NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Steering complaints
29 reportsClear category filter108,000 miles · Aug 7, 2017
Electrical SystemSteeringStructure
ON THE FIRST START OF THE DAY, AT OR BELOW 24 DEGREES F, THE INTERIOR ITEMS FLASH ON AND OFF UNTIL THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WARMED UP. I ALSO LEARNED THAT IF THE IGNITION WAS ON FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES IT WAS THE SAME AS IF IT WAS RUNNING. I LIVE IN NASHVILLE AND FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS IT ONLY OCCURRED WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMP WAS 24 DEGREE…
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ON THE FIRST START OF THE DAY, AT OR BELOW 24 DEGREES F, THE INTERIOR ITEMS FLASH ON AND OFF UNTIL THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WARMED UP. I ALSO LEARNED THAT IF THE IGNITION WAS ON FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES IT WAS THE SAME AS IF IT WAS RUNNING. I LIVE IN NASHVILLE AND FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS IT ONLY OCCURRED WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMP WAS 24 DEGREES OR BELOW. THE FLASHING ON AND OFF OF THE LIGHTS AND EQUIPMENT IS THE BODY CONTROL MODULE PROTECTING THEM WHEN THE CHARGE RATE IS TOO HIGH. IT WAS CONSIDERED AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND WHO CAN TROUBLESHOOT AT OR BELOW 24 DEGREES? A MONTH AGO (JULY) IT STARTED ALL THE TIME, NO FLASHING, NO STEERING, NO DASH INSTRUMENTS, ETC. LONGER STORY SHORT WITH THE PLUG REMOVED FROM THE ALTERNATOR (IT CONTROLS THE FIELD VOLTAGE THROUGH THE ECM/PCM) THE ALTERNATOR WAS STILL PUTTING OUT 18.5 VOLTS. THIS DEFINITELY SHOULD NOT OCCUR BUT SOMETHING WAS BAD WRONG INSIDE THE ALTERNATOR. IT WAS BOILING THE ACID OUT OF THE BATTERY TOO. ONCE THE ALTERNATOR WAS REMOVED (BENCH CHECKED FAILED) AND REPLACED IT ALL WENT AWAY. IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE WEATHER GETS BELOW 24 DEGREES AGAIN. THIS ALTERNATOR IS MANUFACTURED BY GM, IS DISCONTINUED AND NO LONGER AVAILABLE FROM GM. ONLY REMANUFACTURED UNITS FROM CHINA ARE AVAILABLE AT THE AFTERMARKET PARTS STORES. THERE IS NO TROUBLESHOOTING PROCEDURE IN THE MAINTENANCE MANUAL FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE ALTERNATOR PLUG CAN BE DISCONNECTED WITHOUT ANY DISASSEMBLY. THIS WAS THE SECOND FAILURE OF THE ALTERNATOR ON THIS VUE THE FIRST OCCURRED AT 87,000 MILES. IT SEEMS THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE COMPONENTS OF THIS ALTERNATOR.
NHTSA ODI #11013448
Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2017
Steering
KNUCKLE PART OF STEERING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MECHANIC UNABLE TO GET PART DUE TO RECALLS ON 2009 VUE. WORRIED MY STEERING MAY GO WHILE I'M DRIVING. ALSO. WHY ISN'T 2006 COVERED BY RECALL ????? FIRSTNOTICED PROBLEM WHEN TURNING.
NHTSA ODI #10958910
Mileage unknown · Nov 16, 2016
Air BagsSeatsSteering
1ST ISSUE. BOTH HEATED SEATS WENT OUT. THEN PASSENGER AIRBAG SOMETIMES GOES OFF EVEN WITH PASSENGER SITTING IN CHAIR. I CAN RESET AIRBAG WITH PASSENGER HEATED SEAT BUTTON. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME AND IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR PASSENGER. KEY SWITCH LOCKS AND I HAVE TO JIGGLE STEERING WHEEL TO RELEASE.
NHTSA ODI #10926528
Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 2016
Steering
THE TRUCK IS DRIVABLE WITHOUT THE KEY BEING IN THE IGNITION, SO ONCE YOU START THE TRUCK YOU CAN TAKE THE KET OUT OF THE IGNITION AND STILL BE ABLE TO DRIVE. ALSO THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS FOR NO APPARENT REASON.
