NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
622 reports55,000 miles · Dec 9, 2014
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PURGE VALVE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE F…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PURGE VALVE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. UPDATED 01/23/15*LJ UPDATED 6/8/2015 *JS
NHTSA ODI #10663091
146,919 miles · Dec 5, 2014
EngineService Brakes, Hydraulic
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE BRAKE CALIBER FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAG…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE BRAKE CALIBER FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,919.
NHTSA ODI #10662344
Mileage unknown · Nov 25, 2014
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO START THE VEHICLE AND COULD BE REMOVE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO START THE VEHICLE AND COULD BE REMOVE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA ODI #10660815
166,000 miles · Nov 19, 2014
Air BagsElectrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. AFTER THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REMEDIED, THE AIR BAG AND SERVICE VEHICLE SOON WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE HORN WOULD NOT WORK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.
NHTSA ODI #10659335
138,550 miles · Nov 12, 2014
Power TrainCrash
HELLO, I AM PROUD OWNER OF A 2003 SATURN VUE AND AM THE 2ND ORIGINAL OWNER. THIS PAST SEPTEMBER WHEN I WAS DOING SOME WORK IN THE YARD I HAD MY VUE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY.. NEXT THING I KNOW IS THAT IS POPPED OUT OF GEAR(PARKING BRAKE CABLE HAD BROKEN PRIOR TO THIS) AND IT TOOK A "MINOR" SHOT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. SCRATCHIN…
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HELLO, I AM PROUD OWNER OF A 2003 SATURN VUE AND AM THE 2ND ORIGINAL OWNER. THIS PAST SEPTEMBER WHEN I WAS DOING SOME WORK IN THE YARD I HAD MY VUE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY.. NEXT THING I KNOW IS THAT IS POPPED OUT OF GEAR(PARKING BRAKE CABLE HAD BROKEN PRIOR TO THIS) AND IT TOOK A "MINOR" SHOT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. SCRATCHING THE FENDER, TURN LIGHTS, AND BUMPER COVER. THE IGNITION HAS ALWAYS BEEN A LITTLE WEIRD SINCE I PURCHASED IT HOWEVER, IT MAKE MORE SENSE KNOW. UNTIL I GET IT FIXED I ALWAYS KEEP IT IN REVERSE AND NOW HAD THE PARKING BRAKE FIXED. I WOULD ASK GM TO LOOK AT, REPAIR MY IGNITION, AS WELL AS FIXING THE FRONT OF THE CAR. IT WAS ONLY GOING A FEW MILES AN HR BUT THIS I ALWAYS TOOK GREAT CARE OF IT AND NOW IT AS THAT BUMP ON THE FRONT. I WILL BE MAKING AN APPOINTMENT AT THE CLOSEST GM DEALER TO ME (WHICH HAPPENS TO BE ALMOST 20MILES AWAY) TO HAVE THAT IGNITION THING FIXED ASAP. THANKS FOR YOUR UNDERSTAND AND I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING BUSINESS WITH GM IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. -[XXX] IN PA INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10654296
Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 2014
Air BagsElectrical SystemCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE BRAKES TO FAIL AS THE CONTACT APPROACHED A STOP SIGN. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WENT THROUGH THE STOP SIGN AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE BRAKES TO FAIL AS THE CONTACT APPROACHED A STOP SIGN. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WENT THROUGH THE STOP SIGN AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE DRIVER IN THE OTHER VEHICLE ALSO REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR UNKNOWN INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V490000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10652346
100,000 miles · Oct 31, 2014
Air BagsPower Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEARS FAILED TO SHIFT INTO PLACE PROPERLY. ALSO, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE AIR BAG COMPONENTS WERE WOR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEARS FAILED TO SHIFT INTO PLACE PROPERLY. ALSO, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE AIR BAG COMPONENTS WERE WORKING UP TO STANDARDS AND WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE RELATED TO THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PAM
