS AN 07 SO IT HAS 4 YEARS LEFT I GUESS... REGULAR MECHANICS WILL NOT EVEN TAKE A JOB WORKING ON THEM... SATURN WANTS OVER $4500 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION NOT COUNTING LABOR... A FRIEND OF OURS ALSO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HER 2003 VUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10238406
Mileage unknown · Jul 28, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling
MY 2003 SATURN VUE'S CHECK ENGINE AND SERVICE SOON LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER WHEN YOU START TO DECELERATE. MY MECHANIC COULD NOT GET ANY CODES TO REGISTER ON HIS COMPUTER, HOWEVER SATURN IS TELLING ME IT NEEDS A THERMOSTAT. I DON'T BELIEVE A FAULTY THERMOSTAT WOULD RENDER MY CAR LOSING ALL POWER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10236110
46,000 miles · Jul 25, 2008
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. AFTER PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN APPROXIMATELY 40 FEET AWAY, THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT COASTED TO A STOP AND HAD TO PUSH THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE; THEREFORE, …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. AFTER PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN APPROXIMATELY 40 FEET AWAY, THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT COASTED TO A STOP AND HAD TO PUSH THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE; THEREFORE, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. APPROXIMATELY SEVEN MONTHS LATER, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY INSTALLED A NEW TRANSMISSION. AFTER 30,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE REPAIRS WOULD COST $6,000. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 09/17/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE FIRST TIME SHE HE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRAMISSION, A PART WAS REPLACED, THE SECOND AND THIRD TIME THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. UPDATE 09/24/08. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10235784
54,757 miles · Jul 18, 2008
Suspension
ON 5TH SET OF TIRES, UNEVEN WEAR, MAINLY RIGHT REAR. GETTING ONLY 12,000 MILES FOR 1ST 2 SETS, BOUGHT BETTER TIRES ELSEWHERE. TOLD OF NOISE AND VIBRATION. WAS TOLD WAS CAUSED BY WORN TIRES. WHEN TIRES WORE AGAIN, WENT TO DEALER TO REPLACE THE WORST, RIGHT REAR, AND TOLD OF UNEVEN WEAR, NOISE AND VIBRATION. WAS BLAMED WITH POO…
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ON 5TH SET OF TIRES, UNEVEN WEAR, MAINLY RIGHT REAR. GETTING ONLY 12,000 MILES FOR 1ST 2 SETS, BOUGHT BETTER TIRES ELSEWHERE. TOLD OF NOISE AND VIBRATION. WAS TOLD WAS CAUSED BY WORN TIRES. WHEN TIRES WORE AGAIN, WENT TO DEALER TO REPLACE THE WORST, RIGHT REAR, AND TOLD OF UNEVEN WEAR, NOISE AND VIBRATION. WAS BLAMED WITH POOR MAINTENANCE, DEALER DID NOT TEST DRIVE. OFFERED ALIGNMENT, COULD NOT GET RIGHT REAR TO ALIGN. THEY SAID REPLACE KNUCKLE JOINT, BUT COULDN'T TELL ME IT WOULD FIX IT. TOLD THEM I COULDN'T AFFORD AT THAT TIME, DIDN'T TELL ME IT WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY. DIDN'T LIKE HOW I WAS TREATED, WENT ELSEWHERE FOR OTHER 3 TIRES. THEY ALSO SAID THE NOISE/VIBRATIONS FROM WORN TIRES. THEY ALIGNED NO PROBLEMS. REPLACED WHEEL BEARING MONTH LATER. EVERY 10 -12 MONTHS REPLACED TIRES AND ALIGN, ALL TOLD ME THE NOISE/VIBRATION FROM WORN TIRES (THE NOISE/VIBRATION WOULD GO AWAY WITH NEW TIRES). LAST ROUND, HAD TIRES, ALIGNMENT, NEW FRONT BRAKES, AND REAR BRAKES CLEANED. FOUND BROKEN REAR AXLE. REPLACED AXLE, NOISE/VIBRATION BACK, WITH NEW TIRES. THEY PULLED UP SERVICE BULLETIN FROM 2004, DEFECTIVE REAR DIFFERENTIAL SEAL LEAKING CAUSING THE CLUTCH DRUM TO GO. TOOK TO DEALER, THEY CONFIRMED REAR DIFFERENTIAL CLUTCH DRUM NEEDED REPLACED. THEY WOULD NOT PAY , AS NO WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH THEY MISSED THE DIAGNOSIS IN 2006, UNDER WARRANTY. I ASKED THEM TO LOOK AT THE OLD AXLE (I HAVE ). THEY SAID IT LOOKED LIKE IT FELL APART, NOT BROKEN. BEEN TRYING TO REACH CORPORATE INVESTIGATOR OVER 3 WEEKS WITH NO LUCK. SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AS I HAVE READ NUMEROUS REPORTS OF OTHERS WITH THESE SAME ISSUES. NOTES: MILEAGE WAS DOCUMENTED 3000 MILES OVER ACTUAL ON 2 OCCASIONS (DEALER), WAS GIVEN A COMPETITOR WARRANTY COMPANY'S PHONE NUMBER WHEN I ASKED FOR DEALERS WARRANTY COMPANY PHONE NUMBER, AND CORPORATE DOCUMENTED MY PHONE NUMBER WRONG (EVEN AREA CODE) AND THEN TRIED TO BLAME ME. CURRENT MILEAGE IS 83,962, DEALER HAS ME DOCUMENTED AT 85623 ON 06/23/08. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10234883
118,000 miles · Jul 18, 2008
Power Train
HEY - I PURCHASED A 2003 SATURN VUE IN FEB, 2008, AROUND MAY 1ST THE TRANSMISSION DIED ON IT. SINCE THEN I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. WHICH GM WILL NOT CALL A RECALL ON THESE TRANSMISSION. THEY ARE SO BAD THAT YOU CAN NOT FIND A WRECKED SATURN SO YOU CAN GET THE TRANSMISSION OUT TO RE…