NHTSA ODI #10836495
135,000 miles · Dec 28, 2015
Electrical SystemExterior LightingSteering
WHEN YOU TRY TO START THE CAR WHEN IT'S COLD, ALL OF THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON, RADIO COMES ON, AND THEN THE LIGHTS AND RADIO GO OFF AND THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING. AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS AND ABOUT 5 MINUTES PASS, IT WORKS PROPERLY. SOME TIMES, UNEXPECTEDLY, ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE CAR START FLASHING, THE LOCKS…
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WHEN YOU TRY TO START THE CAR WHEN IT'S COLD, ALL OF THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON, RADIO COMES ON, AND THEN THE LIGHTS AND RADIO GO OFF AND THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING. AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS AND ABOUT 5 MINUTES PASS, IT WORKS PROPERLY. SOME TIMES, UNEXPECTEDLY, ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE CAR START FLASHING, THE LOCKS ON THE DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCK REPEATEDLY WHILE DRIVING. WE'VE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE ALTERNATOR, AND HAVE A BRAND NEW BATTERY (2X IN 6MO). THIS CAR IS POSSESSED! I WORRY FOR THE SAFETY OF MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR.
NHTSA ODI #10816494
98,000 miles · Jul 1, 2015
SteeringUnknown Or Other
WHEN I TRY TO START MY VEHICLE I CANNOT TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION...I HAVE TO PUSH UP THE GEAR SHIFTER AND THEN KEEP TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL UNTIL THE KEY CAN TURN. I THOUGHT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS BUT CANNOT FIND THE INFORMATION UPDATED 11/06/2017*CN
NHTSA ODI #10731611
80,000 miles · Nov 12, 2014
Steering
MY KEY REGULARLY FALLS OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE I'M DRIVING. I HAVE NOTICED THAT SOME OF THE SAME MODELS THAT CHEVY MANUFACTURED HAVE BEEN RECALLED, BUT NOT THE VUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10654471
Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering
BOUGHT A 2006 SATURN VUE IN 2008. WITHIN A YEAR, HAD PROBLEMS: IGNITION SWITCH/KEY. DOES NOT FUNCTION AS IT SHOULD WITH THE KEY TURNING IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. REPLACED TUMBLER. WORKED FOR AWHILE. IT BROKE AGAIN. FOR BOTH TIMES IT TAKES ANYWHERE FROM 5 - 15 MINUTES EVERY TIME TO GET THE KEY TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON IN THE IG…
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BOUGHT A 2006 SATURN VUE IN 2008. WITHIN A YEAR, HAD PROBLEMS: IGNITION SWITCH/KEY. DOES NOT FUNCTION AS IT SHOULD WITH THE KEY TURNING IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. REPLACED TUMBLER. WORKED FOR AWHILE. IT BROKE AGAIN. FOR BOTH TIMES IT TAKES ANYWHERE FROM 5 - 15 MINUTES EVERY TIME TO GET THE KEY TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. I AM A 60+ YEAR OLD WOMAN WHO WORKS NIGHTS. IF I HAVE TO LEAVE AN AREA QUICKLY FOR MY OWN SAFETY, I CANNOT DO SO. THE AC FAN SHUTS OFF AS SOON AS THE EXTERIOR CAR TEMP REACHES 100 DEGREES. HAD THAT FIXED TWO YEARS AGO. BUT THE PROBLEMS PERSISTED. NOW THE AC ONLY BLOWS WARM AIR WHEN AND IF THE FAN WORKS. DOOR LOCKS: KEYS FUNCTION INCONSISTENTLY. PASSENGER SIDE DOOR DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO LOCK ALL DOORS, WHICH IT ONCE DID. FOB: FUNCTIONS INCONSISTENTLY DESPITE BATTERY REPLACEMENT. WINDOWS; DO NOT CLOSE ALL THE WAY, ALLOWING RAIN AND AIR IN. STEERING WHEEL: SHAKES. HAD IT FIXED. SHAKES AGAIN BETWEEN 60-70 MPH. I AM FED UP WITH THIS CAR. WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER AMERICAN MADE CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10621115
87,000 miles · Jul 16, 2014
Steering
WAS HAVING TO SHAKE THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER FOR THE KEY TO TURN. FINALLY SHAKING IT STOPPED WORKING AND HAD TO TAKE IT TO GET REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC FOUND THE IGNITION CASING WAS CRACKED AND HE ALSO SAID I HAD TO GET A NEW KEY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10611138
112,000 miles · Jul 11, 2014
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10609970
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