NHTSA ODI #10651637
130,000 miles · Oct 27, 2014
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND REVERSE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND REVERSE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 12/2/14*CN UPDATED 5/11/2015 *JS
NHTSA ODI #10650342
22,807 miles · Oct 23, 2014
Air Bags
AFTER TALKING TO A SATURN CAR CARE SPECIALIST IN JANUARY 2014 BECAUSE OF A LOUD NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN, AND AFTER HAVING BEEN TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM I WAS EXPERIENCING, IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP TO HAVE PROBLEM INSPECTED WHICH I DID. WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHE…
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AFTER TALKING TO A SATURN CAR CARE SPECIALIST IN JANUARY 2014 BECAUSE OF A LOUD NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN, AND AFTER HAVING BEEN TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM I WAS EXPERIENCING, IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP TO HAVE PROBLEM INSPECTED WHICH I DID. WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, THERE IS A LOUD NOISE LIKE A RUBBER BAND IS BEING STRETCHED TO THE POINT OF BREAKING. THE FOLLOWING IS WHAT DEALERSHIP REPORTED ON REPAIR INVOICE: "STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG COIL MAKING A NOISE. THE NOISE IS DUE ONLY TO PLASTIC ITEMS MAKING CONTACT WITH ONE ANOTHER. THIS NOISE IS COMMON IN COLD WEATHER AND IS NOT AN AREA OF CONCERN AT THIS TIME". I LIVE IN A HIGH TEMPERATURE/HIGH HUMIDITY STATE AND THE PROBLEM IS CONSTANT - NOT ONLY IN WINTER. AFTER VISITING THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INSPECTED, THE NOISE WAS GONE BUT THAT LASTED ONLY FOR A WEEK OR SO AND IT RETURNED AND IT STILL PERSISTS TO THIS DATE. I WAS THEN ADVISED BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT MANAGER TO USE A DRY SILICONE SPRAY ON THE STEERING COLUMN/AIR BAG AREA AND THAT SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. IT DID NOT. OR, I COULD HAVE THE CURRENT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG REPLACED AT MY OWN COST WHICH I OPTED NOT TO DO BECAUSE OF THE EXPENSE. I HAVE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THIS AIR BAG PROBLEM FOR A LONG TIME. IT ORIGINALLY STARTED WHILE I WAS STILL LIVING IN ANOTHER STATE UNTIL THREE YEARS AGO WHEN I MOVED TO MY CURRENT ADDRESS. MY QUESTION IS THIS: HAVE OTHER OWNERS OF VEHICLES WITH AIR BAG PROBLEMS ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS NOISE PRIOR TO THE AIR BAGS EXPLODING WITH SHARP METAL OBJECTS SERIOUSLY INJURING THEM? OR, WAS A NOISE LIKE THIS REPORTED TO FRIENDS/RELATIVES BY THOSE KILLED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENTS? OTHER COMMENTS BY SATURN OWNERS ON WEB SITE ALSO COULD NOT GET ANSWER FROM GM AS TO CAUSE OF THIS NOISE WHICH THEY WERE ALSO EXPERIENCING. AM I DRIVING A TIME BOMB??? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10649410
150,000 miles · Oct 2, 2014
Electrical SystemVisibility/wiper
OCCASIONALLY THERE HAS BEEN A LINE OF SMOKE COMING FROM MY STEERING COLUMN WHEN I START THE CAR. NOW MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT TURN OFF UNLESS I REMOVE THE FUSE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT A FIRE AND WILL BE GETTING IT FIXED, HOWEVER I HAVE READ OF OTHER SATURN OWNERS HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. SO I KNOW MINE IS NOT THE ONLY CAR …
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OCCASIONALLY THERE HAS BEEN A LINE OF SMOKE COMING FROM MY STEERING COLUMN WHEN I START THE CAR. NOW MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT TURN OFF UNLESS I REMOVE THE FUSE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT A FIRE AND WILL BE GETTING IT FIXED, HOWEVER I HAVE READ OF OTHER SATURN OWNERS HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. SO I KNOW MINE IS NOT THE ONLY CAR OUT THERE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10640922
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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