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HEY - I PURCHASED A 2003 SATURN VUE IN FEB, 2008, AROUND MAY 1ST THE TRANSMISSION DIED ON IT. SINCE THEN I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. WHICH GM WILL NOT CALL A RECALL ON THESE TRANSMISSION. THEY ARE SO BAD THAT YOU CAN NOT FIND A WRECKED SATURN SO YOU CAN GET THE TRANSMISSION OUT TO REPLACE MINE. YOU CAN GET A REFURBISHED ONE FROM SATURN FOR $4,500.00. TO ME WITH THE PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE READ ABOUT GM SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION. GM KNOWS THAT THESE TRANSMISSION ARE DEFECTED BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT USING THEM ANYMORE. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU COULD AT LEAST TELL ME THE STEPS I WILL NEED TO TAKE TO TRY AND GET A RECALL ON THIS TYPE TRANSMISSION. THANKS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10234791
117,000 miles · Jul 14, 2008
Suspension
WHEEL BEARING REPLACED 3 TIMES NOW ON THE SAME WHEEL. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WHEEL BARRING TWICE SO FAR FOR A 2003 VUE, NONE OF THIS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE ACCORDING TO SATURN, IT ALL STARTED WHEN I HAD TO MUCH MILEAGE. I'M ABOUT TO REPLACE IT AGAIN FOR THE 3RD TIME AND I THOUGHT I SAW THAT THERE WAS A …
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WHEEL BEARING REPLACED 3 TIMES NOW ON THE SAME WHEEL. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WHEEL BARRING TWICE SO FAR FOR A 2003 VUE, NONE OF THIS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE ACCORDING TO SATURN, IT ALL STARTED WHEN I HAD TO MUCH MILEAGE. I'M ABOUT TO REPLACE IT AGAIN FOR THE 3RD TIME AND I THOUGHT I SAW THAT THERE WAS A RECALL BUT APPARENTLY NOT. THERE IS NO CRASH TO REPORT BECAUSE IT MAKES THIS TERRIBLE NOISE THAT LETS ME KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING AND I CAN REPLACE IT BEFORE IT GETS BAD. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10234301
20,000 miles · Jul 14, 2008
Power Train
I HAVE BEEN PUT-OFF MANY TIMES BY SUTLIFF/YORK SATURN FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS YOU DESCRIBE IN YOUR COMPLAINT. HAD A VERY CLOSE CALL WITH A TRACTOR&TRAILER IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. MANY VISITS TO THE DEALER HAVE YIELDED NOTHING BUT A WASTE OF GAS. PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS I AM MAKING UP SIGNS TO DISPLAY AT ALL PUBLIC EVENTS IN THE GE…
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I HAVE BEEN PUT-OFF MANY TIMES BY SUTLIFF/YORK SATURN FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS YOU DESCRIBE IN YOUR COMPLAINT. HAD A VERY CLOSE CALL WITH A TRACTOR&TRAILER IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. MANY VISITS TO THE DEALER HAVE YIELDED NOTHING BUT A WASTE OF GAS. PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS I AM MAKING UP SIGNS TO DISPLAY AT ALL PUBLIC EVENTS IN THE GETTYSBURG, HANOVER, YORK, SHIPPENSBURG, MECHANICSBURG, BIGLERVILLE AREAS TELLING OF MY PROBLEMS WITH THE SATURN VUE!! ALSO DISPLAYING ONE IN MY VUE WINDOW FOR ALL WORK TRAFFIC 5 DAYS A WEEK TO SEE!*TR
NHTSA ODI #10234169
55,000 miles · Jul 8, 2008
Electrical System
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. HE BELIEVED THAT THE BATTERY WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. HE OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE BATTERY TERMINAL HAD CAME OFF, AND BATTERY ACID LEAKED ALL OVER THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT PURCHASED A NEW EXIDE AUTO LITE B…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. HE BELIEVED THAT THE BATTERY WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. HE OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE BATTERY TERMINAL HAD CAME OFF, AND BATTERY ACID LEAKED ALL OVER THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT PURCHASED A NEW EXIDE AUTO LITE BATTERY. THE PRIOR ONE CAME EQUIPPED WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 55,000. UPDATED 07/29/08.*LJ UPDATED 08/05/08. *JB UPDATED 09/17/08. *LJ UPDATED 09/24/08. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10233498
109,000 miles · Jun 27, 2008
Electrical System
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BEEPING NOISE AND THE SECURITY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE LOST TOTAL ELECTRICAL POWER. SHE CONTACTED A PROFESSIONAL MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE BCM WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. CURR…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BEEPING NOISE AND THE SECURITY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE LOST TOTAL ELECTRICAL POWER. SHE CONTACTED A PROFESSIONAL MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE BCM WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. CURRENTLY, ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES ARE INOPERATIVE. SHE IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 109,000.
NHTSA ODI #10232533
NHTSA investigations
2PE06006 · 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.
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